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Double Bass mystery tripod bridge

Matthew Tucker

Matthew Tucker

Commercial User
Aug 21, 2002
2,686
387
Sydney, Australia
www.bresquebasses.com.au
Disclosures
Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
#1
Went today to have a look at a mystery bass someone told me about, possibly available very cheaply.

The bass is a 3/4 chinese "Blessing" carved instrument, no idea of its age (c30 years probably?) and apparently nothing special, a few dings. Cruddy Ebonised maple neck and tailpiece, yuk strings and a crack splintering on the belly under the treble foot near the soundpost ... this latter is a worry, but not the end of the world ... but otherwise quite sound. I have a feeling the instrument could be made to work quite well with a bit of care. A potential project bass.

But the strangest thing was the bridge. This thing was made of steel, with three - yes three - feet in a sort of tripod arrangement, each threaded alloy foot adjustable with a screwdriver from the top. I think the brand on the bridge was selmer? should have taken more notice.

Has anyone come across either the Blessing brand, or more importantly, this freaky bridge?

Sorry, i don't have any photos.
 
#2
That sounds just like something I saw on a bass at a festival last year.

Steve Belcher, the bassist for The Hickory Project uses something that sounds like the same design as what you're explaining.

There aren't any pictures of it on Invalid Link Removed, but if you're really interested, Steve is a great guy, and I'm sure he would be into telling you about the bridge.
 
#3
This is more than likely a Framus bridge, made by a company in the 50's. They made laminate and carved basses, most of which were the German "cutaway" pattern much like a cutaway guitar.
You can search under all these words and maybe come up with stuff because we've covered this stuff more than once.
The basses were not bad, but the bridges were very bad.
Mingus did some ads for them in Downbeat Magazine back then
To see Framus Cutaways (without metal bridges)
Link Removed
 
#8
Hmmm Framus? ...

I have done quite a lot of searching but haven't found anything yet so I'll try to attach a quick mouse-drawing of the thing so you get a better idea of what I'm talking about.

And what about the crack under the treble foot? I'm thinking a 2-3mm patch under the crack covering the area where the (refitted) soundpost will go, and fill the crack with hide glue.

If I buy this bass even cheaply, I suppose I'll have to take the thing to le luthier eventually, but he's going to 1. laugh at me for being so stupid or 2. berate me for being so silly or 3. remind me that I should have bought a bass from him ... and probably all three. Then if I can overcome the embarrassment maybe I can get him to sell me a bridge blank ...
 

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#12
I have a bridge which sounds the same as the one Matthew Tucker is describing, it also has a label on it depicting "Tonemaster" and has a large "T" imprinted at the top. It would also appear to have two sets of string groves possibly for a left of right handed player.
 

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