| Reviews and discussion about Bart bridges | |
| Timothy Biernacki (Syracuse, New York) | Thank you for another excellent bridge. I installed it on my '97
Deering Sierra. After playing for a few days, I felt the need to reduce
the downward pressure of the tailpiece to find the "sweet spot". It seems
as if your bridges require less downward pressure from the tailpiece than
other brands. My Deering sounds better than it ever has. I am very
impressed with the consistent quality of your bridges and will gladly
extol the virues of your craftsmanship to other musicians with whom I have
contact. Thank you for a beautiful product. |
| James Sloan (Texas, U.S.A.) | Let me say that my experience dealing with you has been truly wonderful. Not only does the new bridge make my banjo sound exponetially better, but you customer service is probably the best I have ever seen. You dealt with me directly and went out of your way to ensure my happiness with the bridge. This attention to customer satisfaction is greatly appreciated. I will definitely buy all my future bridges from you and I will encourage other players to do the same. |
| Bob Chase (California, U.S.A.) | Happy to report that the bridge arrived today and was quickly installed (my very first bridge installation). Substantial improvement in sound, particularly the base notes. When the check arrives please go ahead and cash and count me as an enthusiastic and happy customer. (Wildwood Troubador, untopped mystery, B weight) |
| Michael Ebsworth (Alberta, Canada) | "I had tried a Sosebee Cotton Mill bridge on my
White Laydie, and it did nothing for me. So I went back to the Grover (I
think) that was formerly on the banjo. Now don't get me wrong; even with
that bridge it's a wonderful banjo, but I had hoped for much more. With
your bridge I have got more -- and I can't imagine it being much better.
The only concern I have is how much louder the bridge makes the banjo, and
it was plenty loud already. So I have to learn a softer clawhammer touch
-- which is a great technical thing to work on.
One mystery I am puzzling over is that the new bridge has lengthened the banjo's scale by approx 1/4" from where it was with the Grover, and at that bridge position the intonation is perfect right up the neck. And the bridge is so responsive to every nuance of touch that it's like playing a new and much more spectacular instrument." (Ed. untopped mystery wood, straight, not compensated). |
| Daniel Hoenish (Illinois, U.S.A.) | "I received the bridge Saturday afternoon. I installed it on my banjo, and couldn't put it down all day yesterday. Turned my fingertips dark green by keeping those finger picks on for so long. My banjo sounds so much nicer than it ever has. The tone is a bit brighter (which is how I like it), and the volume has definitely gotten louder. Also, the bass used to be a bit mushy (if that's a proper way to describe it), but your bridge equalized that beautifully. The definite biggest improvement is, with my last two bridges, the fifth string made a weird metallic sound. It stood out from the other strings more than it should have, in my opinion. With your bridge, that evened it out. I'm telling you, it amazes me that a little piece of wood can do so much. Best $20 I've ever spent. Thank you very much. Oh, and you were right about not needing compensation. Amazingly, the tone is perfect on every string." (Ed. ebony topped mystery wood for Fender FB59) |
| RD Eno (Vermont, U.S.A.) | The XXA 11/16 has brought my banjo alive with a pop and a crackle. I have a couple of Emersons, a Snuffy Smith and the usual assortment of Grovers, but your bridge produces a sound of uncanny clarity -- the creek trickling through a hollow I told you about. I find myself listening to my banjo, hardly aware that I'm playing it. What a pleasure! I put the XXA 5/8 on my c. 1890 Lyon & Healy (Washburn) with nylon strings to coax her from plunk to plink, and she has come out of the shadows -- I know you probably have bridges designed for nylon strings, but I might put wire strings back on this lovely little banjo. (Ed. XXA=mystery wood, mystery topping, A weight. RD was looking for brigh sound) |
| Larry Love (Georgia, U.S.A.) | I'm very pleased with it . It's a lot louder and snappier sound than the snuffy that came with it. Thanks a lot, and I've recommended your bridges to a few of my friends. Thanks for the great service and follow ups too [bridge: mystery with mystery topping, A weight - banjo: Crafters of Tennessee]. |
| Mike Stanger (Idaho, U.S.A.) | 1977 Ode D Model: B weight, untopped mystery
wood, 42 mm spacing.
