"Double bass bridge on a bass guitar?

[hyder gal]

Hello All,
I one day hope to own a double bass, but living in a very remote part of Alaska means it won’t be this week or even next. I’ve been keeping myself entertained with an acoustic bass guitar, but the urge to bow is overwhelming me. Yesterday I tucked my bass between my knees, rosined up a cello bow and bowed my way up the neck on one string, producing a very scary version of Away in the Manger.

No worries, I’d pulled the curtains, and no one saw me!
So my question is: “What if I put a double bass bridge on a bass guitar?
I’m hoping I’m not the only one to want to try this and you’ll have lots easy tips on how it can be done.
Many thanks,
Caroline

[Chasarms]

No doubt it could be done, but it would make for a significant modification of the ABG.

Assuming it is of typical design, this bridge is going to have to rest were the current saddle piece is located. So, you are going to have to come up with some kind of floating tailpiece that allows the strings to get past this new bridge and be attached. That means drilling into the tail block to attach, etc.

Also, once you the get the strings up off the top, they are also going to be well off the fingerboard. The neck geometry will be very off without modification. Both the angle and radius radius are currenty such that you will get no bridge height. It'll have to change.

All in all, I think you would end up with something that didn't work very well for your future wants and needs and also be robbed of its original function as well (not to mention value)

[Matthew Tucker]

Open the curtains, look out the window.

Any maple or spruce trees out there?

[Gufenov]

Originally Posted by hyder gal

... but the urge to bow is overwhelming me.

This is a serious illness that often leads to further complications, such as enjoyment of jazz and other deviant forms of music. I recommend you immediately purchase some Bill Monroe CDs and play them continuously until the urge goes away.

[Dan1099]

Try an EBow?

[hyder gal]

What is an Ebow?

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by hyder gal

What is an Ebow?

It's a battery-powered device that stimulates the string to create a sustained type of tone.

They work quite well on an electric guitar, but I don't think they would work that well on an acoustic instrument, especially a bass.

[Dan1099]

My bad, You're right, they do not work very well, if at all, on acoustic instruments. However, on an electric bass, they can be put to very good use. Check out some of the stuff that michael manring does.

[Ludwig]

You don't need only a rounded tail piece, but a rounded fingerboard.

[Silversorcerer]

Check out one of these:

http://www.takamine.com/?fa=series&sid=172
I saw one at the Atlanta Bass Gallery. Arched FB, no frets, arched bridge, arched top, f-holes. It's heavier than most acoustic bass guitars, but has a nice sound somewhat between a bass guitar and a DB. I didn't try to bow it though, but if I'd had my bow with me I might have been tempted. I think the arch would allow it.

[Bob Gollihur]

Here's a quirky idea that I've thought about doing (one of many strange thoughts that haven't gone past the conceptual)... what about putting an extension (to keep the motor away from the pickups, as well as noise) on a Dremel or some other rotary tool, and have a rosined felt cylinder in your right hand to hold against the strings.

There was a strange (and unsuccessful, commercially and physically/musically) device in the 70's, the name of it and the band the guy (Godly?) played in are just beyond my mental reach right now, one that set on the bass just above the bridge and had little rotating wheels that you pressed down to "bow" the string mechanically.

[Jazz Ad]

That would be the Gizmotron ?


However, the method you describe isn't far from the hurdy-gurdy.