JLD - bridge doctor for acoustic guitars

• Enhances volume
• Flattens 'bellied' soundboards

A unique solution to a common bridge problem, this spruce device attaches beneath a guitar bridge. An adjustable spruce "pressure post" rests against the tailblock, providing leverage to flatten the soundboard.

The spruce block is 3/4" x 1-5/8" x 3-3/8" tall. The 1/4"-diameter tension rod is 9" long. The mounting post has three different positions to accomodate a variety of bridge styles.

Screw mount: This spruce device attaches beneath the bridge via an inlaid screw (a white pearloid dot is included to hide the bridge screw). An adjustable spruce pressure post rests against the tailblock, providing leverage to flatten the soundboard. Better bridge contact and alignment can also enhance sound projection.

Brass pin mount: The pin-mounted version of the JLD Bridge Doctor attaches beneath the bridge using a threaded brass bridge pin. The strings mount horizontally through the tops of the matching brass bridge pins (included).

 We recommend the brass pin mount version for 12-string guitars.

Product Description

JLD Bridge Doctor – Brass Pin Mount Version (recommended for 12 strings)

• The JLD Bridge Doctor Brass Pin Mount version of this product replaces at least one of the traditional bridge pins with a brass item – only one brass pin is needed to secure the JLD Bridge Doctor device within the guitar body. However, six brass pins are supplied in total enabling all the traditional bridge pins to be swapped out if desired, but this is only necessary for cosmetic purposes.

• Following installation, strings are threaded through the tops of the brass pins (more akin to an electric guitar) (rather than wedged-in by bridge pins). Because of this, if you intend to install all 6 of the brass pins, you need to check the distance between the replacement pins and the bridge of the guitar (concentrating in particular on the lower pitch strings) to ensure that the string windings (that secure the ball-ends) will not end up sitting on the bridge (rather than the flat section of the string itself, which would lead to a loss of tone/sustain and a raising of the playing action). If this is likely to be a problem, we have developed some bespoke strings with shortened windings.

• Before you install this version of the JLD Bridge Doctor, it is essential that you check that the strings which you intend to use on the guitar after installation will pass through the pre-drilled holes in the tops of the brass pins, in particular verifying that the windings (that secure the ball ends) are not too wide.

• The JLD Bridge Doctor Brass Pin Mount version of this product is recommended for 12-string guitars (rather than the JLD Bridge DoctorScrew Mount version).

• The JLD Bridge Doctor will need an imperial Allen key for adjusting which is not supplied.

• Installing a JLD Bridge Doctor will change the sound of your guitar, primarily because you are attaching something to the underside of the sound-board – the JLD Bridge Doctor affords extra rigidity to the guitar bridge (which thereby tends to increases sustain, volume and enhances certain harmonics) but impacts the vibration characteristics of the sound-board. The overall effect will differ dependent upon various factors such as the shape and size of the guitar in question and the woods used in its construction. Judging by the reviews we have read on the Internet, the majority appear to be saying that the change in sound is for the better, but any such observations are of course subjective.

• You may find that once the bow in your guitar sound-board has been corrected, the playing action is too low and the bridge needs to be raised. If you would wish to fit a new bridge saddle (rather than insert shims), we can supply a range of Graphtech TUSQ replacements (http://www.graphtech.com/products/brands/tusq) – please contact us with your requirements.

• Don’t be tempted to over-tighten the JLD Bridge Doctor’s dowel sound post upon first installation – be patient, the wood will take time to settle down and become flat again.

• Here’s the best of the “How to fit the JLD Bridge Doctor” videos we could find on the web: http://www.yourepeat.com/watch/?v=Sujkrg6Lhp0