The above shows the effects of string tension on a typical guitar.
There is a pronounced bow behind the bridge and a dip in front
of it. The saddle has been filed down to keep the action playable
as the top has come up. Because the bridge pin holes are almost
even with the top of the saddle, the strings don't exert much
downward force on the top. This guitar is hard to play and has a weak, thin tone. |
Above is the same guitar with a JLD Bridge Doctor being installed.
The bridge pins have been replaced with a set of pins similar to the one shown at left. The JLD Bridge Doctor has been inserted through the soundhole and is held in place by one of the new bridge pins which has been threaded into the top of the Bridge Doctor. A small locknut keeps the additional pins in place. Strings now pass through holes in the sides of the pins instead of being inserted into the bridge pin holes. |
Here, the JLD Bridge Doctor has been adjusted to counteract the
pull of the strings and the warpage of the top. The top is permanently
flat and a playable action has been restored. The strings exert
proper downward pressure on the saddle - enabling them to transmit
more vibration to the instrument. The Bridge Doctor is also acting
as a soundpost - transferring string vibration to the body woods
directly from the bridge. The guitar is completely unmodified and is not only easy to play, it will now have more volume and sustain and a richer tone than it ever has before. Look inside any Breedlove Guitar and you'll see a JLD Bridge System. |