August 30, 2009
BRIDGE MAY TEND TO LEAN AND EVENTUALLY WARP
Gut or perlon strings and also the tailgut holding the tailpiece to the endbutton are to some degree continually stretching as the strings are tightened and brought up to pitch (most noticeable just after new strings are installed). Since more than 85% of the vibrating string length of the instrument is located on the front side of the bridge, it is only natural that when the strings are wound on to the pegs, most of the tightening will occur on the front side of the bridge in that greater length of strings. Because of that, the upper edge of the bridge will tend to be pulled along with the strings, leaning and bending toward the fingerboard.
