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How to Measure

For ordering a new bridge, or parts for your Traditional Brekke Bridge:

  1. Make sure your action (distance from top of frets to bottom of strings) is set where you like it before measuring.
  2. Measurements are taken on the fingerboard side of the bridge, in the center, from the top of the instrument to the top of the saddle.
  3. We also need to know if your fingerboard is radiused or flat, and whether or not you want the saddle slotted for strings. Also let us know if you need nickel or gold thumbwheels.
  4. Your new bridge will need to be fitted to the top of your instrument.
  5. Every now and then, the action of an instrument needs to be adjusted, sometimes beyond the capability of the new bridge's range of motion. If this happens, give us a call with your current measurements and we will supply you with a new base and/or saddle
Weber Mandolin Saddle Post

General Information on Bridges

Weber Traditional Bridge

We believe our bridge has several major improvements over other traditional bridges.

  • Threaded inserts to attach the saddle securely 
  • This design keeps the saddle from tilting. 
  • When adjusting the thumbwheels, all pressure is directed down against the bridge base instead of up against the saddle as in the older designs. This increases surface contact from thumbwheel to base, giving our instruments a truer tone and increased volume.

We believe these features give the bridge a far more elegant appearance and better mid-frequency transference.

  • To make the bridge easier to use and adjust under string tension, the top half of each thumbwheel has been machined to accept a 5/16" wrench, which is included with the bridge.
  • This bridge may be adjusted under full string tension.

The Shape of our Mandola, Octave, and Mandocello Bridges

To insure proper intonation, the larger bodied mandolin family bridges have a slight 'S' curved shape, running at a gentle angle across the sound board, rather than a straight angle, as with the mandolin bridges. We designed the curved shape for aesthetic reasons as well – to add a graceful look that matches the elegance of the instruments.

When an instrument is strung for the first time, or during a string change, fret work or cleaning, the first outside bass and treble strings should be tightened, and then the bridge base should be pushed down and the saddle tipped back to insure the base has full contact with the top. Repeat with the second bass and treble strings, and then the remaining strings should be installed.