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Hi All
What difference does the thickness of the bridge where the strings touch make?
What is too thick and too thin?
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of 
..... What was I saying???? 
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From what I understand, if the bridge is too thick, it will dampen the string vibration. Meaning you will get less volume and possibly a more muffled sound. Too thin, and it won't be able to handle the pressure of holding up the strings and it will warp and/or break.
I've seen some differences of opinion on how thick it should be at the top, but as I recall, 1.3 to 1.5 mm seem to be what folks usually say.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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DanielB said
From what I understand, if the bridge is too thick, it will dampen the string vibration. Meaning you will get less volume and possibly a more muffled sound. Too thin, and it won't be able to handle the pressure of holding up the strings and it will warp and/or break.I've seen some differences of opinion on how thick it should be at the top, but as I recall, 1.3 to 1.5 mm seem to be what folks usually say.
Thanks @DanielB
I'm attempting my first 'set up'.
I received an instrument and to my dismay, it hasn't been set up.
I'm happy to give it a go. I have the tools and the skills (I hope). I used to design and build large scale RC aircraft for quite a number of years and none failed due to bad workmanship although some did fall victim to gravity. 
The nut looks about the right height but that is about all that is. The sound post is right under the foot of the bridge, the bridge has not been shaped, and the tailpiece could go back a bit as the addition of fine tuners look like it has changed the string afterlength somewhat. And some decent strings wouldn't go amiss.
It's all good fun
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of ..... What was I saying????
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Yes, too think will dampen the vibrations and too thin will warp easier.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Here are some quote's from, Michael Darnton, violin maker.
"The direct way is to start with a thick bridge,and make it gradually thinner until you like the way it sounds, and can hear it starting to move past where you want (or until changes stop)".
"Generally, a thicker top tends to mute high frequencies first, so if a violin is particularly harsh, that's where to start; violins which are naturally dull sounding will tend to want something thinner. Those are just broad rules--the best I can do using words to describe tone".
"If the bottom at the feet gets below about 4.2mm, virtually all that happens is that you lose strength--tonal changes stop about there. Below around 1.1-1.2mm at the top, and the thickness of the wood of even the highest quality bridges can't support the strings, and they cut into the top. A less than perfect bridge blank will have that problem when the bridge is thicker at the top. So 4.2mm bottom and 1.2mm top are approaching the boundaries of effective thinness".
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Goldilocks had a violin but the bridge was missing, so she went to the luthier where she found three bridges.
Goldilocks tried the large bridge, but it was too thick.
Then she tried the smaller bridge, but it was too thin.
Then she tried the middle-size bridge, and it was just right.
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OldCrow said
Goldilocks had a violin but the bridge was missing, so she went to the luthier where she found three bridges.Goldilocks tried the large bridge, but it was too thick.
Then she tried the smaller bridge, but it was too thin.
Then she tried the middle-size bridge, and it was just right.
@OldCrow If she just let the luthier do it he probably would have got it right first time 
Unfortunately there are no luthiers in my area anymore. Am going to have to do some learning
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Oh... the Goldilocks thing was funny.... life is so serious...good to know that you can make a little diddy about a bridge... it is comforting to know that all this technical stuff can just be a Three Bears Story...and like John said... "a Luthier...!!"
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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I have yet to witness a thicker bridge that gave as much sound as a thinned out bridge.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Fitted my first bridge =)
It's dangerous.
I don't know how i did this... but you know... little by little... so it's thin like a cardboard now
Anyway it holds the strings... and the sound is quite powerful... But i'm scared to play now, 
hahahahaha! Well, hopefully it's not really traumatic when the bridge breaks he-he-he...
hmmmm....ummmhmmmm...
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