I thought you guys might like a sneak preview of this project. (Plus I think this pic is pretty nice.) This is a 10-string octaved with bridge and tailpiece that I'm making on my milling machine. It will have two Villex singlecoils.

What do you think?

http://www.thorbass.com/images/builds07/10str_.jpg

Looking very nice so far.

Yep, great job!

Cool, photos of the bridge?

Very nice - an octave 10-string is something I wanted for a long time and have had to make due with effect solutions (in the 90's my old Bass Whammy, currently my Yamaha MagicStomp EB) which, while tracks and sounds surprisingly well, simply isn't the same. I thought many times about picking up a Dean Edge Hammer 10X but it's a good chuck of change for something that could be a "one trick pony". If I were in a trio situtation, that'd be a different story...

That is a beautiful instrument. I'll be very curious to see it when it's done. That quilt is stunning. Did you design that body style yourself? Alembic-like, but somehow nicer, IMO. That's saying alot, I know. Nice work!

That is a beautiful instrument. I'll be very curious to see it when it's done. That quilt is stunning. Did you design that body style yourself? Alembic-like, but somehow nicer, IMO. That's saying alot, I know. Nice work!

Thanks, yes that's my body design :)

I actually talked to Dean about getting a 10-string bridge from them. It was reasonable priced but didn't come in gold. So I opted to make my own from brass. I'll take a couple pics tonight.

So, as requested here's a couple pics of the bridge system. The main block is height adjustable at either end. The 5 saddles are adjustable for intonation. The octave intonation is fixed (got lazy for this one).

String the bass strings first, then the octave strings into the same tailpiece slots.

The saddle heights are preset to match the radius of the fingerboard.

http://www.thorbass.com/images/builds07/bridge2_.jpg

http://www.thorbass.com/images/builds07/bridge1_.jpg

http://www.thorbass.com/images/builds07/bridge3_.jpg

Oh man, I cannot get enough of your work.

i may have to save my pennies and give you a call in a couple of years.

Nice!

Nice. How do you intend to finish the brass?

Nice. How do you intend to finish the brass?

I leave them in the white / let them patina naturally. If I were going to seal them what would you recommend?

Ok, well the logo isn't attached but this is pretty much it. The setup needs a couple tweeks, as does my technique, but it sounds pretty kick a$$...

http://www.thorbass.com/images/builds07/10string/front1_.jpg

http://www.thorbass.com/images/builds07/10string/back3_.jpg

http://www.thorbass.com/images/builds07/10string/bridge6_.jpg

http://www.thorbass.com/images/builds07/10string/head1_.jpg

nice bass

;)

I like it

Man, you guys are so verbose! It's hard to get through all your posts ;)

But glad you like it!

bridge tutorial? or a free bridge? :hiding:

As always, you have made one killer looking bass. I love your work and it just keeps getting better.

lowsound

Lordgawdamighty! What an exquisite instrument! WOW!!

And I'm pretty picky.:) Keep it up!

Damn, I wish I could work brass like you do ... Ahh, the possibilities :smug:

Very nice bass. The maple looks fantastic !
I've gotten a little tired of quilted maple, but boy, this one makes me reconsider.

How is the intonation of the octave strings ? Did you actually do a test first to determine the offset of the saddle contact points, or just guestimate it ?

Oh man, I cannot get enough of your work.

i may have to save my pennies and give you a call in a couple of years.

Agreed! Your stuff is so damn awesome!! :bassist::bassist:

I cant believe I missed this thread! Stunning!

I cant believe I missed this thread! Stunning!

+1 don't know how I missed this one...

how do you work your brass for the bridge? do you own a milling machine or do you just have access to one?

srsly so good ;o

Ah, I see this thread is back from oblivion.

...How is the intonation of the octave strings ? Did you actually do a test first to determine the offset of the saddle contact points, or just guestimate it ?

Yeah, I did some tests. I have a cheap bass that I modified from a 6-string to a 10-string octaved years ago, so I gathered some data from that to make a simple bridge that's in the ballpark.

I cant believe I missed this thread! Stunning!

Thanks man, all the comments are appreciated, but ones from someone who's work I admire as much as yours are particularly gratifying.

+1 don't know how I missed this one...

how do you work your brass for the bridge? do you own a milling machine or do you just have access to one?

So yes. I have a Chinese gearhead mill which is just about perfect for what I need. No CNC, but I use it for making brass parts and for milling trussrod slots, pickup pockets, control covers, etc.

i'm just as interested as the conversion from 6 to 10!
an idea i've been tossin around in my head is of a 6 string or 5 1/2 is more accurate with an octave on the high c, for chords and solo work
tuned E A D G C/c
but a custom bridge would be a must

Man that makes me want a mill so much!

need soundclip!!!! :bassist: