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02-02-2009, 02:22 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Central Indiana | | | Double Bass Bridge Question ?
I pose this question on my wife's behalf. Do people ever finish their bridge with a stain and varnish, shellac, etc. In order to give it a "finished" look and not a raw wood look as they all seem to have? I'm thinking perhaps a finished bridge could effect the sound, but don't know this for sure?
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02-02-2009, 02:55 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City area | | | My friend, Anton Krutz believes that violin, viola and cello bridges are treated by the manufacturer with some kind of hardener. Due to their larger size, bass bridges aren't because whatever is used would take too long to fully penetrate, making it impractical. He was telling me about something he is working on to simulate this effect. I may give it a try. |
02-02-2009, 06:54 PM
|  | 'Woodworker - Witch Doctor - Luthier'
Owner/The Bass Spa, String Repairman/L & M Vancouver | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Crescent Beach, BC | | Aubert and Despiau bridges are treated to make them harder. It doesn't bother me when I'm planing ther bridges thinner bit I sometimes wonder when I'm sanding if I'm in danger.
I don't know of any reason not to finish a bridge but neither can I think of a good reason to do so. I oiled mine for a brief span but really a raw bridge has the right look.  |
02-02-2009, 10:49 PM
|  | Supporting Member
Luthier: Bresque Basses, rep: Paulin EUB | | Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia | | | I think SOME of the aubert and despiau bridges are treated. They are the more expensive ones.
The best treatment for hardening wood is to leave the freshly cut maple blank out in the moonlight overnight, then run three times naked around a lighted candle holding the bridge by the wings. Works every time. |
02-03-2009, 07:55 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London, Ontario | | | Luthier witchcraft
In Australia, do you run clockwise or counter-clockwise around the candle? Up her, we run around clockwise.  |
02-03-2009, 08:21 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: Dallas, TX | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker  The best treatment for hardening wood is to leave the freshly cut maple blank out in the moonlight overnight, then run three times naked around a lighted candle holding the bridge by the wings. Works every time. | ROFL! Thanks for the chuckle, I needed it this morning... Considering some of the voodoo surrounding endpins, soundposts and tailpieces, I wonder how many people will actually try this...
Chris |
02-03-2009, 08:39 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by CPike ROFL! Thanks for the chuckle, I needed it this morning... Considering some of the voodoo surrounding endpins, soundposts and tailpieces, I wonder how many people will actually try this...
Chris | I did. It works as advertised. I noticed a substantial bump in the fundamental of my instrument. The moon must be full. |
02-03-2009, 11:07 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Portland, Oregon | | Quote:
Originally Posted by bejoyous In Australia, do you run clockwise or counter-clockwise around the candle? Up her, we run around clockwise. | Counter-clockwise is for banishing evil spirits from the bridge.
Clockwise is for invoking good ones. |
02-03-2009, 11:19 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City area | | | This may be voodoo, I don't know.
OTOH, changing the hardness or density of a bridge would seem to change its transfer of vibrations to/from the top. A change might alter the frequency balance as well, making the bass sound darker or brighter. Anton told me that his trials indicate a louder, clearer tone with a richness that normally comes with an older instrument. It is brushed on the bridge with the bridge in place and strings at pitch, so the treatment is the only variable in play. |
02-03-2009, 01:09 PM
| | Supporting Member
Luthier: Bresque Basses, rep: Paulin EUB | | Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia | | | I thought he said that the larger size was an impediment to penetration?
Down here, ANYTHING brushed onto wood while under tension tends to RAISE the fundamental, no matter what the moon is doing. |
02-03-2009, 01:10 PM
| | Supporting Member
Luthier: Bresque Basses, rep: Paulin EUB | | Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia | | AFAIK, commercial bridges are just heat treated, not impregnated. |
02-03-2009, 03:25 PM
| | Registered User
bass luthier, johnson string inst. | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: waltham, mass. | | | well, have you ever tried to impregnate a bridge? not as fun as it sounds
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no one will be watching us...why dont we do it in the road
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02-03-2009, 03:52 PM
| | Supporting Member
Luthier: Bresque Basses, rep: Paulin EUB | | Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia | | Quote:
Originally Posted by kurt ratering well, have you ever tried to impregnate a bridge? not as fun as it sounds | Oh? How did you approach it? |
02-03-2009, 04:13 PM
| | Registered User
Luthier, Dallas Strings | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas | |  I'm laughing out loud at this entire thread! |
02-03-2009, 04:46 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Winnipeg | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker Oh? How did you approach it? | carefully ...! |
02-03-2009, 04:50 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Ridgewood, NJ | | | My bridges are dipped in linseed oil and hung to drip dry. They look old. Beautiful and appropriate on the Jacquet and the Walnut.
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Certified to teach the Alexander Technique. see donaldhigdon.com
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02-03-2009, 05:15 PM
| | Registered User
bass luthier, johnson string inst. | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: waltham, mass. | | at last call she was a despiu triple tree  , but when i woke up she was an aubert 
__________________
no one will be watching us...why dont we do it in the road
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02-03-2009, 05:38 PM
| | 'Woodworker - Witch Doctor - Luthier'
Owner/The Bass Spa, String Repairman/L & M Vancouver | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Crescent Beach, BC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by kurt ratering at last call she was a despiu triple tree , but when i woke up she was an aubert |  Or worse, a Bausch! |
02-03-2009, 05:59 PM
| | Registered User
bass luthier, johnson string inst. | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: waltham, mass. | | | hey now, i still have standards
__________________
no one will be watching us...why dont we do it in the road
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02-03-2009, 06:28 PM
| | Registered User
Luthier, Dallas Strings | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas | | | Engelhardt bridges make excellent firewood.. |  | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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