How much of the hollowbody deep twang is the raised rosewood bridge support?

[Dave Locher]

I have been thinking a lot lately about what I love about hollowbody guitar sounds, and it mainly comes down to that big, deep twang. (Think Duane Eddy)
The downside, of course, are the body size, cost of the guitars, and possible onstage feedback issues if using a lot of gain. So I have tried various compromises over the years, including building myself a thinline, mostly hollow mahogany body with thin maple top guitar, from scratch. It does not have that magical twang.
While pondering this the other day I realized that the full hollowbodies I've owned that gave that sound have all had the bridge jacked up high off the body and resting on a rosewood support. This leads me to wonder: how much of that "hollowbody" sound is actually a "bridge high off the body resting on a piece of rosewood on top of the body" sound?
Anyone have any answers to this? The certain answer would be either a solidbody guitar that has that style of bridge and does have the deep twang OR hollowbodies that do NOT have that style of bridge but DO give that sound. Thoughts?

 

[AlexR]

Re: How much of the hollowbody deep twang is the raised rosewood bridge support?

Remember too that the reason that the bridge is 'supported' is that it needs something to screw into as the top is only a laminate and really has no ability to hold the abr stud. This disconnected top is perhaps a main reason which brings the guitar much closer to an acoustic in timbre.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: How much of the hollowbody deep twang is the raised rosewood bridge support?

Remember too that the reason that the bridge is 'supported' is that it needs something to screw into as the top is only a laminate and really has no ability to hold the abr stud. This disconnected top is perhaps a main reason which brings the guitar much closer to an acoustic in timbre.

I think the OP is referring to bridges with feet.....

 

[AlexR]

Re: How much of the hollowbody deep twang is the raised rosewood bridge support?

The bridge on a 175 is precisely what I am referring to......the elevated bridge on a full hollow.

 

[chadd]

Re: How much of the hollowbody deep twang is the raised rosewood bridge support?

It has to have a major factor in the softer high end in the attack

 

[Mincer]

Re: How much of the hollowbody deep twang is the raised rosewood bridge support?

I don't know if you can put that twang as a direct result of the bridge, as I've played hollows that don't have it, but more of a classic jazz thud. For instance, I don't think a 175 has it, but others certainly do.

 

[chadd]

Re: How much of the hollowbody deep twang is the raised rosewood bridge support?

I don't know if you can put that twang as a direct result of the bridge, as I've played hollows that don't have it, but more of a classic jazz thud. For instance, I don't think a 175 has it, but others certainly do.

That's the sound that I was thinking of. Using that sound with a fairly bright amp should give what I would call a "deep twang"or fat tele type of tone. Especially if it has P90s.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: How much of the hollowbody deep twang is the raised rosewood bridge support?

And in answer to your question, raising the strings does tend to increase the TWANG. It's not a hard rule - just a general one.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: How much of the hollowbody deep twang is the raised rosewood bridge support?

I think I might experiment with a neck shim and a rosewood bridge base just out of curiosity.