How to Find the Best Cello Bridge

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Summary:  Knowing how to find the best cello bridge comes down to finding suitable quality materials and relying on top-tier craftsmanship to adjust the bridge so that it fits your instrument precisely.

It’s pretty common for people to spend a lot of time evaluating the best cellos before investing. Why? Because the best cellos are a significant and costly investment. But what about the best cello bridge?

The bridge is an integral part of your instrument, which impacts the quality of sound and the tone you produce. Finding the best cello bridge can help you ensure that your instrument responds appropriately to your technique and musical abilities.

Why the Cello Bridge Matters

I never gave much thought to the bridge. It was one of those cello pieces that I didn’t touch or adjust or need to replace. 

However, I quickly learned that the bridge is an often underappreciated piece of craftsmanship that serves an important role. 

I changed my cello strings once. The G string was about 7mm above my fingerboard along with the instrument, closest to my bridge. During my next lesson, the sound I produced was off. I didn’t know why, and I couldn’t describe it, but I knew it was off.

Luckily my lessons took place in a music shop, so afterward, I walked across the hallway to the shop where the professionals adjusted it to the correct distance of 6mm. It made all the difference. Suddenly my sound was back on point. 

I then learned how bridge height affected the quality of sound and string response on my cello. The height of your cello bridge is important because it impacts the strings. Some instruments will produce a better sound if they have more force on their bridge, while others are the exact opposite.

For this reason, different strings might perform better on different cellos. What matters more is having the perfect height and curvature for the different strings as they rest along the fingerboard. Trust me when I say you will feel differences in string heights of just 1/2 mm or 1 mm.

This is one of the reasons why you should consider finding the best cello bridge and having it crafted by a professional to fit your instrument. Adjustments in height or the bridge must match the size cello you have. The height of the best cello bridge for a three-quarter size cello will be different from the height of the best cello bridge for a full size or 4/4 cello.

In this video, you can hear the sounds a cello makes before and after a proper cello bridge adjustment:

In the video, you can hear the same song played on a cello before the bridge is adjusted and after, with a much more precise, richer, and more vibrant sound coming from the properly adjusted bridge. 

Why You Need the Best Cello Bridge

When you think of a bridge, you probably think of the infrastructure that connects one city to another, like the famous bridges in San Francisco. Think of your cello bridge in much the same fashion. It serves to connect the input from your strength and your bow and the movements of your left hand to the output or the sound produced by your instrument.

If you don’t have a good bridge or the bridge is collapsing, it won’t correctly transfer all that information and make good music on the other end.

How to Find the Best Cello Bridge

When evaluating different cellos, you probably look at the right size and materials. Make sure it’s a good fit and that the craftsmanship is high-quality and suitable to your musical needs.

That same consideration should be put toward the bridge. You cannot simply order a bridge online and replace the one you have on your instrument. Bridges have to be customized to fit your instrument precisely.

As someone who regularly watches tutorials and tries to replicate them, I assure you that you won’t have success trying to swap out your bridge without the help of a professional, especially if you don’t have a full woodworking shop with the tools you need to plane, file, and sand the feet and carve out the kidneys.

When you search for the best cello bridge for your instrument, the two things you need to be aware of are the materials used and the craftsmanship.

Materials

cello bridge

When you look at a cello, the type of wood used to make the side panels or the body play an essential role in your decision. Maple is a common wood for stringed instruments. Maple is also one of the top-quality materials for the best cello bridge.

Craftsmanship

There is a clear difference in sound quality with the right bridge and the proper craftsmanship. A professional will be able to cut the feet of the cello bridge to fit flush with your cello body. They can also adjust the height of your cello strings to correspond with your fingerboard. 

Good craftsmanship will file and sand the bridge so that the width is appropriate for your cello and so that the kidneys and other curves work perfectly with your strings. 

This video explains how to make adjustments for your cello, replacing a broken bridge or worn out cello bridge (though I would recommend you take it to a professional rather than try to do it yourself):

How to Care for Your Best Cello Bridge

Caring for the best cello bridge will help it last longer. While I wouldn’t recommend that you try to change the bridge yourself, I do recommend that you maintain your cello bridge once you have it replaced.

The biggest thing you need to do is give your cello bridge a quick evaluation from time to time. Starting at the tailpiece side, look down to ensure that the bridge is standing perfectly upright and not leaning toward one side or the other. As you tighten your strings, it will cause your cello bridge to lean, which you don’t want. This can have a secondary effect on the feet.

As you evaluate your cello bridge, look at the feet to make sure they are flush with your instrument. There shouldn’t be any space between the feet and the body of your cello.

If your cello bridge is too warped and leaning to one side, it might naturally pull one edge of the feet off your instrument. You want these feet to maintain perfect contact so that they can translate the vibrations in the sound you produce.

If you see any of these problems, it is time to get your cello bridge repaired. You won’t necessarily have to replace the part if you catch these issues early.

When Should I Replace or Repair a Cello Bridge?

cello bridge

There are different circumstances where you should repair or replace a cello bridge. 

  • If your cello bridge warps, it has to be straightened. Straightening is a repair for which you can pay but bear in mind that once the bridge on your cello has been warped, it will never have the same stability or durability. If you can, make sure that you replace your strings one at a time and check that your bridge is still straight once you have repaired a warped bridge. 

My OCD told me that I should replace all of the strings on my cello at once when only one of them broke. As it turns out, my OCD tricked me. You really don’t want to change all of your strings simultaneously.

