"What's a JLD Bridge System?"

[Harmonycat]

Ten days ago I'm down at my "Large Canadian Chain" local music store looking for strings for my Trinity River Summit. One of the very knowledgable guys asks me if he can help and I tell him that I am looking for some lively medium gauge strings. I have a set of Martin Medium 80/20's in my hand.

 

He asks me if I really want medium strings and I reply that I am trying to see what strings this guitar that I have had for 6 weeks likes.

 

"Mediums? Are you sure?"

I answer yes since the guitar is beginning to open up a little and I have played it relentlessly since I got it, (abandoning all other guitars in favour of time spent playing this one).

 

"The EJ16's that I put on it are done, and I want to see what other brands sound like on it."

 

"Mediums? Are you sure?"

 

"Yeah I'm sure, this guitar has a JLD Bridge System on it. That bridge can handle them."

 

"What's a JLD Bridge System?

 

So I explain it and he says he has never seen one and would I mind bringing it by the shop. He is a good guy and knows acoustics so I agree. I Change the strings last Sunday and play them about 7-8 hours to break them in. (Inexpensive Martins....and they sound quite good.)

 

Down to the shop I go and into the Acoustic Soundroom we go.

He examines the guitar and looks it over...."Nice quality." He has a real good look at the JLD and at that point one of the other acoustic specialists asks him what he is looking at.

 

I explain it and they both take a couple of turns playing it.

"Beautiful....Doesn't even play like it has mediums on it...very nice even tone, decent bass...where'd ya get it?"

 

"In the States" I reply. "So...do you guys like it?" " Do you think it is as good as the S&P Spruce/Mahogany or that Seagull over there?"

 

"Definately.....maybe a little better." "Very Nice Guitar."

 

They asked what I paid for it and they both said "We should be selling these!" after I told them what I paid for it.

 

The Seagull and the S&P that I compared them to were both over $500 CDN Dollars tax included.

 

I did not write this stuff to say that JLD systems are the "be all and end all" or that this guitar is "so much better" than than two very highly respected quality guitars. I really like S&P's period. I love the sound of Seagulls but the necks feel very uncomfortable to me.

 

I did write it, to try and be informative with regards to Trinity River Guitars, made or imported by Stenzler in Texas. I was quite surprised that their opinions would be as positive as they were., since I only bought this thing to be a half decent beater.

 

So if anyone on this forum ever searches regarding Trinity River Guitars that someone here actually owns one and posted some info.

 

I also told them that they list for about $350 US and they can be bought for close to $200 US. I paid way less than that. So IMHO, I think they are a bargain.

[FlaRich]

Breedlove includes the JLD Bridge system on their guitars. I find it adds bass to the sound, which I think maks my Breedlove 12-string sound more balanced.

[Harmonycat]

Originally posted by FlaRich Breedlove includes the JLD Bridge system on their guitars. I find it adds bass to the sound, which I think maks my Breedlove 12-string sound more balanced.

 

I am aware that Stenzler also makes the highly regarded Breedlove guitars.....think of a Trinity River as a poorman's Breedlove. The JLD system anchors the Bridge so you can use heavier gauge strings. I am just checking all that out, but I have found that heavier wound strings produce more bass.

 

Do you actually have a Breedlove 12 String? If so, how long have you had it?

 

I will try and post a picture of mine over the next few days.

 

It is a great guitar for the money.

[FlaRich]

Yes, I have a Breedlove AC250/SM-12 (Atlas series) I bought about a month ago. The JLD Bridge system was one of the clinchers in getting it. I was concerned about bridge issues given the extra tension (tuned to concert pitch), and the JLD attaches the bridge to the endplate, making it improbable that the bridge will ever pull up.

[kwakatak]

They also sell the JLD through Stewmac.com as an aftermarket addition to any guitar. I've been thinking about putting one on my Takamine because the top has a belly but wasn't sure about how it would affect the tone.

 

How does it affect the mids/trebles? I like the bass on my Tak right where it's at, but I think the mids could be stronger and the high E string could sound less brittle.

[Harmonycat]

Originally posted by kwakatak They also sell the JLD through Stewmac.com as an aftermarket addition to any guitar. I've been thinking about putting one on my Takamine because the top has a belly but wasn't sure about how it would affect the tone. How does it affect the mids/trebles? I like the bass on my Tak right where it's at, but I think the mids could be stronger and the high E string could sound less brittle.

 

It is said to even out the tone and balance it. The guitar that I have certainly is balanced.

It is the answer to bowing in the top of your acoustic since it anchors it. You may lose a little volume due to the added rigidity, but that is a small price to pay for a solution to the belly in your Tak.