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I've got a mid-level Ibanez with a few upgrades. (tuners, Seymour Seth Lover pickup, bone nut, TI Bensons.) The final frontier is the bridge. I have a couple of eBay-quality compensated rosewood bridges, but they're kind of insubstantial and the saddles sit too high on the bases. (One was fitted to the top.)
I'm using the stock uncompensated Ibanez bridge at the moment, which sounds better but won't intonate. I'm looking to see if anyone could recommend a decent quality compensated rosewood bridge. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.
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11-10-2025 11:07 PM
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I too will be looking for a bridge, so maybe the answers will "find" us.
I have a Guild Starfire III which is totally hollow, has a Bigsby Vibrato TP and an aluminum bridge, base and saddle. It sure would be nice to try a wooden bridge, since the guitar is fully hollow and very nice to play.
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Cumberland Acoustics makes one.
Ebony Archtop Guitar Bridge - Cumberland Acoustic
I’ve never used their guitar bridge, but I do use their mandola and mandolin bridges. It’s all very high quality stuff.
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I put one of these on an archtop recently to replace an “incorrect” ebony replacement which didn’t sit flush to the top and was slotted too wide. So far I’m pleased with the result. No sanding or slotting needed in my case, so cheaper and less hassle than taking it for repair. Comes in two finishes and two heights, designed for a wound third. Ymmv …
ResoMax Archtop Bridge Standard and Low Profile
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I have use these on 2 high line Gibson guitars with very good results. Worth considering...
Originally Posted by Bill C
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I found it super easy to install. Pre-slotted, immediate snug fit to the top, with no gaps, and the adjustment wheels move easily. Originally Posted by skiboyny
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I dont know your location but Rall guitar in Germany sells bridges and saddles for a good price.
A bridge with a saddle is under 50 bucks.
Im not a builder but I bougth a compensating saddle (14 euros before shipping). It was well made and fixed my intonation on a non compensating saddle that was on the guitar.
You might just need a new saddle to go your bridge...just a different design to get you to the right height.
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Thanks. I checked that out. I'd like something where the saddle has only minimal contact with the string. I think this one is a "period correct" replacement for early 20th century L series models. Originally Posted by stevo58
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Yeah, I've seen these online. I'm from the "deader the better" school, maybe a little rounder than Tal Farlow. I think my concerns were addressed by this review: Originally Posted by Bill C
"I put this in my 1937 Gibson L-37. It looks cool, finish is nice - but it really doesn’t match the contour of the guitar and there are gaps between the base of the bridge and the body. It sounds different- I’m not sure if it’s better than the stock bridge, maybe a bit more brighter , perhaps a bit more sustain . having said that I put the stickb bridge back on - I wish it fit the guitars body profile better but the gaps better the bridge and the body made it a no go for me."
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There are bridges with feet that claim to be flexible enough to not need adjustment....the supposed to flex a little. Ive no experience with them but it sure beats fussing over it for hours. You didnt mention if this was a carved top or laminated. Its not likely to make a huge difference on a laminated top. On carved tops things change if you look at them funny. If you can find a saddle that has more thickness (so you dont have to crank it to the top) you will save a lot of hassle. They are cheap...heck, you can buy a couple and experiment. Its not hard to thin or thicken the contact area to check out the difference. That, or buy an afforable assembly from someone who also sells extra saddles. You may as well have a party!
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Thanks for this. They had a "polished" rosewood bridge with a "flexible" base that seemed OK. My concern ordering from Europe is all the mess with tariffs, impounds and the like: Originally Posted by Sigmund451
"Effective August 29, 2025, this Executive Order suspends duty-free treatment for low-value shipments (valued at or under $800) from all countries, that would otherwise qualify for duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C)."
Plus they state is can take 40 days to track a lost/missing shipment to the US. So will have to pass.Last edited by buduranus2; 11-13-2025 at 01:19 PM.
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They are probably the same items pointed out elsehwere in the thread. There are way more consumer goods in the US than the EU (Im from the US). Just let your fingers do the walking.
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It's a laminate guitar. My woodworking skills are zero. As I mentioned in my OP, I have a base that was contoured to fit the top, but the saddle sat too high and the string tension pulled it back towards the tailpiece. Looking for something that will give me more clarity on the low E string while preserving that laminate thud. Originally Posted by Sigmund451
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On your low e string are you positive you are not getting fret issues?
I had a couple of notes on mine that just went THUD very badly.
I crowned the offending frets and now its as clear as day.
A sizable flat spot can really kill the notes...also if you need some neck relief
Overall it was a decent fret job but if the person doing it gets in a hurry its easy to slack on the fret edges.
It shouldnt happen but it does.
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Good perspectives and well-received. I think the pickup polepiece height may be the cuplrit. There's only so much you can do with a mid-level Ibanez, but, that said, the other five strings sound pretty good, both in terms of volume and timbre across and up/down the neck. I like a very dry sound on the lower strings. My amp has a parametric EQ, but the lowest frequency is 100Hz while I really need 40Hz. Originally Posted by Sigmund451
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