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Bridge (Instrument)A bridge is the part of a guitar, bass or other stringed instrument where the strings join the body of the instrument. There are many different guitar bridge designs, some of which are fairly cumbersome. However, many benefit from modern design, manufacturing techniques, and materials. Bridges can be divided into two main groups, "tremolo" and "non-tremolo" (also called hardtail). Tremolo bridges have an arm (called the tremolo or whammy bar) that extends from below the string anchoring point. It acts as a lever that the player can push onto strings to change the tension and, as a result, the pitch. On the other hand, non-tremolo bridges supply an anchoring point for the strings but provide no active control over string tension or pitch. Both bridges have advantages, depending on the playing style, but in general, a non-tremolo bridge is thought to provide better tuning stability and a solid contact between the guitar body and the strings. Tremolo Generally, the more contact the bridge has with the body (i.e. the lower the position), the better the sound transfer will be into the body. A warmer sound with increased sustain is the result. Tremolo bridges usually need to be suspended in some way, which reduces contact. Most tremolo designs today use a group of springs in the guitar body, which oppose the tension of the strings. Some players feel that the vibration of the springs affects resonance in a way that makes the guitar sound better; others disagree. Naturally, it all depends on personal preference and the musical style of the individual player. Since many playing styles make use of a tremolo obligatory, most solid-body guitars today are manufactured with one of two kinds of tremolos: - Non-locking (or vintage) tremolos are the bridges we see on traditional three pickup guitars. For most playing styles, vintage tremolos are a good choice because they are easy to use and maintain, offer good sound transfer and have very few parts. Another type of tremolo is the locking tremolo. These bridges have a sort of vise in each saddle which clamps the string into place (usually with an Allan Key). The end of the string has a clamp, which holds the string in place, stopping it from slipping, which is especially useful for songs that require tapping or heavy/hard playing styles. Once set up for tuning stability, locking tremolos are very good. However, their fulcrum points offer extremely minute contact with the body, which may disturb sound transfer. Non-Tremolo It is generally understood that non-tremolo bridges offer better transfer of string vibration into the body. This is due to direct contact of the bridge to the guitar's body. These bridges are bolted directly to the guitar body and, assuming good quality, limit string movement completely. This way, tuning stability is assured. The improved transfer of string vibration into the body has an effect on the sound, so guitars with this type of bridge have different characteristics than those with tremolos even when it is removed. There are no springs in the body or a cavity to accommodate them, which also affects resonance.
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