Bridge colour

billio · #1 07-04-2005, 03:11 AM

Guys, is there any reason why I can't stain my bridge a different colour? Practically all the DB's I've seen, from cheapies like mine to $10,000 King custom jobs, all seem to have the plain old light coloured bridge.

Probably another dumb question....

JimmyM · #2 07-04-2005, 11:19 AM

This has been discussed on www.rockabillybass.com, and the general consensus is that yes, you can stain the bridge.

Nivaca · #3 07-04-2005, 04:18 PM

Quote:

[...] all seem to have the plain old light coloured bridge.

What I've heard from luthiers is that the darker the natural color of the bridge's maple, the better and finer (and more expensive) the bridge is.

billio · #4 07-05-2005, 12:49 AM

I Dunno what mine is made of, but the lighter coloured wood makes it look to me as if the bass (or at least the bridge) is unfinished.

I reckon I'll pick up some dark stain this weekend...

Paul Warburton · #5 07-05-2005, 06:43 AM

There's no reason you can't put a little color on your bridge....I wouldn't be putting a dark stain on though. I guess a matter of taste. Old bridges get colored just from dirt, rosin, and time. To get a little more mellow, on a new bridge, i'll put some Olde English Scratch cover on. Common at super markets in the household area. It comes in different shades for different woods....I'd go with the light still. Great for scratches and touch ups too.
Some luthiers put on a base coat that they normally use for the base coat when putting color on the body.
Some people like to sand off the sharp edges of the bridge so it looks more rounded. Always be carful of the way the grain goes when sanding and coloring.
(I hope I haven't helped in opening a can of worms here)

And, billio, please fill out your profile.

billio · #6 07-05-2005, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

...i'll put some Olde English Scratch cover on. Common at super markets in the household area...

Thanks for the tip, but I'm in Saudi Arabia, in other words, there's life Jim but not as we know it! What we take for granted in our various domociles is quite often just another frustrating trip into town here...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

And, billio, please fill out your profile.

Done mate, thanks for the reminder

I might give the bridge a bit of a stain, but I was thinking of painting the whole bass some time down the track - some wild colour like you can see on Norton Customs. If (hehehe, read WHEN) I do, I'll probably do the bridge the same colour.

At the moment though, I reckon black to match the finger board and the tailpiece...

**Chef** · #7 07-05-2005, 10:10 PM

For some ideas on colors to use, take a look at
www.nortoncustoms.com
Brent has colored a few that I remember.

billio · #8 07-06-2005, 03:02 PM

I e-mailed Brent and he said that he uses leather stain. Well, it works as my bridge is now black.

I like it....

**Chef** · #9 07-06-2005, 03:07 PM

Pics!

Paul Warburton · #10 07-06-2005, 03:37 PM

Maybe you could use your black bridge as your Avatar instead of that electric bass guitar head-stock head?

FredH · #11 07-06-2005, 05:33 PM

Wow those Norton basses are wild looking. Anyone ever play one. What's the hybrid like????

billio · #12 07-07-2005, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Maybe you could use your black bridge as your Avatar instead of that electric bass guitar head-stock head?

Do I detect a hint of disapproval Paul?

Paul Warburton · #13 07-07-2005, 04:36 AM

From me? Just yankin' yer chain....you'll find out soon, i'm one of the crotchity old guys here at TBDB. Hang in...
Why are you in Saudi? What's it like for a bass player over there?

billio · #14 07-07-2005, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

From me? Just yankin' yer chain....you'll find out soon, i'm one of the crotchity old guys here at TBDB. Hang in...
Why are you in Saudi? What's it like for a bass player over there?

I'm in Saudi to train the aircraft technicians in the Royal Saudi Air Farce, as I spent 15 years the Royal Australian Air Force doing the aircraft technical thing.

There's very little available for a bass player here - that's why I'm using a Marshal Combo?!?! You can get cheap Yamaha bass's and Fender Squire bass's but that's it really. Strings are ok, so long as you use medium gauge Fender bass strings and you only have a 4 string! I have yet to see anything for a Double Bass. I think the combo is the only thing I've actually bought here. There's some decent PA stuff to be had but not so much of the instrument side.

Apart from that, it's hot or hotter. Except for winter when it's not quite so hot!

Alexi David · #15 07-07-2005, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Saudi? What's it like for a bass player over there?

Like being in Cyprus, only hotter would be my guess