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Topic: Brass for lap bridge?? |
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 12 May 2007 10:26 am |
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| Many have stainless steel, but anyone here have a good sounding lap steel that has a brass bridge on it?? What have you noticed pro or con about brass as opposed to steel. |
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Roger Shackelton
From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
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Posted 12 May 2007 10:45 am
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| The Harmos Hawaiian model steel guitar has a Bronze bridge and nut, which may be similar to brass. They have sound samples on their web site. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 12 May 2007 11:41 am
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Bill, the Rickenbacher frypans from the thirties have brass bridges and nuts, chrome plated. I made some a few years ago for replacements.
I made a couple bridges for bakelites also, by copying the original bakelite bridge, and machining the new one from brass, then chromed. I have one on my 7 string, and I made one for Derrick Mau's 7 string. Sort of labor intensive to copy the bakelite bridge though. Hope this helps.
Regards BILL |
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 12 May 2007 12:44 pm
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| Herb Remington uses brass on his Playboy steel, maybe others. He has a source for parts too. |
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Mark White
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 12 May 2007 12:49 pm
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Georgeboard's have a brass bridge and nut.
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Randy Cordle
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 12 May 2007 6:57 pm
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BRASS! Oh yeah!
Seriously, It's a good combination of workability, wearability, takes a nice natural shine, and has the right density for good coupling to the body without the hard "edge" that stainless imparts. I've used stainless, and I like the look but not the sound. Temper this with the knowledge that a solid coupling to the instrument is truly half the battle, though. Brass for bridge and nut coupled to a nice hardwood body will take you a long way towards a great sounding instrument.
_________________
www.Bluestemstrings.com |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 13 May 2007 11:21 am
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Ditto to what Randy said  |
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Roman Sonnleitner
From:
Vienna, Austria
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Posted 13 May 2007 12:47 pm
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From the Glendale site: http://www.glendaleguitars.com/saddles.htm
(about Tele saddles, but the basic principles also apply to lap steels, of course):
"Brass has a very nice balanced tone.
Aluminum adds highs and cuts out mids without losing the low end.
Stainless Steel adds a nice mid tone more pronounced than brass. ( funky Jerry Reed tone)
Heat Treated Steel also adds a nice mid tone like the stainless but a little wormer. ( Bakersfield Roy Nichols and Don Rich tone)
Titanium is a very light weight and hard material you might think it would sound similar to Aluminum, but the sound is much more similar to Brass and also adds a little sparkle to the high end." |
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