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Thread: Frank Wakefield's mandolin bridge

  1. #1
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Frank Wakefield's mandolin bridge

    I was watching this video in another thread and at 2:12 it shows a very unusual bridge on Franks mandolin. Did Frank make it? Was he known to tinker on his own mandolin?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30OuDHGtAiM

    For some reason I am unable to embed the video.
    Charley

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  3. #2
    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Frank Wakefield's mandolin bridge

    Frank is/was quite the tinkerer, he claims to have make his bridge out of epoxy and fiberglass. He may have been ahead of the curve as far as torrified wood goes - I'm referring to baking of his Lloyd Loar, lol!

    I couldn't see your video.
    Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band

  4. #3
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Frank Wakefield's mandolin bridge

    Thanks Jim, for some reason I was not able to embed it as usual so I just added a link to the youtube video that appears to work.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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    Default Re: Frank Wakefield's mandolin bridge

    It definitely looks homemade.
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    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Frank Wakefield's mandolin bridge

    Fretboard Journal #35 has a good article with Frank Wakefield, a good read.

    https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fj-35
    Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band

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    Registered User John Rosett's Avatar
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    Default Re: Frank Wakefield's mandolin bridge

    Quote Originally Posted by jim simpson View Post
    I'm referring to baking of his Lloyd Loar, lol!

    I couldn't see your video.
    A friend of mine attended a workshop with Frank years ago. When everybody was asking Frank about his gear, my friend asked: "What temperature do you bake your mandolins at?". Frank just chuckled and went on to the next question.
    "it's not in bad taste, if it's funny" - john waters

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    Default Re: Frank Wakefield's mandolin bridge

    Charley,
    Probably not that one-piece bridge, but I know (and have seen them up close, but some decades ago) that Frank has used black bakelite for the top piece on an adjustable bridge. When he was young he worked for General Electric ("Generous Electric" in Frankspeak) in Dayton, Ohio where he generously acquired pieces of bakelite.
    Cornelius Morris

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Frank Wakefield's mandolin bridge

    The white one that he played in later years I heard him say he made, that one I have no idea. It looks pretty refined next to his later stuff. As far as baking his mandolin, he described that in detail at Windgap the year I attended his workshop. Amazingly enough I didn't manage to catch a picture of his bridge. It was just the bridge top that he made. The bottom appears to be a standard wood bridge.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by MikeEdgerton; Dec-24-2021 at 1:23pm.
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    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: Frank Wakefield's mandolin bridge


    Re adding the video from above.

    Jamie
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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Frank Wakefield's mandolin bridge

    Here's a screenshot showing the bridge:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Jim

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