The Brekke Bridge

Ever since Loyd Loar patented the adjustable bridge in the 1920's there have
been few improvements of his basic design. Sure folks have tried bigger and
smaller screw columns of different metals and different wood combinations,
but the bridge has always had a metal column with circular wheels to adjust
the bridge's height. Enter Vern Brekke and his new bridge. This is the first
really new patented adjustable design in 70 years!

What makes Brekke's bridge so revolutionary is that he's gotten rid of the
metal. Unlike standard adjustable bridges that transfer vibrational energy
from wood to metal and then back to wood, and finally to the top of the
instrument; the Brekke bridge transfers energy from one solid piece of ebony
to another solid piece and then to an ebony base and finally into the
instrument top. Since the bridge is made of the same solid wood throughout
there is no energy loss caused by passing vibrations from wood to metal and
then back to wood. Since metal and wood have different resonant frequencies
this wood-metal-wood path acts as a filter, limiting the transfer of the
entire frequency spectrum. With the Brekke bridge there is less energy loss.
It's more like a solid wooden bridge, but unlike a solid bridge you can
adjust the string height.

Not only does the Brekke bridge theoretically permit superior energy
transfer, but unlike screw wheel adjustable bridges, you can change string
height while the instrument's strings are under full tension. If you look at
the bridge diagram, you can see how the set screws turn. Not only is it easy
to access these screws, but they will turn easily even if the mandolin is
fully tuned up to concert pitch. If you need to make a slight adjustment due
to atmospheric changes, you can do it, even mid-concert!

The Brekke bridge is relatively simple to install. There are two different
height bases and two different height saddles. Some combination of these four
elements can accommodate almost any mandolin on earth. Also both flat and
radiused saddles are available. As long as you accurately measure the
distance from you instrument's top to the top of its current bridge you'll
get a properly sized Brekke bridge.

You will have to make some adjustments to the bridge base to insure a good
contact with the instrument top. Frank Ford's website http://frets.com has a
fine tutorial on how to accurately sand down a bridge base. If you don't like
woodworking projects you can always have your friendly neighborhood luthier
do the job. I did it myself in about thirty minutes, and I'm a bona fide
termite when it comes to carpentry. Also the Brekke bridge saddles come
without any string slots (so you can put the strings exactly where they
should be for your particular instrument and personal tastes). I put in my
own slots with a jeweler's file. Again your luthier can do it for you for a
small fee.

How does a Brekke bridge sound? More like wood. I tried Brekke bridges on
both my Summit Artist F, and Ratliff R-5 mandolins. On both instruments the
sonic effect was similar. Not only did they gain volume and dynamic power,
but bass extension increased. There were harmonic changes as well. Both
instruments had more lower midrange energy. There was a reduction of brittle
harmonic edge of odd-order upper harmonics. It was as if they had been put
into a time capsule and "aged". Also sustain, especially on the lower
strings, increased with the Brekke bridge. Overall, the Brekke bridge is
sonically marvelous. Not only do both my mandolins sound better, but they are
far easier to adjust.

My only criticism of the Brekke bridge is that when you first put it on it
may not initially sound as good as the original bridge. This is because it
takes a mandolin about an hour of playing time to "wake up" after you take
off all the strings and take the time to sand down the bridge base to fit
properly. The hour or so it took for me to sand the base and cut the string
slots was enough time for both my mandos to "go to sleep"(I'm told that
violins also can go to sleep if not played regularly and kept under full
string tension). Once the mandos woke up it was clear that the Brekke bridge
was a marked improvement over the stock bridges. The Summit especially
benefited from the Brekke. It is now a certifiable "banjo-killer".

Brekke bridges are made exclusively by Sound to Earth (Weber) mandolins. They are available through any dealer who carries Weber mandolins. Retail price is $60 for a mandolin bridge and $75 for a mandola bridge (Which also fit on archtop guitars. I'm having one put on my 1937 Gibson L-5). While they are a special-order item since they must matched to your instrument's optimum bridge height, the components are always in stock at Sound to Earth. Normal order time can be as little as five days. For more information you can check out Sound to Earth's website at http://soundtoearth.com or call them at 888-886-7598.