Here are some testimonials from some of our customers:
******************************************************
Hello Tim,
I received your bridges that I ordered, I'm sure that you know that, but I
just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with your bridges. To me the
"Improvement" in Volume and Tone that I get from the banjo after I put one of
your bridges on it floored me. The difference was immediately noticeable.
I am sooo thankful that I found your website and decided to try some of your
bridges.
Thank You, Thank You, Joel Patrick
I received your bridges that I ordered, I'm sure that you know that, but I
just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with your bridges. To me the
"Improvement" in Volume and Tone that I get from the banjo after I put one of
your bridges on it floored me. The difference was immediately noticeable.
I am sooo thankful that I found your website and decided to try some of your
bridges.
Thank You, Thank You, Joel Patrick
****************************************************************************************
Dear Mr. Purcell,
I recently purchased a bridge from you made of your "Drop Forge Hard Maple". I'm writing to thank you and congratulate you for creating such an incredibly good sounding bridge. I've been playing on it for just over a week and every time I pick up the instrument, I find myself in slight disbelief at the quality of the sound.
It brings out degrees of clarity, volume, and "crack" from my maple Gold Tone OB-250 that I didn't think it was capable of producing. There's a snap to each note, on every string and fret, that wasn't there in such abundance with any other bridge. The 4th string is strong and punchy with a tone that blends perfectly with the other strings. In short, it sounds exactly the way I want it to sound.
I was very happy with my old bridge but I thought I'd take a chance on one of yours and I'm so glad I did. I'm beyond content with this Drop Forge Hard Maple bridge and I don't expect to ever find a bridge I like more but I intend to order one or two more bridges from you simply to see what a substantially different wood might have to offer.
Please feel free to use any or all of this letter as a testimonial. I've already begun recommending your bridges to my students and friends.
Thanks and best wishes,
Aaron Walters
I recently purchased a bridge from you made of your "Drop Forge Hard Maple". I'm writing to thank you and congratulate you for creating such an incredibly good sounding bridge. I've been playing on it for just over a week and every time I pick up the instrument, I find myself in slight disbelief at the quality of the sound.
It brings out degrees of clarity, volume, and "crack" from my maple Gold Tone OB-250 that I didn't think it was capable of producing. There's a snap to each note, on every string and fret, that wasn't there in such abundance with any other bridge. The 4th string is strong and punchy with a tone that blends perfectly with the other strings. In short, it sounds exactly the way I want it to sound.
I was very happy with my old bridge but I thought I'd take a chance on one of yours and I'm so glad I did. I'm beyond content with this Drop Forge Hard Maple bridge and I don't expect to ever find a bridge I like more but I intend to order one or two more bridges from you simply to see what a substantially different wood might have to offer.
Please feel free to use any or all of this letter as a testimonial. I've already begun recommending your bridges to my students and friends.
Thanks and best wishes,
Aaron Walters
**********************************************************************************************************
"Hello Tim.. thanks so much again for the bridges.. they are absolutely fantastic.. I have all of the high quality bridges on the market and these are my favorite for my banjos..."
"I have used both of them now for a couple of weeks and the are both really great high quality bridges...The birch is great but that maple you sent is perfect for my old Granada and it rings like a dinner bell.... I really like your design of the bridges.. I've noticed they have less wood on top of the bridge, under the ebony, than other ones do... this seems to open the door and free up the sound... that's the problem I've experienced with other quality bridges, they hold too much back, darn near like a mute... not yours... I also appreciate your efforts with the radius so they don't sag in the middle...you can make them a little thinner, like you did for me, and that not be an issue..." Steve Sparkman
*********************************************************************************************************
"I have used both of them now for a couple of weeks and the are both really great high quality bridges...The birch is great but that maple you sent is perfect for my old Granada and it rings like a dinner bell.... I really like your design of the bridges.. I've noticed they have less wood on top of the bridge, under the ebony, than other ones do... this seems to open the door and free up the sound... that's the problem I've experienced with other quality bridges, they hold too much back, darn near like a mute... not yours... I also appreciate your efforts with the radius so they don't sag in the middle...you can make them a little thinner, like you did for me, and that not be an issue..." Steve Sparkman
*********************************************************************************************************
"A great banjo bridge is one that allows the banjo to project the full fidelity of its tone. Tim has accomplished exactly that with his hand made bridges. Purcell bridges brought out superior tonal response and clarity in all of my banjos, and this certainly inspires me to play". David Talbot
***********************************************************************************************************
***********************************************************************************************************
I recently ordered a banjo bridge from Purcell Banjo Bridges. I have an open back George Washburn banjo that dates back to somewhere around 1890. The pot assembly is entirely original with the exception of the tailpiece which is a "no knot" style. The maple neck is a custom neck with ebony fingerboard. After changing out the head, the banjo was way too bright sounding for an old time banjo sound. I emailed Tim Purcell what I was looking for in sound and I settled in on his "Old Stair" model. The banjo sounds phenomenal. Great low tones and great natural and consistent sound and volume up and down the neck. It is a very "earthy" sound with moderate sustain (at least with my set up). It is great for an old timey sound consistent with the type of banjo it is. I am very pleased. Tim was extremely responsive in the entire process. I will be purchasing another one from him for my "74 RB 250. Don Untch
***************************************************************************************
Ive been experimenting with Top Name Bridges since the 90s and tried many from Local Crafters and Vendors at BG fests. Many were "good" but Id never heard such a transformation in Tone and Volume till I placed a Purcell "Organ Wood" on this RB 250. Wasnt even the same Banjo afterwards !!! Talk about POWER! Most banjos' require many set up adjustments and fine tuning, in addition to a bridge change, to get this night and day difference. I also purchased the Purcell "Select Maple" which is very close in VOL with alittle more high fequency (14 KHZ) sustain (tone ring "sizzle") I call it. These Bridges needed to be customized just slightly higher than 5/8s due to a truss rod prob and Tim hit the mark between 5/8 and .656 giving me exactly the action I needed without any Co rod adjusting. Great Customer Service with ordering and shipping, plus helping me select bridges for the Tone I wanted. If ya have a bunch of bridges gathering dust and you've about givin up on finding one that really knocks your socks off , exceeding your expectations,look no further, you'll find it here on this website!.
