Snuffy Smith Bridge for 5-String Banjos

Snuffy Smith Banjo Bridges

I highly recommend the Snuffy Smith Banjo Bridges. It made a significant improvement in tone on my banjo when I switched to these banjo bridges. A high quality maple banjo bridge will even make a less expensive student model banjo sound a lot better too. Adding or upgrading to a better banjo bridge on any banjo makes a lot of sense. It's a small investment with a big return. Your tone will improve dramatically. Why use a common stock bridge on your banjo? The bridge is where the tone starts. The bridge vibrating on the banjo head produces the tone that resonates to your banjo pot. That's why the bridge is so critical in the production of sound. There is no sense in cutting corners here. Why not see how good your present banjo can sound with a better bridge before making more expensive changes or even buying a new banjo.

One of the features that I liked about the Snuffy Smith bridges was the compensated G bridge, Style 2, that Snuffy came up with. The G string on a banjo is inherently sharp. It's a known fact that banjo players and designers have been trying to compensate for this inherent problem for many years. This slight notch on the third string sets the 3rd string back on the bridge ever so slightly without affecting the tone in anyway. Other attempts at compensating banjo bridges can kill the tone or make the bridge look warped. This is a fantastic innovation that is all you need to compensate the 3rd string without losing anything in performance or appearance.

These Bridges are money back guaranteed. If it does not fit or make your banjo sound better. You can return for a full refund.

Different Sizes

Another great feature of the Snuffy Smith Bridge is the availability and versatility of having so many size options to choose from. I carry different sizes in my case for changes in my string action caused by normal fluctuating temperatures and humidity changes. I don't like having to bring my banjo in for set up every time my action gets too low or too high. When I'm playing a banjo with a Standard 5/8 bridge I have a 9/16 which is slightly lower and the 21/32 which is slightly higher on hand. It sure beats twisting the coordinator rods or making truss rod adjustments. I don't find that the small variation in bridge sizes affects my picking or feel and it is a much better alternative to buzzing strings with the action being too low or higher action than I am used to.

Video Demonstrating Snuffy Smith Bridge on Gold Star GF-85
Swapping out a bridge is easy. I have a video link on this page. On the Video I'm sorry that my voice is not louder on the video (I play a lot louder than I talk) This video from 2007 could be better quality but it shows you how easy it is to change the bridge and gives you a sound comparison. I compare a Goldstar GF 85 with it's stock bridge and then with the Snuffy Smith Bridge.

Which Bridge or Bridge Size to choose

5-string Banjo Bridges
We have 5-string banjo bridges to choose from in three styles below to purchase and many different sizes. We also have links to 4-string and 6-string banjo bridges as well as radiused banjo bridges for banjos with a radius fretboard.

Here are descriptions
Note: 5/8 is standard size and is the size most banjos come with, with few exceptions.

We carry these sizes
5/8th STANDARD Size and going up in order 21/32  11/16  and 3/4 Sizes
Also 9/16 which is slightly lower than standard 5/8 and the shortest 1/2 size,

These are the Different Snuffy Smith Styles
Style I
These are the original Snuffy Smith Style 1 design with NO compensated G notch.
Style II
Slightly compensated 3rd string to correct normal 3rd string intonation problems.
"Crowe" spaced
Wider bridge spacing for banjo players with bigger fingers or pickers that prefer the wider spacing.
Crowe or wider spacing banjo bridges

Radius Banjo Bridges
We have radius banjo bridge options below for banjos with radiused or arched fretboards and more radius options at this link.
Banjo Bridges for Banjos with a radius neck/fingerboard

4-String and 6-String Banjo Bridges
Our 4-string tenor and plectrum and 6-string banjo-guitar banjo bridges are located on other pages
4-string Tenor and Plectrum Banjo Bridges
6-string Banjo Bridges

The default option below is the standard size 5/8 Style ll
5/8 is the standard size the majority of banjos use

Bridges are money back guaranteed.
If it does not fit or make your banjo sound better. You can return for a full refund.

To Purchase Select a Size and Click "Add to Cart"
To Purchase Two Select a Second Time and Click "Add to Cart" Again