Top-loading bridge
A bridge where the strings are fed through from the front and their ball ends anchor at the bridge itself, rather than passing through the body.
It is simpler to build and quicker to restring, since there is no need to thread strings through the body and no ferrules at the back, and the shorter path reduces the total length of string behind the saddle. The trade is a shallower break angle over the saddle and less string length to anchor, which players often describe as a slightly looser low end compared with a string-through design. Many bridges can be used either way.
Example: a top-loading bridge is convenient for a quick string change on stage, at the cost of some of the firmness a string-through body gives.
See also
Related
- PageHardtail
- PageString-through body
- PageAction
- PageArchtop
- PageB-Bender
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley
- PageAd-Rock