John Kuhn
Banjo Instructor - The Pied Piper - Charleston WV.
****************************************************************************************************************
"I recently had the opportunity to try out one of Tim Purcell’s bridges. I needed an 8” radius bridge to match my neck. He made one for me and it matched my radius perfectly. I installed the Submerged Birch .656 Std spacing. This bridge is extremely well balanced. It has the crack I prefer while playing my prewar AT, combined with full body and sustain. If you are looking for a full range bridge, I highly recommend the Purcell bridges. Wil Huckabay, BanjoMD"
**************************************************************************************************************
"When I was looking for a banjo bridge I had a very specific set of requirements in mind. I needed a radiused bridge, and it had to have a specific thickness- or lack thereoff. My then current bridge was to thick.
I sent an email to Tim Purcell in response to an advert he had placed here on the BHO. He answered my questions - his answers were helpful- and he listened to what it was that I thought I needed.
He was very helpful and sent me 2 sample bridges to try out. Turned out that one of those bridges was exactly what I was looking for and worked out perfectly. So I sent him payment for that bridge and returned the one that I was not going to use.
I would definitely purchase from him again. D.W. (BanjoHangout member)"
***************************************************************************************************************
"Dealing with Tim couldn't have been better. After sending Tim and inquiry about his brides, I immediately received a questionnaire that gave him the specifics I was looking for(height/string spacing/wood).
My bridge arrived a few days later with the weight in grams listed on the underside of one of the feet along with height and string spacing.
Very impressive.
No invoice was included, so I sent Tim an email. His comment was to try it first to make sure I was satisfied. I gladly mailed Tim a money order this week.
The next time I'm in need of a bridge, I'll be contacting Tim Purcell first. Doug Peacock (BanjoHangout member)"
***************************************************************************************************************
Tim sent me this 5/8 "piano wood" bridge, with ebony top. This wood is recovered from old pianos and is the first one of Tim's bridges I've used in the shop, or on my personal banjos. There have been great things said about his bridges so I decided to add a few of them to my shop stock.
Let me say first that the overall craftsmanship is first rate, from the look, cut of the wood and notches for the strings. My first impressions after trying it on the customers' banjo in the shop was always that the bridge was very consistently solid sounding with excellent volume and separation of notes. The tone is very deep, full, with good hollowness and 'dry' sounding (no bad overtones). It sounded excellent on about every banjo, imparting that dry old sound most Scruggs players desire.
Then, I decided to put it on my prewar tenor flat head conversion 'jo. Let me say that I've used/use many great quality bridges on this banjo over the years. But this Piano bridge is THE best sounding bridge for this old Mastertone that I have ever used,period. The only words I can use to express the tone is dry,full,deep, but with exceptional power up the neck and amazing clarity of notes. The note separation is also phenomenal. The bridge has now had a full day of hard playing and it has settled in to be a killer bridge.
Im not one to go on and on so much about something like a bridge, but this one deserves it.
If you own a flat head banjo and want to give it that older sounding pop and clarity, but keep the depth too, this could very well be that bridge. Tim also has excellent customer service. I Highly recommend this bridge. John Boulding (BanjoHangout member)
John Kuhn
Banjo Instructor - The Pied Piper - Charleston WV.
****************************************************************************************************************
"I recently had the opportunity to try out one of Tim Purcell’s bridges. I needed an 8” radius bridge to match my neck. He made one for me and it matched my radius perfectly. I installed the Submerged Birch .656 Std spacing. This bridge is extremely well balanced. It has the crack I prefer while playing my prewar AT, combined with full body and sustain. If you are looking for a full range bridge, I highly recommend the Purcell bridges. Wil Huckabay, BanjoMD"
**************************************************************************************************************
"When I was looking for a banjo bridge I had a very specific set of requirements in mind. I needed a radiused bridge, and it had to have a specific thickness- or lack thereoff. My then current bridge was to thick.
