Bridge plate holes

[therbulus]

As far as I know, an original bridge plate does not have notches in the holes. Would they be helpful to better anchor the strings (as seen in the Platemate)?

[warfrat73]

It depends on the guitar. Some guitars come slotted and some don't.

Many people mod their Martins by slotting the bridge. It does hold the ball ends better, and some people suggest that it improves tone.

[therbulus]

Originally Posted by warfrat73

It depends on the guitar. Some guitars come slotted and some don't.

Many people mod their Martins by slotting the bridge. It does hold the ball ends better, and some people suggest that it improves tone.

Sorry, I wasn't thinking about the bridge itself but the bridge plate INSIDE, underneath the top.

[JayBee1404]

Collings and, IIRC, Bourgeois slot the bridge-pin holes. There may be others that slot the holes, but it’s a fact that, apart from Authentics, Martin pin-holes are unslotted.

I slot the pin holes in any guitar that comes into ownership unslotted - nothing to to with ‘improving tone’ (I don’t perceive any tonal change), and everything to do with bridge-plate preservation.

As always, the standard disclaimer applies - IMHO. However, I realise that YMMV, and I’m cool with that.

[phavriluk]

Here's my opinions: Slotted bridges are seen most commonly among higher-end instruments whose build quality extends to where we can't see. Factories, ever interested in profitability, found they could skip the slotting of the bridges by using slotted pins. Saves an operation, saves a buck, as a Famous Traditional Guitar Builder skips tapering the bridge pin holes. These folks even do both, skip slotting the bridges and tapering their bridge pin holes.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by therbulus

Sorry, I wasn't thinking about the bridge itself but the bridge plate INSIDE, underneath the top.

When the bridge is slotted, the plate is also slotted (or ‘notched’ as you describe it). The ‘notch’ is the bottom of the slot.

[therbulus]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

When the bridge is slotted, the plate is also slotted (or ‘notched’ as you describe it). The ‘notch’ is the bottom of the slot.

Ah, got it. Thanks.

[therbulus]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

When the bridge is slotted, the plate is also slotted (or ‘notched’ as you describe it). The ‘notch’ is the bottom of the slot.

So...if a person has an unslotted bridge and changes that (as one of the other posts said), does he also have to slot the bridge plate? If so, isn't that a much more difficult job?

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by therbulus

So...if a person has an unslotted bridge and changes that (as one of the other posts said), does he also have to slot the bridge plate? If so, isn't that a much more difficult job?

Yes, the act of slotting the pin-hole includes the bridge-plate (think about it - sawing a slot in the pin hole automatically, and necessarily slots the bridgeplate).

No, it isn’t ‘a much more difficult job’. In fact, it is part of the slot, and slotting just the bridge without slotting the plate would actually be far more difficult (and pointless!).

[JayBee1404]

Here ya go, all explained here….

https://www.stewmac.com/video-and-id...hole-slotting/

https://www.bryankimsey.com/bridges/slotted.htm

[therbulus]

The simultaneous slotting makes sense. Thanks for the extra info!

[29er]

I just performed this mod on my Seagull mini jumbo and I'm pleased. Huge increase in sustain and a nice increase in volume and treble response. I became curious about this mod when I discovered that my Waterloo had solid pins and a slotted/ramped bridge. I'll be doing this to my other flat tops as well.

[RoyBoy]

As I debated doing this to my D18, I read a few threads on the topic. The consensus was that the biggest advantage is that it reduces wear and tear on the bridge plate over the long run. Some get so chewed up over the decades that the bridge plate has to be removed and replaced.

The jury is still out on whether or not there is an improvement in volume or tone. At least it was on the threads I read.

[phavriluk]

I've always thought that slotting the bridge resolved a manufacturing shortcut.

[29er]

Originally Posted by RoyBoy

As I debated doing this to my D18, I read a few threads on the topic. The consensus was that the biggest advantage is that it reduces wear and tear on the bridge plate over the long run. Some get so chewed up over the decades that the bridge plate has to be removed and replaced.

The jury is still out on whether or not there is an improvement in volume or tone. At least it was on the threads I read.

I don't doubt this at all but I know the difference it made in my particular Seagull was very noticeable. I have two other less expensive guitars that I will do this work to (Recording King ROS-627 and my Voyage Air VAOM-04) The Waterloo, of course, received this slotting at the Collings factory and I'm thinking they do this process on their guitars because it works and they know a little bit about making a guitar work.