Deering "Smile" Bridge Review and Comparison

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ม.ค. 2025

ความคิดเห็น • 36

  • @maxwellfan55
    @maxwellfan55 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you for taking the trouble to show us these tests. Bridges are critical, and I agree with your analysis results. I have been greatly impressed by the Smile in terms of overall improved tone and note separation, and now in the process of transferring them to most, if not all of my banjo's. It's still good to keep and use a variation of good bridges as all banjo's respond differently, at different times, as I'm sure you agree, but Deering have definitely come up with a winner in the Smile. Would love to read more opinions on this from banjo players.

  • @USNAVDC
    @USNAVDC 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Your banjo really has a great sound....with all the different bridges.

  • @JohnTalmadgeMD
    @JohnTalmadgeMD 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is an outstanding video. Whatever you are up to in life, my good lad, you have a great future. Thanks for helping out this old picker. I bought a Deering Smile for my older Deering! Cheers - T👍🏼

  • @hope4ourfallen
    @hope4ourfallen 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Do you know if the smile bridges still have the deering stamp/ burn mark on them. I am curiouse if i have the authentic bridge. Since i got mine at a shop and there is nothing saying deering, the size or a smile mark anywhere on it😯

  • @snsranch
    @snsranch 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks for the vid! Question: what is the song you're using in the comparison? The first one, not the blue-grassy one. Does it have a name? I'd like to find a tab for it for practice and warm up. I'm a life-long guitarist just now learning banjo so I'm so skilled as to pick it up by ear. Many thanks!

    • @rootsbanjo
      @rootsbanjo  7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hi Bob,
      If I'm understanding you correctly, the song was "Blackberry Blossom" I was playing a melodic version, but it is a fairly well-tabbed song, so you should be able to find many versions online. I would start with the tab library on the Banjo Hangout. Happy Picking!

    • @snsranch
      @snsranch 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      That's great! Thank you!

    • @michaelparson-mcnamara782
      @michaelparson-mcnamara782 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'm just getting somewhere with banjo after 54 + years as a pro guitarist. So that piece stuck out for me, too!

  • @DM-cp4uk
    @DM-cp4uk 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I have just fitted a Deering Compensator bridge (i.e. the one that "smiles" horizontally as opposed to the one in the video which "smiles" vertically) to my basic Goodtime openback and the increased accuracy going up the neck is marked. For $25 Oz money and free postage to Oz it is remarkable that it is not a standard fitting even if Deering has to add $25 to the price. Best "upgrade" I have ever made...and no, I do not have shares in Deering company just stating my experience :):)

    • @rootsbanjo
      @rootsbanjo  7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Interestingly, (and the people over at Deering haven't advertised this) The vertical "Smile" concept has been quietly applied to all new Goodtime Banjos off the shelf just in the last year or so. Deering seems to me to do what they can to provide the best product possible to their customers, and in my experience working with them in the music industry, they really seem to care about what they produce! It is likely that they don't put horizontally "smiling" bridges on the banjos because the ideal point of bridge contact for each string can be affected by differences in the gauge of the string (even with differences as small as .0005" in diameter, intonation issues can be detected using a strobe tuner). This being the case, the "ideal" compensated bridge is different for each gauge preference. Happy Picking!

  • @vieuxcalypso2761
    @vieuxcalypso2761 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi, I have a banjo with the strings very high, so it´s hard to push strings... Do you know how I can low down the bridge? Thanks

    • @rootsbanjo
      @rootsbanjo  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi Vieux. With a standard bluegrass banjo, adjustments to string height are usually made by angling the neck back with the coordinator rod(s) inside the rim. If you have an older or low budget instrument, it is possible that you don't have these rods, in which case it would be possible to either use shims to change the neck angle or to simply use a shorter bridge, although the second option would set the strings closer to the head, which could be a problem for some players. In any case, I recommend that you take your banjo to an experienced luthier or technician, as neck adjustments can be tricky. Best of luck!!

  • @maxwellfan55
    @maxwellfan55 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Have you tested/compared the Dotson bridges?