I sent an email to Tim Purcell in response to an advert he had placed here on the BHO. He answered my questions - his answers were helpful- and he listened to what it was that I thought I needed.
He was very helpful and sent me 2 sample bridges to try out. Turned out that one of those bridges was exactly what I was looking for and worked out perfectly. So I sent him payment for that bridge and returned the one that I was not going to use.
I would definitely purchase from him again. D.W. (BanjoHangout member)"
***************************************************************************************************************
"Dealing with Tim couldn't have been better. After sending Tim and inquiry about his brides, I immediately received a questionnaire that gave him the specifics I was looking for(height/string spacing/wood).
My bridge arrived a few days later with the weight in grams listed on the underside of one of the feet along with height and string spacing.
Very impressive.
No invoice was included, so I sent Tim an email. His comment was to try it first to make sure I was satisfied. I gladly mailed Tim a money order this week.
The next time I'm in need of a bridge, I'll be contacting Tim Purcell first. Doug Peacock (BanjoHangout member)"
***************************************************************************************************************
Tim sent me this 5/8 "piano wood" bridge, with ebony top. This wood is recovered from old pianos and is the first one of Tim's bridges I've used in the shop, or on my personal banjos. There have been great things said about his bridges so I decided to add a few of them to my shop stock.
Let me say first that the overall craftsmanship is first rate, from the look, cut of the wood and notches for the strings. My first impressions after trying it on the customers' banjo in the shop was always that the bridge was very consistently solid sounding with excellent volume and separation of notes. The tone is very deep, full, with good hollowness and 'dry' sounding (no bad overtones). It sounded excellent on about every banjo, imparting that dry old sound most Scruggs players desire.
Then, I decided to put it on my prewar tenor flat head conversion 'jo. Let me say that I've used/use many great quality bridges on this banjo over the years. But this Piano bridge is THE best sounding bridge for this old Mastertone that I have ever used,period. The only words I can use to express the tone is dry,full,deep, but with exceptional power up the neck and amazing clarity of notes. The note separation is also phenomenal. The bridge has now had a full day of hard playing and it has settled in to be a killer bridge.
Im not one to go on and on so much about something like a bridge, but this one deserves it.
If you own a flat head banjo and want to give it that older sounding pop and clarity, but keep the depth too, this could very well be that bridge. Tim also has excellent customer service. I Highly recommend this bridge. John Boulding (BanjoHangout member)
***************************************************************************************************************
How many times have you done the "Banjo Bridge Test" with your banjo?
You know......when you spend about two hours trying a bunch of
different bridges on your banjo to see which one is "the best." If
you're like me (and you probably are), you almost go nuts trying to
figure out which one truly brings out the best tone in your banjo.
One bridge might bring out a punchier sound, while another gives you
more sustain. Still another bridge will have a strong 4th string, but
the first string sounds muted for some reason. You can save yourself
this tortuous task by ordering a bridge from Tim Purcell. I'm not
sure what he's doing differently than all the other top bridge makers
out there, but there's no doubt in my mind that these are the finest
banjo bridges that have ever been made. Yes....ever. I've done A
LOT of tinkering (and spend a lot of money) trying them all, and I'm
convinced these are the best ever. Tim's bridges make every string
sing. They bring out every ounce of tone possible that your banjo has
to offer. Your tone will be clearer, your overtones reduced, your 4th
string will growl, you will have improved bell-like ring up the neck,
and your harmonics will jump out of the resonator. Don't look any
further than Tim Purcell bridges.
gh
You know......when you spend about two hours trying a bunch of
different bridges on your banjo to see which one is "the best." If
you're like me (and you probably are), you almost go nuts trying to
figure out which one truly brings out the best tone in your banjo.
One bridge might bring out a punchier sound, while another gives you
more sustain. Still another bridge will have a strong 4th string, but
the first string sounds muted for some reason. You can save yourself
this tortuous task by ordering a bridge from Tim Purcell. I'm not
sure what he's doing differently than all the other top bridge makers
out there, but there's no doubt in my mind that these are the finest
banjo bridges that have ever been made. Yes....ever. I've done A
LOT of tinkering (and spend a lot of money) trying them all, and I'm
convinced these are the best ever. Tim's bridges make every string
sing. They bring out every ounce of tone possible that your banjo has
to offer. Your tone will be clearer, your overtones reduced, your 4th
string will growl, you will have improved bell-like ring up the neck,
and your harmonics will jump out of the resonator. Don't look any
further than Tim Purcell bridges.
gh
*****************************************************************************************************
Thank you for my new banjo bridge, it’s brilliant. It has really brought my Nechville. Banjo to life, it is so responsive now, all I can say is WOW!
Cheers ALBIE Hinton, Perth,Western Australia
Cheers ALBIE Hinton, Perth,Western Australia
click on link above