Ol' Bucket O' Junk, my D, has always been looking for the right bridge. This banjo was very beat up when I bought it, and the neck attachments are still tenuous at best... still lookin' for the right parts! I have used a Gibson, Snuffy, Grover,Prucha, and a no-name and others on it, all without really getting what I knew this banjo could deliver. I tried at least 5 of Bart's bridges on it in all his weights- A, B, and C- and couldn't find one that did the trick, either. Then I found I overlooked one. Whoo... This plain looking bridge had the right stuff! Now the Ode has a big bottom, crystal clear highs, twice the volume, and the sound is explosive when I lean on it. It was like dropping a big block V-8 into a Vanagon! |
| Ty Beecham (Tennessee, U.S.A.) | I do have to admit, I am a born sceptic. I have read the comments on the wood types on your website, and wondered if the type of wood could really make that much of a difference. All I can say to that is WOW!! You could not have described the sound any better from these bridges. I have been through them all already to see which one I like the best. This is going to be a tough decision. I do think I have narrowed it down to maybe the Mystery A or B. I was noticing tonight while playing a little small rattling sound coming from my banjo that I had not noticed before. I had been keeping a few thumb picks on the brackets by the neck. These bridges added so much vibration to the banjo, it was rattling the picks! I did notice the Mystery A was about the same thickness of the Grover I had sanded down, so I did a little side by side comparing. Was not even a comparison in my book. The Grover was kind of hum-drum over the finger board, where the mystery A gave the full rich bass and the right ammount of ring up the neck. I have been sold on your bridges Bart. (banjo: Morgan Monroe Cascade). |
| Bob Gregory (North Carolina, U.S.A.) | [A custom compensated bridge] "the improvement in
the overall sound of the mystery/ebony sample with my current bridge is
amazing. Volume and tone are very consistent all the way up and down the
neck, and the attack/sustain has excellent balance."
"Once I started playing, I couldn't put it down. I played a few minutes on my old bridge first, since it's been a week or so since I picked it up and I wanted to hear the contrast. The intonation is perfect and the overall sound (tone, timbre, balance, etc.) is everything I'd hoped for. Spacing, height - everything is perfect. And as a bonus, it is really a thing of beauty and a joy to behold." |
| Craig Stanley (Ontario, Canada) | the bridge has tons of tone & more sustain than I ever dreamt it would have....Almost TOO much sustain. It will be a great bridge for playing rhythm , chords etc. |
| Jack Kelly (Nova Scotia, Canada) | I received my new bridge in yesterday's mail and I really like the new bold, clear and crisp sound that has emerged from my "Woody." |
| Richard Hocutt (California, U.S.A.) | I just picked up a couple of your banjo bridges (mystery wood, no topping, 5 string, 44mm, steel string, 3 legs, A weight, 5/8 height, non-compensated) from Elderly, 1 for my SS Stewart Universal Fav and 1 for my Vega Style N. I've played and collected banjos for about 30 years (clawhammer; brief detour to bgrass but wasn't seduced by the "dark side" saw the light and went back) and have tinkered with many a bridge in my day. Yours totally blows away any bridge I have ever used!!! The sounds I'm getting out of these banjos are phenomenal...and I didn't have to do anything but put the bridges on! No sanding, shaving etc. Just set them up and play-they are awesome !! After getting the first two, I won't be satisfied until I've set up the rest of the brood!! |
| Roger Vittitoe (Illinois, USA) | As a luthier, I know what works and doesn't....at least I hope I do. I do not have a magic formula for what works on banjos......since each banjo requires individual attention. Over the last couple of years there have been great advancements in bridges. I am a big Snuffy Smith bridge fan, Bill Emerson bridge fan, and Moon Bridge fan. I think the Bart Veerman bridges are at least equal to or are superior to many of those. Bart builds truely custom bridges. You can speak with him over the phone and he can guide you through the bridge you need. He uses very hard wood from his harbour bay resources in northern Canada. At any rate, he is a craftsman like few others. My advice to banjo players who want killer attack is to try the Veerman teak with ebony top. He has harder woods, but that one rings on most Gibbys, Gold Stars, Deerings, and Stellings. His skills are remarkable. |
| Joe Carr, (Texas, USA) | "I would still be playing on that old Grover if not for you and I never would have realized the crisp, clear sound available." |
| Mike St. Thomas (Ontario, Canada) | Yes I did receive the bridge......and it is GREAT. I can't believe the sustain and richness it adds. It adds wonderful sustain up the neck when using a capo. It is one of those things I never realized was missing, because I had never experienced it. I was afraid I might lose the distinctivenes of each note with more sustain but that is not the case. Even my wife (who doesn't listen too closely) commented that my banjo was sounding better (non-comp bridge XEA3 for a Iida 237) |
