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Anyone have info on how to make a pinless bridge?  Thanks Rich

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Look at Mike Doolin's site for what I think is the best pinless design out there.

Thanks Michael I'll check it out.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Here is a thread earlier this year on pinless bridges.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

here Mike Doolin's design

Is there any advantage to a pinless bridge?I`m really a lot fonder of the looks of pins, especially un-polished bone.         & nbsp;         & nbsp;  James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I know my Tacoma Chief has a pinless bridge...but you prob know that about Tacoma...if not check it out...

http://elderly.com/images/vintage/20U/20U-11223_front-detail .jpg

link to photo of their design

Yeah that Mike Doolin bridges is nice. Is this a patented design.

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Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

I like the Doolin design a lot.... wonder why..





I do it very much like Mike Doolin. Let me know if I can help.

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

[QUOTE=scotto]

http://elderly.com/images/vintage/20U/20U-11223_front-detail .jpg

link to photo of their design

[/QUOTE]
Wow Scotto thats cool!

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

The Doolin design is nice, but I'm not so sure that seeing the end winding of the string is pretty. 

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I like the Doolin design too, but if you use Daddario strings with the coloured ends it looks rather stupid. I will be making mine with a routed channel in the rear edge to hide the string ball ends. Got a router bit at last years Woodstock wood show for 5 bucks that will do it perfectly. Marc Beneteau does something similar.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Mike Baranik has a great design too.

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

My design hides the ball ends, as well, though I was considering one where they could be seen. I'm also quite fond of Doolin's design.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

[QUOTE=James W B] Is there any advantage to a pin-less bridge?I`m really a lot fonder of the looks of pins, especially un-polished bone.         & nbsp;         & nbsp;  James[/QUOTE]

Personal opinion is no structural advantage maybe a slight disadvantage at lease structurally.

With a pined bridge the force of the ball end of the string puts the top to bridge joint in compression Now the force of the stings on the saddle add a bit of shear. so the one force is fighting the other or the compression of the ball end into the bridge plate and top help counter actelevated the shear of the rotational force on the saddle.

With a pin-less bridge both forces that the stings impart are in shear and or rotation. and only the glue joint is fighting this force.

Of course I am referring to pin-less that are only glued on.

Personal opinion is no structural advantage maybe a slight disadvantage.

With a pined bridge the force of the ball end of the string puts the bridgeplate and top to bridge joint in compression Now the force of the stings on the saddle add a bit of shear and rotation. so the one force is fighting the other or the compression of the ball end into the bridge plate and top help counter act the shear of the rotational force on the saddle.

With a pin-less bridge both forces that the stings impart are in shear and or rotation. and only the glue joint is fighting this force.

Of course I am referring to pin-less that are only glued on.

Michael, aren't classicals pinless.  Somehow they survive, maybe because the bridges tend to be much wider.  I guess you are suggesting that putting a pinless bridge of the smaller size is not as strong as using pinned bridge.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

In reality, classical bridges are narrower, but the strings are tied, and the stress from the nylon strings is not even close to the stress from steel strings.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

For purposes of a uke then the pinless bridge should be no problem.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I would say that's the case.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

[QUOTE=fmorelli] Classicals don't have 180 lbs of pull.

Doolin and/or Elliot seem to have metal stubs which the ball ends attach to. Do those stubs go through to the bridge plate? If so, then you'd reduce the sheer and corresponding concerns about creep.

Peter a few closer photos of yours, along with information on design inspiration and how yours actually is constructed would be wonderful to hear. Thanks for sharing!

Filippo[/QUOTE]

Filipo,
the posts that hold the strings are anchored through the bridge at an angle and go straight through the bridge plate. Because of that the tension is not on the bridge alone but pulls from the bridge plate. IMO it drives the top better....

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

[QUOTE=Bob Garrish]My design hides the ball ends, as well, though I was considering one where they could be seen. I'm also quite fond of Doolin's design.



[/QUOTE]

Bob, thats one beautiful bridge. Rich

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I read a while back on Fret's.com that Frank wasn't fond of pin
less bridges because he has seen his share of dents in tops when a string breaks. Don't know if that would be an issue with Doolin's style of bridge though.

I really like the look of both Mike Doolin's and Bob's. 

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Allen R. McFarlen
Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
Facebook
Cairns, Australia

yep but much much less tension on the strings