Installing a Bridge Doctor on a 12-String

[@bryan6086]

honestly a bridge doctor on a 12 string is gon be a necessity for any hispanic guitar player 😅

[@el_cuh_9094]

am a 12 string player and this is true😭

[@Ghost-ro7oc]

what does a bridge docter do?? what’s the point of it

[@jooli8128]

@@Ghost-ro7oc keeps the Nelly do the guitar from bulging upwards due to the tension of the string when paired together.

[@jose349]

yup the action on mine high asf alr 😭

[@jstar1000]

I've installed a couple of them myself and actually did one last week on a 1973 Alvarez. They work pretty good for sure. Not 100% belly bulge removal but its better and hopefully stable.

[@losermork]

use a lighter gauge strings

[@TheArtofRetirement-dv3un]

Good stuff! Just subscribed thanks

[@lonleygoat]

Top notch video

[@doctersound9630]

Thank you.

[@dbnwoodland]

You’re welcome.

[@stevenseganjr.2874]

Thought the Bridge Doctor recommends using the brass dr for 12 strings?

[@Ningagato]

Thats what im trying to find out

[@PedroParkerD]

You can do that too. But the break action on the bridge saddle might be too high. Also some people are picky with their tone from the bridge pins. So either way you can go

[@user-wr9pk4lu8s]

Thanks for video my 50yr old Epiphone belly bowed a lot, needs sorting, what would be the costs for repair only one big problem I live in the UK, and do you think it will work.

[@dbnwoodland]

Both of those are difficult questions to answer I’m afraid. I don’t know what a technician in your area would charge, everyone has their own price and without seeing the guitar I cannot definitively say it would work. It’s a great tool and I personally have had success with it. Hopefully there is someone in your area with the experience to help you. Good luck.

[@jimdoner3443]

I had to use the Thompson belly reducer on an old 12 string and then install the bridge doctor. It all went well and there wasnt any other reasonable answer. The tone and volume where completely different afterwards. But no other choice at that point.

[@edyue1]

Did it “ruin” the original sound? Just from my basic physics 101 I would imagine that the top is being stiffened/dampened by the pressure of the dowel and block pressing on the bridge. so not as much free floating vibration of the top? I have a 1982 modern HD 28 that has a pretty high bulge and I don’t want to spend a lot of money getting a neck reset or having the bulge press down which invariably will probably come back up again once I tune it up to full tension I’m going to give this one a try with the pin method so I don’t have to drill a hole into the bridge.

[@edyue1]

Did you have to bike those clamps specifically for the guitar? Or are they just generic clamps that you can buy from Harbor freight?

[@jimdoner3443]

@@edyue1 bought at Stew Mac, and on Amazon

[@jimdoner3443]

@@edyue1 the bridge doctor added more volume, sustain, and equalized or tempered the tone evenly in bass , mids and treble. Kinda flat e.q.

[@sisco0304]

how much does this modification cost i need one i just bought my first 12 string and i heard this is essential if you have all unisons??

[@dbnwoodland]

Depends what your local tech will charge for the install and which version of bridge doctor your guitar requires. Ballpark between 2-400

[@Chikilin09321]

Did you use super glue on the pearl inlay for it to cover the screw?

[@dbnwoodland]

I believe I did.

[@Chikilin09321]

@@dbnwoodland good to know thank u

[@davidpizano9144]

Bridge doctor on a Taylor 12 string???? Thoughts??

[@dbnwoodland]

What model? Most Taylor’s I would say no because older models are like Swiss cheese. Too many holes and adding another one concerns me. Newer ones I’ve seen double up strings but likely have the ES2 system. The electronics would likely get in the way of the counter mechanism the bridge doctor uses. So you’re limited. If you have a more modern model that does not have an ES2, you should be fine. You could always add a piezo element if you need electronics. My two cents without taking specific measurements.

[@davidpizano9144]

It’s a Taylor 250CE DLX BLK I got it a few months ago

[@dbnwoodland]

I want to clarify my thoughts from my first response. First: when I say double up strings, I’m referring to two strings going into the same bridge pin and slot. So there would be 6 bridge pins on a 12 string guitar. Second: when I’m talking about the older model of Taylor with more holes and I’m concerned, part of my concern is the thickness of the bridge and internal bridge plate. Taylor bridges are not particularly thick compared to other manufacturers. Good thing for tone in my opinion but that’s subjective. It’s a gut call by the technician doing the installation. Does that individual believe there is enough material to survive the modifications and serve the player for years to come. My opinion, I’m not sure and I don’t like to gamble with other people’s guitars. It would probably be fine. Wish I could be more help. If I install one on a Taylor I’ll try to put up a video with my updated thoughts.

[@jimking9338]

To much talk about the hole and not the installation of the bridge dr.also you didn't install the correct brass bridge Dr.

[@dbnwoodland]

@@jimking9338 No, this was the correct version. The brass version is intended for alternate styles of bridges. The “counter” in the standard system fit right under the saddle and the distance for the inserted screw and pearl fit well behind the bridge pins.

[@RonnKilby]

All unisons? You obviously don't play 12-string. Should be octave strings for G-D-A-E and unisons for B and high E.

[@dbnwoodland]

This is for a different style of music…it’s not meant to be standard. That’s why I’m installing the bridge doctor to compensate for the increased tension.

[@ren9756]

Did you even watch the video

[@RonnKilby]

Yes.@@ren9756

[@jimdoner3443]

Watch the video first, thats why it was done, because it was going to be all unisons.