ZEPP Country Music

P.O. Box 306
Wendell, NC 27591-0306

Home Page

5-String Banjo Bridges

Click here for instructions on correctly placing a banjo bridge

Randy Stockwell's Stockwell Moon brand Bridges
These are excellent bridges--I have them on all my personal banjos. Moon brand Bridges are carefully constructed on a 4-inch radius to provide compensation of intonation, and have the following additional innovative features:
They have a slight arch on the top of the bridge to compensate for the natural sag that the string pressure causes.
The bridges are higher on the bass side than the treble side to allow more clearance for the bass strings.
The tip is made of a special grade of Ebonex .
The bridge angles forward to maintain correct foot pressure
The foot is tapered, being heavier on the bass side than the treble side (as is the tip to a lesser degree) to improve frequency response.
The natural shape makes it nearly impossible to tip over (ever think you've been shot when your bridge goes down?).

These bridges are available in three heights (1/2-, 5/8-, and 11/16-inch) and three thicknesses (Light, Medium, and Heavy), and are available slotted (1.7 inch) or unslotted. The thickness (weight) of the bridge can have significant effect on the tone of the instrument. BUT not only is the tone desired subjective, such that not everyone likes the same thing, the type of banjo and tone ring greatly influence what weight of bridge will sound best to the user. E.g., I like a heavy bridge with rolled brass, Electric (aka Whyte Laydie), or wooden tone rings (on 12" banjos), but I like the Mediums on Tu-Ba-Phones, and Light bridges on arch tops and Goodtime banjos!

You can hear the differences among these weights in these three sound files. They were recorded seconds apart on the same banjo (A Ramsey Fairbanks Electric), played as closely alike as I am humanly capable of doing, i.e., the only thing I tried to change was the bridge:

Moon brand Light.
Moon brand Medium.
Moon brand Heavy.
Please remember that tonal comparisons of these three thickness are only valid on this particular banjo--different tone rings, etc., will greatly affect the tonal differences!
In October, 2003, I received a Lee Ovilla with a Tony Pass "Lost Timbre"12-inch pot with a wooden tone rim; I recorded the instrument with its stock bridge, and the next morning, I installed the purchaser's requested Moon brand 5/8 heavy bridge, and recorded it again, playing the same tune (Lost Indian), but a little faster (hey, I'd had a good night's sleep). I think anyone can hear how the Moon brand fills out all the tones, giving real body and substance to the highs as well as the abundant lows of this powerful pot!

To purchase Randy Stockwell Moon brand bridges, I recommend Elderly Instruments.: These are excellent bridges--I have them on all my personal banjos. Moon brand Bridges are carefully constructed on a 4-inch radius to provide compensation of intonation, and have the following additional innovative features:
They have a slight arch on the top of the bridge to compensate for the natural sag that the string pressure causes.
The bridges are higher on the bass side than the treble side to allow more clearance for the bass strings.
The tip is made of a special grade of Ebonex .
The bridge angles forward to maintain correct foot pressure
The foot is tapered, being heavier on the bass side than the treble side (as is the tip to a lesser degree) to improve frequency response.
The natural shape makes it nearly impossible to tip over (ever think you've been shot when your bridge goes down?).; These bridges are available in three heights (1/2-, 5/8-, and 11/16-inch) and three thicknesses (Light, Medium, and Heavy), and are available slotted (1.7 inch) or unslotted. The thickness (weight) of the bridge can have significant effect on the tone of the instrument. BUT not only is the tone desired subjective, such that not everyone likes the same thing, the type of banjo and tone ring greatly influence what weight of bridge will sound best to the user. E.g., I like a heavy bridge with rolled brass, Electric (aka Whyte Laydie), or wooden tone rings (on 12" banjos), but I like the Mediums on Tu-Ba-Phones, and Light bridges on arch tops and Goodtime banjos!; You can hear the differences among these weights in these three sound files. They were recorded seconds apart on the same banjo (A Ramsey Fairbanks Electric), played as closely alike as I am humanly capable of doing, i.e., the only thing I tried to change was the bridge:

Moon brand Light.
Moon brand Medium.
Moon brand Heavy.
Please remember that tonal comparisons of these three thickness are only valid on this particular banjo--different tone rings, etc., will greatly affect the tonal differences!
In October, 2003, I received a Lee Ovilla with a Tony Pass "Lost Timbre"12-inch pot with a wooden tone rim; I recorded the instrument with its stock bridge, and the next morning, I installed the purchaser's requested Moon brand 5/8 heavy bridge, and recorded it again, playing the same tune (Lost Indian), but a little faster (hey, I'd had a good night's sleep). I think anyone can hear how the Moon brand fills out all the tones, giving real body and substance to the highs as well as the abundant lows of this powerful pot!; To purchase Randy Stockwell Moon brand bridges, I recommend Elderly Instruments.

Click here for instructions on correctly placing a banjo bridge

Home Page

ZEPP Country Music

P.O. Box 306 Wendell, NC 27591-0306

P.O. Box 306
Wendell, NC 27591-0306