thinner is better for upright bridges?

[groovygreg]

I just got a call from a student of mine, he has a Cremona bass (I know, I know, I tried to talk him into buying a better brand, although I must say it sounds a good bit better now than when he bought it) and the bridge that came with it is starting to warp (it looks a little thin to me, and probably isn't the highest quality wood either). I told him it'd be a good idea to get a decent bridge in the near future. He just called me and said the shop he took the bass to (also the one he bought the bass from) told him that thinner bridges are better. I had never heard that; I guess the argument would be that a thinner bridge, like a thinner top, would vibrate more freely? Or are they full of it? As you can tell, I don't completely trust these guys...

[ToR-Tu-Ra]

I don't really know anything about that, but SUPPOSING they're right and a thinner bridge is better, I don't think anybody in their right mind would say that a WARPED bridge is better

[nicklloyd]

If his bridge is warping, it needs to be replaced. And whoever sells Cremonas should be publicly whipped...

Anyways, some shops like to thin out the heart area more than others. However, the bridges that seem to last through the years have a little more meat in this area... just an observation...

[TroyK]

Yeah....I'm not the expert that others on this board are and I have no experience with Cremonas, but in my untrained, trial and error experience...

Lower quality, plywood basses are not really generating a lot of sound with a vibrating top the way that more serious basses are. It seems to me to be more of a string and air kind of sound and thus the lower volume. So, I doubt very seriously that whatever contribution to that process a thinner bridge may make has the same impact on a bass like that. He definitely needs one that is stable and fits well. I'm not sure that I would let said shop fit my next bridge if there was an alternative within a few hours drive.

Then again, I really don't know what I'm talking about. I felt a universal cringe across TB land when reading your post, though. Same one you felt, I'm sure.

[reedo35]

Originally Posted by groovygreg

I just got a call from a student of mine, he has a Cremona bass (I know, I know, I tried to talk him into buying a better brand, although I must say it sounds a good bit better now than when he bought it) and the bridge that came with it is starting to warp (it looks a little thin to me, and probably isn't the highest quality wood either).

They are right, sort of. A thinner bridge is better than a thick bridge in that it doesn't inhibit the vibrations as much as a thick bridge. But the bridge I'm talking about is a well seasoned piece of wood made by a reputable maker, not some green piece of crap...

[JerryH]

Hey, I am being whipped all over.
I have an old Cremona that I am going to chop down for firewood.
It is sad to see my bass gone. {snif}. There goes the neck and here is the body in pieces. The back is plywood, all the rest full wood, but ... who cares.
I have a question here - Is the hardware worth anything? Strings?

[drurb]

Originally Posted by groovygreg

I just got a call from a student of mine, he has a Cremona bass (I know, I know, I tried to talk him into buying a better brand, although I must say it sounds a good bit better now than when he bought it) and the bridge that came with it is starting to warp (it looks a little thin to me, and probably isn't the highest quality wood either). I told him it'd be a good idea to get a decent bridge in the near future. He just called me and said the shop he took the bass to (also the one he bought the bass from) told him that thinner bridges are better. I had never heard that; I guess the argument would be that a thinner bridge, like a thinner top, would vibrate more freely? Or are they full of it? As you can tell, I don't completely trust these guys...

Seems you are justified in your lack of trust. You are fortunate to have a number of shops you CAN trust within driving distance of Boston (e.g., Arnold, Upton, Gage).

[nicklloyd]

e.g. Mark Carlsen... another TB'er