BridgesBridgesDifferent bridges were experimented with, these had a significant effect on the output sound, metal and plastic do produce some quite harsh sounds. The cutting of the notches in the bridge/nutt is quite important to avoid nasty rattling noises. The length of the strings is also quite critical for the tuning. If the string lengths are different/incorrect then the fingering on the different strings is different. Some electric guitars have a sliding bridge on each string to get around this.
From a book by Paola Peter Longo.
To gain a fuller tone, have increased pressure on the bridge. If the force is too great, sound will appear to be stifled. Thin metal strings possess greater tension than gut strings for the same pitch.As you can see from the diagram, greater pressure on the bridge can be achieved
by increasing the angle of the strings to the top of the bridge. I am not sure
how much effect this has on violins where the body is not the amplification
method. The increased pressure also makes the bridge more stable.
Suggested material for bridges from Paola is maple. If too rigid then high notes dominate, if too elastic then energy/amplitude is lost. This explains the results of the metal/plastic bridges as from above.
Modern electric violins typically have the pickups built into the bridge. A bridge seen recently was made of a laminate and the strings were isolated from each other by having the bridge divided into sections like the castlations around the top of a turret.
