Name: Deering Smile™ Banjo Bridge
Brand: Deering® Banjo Company
SKU: B-DSMILE58
Price: 45.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Deering Smile Banjo Bridge, green background

$45.00

Low stock - 7 items left
Backordered, shipping soon

Deering’s patented Smile™ Banjo Bridge is created with a curve on the bottom to fit into the natural curve created on a banjo head by the bridge when under string tension. This relieves the stress found in a traditional bridge allowing the Smile™ Bridge to vibrate without constriction. The result is an instantly fuller and more expressive mid-range, less constricted low frequencies, and a wonderful balance across all strings.

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Handle the problem of a sagging banjo bridge by changing to Deering's patented SMILE Banjo Bridge!

IMPROVE THE TONE AND PLAYABILITY OF ANY BANJO!

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OF YOUR BANJO!

*The top/black ebony of a bridge is made to match the shape of the surface of your banjo fingerboard. Most banjo fingerboards are “flat” meaning that they do not have a curved surface. Some banjos are custom made with a curve to the fingerboard which is called a “radiused fingerboard.” This is not to be confused with the curve of the bottom of the feet of a Smile™ bridge. When choosing the Smile™ bridge please choose the one that has “the ebony top” that is shaped like the surface of your fingerboard.

FITS ANY BANJO

THE SMILE BRIDGE IS THE ONLY BRIDGE TO HOLD ITS SHAPE OVER TIME
NEW PATENTED INNOVATION STOPS BANJO BRIDGE SAG
COMPENSATES FOR THE STRING PRESSURE ON THE BANJO HEAD
LEVELS BANJO STRINGS FOR IMPROVED PLAYABILITY
FREES UP THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRIDGE TO RESONATE
GREATLY IMPROVES BANJO TONE!
MAKE YOUR BANJO COMPLETE WITH A SMILE BRIDGE.

Overall rating: 4.759036 / 5 from 249 reviews.

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Reviews

100% Satisfied

"I am 100% satisfied as usual. It was simple to switch it with the existing bridge on my Goodtime Openback while doing my string change. When I started playing “Angels From Montgomery”, I was so amazed at the new quality of sound coming from my fingers/banjo, I played it twice🥰 Worth every penny. Thanks once again Deering for helping me on this incredible journey 🤗"

— Mary R. (5/5)

"I can’t really tell yet if it helps the tone over the standard Deering bridge but it certainly didn’t hurt anything. I thought it was interesting and I just wanted to try it."

— Garlon (5/5)

Excellent

"Love the smile bridge!! Gives my banjo a lot of confidence and sounds great!!"

— Patrick J. (5/5)

Top Notch

"The Smile banjo bridge definitely improved the tone of my Deering Vega Senator which no longer had its original bridge. Thank you Deering for your great Canadian shipping policy."

— Marvin P. (5/5)

Good but gives less distinct highs and lows

"I think this is a great idea, but I found the reduced pressure on the high and low ends of the bridge made the high and low ends of the sound less emphasized/distinct. As with all bridges, I think it depends on what kind of sound you're going for. I tried the Smile Bridge on my Deering Goodtime Americana from 2020 with a 12" pot and found that I actually preferred the sound of the original non-smile Deering bridge. I do see that my standard bridge is a bit warped (sagging in the middle), but I don't notice it when I'm playing and prefer the sound of the standard over the Smile. Just wanted to offer this perspective which I didn't see when I was researching the Smile bridge. Not better or worse in my opinion, but just a different sound profile."

— Chauncey P. (3/5)

Sounds Great

"I have 2 Maple Blossom banjos and both have Smile Bridges. Sounds Great !!!"

— Luke C. (5/5)

New Smiley bridge installation

"Smiley bridge does not sit well on banjo head, rocking and shifting during playing. New head, strings and tail piece not sure what went wrong?"

— Michael D. (2/5)

Great bridge

"Great bridge"

— Joe M. (5/5)

as banjo bridges go. . .

". . . its the best!"

— Marc M. (5/5)

Love it!

"Love it!"

— Ernie W. (5/5)

Q&A

Should I order Standard or Crowe spacing for my Goodtime Openback fretless? If I measured correctly, it seems to be somewhere in-between Standard and Crowe, at a little over 43mm.: The fretless banjo can use either of those; standard is what would come with it as it leaves the factory.
Would you recommend the smile bridge as an upgrade to my goodtime midnight special?: YES! The new SMILE bridge will increase the bass and mid-range response and I think you will like what you hear.
I use a .656 bridge currently. Will Deering make a .656 Smile bridge in the future?: Not at this time...we have 5/8" which is .63 and 11/16" which is .69...we are not making any other heights in the near future.
Have you had any feedback regarding making any head tension adjustment once you have installed the smile bridge ? Just wondering if the improved contact of the head changes things and has to be compensated for. thanks: You should not have to change your head tension on the banjo to install the new SMILE bridge. We have not altered that here at the factory.
I use a standard 5/8 bridge. Will the action of strings remain the same with the Smile bridge? Or it will get a little bit lower due to radiused bottom of the bridge? In other words: should I order 11/16 or 5/8 to keep my current action? I don't want do distort the rim with coordinator rods.: You should order the same height that you are currently using. Do not go up to 11/16". The middle leg measurement on the SMILE bridge will be a bit taller than the outer two legs...which will measure 5/8". Once you install it, you may wish to alter the action to your personal preference but I would try it first without alteration.
Will you be making a smile bridge with Crowe spacing?: Yes...you can custom order that through the toll free number, 800-845-7791.
Could you explain the difference between the "flat (standard)" and "radiused" versions of the bridge?: If you have a fingerboard that has a radius/is curved; then you need the radiused bridge. Our radius at Deering is 12". Most banjos have a flat fingerboard, so most folks will order the flat/standard style; which refers to the TOP of the bridge; the black "saddle" portion.
Will this bridge become standard equipment on some or all Deering banjos?: Once we are up to speed, Greg Deering wants them on all new products moving forward. Thanks for asking.
Will you be making a smile bridge with a radiused top?: Yes, eventually that will be available online as well. Thanks for asking.
Will the smile banjo bridge work well with my Deering Deluxe?: Yes, as long as you use a 5/8" bridge (which is the standard height on Deering, Vega, and Goodtime banjos..not Tenbrooks or Terry Baucom), you can use the current version of our new SMILE bridge. Thanks for asking.

Deering Smile™ Banjo Bridge