Why are every part of the bass finished except for the bridge?
Is there a physical reason? Or is it aesthetics?
My wife asked me the same question after I came home with my new lefty ES-1 bass. It has a nice reddish brown finish with a black ebony fingerboard and tailpiece, but an unfinished maple bridge.
My bridge was finished with raw linseed oil, which really brings out the grain of the wood - I think it's a purely aesthetic thing though, I would expect no great effect on the sound.
BTW, Congrats on your new bass!
__________________ Space Ghost cannot control storms
From what I've seen, Arnold Schnitzer puts some sort of oil on all of his bridges. They're very purty... if you're looking for a flawlessly crafted and aesthetically pleasing bridge, Brewster, NY is one place to go.
Why are bridges always left unfinished? 
