Buying a new bridge

mikejdexter · #1 11-11-2010, 01:18 PM

My German D/B (circa approx. 1880) is in need of a new bridge. Is the quality of the wood used important to sound quality? Type of wood?
What make of bridge to look for? Advice most welcome.

Maxvla · #2 11-11-2010, 07:50 PM

There may be some boutique bass bridges I'm not aware of, but going with a Despiau A quality (3 trees) or Aubert a Mirecourt 'De Luxe' model will get you a nicely figured, even grain, hard maple bridge. Certainly you'll need a good luthier for this task.

Ideally you want to avoid adjusters, which might end up that you'll need a summer and winter bridge that are different heights. This is highly dependent on your location, however.

Eric Hochberg · #3 11-14-2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxvla

Ideally you want to avoid adjusters, which might end up that you'll need a summer and winter bridge that are different heights. This is highly dependent on your location, however.

Why avoid adjusters? Every pro bassist I know has them.

JtheJazzMan · #4 11-14-2010, 02:46 PM

The largest difference IME is durability and frequency response. Eg I have a hardened bridge and it definitely suppresses midrange frequencies around 3kHz.

Also the wood is very tough which I would assume resists warping years down the track.

And yes, nothing wrong with adjusters.

Eric Hochberg · #5 11-14-2010, 02:51 PM

In terms of durability, I've had my bridge with adjusters for 30 years and still going strong. A good bridge blank and top notch luthiery should do the trick, IMO.

Maxvla · #6 11-14-2010, 03:07 PM

Bad experience with school basses that have adjusters. The kids don't watch the angle of the bridge and it snaps off at the adjusters and normally puts some fairly serious damage on the top.

Also, the adjusters can change the sound depending on the material used.

Eric Hochberg · #7 11-14-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxvla

Also, the adjusters can change the sound depending on the material used.

Not that that is necessarily a bad thing...

JtheJazzMan · #8 11-14-2010, 03:24 PM

Kids wouldnt pay any attention to the angle of the bridge even if it didnt have adjusters. Then your left with the problem of a solid bridge denting the top of the bass. Proper bass maintenance is necessary either way.

As for the tonal issue, why is a change in tone due to adjusters frowned upon though a change in tone (a greater difference IME) due to bridge density not even mentioned....? If you stick to lightweight adjusters, even further drill out aluminium ones, then the difference in tone is small, even preferable.

Rvl · #9 11-14-2010, 04:33 PM

What about Bob Gollihur's bridges?

I have an Aubert waiting to be installed but I really want an adjustable
Problem is there is nobody nearby that does work on basses

Thanks

Robert

E-At · #10 11-14-2010, 04:43 PM

I'd say Gotoh, but that's just me

bigolbassguy · #11 11-14-2010, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rvl

What about Bob Gollihur's bridges?

I have an Aubert waiting to be installed but I really want an adjustable
Problem is there is nobody nearby that does work on basses

Thanks

Robert

IMO It's easier to add adjusters to a quality fixed bridge.

I've installed two of the Gollihur bridges. I think it's a fine product, but keeping the feet straight ended up being more work than adding a set of adjusters.

PaulCannon · #12 11-14-2010, 05:11 PM

I nearly cut a finger off trying to chisel bridge feet which had already been fitted with adjusters. Granted, it was an amateur mistake stemming from poor chisel technique; however, it is FAR easier to install bridge adjusters after fitting the feet.

My impression is the adjusters themselves will slightly darken an instrument's sound. Not necessarily a bad thing, depending on the bass and what you're using it for. Certainly easier than dealing with multiple bridges.

mikejdexter · #13 11-17-2010, 11:10 AM

Many thanks everybody for your imput--most informative.

Mike

Eric Hochberg · #14 11-17-2010, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulCannon

My impression is the adjusters themselves will slightly darken an instrument's sound. Not necessarily a bad thing, depending on the bass and what you're using it for. Certainly easier than dealing with multiple bridges.

Adjusters, being made of different materials (aluminum, composite, brass, wood) may have different qualities. Check this out: http://iwk.mdw.ac.at/Forschung/english/dbb/dbb.htm

DaZombieWoof · #15 11-17-2010, 12:15 PM

Is it blasphemy to mention Moses Graphite and their composite URB bridge complete with adjusters?

Eric Hochberg · #16 11-17-2010, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaZombieWoof

Is it blasphemy to mention Moses Graphite and their composite URB bridge complete with adjusters?

Get a double bass, fit it with one of these, and let us know how it goes!

timobee4 · #17 12-01-2010, 09:15 AM

Go to a luthier, ask to see his bridges, hold it lightly with two fingers and flick it or give it a quick tap, dense wood is what you want, and the one that almost rings is the one you should buy! I learned that trick from my luthier when I purchased a bridge on eBay and wanted him to install it (never again). Also if you get adjuster, get aluminium (never adjust under tension) I used to use brass and when I got new adjusters from Gollihur I could not believe the difference it made to the look of the wave files on logic as well as the sound! I am against adjusters but must use them on my gut bass, on my other bass that strung with Mittels I strictly use bridge with no adjuster (Paul Toenniges bridge)