They should be changed one at a time so that you can monitor the position of your strings on your cello bridge. What’s more, every time you swap a string and tune a string, it can cause the cello bridge to pull forward. If you aren’t careful when doing this, you can bend or break your bridge or cause the soundpost to fall.

  • If your cello bridge breaks, it has to be replaced. Any crack or damage to the kidneys or other curvatures means you have to replace the part, or it will cause more damage to your instrument.

If you rent your cello or purchase it second-hand, make sure that you look for this type of damage. Even a tiny hairline fracture in the cello bridge should be replaced immediately without compromising your investment.

  • If your cello bridge feet are lifting, this is something that can be either repaired or replaced. The feet should remain flush with the top of your cello at all times. As your bridge is pulled forward because of string tuning or starts to warp, it can also pull on those feet and lift them from the body of your instrument.

If you see the feet are lifting, this is something that you should have a professional repair. While you are more than welcome to try and do it yourself, this often involves specialized tools and woodworking skills to file or sand the feet down and adjust them so that they are back where they should be.

It is always better to have a replacement or repair done professionally rather than risk damaging your instrument yourself.

Cello Bridge Recommendations

Cremona VP-204C

I know Cremona from the violins, but they are also well-known makers of string setup parts. For the price, this is a really nice bridge, made from aged maple. Cremona offers 3 bridges for different price points. The 204C is their highest quality one made from premium wood. This bridge comes as a blank slate and will need a complete adjustment. In most instances, the bridge itself isn’t the most expensive part; it’s getting setup with the instrument. Keeping the cost of your new bridge reasonable will allow you to find the best luthier to install it. 

Pros

  • Made from aged maple to produce a more well-rounded tone
  • Overall inexpensive 
  • Perfect for a full bridge replacement

Cons

  • Difficult to track down in fractional sizes

Holstein Deluxe

The Holestine Deluxe bridge is one of the most expensive on this list, made from Bosnian maple. It is made by Fiddlershop, a well-known retailer of orchestral string instruments, accessories, and parts. The Holstein bridges are featured on many of their instruments, and I have yet to hear a complaint about them. They offer multiple models to meet different budgets and needs. Like most bridges, this bridge comes unfinished and will need to be shaped and installed by a luthier. 

Pros

  • Advanced model
  • Different models for different budgets and playing levels are offered. 
  • Sourced from a high altitude 

Cons

  • Expensive

String Centre Aubert

The String Centre Aubert is another adjustable option. Unlike the Glaesel, this bridge is a little bit harder to track down in different heights, which could make finding one that will work a little bit harder. While this bridge isn’t supposed to need adjustments, I’d still take it to be correctly fitted just in case. I’ve found adjustable bridges to have really thick wood. It’s a great option if you need a quick replacement for a few weeks as it’s relatively inexpensive.

Pros

  • Adjustable to theoretically fit any cello
  • Will work as a short term replacement 
  • If used as a replacement, make sure it’s properly fitted

Teller Bridges

Teller Bridges are my top pick. Made in Germany out of Bosnian maple. These bridges are found on several different instruments and have been around for over 100 years. They are available readily on Amazon in their basic 90mm and 92mm heights. Still, They can be ordered in a custom height from the manufacturer. 

Pros

  • Affordable bridge
  • Made with wood sourced from a high altitude 
  • Can be requested in custom heights for older cellos or those that want a custom fit
  • Trusted brand

Cons

  • Hard to find at local retailers or on amazon

FAQ

Question: How Much Does a Bridge for a Cello Cost?

Answer: If you are buying the cello bridge on its own, it usually costs between $25 and $220, depending on the size of your instrument and the quality of the materials and craftsmanship. But this is only for the replacement part. If you have to replace your bridge, you will probably pay a professional between $50 and $100 for the labor involved.
There are some situations where you don’t need to replace your cello bridge, you just need it refitted or the warp fixed. For this situation, you won’t have to buy the parts necessarily, but you will have to pay an average of $35 for the labor.

Question: How Long Do Cello Bridges Last?

Answer: The best cello bridge can last as long as you have the instrument. If you take good care of your instrument and regularly maintain or check on your bridge, you shouldn’t have any problems.
Some issues have to be rectified with a cello bridge. If you see that the legs are splaying, the feet no longer sit flush against your instrument, the bridge head is warping or leaning, or the strings are cutting into the string grooves, then you need to consider a replacement.

Question: Does Humidity Affect My Cello Bridge?

Answer: Yes, humidity in the air can impact the tension on your strings and the cello bridge. When you take your cello in and out of your case, make sure you look at the bridge for any signs of warping.
More advanced players might consider investing in a hardshell case with built-in monitors for humidity to keep the bridge, the strings, and the rest of the instrument in top condition at all times, especially when at rest.

Question: How Tall is a Cello Bridge?

Answer: This comes down to the size of your instrument. A 4/4 or full-size cello bridge is 4.44 inches on average at the center. The length at the feet is typically 3.5 inches. For a ¾ size cello, the height at the center is usually 4.1 inches and 3.2 inches at the feet. 

Bottomline

The bottom line is that finding the best cello bridge means finding a durable material like maple and having a professional replace or repair the bridge on your instrument.

The right Bridge plays a structurally important part in the sound you get from your instrument. It is up to you to keep your eyes out for warping or lifting feet so that you can have your bridge replaced or repaired as necessary and continue to make beautiful music. 

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