Double Bass Any ideas about who made this EUB?

[smperry]

It's well made with good woods, and looks like it's influenced by Clevinger, but isn't marked as that. I assume that it’s a one-off by someone that makes other instruments or a very good homemade EUB but thought I’d check here out of curiosity.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BassFalcon]

I’m curious too about where it came from. It does have elements of Clevinger and also Azola but is a dead ringer for neither. I don’t recall ever seeing any EUB in this shape that had that string through thing going on. Whomever is responsible for it looks like they knew what they were doing and had access to some pretty wood, that’s for sure.

 

[Ric Vice]

All the design elements point to this bass being a Clevenger. He did strings through the body, the bridge is his Arco Virtuoso design. The slotted headstock and endpin are his as well. So my guess is that maybe the decal with his logo is just missing or he sold off his parts stash. Just my take.

 

[BassFalcon]

All the design elements point to this bass being a Clevenger. He did strings through the body, the bridge is his Arco Virtuoso design. The slotted headstock and endpin are his as well. So my guess is that maybe the decal with his logo is just missing or he sold off his parts stash. Just my take.

Maybe a refin and the refinished had no access to a replacement decal?

 

[brianrost]

That wooden bout extension is a real thing of beauty compared to the strictly utilitarian extensions on the three EUBs I've owned.

That bridge design is certainly unusual, didn't know Clevingers had that.

 

[smperry]

Thanks folks. I’ll try to reach Mr. Clevinger. If he’s still in the Bay Area, that’s where I am.

 

[Ric Vice]

Here's a picture of a similar bridge from another website

Martin
did many variations on that design. I'm pretty sure that he's no longer building instruments. It's been a while since I've been in touch with him.

 

[smperry]

Here's a picture of a similar bridge from another website. Martin
did many variations on that design. I'm pretty sure that he's no longer building instruments. It's been a while since I've been in touch with him.

Oh, wow. I hadn’t seen that. Thanks. Maybe it is one of his. Odd that there’s no signature and that it has that fancy extension.

I’m not sure this will work out for me long term. It’s a slightly shorter scale length than my other instruments and my intonation is suffering. We’ll see. Edit: maybe it’s a floating bridge and I can change that? Hmm

 

[Ric Vice]

My Clevinger Keyhole shaped bass had a standard DB scale length 42” if I remember correctly.

 

[smperry]

I’m away from it for a week, but I’d guess it’s closer to 40.

 

[smperry]

So, the bridge is a floating type, so that issue is resolved. I've moved it back and the scale is now consistent with my db. Phew.

 

[smperry]

So, I'm an idiot and broke the bridge. :/ I've written to [email protected] a couple of times, but I haven't received a single response. Does anybody have an idea of a fix? The piezos are still there, so it's just a matter of finding (or having someone make) a bridge. Ugh.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Wouldn‘t it be possible to glue the bridge parts together?

Clevinger seems to made a lot of different bridges relating to where the piezos are. Also these bridges are very thick and have almost no feet.

If glueing (maybe with two dowels) is no option you might want to get a completely new bridge, maybe with different pickups. The electronics of my Clevinger were of a magnetic BG design and weren‘t good for piezos, so I buffered the piezo inputs.

I made my own piezos (good sound but very low output), covered them with wood and put them below the feet.
I needed to screw an angled piece of wood to the body, so the string angle was halved on both side to avoid a falling bridge.

Either find a luthier that can do what is needed or find a solution for yourself. I won’t count on Mr. Clevinger to repair or replace your bridge if he is not responsive. Maybe some of his former co-workers can help you if they aren’t retired too.

BTW, a picture of your broken bridge might be helpful for advice.

 

[BlueRock]

Is Martin Clevinger even still alive? Haven't heard about any basses from him for many years. Maybe try to contact Steve Azola. He knew Martin fairly well. Steve is retired from bass building but if he were inclined could definitely build you that kind of bridge. His were very similar.
His email from the Azola Basses facebook page. [email protected]

Otherwise any experienced bass luthier can repair yours or cut you a new bridge. That'd probably be the easiest thing anyway.

 

[smperry]

Thanks. I've sent the bridge to a luthier friend of mine.