Does anyone know of anyone who could do some set up work on my bouzouki in or near Inverness? If not does anyone know where I can get a new bridge the one that it came with is way too tall. Thanks, Alasdair
I'd check with the local music shops first, but you can do it yourself, you know.
( By the way, what make is it ? I'm assuming it's a floating bridge, not the guitar-type pin bridge )
All you have to do is mark where the bridge stands, using light-tack masking tape and pencil on the soundboard, slacken off the strings slightly, and slide the bridge out. Mark the line you want to sand the bottom down to on both sides of the bridge, and sand by having the paper on a flat surface, and moving the bridge lengthways just a short distance each way. Take care to maintain the correct inclination of the underside. Only sand part of the way, replace and check for progress.
Of course this is slightly more complicated with an arched soundboard - I'm making the assumption that this was an instrument purchased at a distance before you could try it.
Good luck.
For more information on the ideal bouzouki bridge, and this is what I did, look up Red Henry and his work on mandolin bridges. I now follow his patterns,and make my own.
I would add that many stringed instruments come set up too high, and resetting or lowering the bridge saddle is a very standard piece of work - I've done it on all my guitars too.
Dave Freshwater is actually in Beauly, but I don't know if he would be keen to work on instruments which aren't his. I tried to get him to replace the bridge on my mandola a few years ago, without any luck.
Darren at the Music Shop on Church St is very good. Avoid the Music Station like the plague though!!
Yeah I might get Darren to take a look at it. I did work experience there and he installed the pick up on my. don't know if he does floating bridges though
Bouzouki set up in Inverness
Bouzouki set up in Inverness
Does anyone know of anyone who could do some set up work on my bouzouki in or near Inverness? If not does anyone know where I can get a new bridge the one that it came with is way too tall. Thanks, Alasdair
# Posted on February 5th 2010 by Alasdair Paul
Re: Bouzouki set up in Inverness
I'd check with the local music shops first, but you can do it yourself, you know.
( By the way, what make is it ? I'm assuming it's a floating bridge, not the guitar-type pin bridge )
All you have to do is mark where the bridge stands, using light-tack masking tape and pencil on the soundboard, slacken off the strings slightly, and slide the bridge out. Mark the line you want to sand the bottom down to on both sides of the bridge, and sand by having the paper on a flat surface, and moving the bridge lengthways just a short distance each way. Take care to maintain the correct inclination of the underside. Only sand part of the way, replace and check for progress.
Of course this is slightly more complicated with an arched soundboard - I'm making the assumption that this was an instrument purchased at a distance before you could try it.
Good luck.
For more information on the ideal bouzouki bridge, and this is what I did, look up Red Henry and his work on mandolin bridges. I now follow his patterns,and make my own.
# Posted on February 5th 2010 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Bouzouki set up in Inverness
I would add that many stringed instruments come set up too high, and resetting or lowering the bridge saddle is a very standard piece of work - I've done it on all my guitars too.
# Posted on February 5th 2010 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Bouzouki set up in Inverness
Thanks pete I'll give that a try. By the way, all your assumptions were right.
# Posted on February 6th 2010 by Alasdair Paul
Re: Bouzouki set up in Inverness
Dave Freshwater is in Inverness.
www.freshwater-instruments.com
# Posted on February 7th 2010 by seanoteamhnainn
Re: Bouzouki set up in Inverness
Sean, I tried emailing but I didn't get a reply. His instruments look pretty good though.
# Posted on February 8th 2010 by Alasdair Paul
Re: Bouzouki set up in Inverness
Dave Freshwater is actually in Beauly, but I don't know if he would be keen to work on instruments which aren't his. I tried to get him to replace the bridge on my mandola a few years ago, without any luck.
Darren at the Music Shop on Church St is very good. Avoid the Music Station like the plague though!!
# Posted on February 10th 2010 by clavey
Re: Bouzouki set up in Inverness
Yeah I might get Darren to take a look at it. I did work experience there and he installed the pick up on my. don't know if he does floating bridges though
# Posted on February 12th 2010 by Alasdair Paul