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08-06-2008, 03:15 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Barrie, Ontario | | | Check out this bass's bridge!
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08-06-2008, 03:34 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: New York City | | Quote:
Originally Posted by nathanmcnathan  | a similar or the same bass with this bridge is at Gage's shop. |
08-06-2008, 04:00 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tomkins Cove, New York | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Hsieh a similar or the same bass with this bridge is at Gage's shop. | Yea, I was thrown off by it a bit. It was Filipino. |
08-06-2008, 04:15 PM
| | | | These bridges are commonly used by Joel Quarrington and his fifths tuned students. By cutting the wings of the bridge it creates a more focussed tone, boosting high's and lows, and potentially making harmonics clearer. It also apparently reduces mod-range frequencies. There are several talkbass members that use these types of bridges. |
08-06-2008, 09:51 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan | | | my bridge is cut that way also, |
08-07-2008, 08:21 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Barrie, Ontario | | | Does it have any effect support-wise? I mean, is the bridge still structurally stable, or will it fall in half in you bump it? |
08-07-2008, 09:22 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by nathanmcnathan Does it have any effect support-wise? I mean, is the bridge still structurally stable, or will it fall in half in you bump it? | No, it is very stable. You'll need to talk to a proper luthier about these bridges. I believe Troy at Heinl's uses them on all his basses. Last time I heard Troy went to go live in Spain and build basses there. Anyway, you could call the Heinl's for more information if you're interested. |
08-07-2008, 10:45 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London, Ontario | | | cut bridge
A while ago, I compared my bass to one with a cut bridge. The bass with the cut bridge sounded very clear and open. Mine sounded like I was trying to talk with my hand over my mouth.
I decided right there to cut my bridge. I drew a line from the top corner of the bridge to the top of the wing hole, got a hobby saw and sawed it off. (The maple bridges are made from is incredibly hard!!).
Once I had it done, my bass sounded louder and clearer. It was much easier to hear notes as the highs were more prominent. After I did it, I was practicing, my wife came upstairs and said, "Hey, what did you do? I can hear individual notes now."
New Dominants can sound pretty gritty, though. I play Evahs now.
Here's a photo of my bass: http://www.joycemusicstudios.com/?page=photos&i=5#photo (The bass looks better under stage lights as in photo #8 where you can also see my alternate extension solution (drop D tuning with a short extension for the low-C). You can see in photo #6 the cut bridge isn't that noticeable when in action.
Last edited by bejoyous : 08-07-2008 at 10:48 PM.
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08-07-2008, 11:09 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by bejoyous A while ago, I compared my bass to one with a cut bridge. The bass with the cut bridge sounded very clear and open. Mine sounded like I was trying to talk with my hand over my mouth.
I decided right there to cut my bridge. I drew a line from the top corner of the bridge to the top of the wing hole, got a hobby saw and sawed it off. (The maple bridges are made from is incredibly hard!!).
Once I had it done, my bass sounded louder and clearer. It was much easier to hear notes as the highs were more prominent. After I did it, I was practicing, my wife came upstairs and said, "Hey, what did you do? I can hear individual notes now."
New Dominants can sound pretty gritty, though. I play Evahs now.
Here's a photo of my bass: http://www.joycemusicstudios.com/?page=photos&i=5#photo (The bass looks better under stage lights as in photo #8 where you can also see my alternate extension solution (drop D tuning with a short extension for the low-C). You can see in photo #6 the cut bridge isn't that noticeable when in action. | I agree, Dominants can sound pretty gritty especially if you use a bow technique that is very close to the bridge. I find it really funny when you mention the anecdote with your wife. I had a similar experience th other day when I tuned my bass in fifths, and my girlfriend came in and said "wow, your bass actually rings in tune for once" |
08-08-2008, 07:09 AM
|  | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | | Gritty?
Quote:
Originally Posted by bejoyous New Dominants can sound pretty gritty, though. I play Evahs now. | Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin Marks I agree, Dominants can sound pretty gritty especially if you use a bow technique that is very close to the bridge. | Well, if you mean only arco, then maybe. They wouldn't be my first choice for arco. I think of them as being and use them mostly for pizz. |
08-08-2008, 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by drurb Well, if you mean only arco, then maybe. They wouldn't be my first choice for arco. I think of them as being and use them mostly for pizz. | This thread has digressed but yes for pizz, they're my favorite string bar none...so much clarity and really focussed. For arco, they can be a bit obnoxious if you like to push. |
08-08-2008, 12:10 PM
| | | Interesting. First wire Marvin wire tailpieces, now this. This site is always a good resource for new stuff. I'd love to hear some luthiers' opinions regarding these bridges.
The following bridge for violins is pretty interesting:  http://www.violinbridgeworks.net
(In a further digression, Calvin, how are you liking fifths?) |
08-08-2008, 12:21 PM
| | | | It looks like a radio. |
08-08-2008, 12:44 PM
| | | | Interestingly enough, from the location given and the bass pictured....I am almost 100% sure that bass belongs to my old teacher. He has played for about 30 years and taught for 20+ years. He has a serious attack on the strings.
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08-09-2008, 04:02 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by drurb They wouldn't be my first choice for arco. I think of them as being and use them mostly for pizz. |
I love Dominants for orchestra and solos as well. I believe Joel Quarrington and many of his students do as well, but I am not sure.
Now, back to bridges. Do the luthiers just cut off the wings of an existing bridge? or do you use a new bridge and cut it with the wingless concept in mind?
Explaining my question: I wonder if you need different thicknesses or different proportions. |
08-09-2008, 07:53 AM
| | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Rod I love Dominants for orchestra and solos as well. I believe Joel Quarrington and many of his students do as well, but I am not sure. | Good to know! Decades ago, I was 99.999% arco; now I'm 99.999% pizz. Truth be told, I haven't evaluated strings for arco in quite a while. From what I've played on the Doms, it just seemed to me that I recalled playing better arco strings. One, in particular, can be seen as my avatar. 
Back to bridges... |
08-15-2008, 10:20 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto | | | I have taken a few lessons with Joel Quarrington and I do remember his bass had the wings cut off from the bridge. His bass sounds unbelievable! An original Maggini with a modern neck. Also Dave Young has that bridge and I love his sound.
In another thread I was complaining about my weak E string and I think I`m going to cut off the wings on the bridge. I`ll keep you posted, I hope it will properly focus and balance my bass......I just have to work up the courage to do it!! I`ve done it once before but that was a plywood bass and it did not make much difference. |  | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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