Compensated bridges for flat-tops

[Jim MacDaniel]

I already search the forums, and only found a related thread specific to Martins, hence this thread. I've found flat-top bridges here and there, such as the ones at Elderly, but none that I've found are compensated. Anyone out there know of a source for rosewood or ebony (or even purpleheart) compensated bridges made for flat-tops, or suggestions for arch-top compensated bridges that I might be able to mod for a flat-top?

[Dave Weiss]

Jim, you might want to contact Mike Dulak at Big Muddy. He makes compensated bridges for his flat tops. I got one from him for a non-Big Muddy (Suzuki). I sent him the unusable bridge and he made a compensated one to match. He'd be worth a try.

[Andy Miller]

http://www.soundtoearth.com/products.php?cat=28

[Jim MacDaniel]

Thanks AT -- I took a quick look at their accessory page before I posted this thread, but I missed the flat-top bridge listed there (http://www.soundtoearth.com/products.php?prod=18).

Dave -- do you recall what Mike charged you for your bridge?

[Bill Snyder]

If you have enough room you could also sand down the bottom of an adjustable bridge flat or just make a new base for it. I sanded the bottom of one flat and took out the adjustment wheels to get it as low as possible. It worked ok until I made my own.They are easy enough to make. Use an ordinary adjustable bridge as a guide and then tweak the flat top bridge as needed.

[Andy Miller]

If you have enough room you could also sand down the bottom of an adjustable bridge flat or just make a new base for it. I sanded the bottom of one flat and took out the adjustment wheels to get it as low as possible. It worked ok until I made my own.They are easy enough to make. Use an ordinary adjustable bridge as a guide and then tweak the flat top bridge as needed.

I've done this with an adjustable as well. I had to remove material from the top of the base as well as from the feet to get it low enough to work for what I was doing. The base ended up very thin, and eventually failed, cracking where it spans between the two feet. Cautionary tale. . .

[Tavy]

And don't forget that if you have a flat needle file, and the bridge saddle is wide enough, then you can file your own compensation into the saddle... most of the pre-compensated ones are actually over-compensated anyway IMO.

[ChrisDevo]

I think Steve Smith at Cumberland Acoustics can make one for you: http://cumberlandacoustics.com (click on 'Mandolin 1' at the top of the page).

He also makes the Redline Traveler, which is an Army/Navy flat-top. It comes with a C.A. bridge http://redlineresophonics.com/mandolins/traveler