It wasn't just my ears !! On my banjo, the Dark Star sounds bright, yet with a full, rich tone. Clear, great bass, clear highs and loud. Figured was worth a shot. After installing the bridge on my Recording King RK25, the bridge brighten the banjo up enough to move it up a couple of spaces in my herd of banjos. How refreshing it was to see no diva in these incredibly talented girls. I was a little apprehensive about trying a different bridge on myStellingCrusader because I was very happy with my roasted one. The Tone has improved greatly. I needed a 4-string bridge with a special height (3/4") and spacing (41mm), and I'd had one of Bart's two-footers before (that one doesn't fit in this application), so I knew what I was getting. I believe he calls these bridges 'organic' because of the appearance. Great product if you are looking to brighten up your tone. So I guess this bridge is just lacking. Both sound great, but I would go with the lightweight for both if I had to pick again. I have only had them on for a week at this point they are definitely keepers with a lot of the same strengths as the others; clean, clear and strong. But Don's Bigfoot does not create a sense of muffled to me, just sweet, full, and mellow. put this bridge on japanese made (late 70's) iida model 235-1. banjo looks exactly like goldstarFE100. I had been running a Scorpion on it and was very satisfied with its almost-tubby Mastertone sound. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. Dylan McKnight is a tall man. But the response, Bass and fizz is exceptional. The biggest improvement was up the neckall the way up. I just received a 3 pack of Don's banjo bridges. Red maple is not as hard as most of the bridges being made today. I currently have them on an RK-35 and an old Alvarez Montana. Especially on a Huber. I am extremely pleased with the look and sound the Dark Star has brought to my banjo. I want to make it clear that this bridge is not a miracle cure for larger tonal/structural issues. In short order the bridges arrived and I was impressed and pleased with the materials and precision design and workmanship. I'm currently playing the head just above a G#. Very happy with the entire transaction.. thanks. Detective Purcell graduated from the 112th. Rachels forays into musical theater, piano and singing had a big influence on Sammie. I was pleasantly surprised by how much this bridge mellowed out the sound of my banjo. Im sure some of that comes from not playing much up the neck. The only other banjo I rally had to compare it to that I had actually played were an RK-35 (that sounded 'angrier' to me if that makes sense, and fatter) and my buddy's Goodtime 2. people learn more about others, just like Yelp does for I also have an afromosia/katalox bridge from David on an RK-35. These bridges improved the volume,tone and color of both banjos. The price was about the same as you'd pay for any custom bridge, but considering that this bridge is hand carved as opposed to made with machine tools (drills, saws), it's actually inexpensive for the craftsmanship and work that went into it. I am really pleased with the bridge. Bought this bridge in 5/8" height w/ Crowe spacing for my Pisgah 12" Cherry Dobson mounted w/ J. Balch 4 Star select goatskin head. I wasn't sure what to expect out of Locust, but what I got was something new almost haunting in G minor tuning. Wouldn't want to take it to a BG jam, but it wasn't designed for that. I'm using it on an Ome right now that is unique in that it has the spun brass ring usually found in the Ome jazz style banjos. Read More . This review is for a 9/ 16" , A weight, three leg, ebony topped, mystery wood bridge with 46mm spacing. After discussing different tones, options and the type of banjo I'm playing, Tim made me a locust bridge with an ebony cap in 7/8" height. Currently, Samantha lives in Smyrna, GA. Pamela Staton, Derek Underwood, Steve Rodgers, Diamond Underwood and Eugene Hooper, and many others are family members and associates of Samantha. I used to slant my bridge, and that would choke off the sustain a little bit. I love to tinker around and experiment to get the best from all my instruments and 5 string banjos are perfect for experimenting with. Uncovered Music Of Tim Purcell. I worried about it affecting the harmonics, but no issues there, and what tone! He is also very friendly and great to talk to on the phone. Facebook gives people the power to. His customer service is superb. But it will stay on for a while, and I am enjoying the shifts that it has brought to the instrument in terms of playability and sound. I end up get a bridge with slightly wider than Crowe spacing in 9/16th height to raise the action of the banjo. WOW, Tremendous improvement in sound. After some other tweaks, I actually decided that I liked the first one better, and Bart was extremely patient and flexible through the entire process. He is also fun to work with, very approachable and having good sense of humour. However, Barts response time is excellent. WellI told Bart I'd do a review on the 3 bridges he sent me so it's time I got off my kiester and did so since I've had them for probably 5-6 weeks already. Save money and go directly for it, instead of buying a bunch of other bridges first. Itis a supernatural creature who haunted Amelia and her son Samuel. Selection: Bart offers a wide variety of bridge styles with a long list of options to customize each bridge order. The rim is all Central American rosewood, and it has no metal tone ring. I am still stunned that a little hunk of wood, can change the sound of a banjo that much..all on the positive side. Sacrifice bass for treble, or vice versa. Web: http://www.dcbanjoworks.com/. Excellent bridge. The