Hollow body builds with Archtop(floating) bridge

[kells80aus]

Hi guys,

has anyone out there built a hollow body, either a GR1-sf, an ES335 style or an ES175 style and used a floating bridge.
I have been planning to use one on my GR1-sf, but have found with the standard neck, I don't have enough rake to put more than about a 5 mm bridge base under a standard tune-o-matic bridge.

While I do have a plan I am not optimistic that I can achieve a decent bridge without reverting to the original bridge post set up.

So what options are there and what have others done to get a floating bridge setup on one of these.

Cheers PK

[gavinturner]

hey PK,
on my 175 the neck was already set and I had very little clearance. however I found that a sorkin bowtie bridge was just the shot. It works well with my bigsby and there havent been any tunign issues etc.

cheers,
Gav.

[kells80aus]

Tks Gav, I'll have a look for one. All the bridges i have seen stand about 20mm high which is about 5 mm too high

PK

[Swanny]

How about making one up? I had one on a Hofner that was 'misplaced' about 25 years ago. I met a bloke who was building acoustic guitars, and he fashioned a bridge for me. It has no height adjustment, though.

[kells80aus]

Tks Swanny,

I am fiddling around with that idea. Basically a reshaped acoustic bridge.
I've also been trying to find the measurements off a sorkin bowtie bridge, Bigsby also make a gold acoustic style low line bridge, but $70USD is a bit too rich for me so close to Xmas.

Cheers PK

[kells80aus]

Hey, Gav,

I've sourced a Sorkin Bow tie. for just under $50. hopping it is low enough to put the strings at a reasonable height. the other issue is it's silver and not gold, there is a Bigsby gold bridge, but could not find any specs for it, and it looks a little thicker than the sorkin. a can of spray paint might get that issue sorted lol

Cheers PK

[stan]

You could always have the base of the bridge gold plated, just to blend it in a bit. Leave the rest silver...

[kells80aus]

Hi Stan

it's all good found a gretch/bigsby bridge in gold. down side is I'll have to build another hollw body so I can use the sorkin bowtie.... LOL

[kells80aus]

PFFFTTTT. can't win a trick with this thing. bought a gold bigsby bridge, a little higher than the Sorkin Bow tie, but at least it's the right colour. Their is a pock mark in one of the bridge slots.
See pick below. looking for ideas on how to manage this.

Cheers PK

[wokkaboy]

Hi PK, I know it's a pain and will delay the build but I'd ask for a replacement from the bridge supplier. Send them a photo and they may let you keep the damaged one you have !