| Bruce Duncan (Ontario, Canada) | I have been using Bart's mystery wood bridges on two banjos for over a year now. One was custom made with a bump up to raise the fifth string slightly in order to get under it better. It worked perfectly. Both bridges bring out the best in their respective instrument. I recently had Bart craft a mystery wood bridge for a fretless banjo that I had made. Once again the bridge is excellent and brings the instrument to life with clear resonant tones. I would highly recommend a Bart Veerman bridge to any player at any level. |
| Don Couchie (Ontario, Canada) | I am using Bart's custom banjo bridge on my old vega clawhammer banjo and it's never sounded better. I found Bart's service prompt and the workmanship of the highest quality. I would heartly recomend Bart's banjo bridge for any banjo player looking for more tone and volume from their instrument (mystery, compensated & teak for a Wasburn). |
| Mike Connelan (Manitoba, Canada) | My hands are cramped up....I can pick no more...what a difference you have made. You have put that metallic ringing sound into this banjo that was not really there before. I love it. The intonation problems are gone. The bridge itself is the perfect colour for this banjo's wood. Its also symetrical which I didnt think it would be and I love it...best $$ I ever spent.... (mystery wood, compensated for Deering Calico) |
| Robert Christie (Virginia, USA) | It is definitely adding volume and chrispness to the sound. More punch for sure. A banjo's sound is such a personal, nebulous thing, but to me the bridge has made a difference, and one that I'm glad I went for. I loved my Wildwood's sound in general before, and I think that the bridge you made seems to bring out even more of the qualities in it's distinctive sound that I love. So, in short, I am very, very satisfied and pleased! Another way of saying how I "hear" the difference is that it sounds even more like a Wildwood if that makes any sense (mystery wood, solid). |
| Steve Harrison (Illinois, USA) | Bart -- Thanks for putting up with all my fumblings before getting the intonation measurements right. It was well worth it. I received and tested your custom compensator bridge on my White Laydie pot with Waverly Fiberskyn2 head today. It's not often a man of my vintage gets to say "WOW!" in earnest. I swapped my old straight-across bridge with your "Mystery Wood" compensated bridge at least a half-dozen times, just to satisfy my ear that your bridge was, indeed, delivering more of the right stuff to the head. Fuller sound, longer resonance. Outstanding! I'll be recommending your compensated bridges to any who will listen. (mystery wood, solid, compensated) |
| Don Hergert (California, USA) | At first glance, Bart's compensated bridges look ethereal, almost warped, or perhaps like the builder had severe myopia in just one eye and had broken his glasses. But don't let the look of these bridges scare you... The compensation that Bart builds into these bridges is for just the right strings at just the right places. That compensation is typically not symmetrical between the strings, which is an incorrect assumption that most other compensated bridge builders make. If you use his methods for measuring your banjo's bridge layout, it will be a custom fit bridge unlike anything you can get anywhere else. |
| Morris Bell (Ontario, Canada) | "I love the sound. I couldn't believe how it could improve so much, especially up the neck. If I were limited to using only one word to describe the tone of my banjo as it is now, it would be 'punch'." (solid maple bridge, compensated, banjo: Ode, model D) |
| Cary Fries (North Dakota, USA) | Compensated "Mystery" wood bridge...no ebony, on
a standard Deering Goodtime. While charting the sweet spot for my stock
bridge and checking chimed versus fretted notes on the twelfth fret, I was
surprised to find just how "off" my intonation was. It was as much as
three millimeters on the third and fourth strings!
Upon setting up the new bridge, I found it definitely works as advertised! It seems to have added some "bark" to the banjo, and I like it's funky look - it's like a folksy work of art. The wood nearly matches my blonde Goodtime too. The banjo now has more dynamic range...I was plunking on a few strings lightly and hit a chord vigorously and the result startled me...it was loud! Plus, it now has added sustain. I have the head pretty tight, so I consider this to be a bonus. Above all, the intonation is now spot on! Thanks Bart! Excellent work. I am more than happy with my new bridge. |
| Wayne Norman (New York, USA) | "Yes, I have had some time this week to use the bridge. I have made comparisons by changing up with a regular Grover and yours, over and over, and on two different banjos. The intonation is perfect." |
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