Double Bass Crazy Adjustable Bridge

[Inky13]

I saw this on the Music Go Round site and I had to share.
It’s a Shen SB-100. I…I’m not sure what to think. It’s hurting my brain.

 

[Fretless55]

YIKES!

That is so so so wrong.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

That would be in a Music Go Round. Wisconsin?

 

[Stewie]

A decent luthier could replace that and make it all better

 

[Don Hergert]

There's a lot of bridge variety out there. Some of them actually work.

 

[Ketbass]

It’s just plain fugly…

 

[shwashwa]

how does it sound? they need to put pickups in each post

 

[Inky13]

A decent luthier could replace that and make it all better

I agree. The bass itself looked OK.

 

[Inky13]

That would be in a Music Go Round. Wisconsin?

PA.

 

[GretschWretch]

 

[CryingBass]

Mushrooms at work

 

[Paps]

I don't think I'll be investing in that business!

 

[JBarz]

I like it - I think it’s clever. Especially if you’re trying to figure out how to set and balance a blended steel/gut strings set - that takes some experimentation and trial and error! This would be a valuable tool in the same sense that the expensive adjustable sound post would be. I wouldn’t use it on every bass, but every so often I could see the merit.

 

[RSBBass]

Expanding on JBarz comment: I could see this as a useful tool if you are trying to zero in a bridge with an unusual blend of strings. Get this set right and then carve a conventional bridge.

But the true test of it as a permanent bridge is how it sounds.

 

[Don Hergert]

I agree. But then, l happily use a Deuce bridge all the time for its advantages, ugly though it may be.

Regarding the OP bridge, having the ability to adjust individual string height is not a new or unpopular concept. For double basses, it means not having to deepen a new non-adjustable bridge's slots, or not having to replace that bridge when the slots become too deep, for a different kind of string.

 

[Richtofen]

Definitely interesting. I wonder if it can be used for a pickup.

 

[Karl Kaminski]

well there are many things (on face value) that are 'wrong' by convention, but without knowledge of 'the intent' of that bridge its hard to speculate.

if a "testing platform"; the leg (width) needs to adjustable to fit the bassbar and center of top for different basses. But since these feet are carved to this top already, it looks to be a 'replacement experiment'.

Now it gets interesting; not being able to hear the result again its only observational speculation based on general practices. Considering the feet and post are place appropriately...

• I'd imagine the aluminum is heavier than a bridge blank—so the assumption is a darker result?
• But 'individual pillars' for each string may aid in vibration transmission, possibly to avoid dampening—Again a darker setup, unless the metal pillars are extremely stiff, then a brighter result?
• the area that the string passes over is too thick—looks to be maybe 12.5mm dowels (2-3x an average 'standard thickness' of a bridge top)—adding a dampening effect. But each string mount is independent so a wider area may be needed to dampen/darken the tone?
• this is a plywood Shen bass so all these elements may aid to the tone production?

Adding a pickup? hard to tell from the photo... do those pillars have wheels or are the wood post-ends just 'cut to needed size'? I think it's stiff/no wheels. *If adjustable, it may be a challenge since we don't know if vibrations are also transferred laterally across the bridge (like a standard wooden bridge), one may need to have a pickup on each string instead of minimally at the E string leg. (kinda like the Wilson pickup model, but as adjusters—impractical from a cost perspective) Without knowing all the variables I'd start with an old style Realist.

If the tone result was positive, great. But I think we'd be seeing many variations of this approach in the journals, online, at conventions, and for sale.

If in eastern PA, Im gonna try to go and see this thing over the holiday.
Nope not me, it's in Monroeville, PA (Pittsburgh area). Anyone out there able to check it out?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Karl Kaminski]

its actually quite intriguing... check out the metal spacers under each string they look like they can be slid to different locations to apply a center of mass for each string or maybe just a way of securing each wooden dowel, like a slide pressure fit???

man, if anyone checks this thing out, take some photos of both/all sides off this thing!

 

[Inky13]

It is an interesting concept. I would like to hear the story behind it.

 

[SVT4001]

Ever been in the room when someone's bridge drops? I have.
I wouldn't want to be in the room if this one did! =)