Pinless bridge

[Dave Bagwill]

Here is an interesting picture, of an older guitar that has had no problems with the pinless bridge. The thing to notice is that it is a steel-string guitar, yet check out the bridge.

You experienced guys: your thoughts please?
Thanks

[TonyinNYC]

Seems the builder had classical influences!

[Dave Bagwill]

Actually, I should have mentioned - the company built both classical and SS. Levin guitar co? something like that.

I like the look, belly-style bridges can get a little boring.

[John Parchem]

Supposedly it should work without the dowels. I have had no problem on my classical designs. I also have a 13 year old Ovation folklore with a pin less bridge that has had no problems. The bridge in the picture is a classical guitar bride. I guess my concern is that I see a lot of Luthiers that do not use pinless bridges on steel string guitars. Pinless is the exception

John

[Dave Bagwill]

John - it is true that pinless is the exception; but some of the exceptions are noteworthy, such as Lowden, Ovation, Doolin and others. So that gives me a little more confidence. I'm also following your bass project closely and with interest, that pinless bridge is a bold move!

[Bob Matthews]

I have not built any pinless bridge guitars (have owned a few tho) so I'm not really qualified to comment, but the way I see it is that a pinless bridge is in reality no different that than a pinned bridge in the forces that are applied to the soundboard. Do we expect the pins in a pinned bridge to act as dowels holding the bridge in place? I think not, the pins are there to hold the strings in place and are not a structural (I have taken the pins out of guitars at full tension - slotted of course - and they still play great), the bridge is bonded to the soundboard and we want to torque that bridge to stress the soundboard and amplify the input of the strings. Admittedly, the pulling force of a pinless bridge is more lateral due to the fact that the strings are pulling at the extremity of the bridge, whereas in the pinned bridge the forces are pulling roughly 3/4 of the bridge width and also apply a degree of not insignificant downforce, therefore holding it on to the guitar top better than a pinless design.

TBH, I can't honestly say as I have not experimented enough, but I do know one thing, I like pinned bridges! BG

Bob

[Tim Benware]

If I'm right I think that bridge is 7 or 7 1/4". Could be the extra gluing surface spreads the tension more evenly. I don't know though.