bridges sound rather average and unappealing when first installed - it takes a little while being installed and picked to really shine. I inquired to David about a replacement bridge for a StellingWhitestar. Great job Mike!!!Brian. Where Purchased: http://www.purcell-banjo-bridges.com. You couldn't ask for a more reasonable policy: order and test, then pay. He will build it and have it shipped in no time. Learn more in our Privacy Policy. As I remember it was about $35, and worth every penny. The banjo sounded a bit thin on tone and didn't have good bass response, so I figured it was that it was new and needed to settle in. The best suit is custom made by a master tailor, thebest banjo bridge you can get is made by the master bridge maker, Bart Veerman. She was a student of Amy Wallace, The Mustangs incredibly talented female lead singer and Director of Fine Arts at North Cobb Christian School. The notes seem clearer on the low end than before. We endeavored to keep the band going during the months Maggie was home from college. I chose the new Select Maple bridge with 5/8 height and Crowe spacing from Tim Purcell. I could still live with the two other excellent bridges I have used until now but this new bridge has added something to the sound of my banjo that makes me want to play more often. I like this banjo in that it's response readily allows me to switch from standard Scruggs style Bluegrass playing to plectrum style playing: I've played that style since I was a kid. The "archie" by Bart Veerman brought this banjo to its potential. And lo and behold, it sounds great. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. Very nice "no-sag" Red Maple 5/8"bridge with ebony top. I like that bridge very much. I am pretty sure that part of his success in this design is that he creates a very slight radius on the feet to match the sag of the banjo head. The old birch has even more bass. The highs were more or less unchanged from my previous bridge but the mids and lows took on a really rich timbre, with a 4th string that will make my liver quiver when I hit it right. Sound was more balanced from high to low over the stock Deering bridge. I've always felt the sound was only decent at best, somewhat lacking in complexity and tone. Give one a try if you have not already! I replaced the original bridge on my Scruggs Deluxe with the Sosbee Red Maple Bridge. Along with all the 5 string bluegrass bridges he's made for me, he recently made me an 1890's 2 footed classic style bridge, to spec per my measurements. Although, others may perceive a minor reduction in volume, I believe this is due to the banjo being less 'harsh'. A banjo can be twangy and sweet- it doesn't have to cut glass. I would describe the overall sound as full and balanced. I was looking for a bridge to shave a little shrillness off the top end of my Goldtone WL-250 and this one pretty much does the trick. I put this on a maple Gibson five string. Don't throw that good bridge away just because it has a little damage. t***@ar-mech.com. I got improved clarity, and a big improvement in tone and volume. I KNOW EACH BANJO HAS THEIR OWN CHARACTERISTICS BUT THESE BRIDGES GIVE IT THE BEST CHANCE. NIce and quiet in the hotel room etc. I contacted Steve,told him about my banjo and he suggested aroasted maple base with an ebony top weighing around 2.25 grams. Now, after you've done your homework you can sit back and wait for a beautiful well designed and expertly crafted bridge to arrive. 3. I wasn't unhappy with my sound, but I'm always open to something that will help out. Thanks Danny! What if both were good singers? The sound had a slightly "rounder" tone and plenty of punch up the neck. David indicated that he had Cherry in both Brazilian and American varieties and generously offered to make a bridge from each one for me to try out. There are many good bridges and giving a "9" to Sullivan's new Roasted Factory Bridge means that it is one of the best bridges for tonality and the criteria usually sought after in a bridge. These bridges have the Mana (power). Thank you, Donald (Zepp) for introducing them to me!Craig (frailin). Posted on Oct 3rd, 2020, 5:11 PM . They are very cleverly cut, very inventively made, and very effective on my various banjos. By bass, I don't mean mellow or plucky. I'm about out of wind. This bridge was made by Don New, who is a superb craftsman, probably best-known for his dam spillway bridges. My preference has been something that delivers the brightness that my banjo was made for - or should I say, not diminish the banjo's brightness.But the Bigfoot delivers a very unique sound to my ears. This Beech wood is a great formula for a banjo bridge. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. I am sure there are many good Bridges out there but for me it is "Snuffy Smith". and Pete Wernick's tone in general although they sound different on different recordings. It was a pleasure to deal with him. View the profiles of people named Tim Purcell. And Danny will bend over backwards to get you what you want. It is beautifully made and really brings out a fuller sound from my banjo--highly recommended! I sent my findings to Bart. A good friend of mine from Springfield, IL had met this fellow and turned me on to his work-in a word awesome! I emailed Tim and explained that I know little about my banjo but knew it was time for a bridge. A replacement bridge for a bridge his work-in a word awesome sound had a big influence on Sammie that... When first installed - it takes a little apprehensive about trying a different bridge on japanese made ( 70! 'Harsh ' very cleverly cut, very approachable and having good sense of muffled to me Craig... 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