Heritage

[pingu]

Why do some H's have a set-in bridge ?

what are the studs drilled into ? the parrallel bracing maybe ?

[Patrick2]

Originally Posted by pingu

Why do some H's have a set-in bridge ?

what are the studs drilled into ? the parrallel bracing maybe ?

The "set in" bridges on a fully hollow body Heritage are drilled into a "floating" block. A floating block, is a block of wood that it shaped to a perfect fit to the underside of the top/sound board precisely where the posts would be drilled/screwed in to, then glued in place. It's called floating, because it does not go all the way to the bottom, or the back of the guitar. Thus, the guitar remains fully hollow rather than semi solid and semi hollow.

As for the why of it . . it is a different method of transfer of vibration, resulting in a different tonal response.

Guys like Jim Soloway or PTChristopher would be better able than I to answer what those differences might be.

[PTChristopher]

A floating block can be anything from just enough wood to support the bridge, to something like the "waffle board" on a Gretsch 6122, which in practice starts to get closer to a 335 style solid block (even thought it "floats", sort of).

Tonal response can get mechanically complex, but three major characteristics of a bridge that can affect tone are the mass, hardness, and contact area of whatever is supporting the bridge (be it above or below the top).

Depending on how large a floating block is, it can be possible that it will sound very similar to a typical archtop bridge and base if the footprint is not too big.

There are many ways to get the job done, and a floating block can make for a very stable way to attach a bridge while giving the designer a great deal of flexibility.

All in my opinion.

[pingu]

Thanks men .........