Guitar Bridges: What's the Difference?
The bridge might not be the most glamorous part of a guitar, but it's crucial to your sound and playability. It affects everything from sustain to string height, and each type brings its own character to your playing. Let's break down the main types you'll find on acoustics and electrics:
On Acoustic Guitars…
Pin Bridges
Walk into any guitar shop and you'll see these everywhere. They're the standard on most steel-string acoustics - six pins holding six strings. Simple, effective, and they let that string vibration ring through the body like it should.
Tie Block Bridges
Got a classical guitar? You've got one of these types of bridges. Instead of pins, you literally tie the strings to the bridge. It works perfectly with nylon strings and gives classical guitars their distinctive warm sound.
On Electric Guitars…
Fixed Bridges
These are for players who want their guitar to stay in tune no matter what. Gibson's Tune-o-matic and Fender's hardtail are the big ones here. Rock-solid tuning, great sustain, no fuss.
Tremolo Bridges
This is where things get fun. From subtle Strat vibrato to full-on Floyd Rose dive bombs, these bridges let you manipulate pitch. Each type has its own character:
Strat-Style
Think Hendrix's subtle warbles
Floyd Rose
Van Halen's screaming dive bombs
Bigsby
That classic rockabilly wobble
Floating Bridges
Jazz guitars love these. The bridge sits loose on the body, held only by string tension. It's a big part of why archtop guitars have that warm, woody jazz tone.
The bridge you choose affects everything - sustain, tone, and most importantly, your sound. Pick one that works for you and get playing!
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