Hi all, I asked this question on the cittern-builder's list, but I thought I might cast a wider net, so to speak, and ask on this list since the subject of bridges came up recently.
I am finishing constructing my Renaissance cittern (based on the instrument drawn by Sebastian Nunez) and am now wondering about the effect that bridge shape/mass/stiffness/etc. has on tone. I got the strings on it last night with a very basic rock maple bridge blank that has feet approx. 33mm long x 5mm wide and 3mm tall; the underarch for the bridge is currently about 1/3 of the bridge height; the bridge top is tapered down to about 2.5mm. The tone is currently okay, but I know it can be a lot better. I was hoping that others who have had experience with replacing bridges (even for EGs, PGs, etc.) might be able to share their insight as to what types of changes did what to the sound. For instance, what might I be able to expect to happen to the tone if I make the legs thinner? The feet shorter? The underarch higher? Any and all insights are welcome, publicly or privately -- I'm just trying to get a sense of how best to shape the tone of my instrument. Thanks in advance, Andrew To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