  • @reso1349
    @reso1349 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have thee Deerings, two Goodtimes and an Eagle 2, interestingly they all respond differently to multiple bridges which keeps playing fun. My Eagle hates the Snuffy, Emerson and Moon but loves the Scorpion. Great video my friend and your Sierra sounds great.

    • @rootsbanjo
      @rootsbanjo  8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +reso1349 Sounds like the voice of experience! I have yet to try several common bridges. It would be interesting to see how differently the sierra responds to the same bridges

    • @reso1349
      @reso1349 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'm a cross over electric guitar player 80's hair band era LOL. Love the the mechanical tonal aspect of the banjo over the guitar and how bridges and such can really impact the overall sound. Try out a Sosobee red oak and a Kat Eye Prowler, I have found the best overall sound with these bridges on all of my banjos. I get my stuff from Janet davis Music online. Have a good weekend from the North Coast of Ohio.

  • @rodrigobanjo
    @rodrigobanjo 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    kind of tricky...we all try to compensate the variations that diferent parts do with each other...till we get that sound we want....and bridges are VERY central in this equation...nice video!

  • @rc6147
    @rc6147 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent video! Thanks for sharing. Very detailed.

    • @rootsbanjo
      @rootsbanjo  8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Glad you found it helpful!

    • @rc6147
      @rc6147 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Roots Banjo totally. i have an old hondo 2 i bought in 1979 and hardly touched it. the bridge broke years ago. since I've been listening to a lot of bluegrass lately and especially JD Crowe, i dusted it off and start exploring bridges and your video was very helpful. thanks again.

  • @1955cherokee
    @1955cherokee 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I actually preferred the first bridge. With the smile bridge, the notes rang longer and interfered with each other, giving a muddled sound - at least to my ears. Guess I won't be buying a Smile Bridge.

  • @cajunguitarman
    @cajunguitarman 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    i emailed to Bart Vermeer, the maker behind the use of the mystery uncapped banjo bridge and he told me that he was the one who designed the smile bridge before deering. which means that deering doesn’t have the rights to the design to patent it. it’s possible that the company may have gotten ideas of it from his website www.banjobridge.com. and to make money off it.

    • @rootsbanjo
      @rootsbanjo  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi Daniel! You know I actually had been doing that to my bridges before Deering released the Smile Bridge as well. I believe that It honestly is just a common sense adjustment to make after you notice your bridges are bending with time. I think that many people may have the idea before Deering started selling them! Happy Picking!

  • @rollercoaster319
    @rollercoaster319 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    it is a mahagony or maple sierra?

    • @rootsbanjo
      @rootsbanjo  7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Mine is the maple. Great question!

  • @zikirsholawat
    @zikirsholawat 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I prefer the second
    Deering Banjo Bridge
    Good review anyway

    • @rootsbanjo
      @rootsbanjo  8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Ros Banjo Thanks! The smile bridge was quieter, but it has actually broken in a little since I made the review. Sometime soon, Ill do a video with the Sierra. Ill be using different mics from now on, but you may be able to hear how it has opened up with use, and has maintained the "even" tone across strings.

  • @jimbiggs5880
    @jimbiggs5880 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Super thanks for the review!

  • @blz346
    @blz346 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good job, this is a great video.

    • @rootsbanjo
      @rootsbanjo  8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks so much! I'm really glad it was helpful.

  • @KG-Punk
    @KG-Punk 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    The second bridge sounded the best to me.

  • @ceruleandrummer8485
    @ceruleandrummer8485 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you!

  • @kcjorns3342
    @kcjorns3342 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    I would like to know the name of this dude....guy... making these videos! I want to take lessons...can you help me? Thanks!

    • @rootsbanjo
      @rootsbanjo  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi Kc, My name is Chris, I'm glad you found my videos helpful! I would recommend that you check out this page: www.banjohangout.org/teachers/
      It should help you to find a teacher in your area. Best of luck!!

  • @ironmighty
    @ironmighty 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    There isn't a review in the world that could make me pay £45 for a banjo bridge

  • @thehotsixer1
    @thehotsixer1 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I like the smile bridge because it's smiling.