Hi everyone. I wanted to ask if anyone have some meassurment, or something, because I want to make my own bridge. I have good wood, and I know the man who is good with wood... But I just dont have any meassurments and things... Please, more specific - better. Its for 3\4 double bass...
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Double Bass How to make my own bridge
- Thread starter Milivojepicuric
- Start date
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I wonder why is the reason why almost no one make their own bridges?
should be the maple be an exceptional piece of wood?
Should the maple should show rays to be a good bridge material?
should be the maple be an exceptional piece of wood?
Should the maple should show rays to be a good bridge material?
I don't believe they're actually "standard". If I remember correctly from my reading, different blanks can have different dimensions. Perhaps you should take your bridge off and survey it.
There are a few different "standards" for bridges, and a lot of repair shops do get blank bridges in (looks like a bridge, but top and feet are very oversized and are shaped from there) instead of starting from scratch.
Carving a bridge even from a blank is a lot of work. Obviously the feet have to be matched to the top of your bass, and every bass is a little bit different. Getting it to fit perfectly to the top is an art, and then you have to match the top to the radius and/or bevel of the fingerboard. From there, most shops and makers do a considerable amount of other shaping of not only the thickness, but the wings and cut outs as well. The mass of the bridge can greatly alter the tone.
I am not saying it can't be done. I imagine it would be a lot easier to go from a piece of wood to a blank vs. a blank to a properly fitted bridge.
Best of luck.
Carving a bridge even from a blank is a lot of work. Obviously the feet have to be matched to the top of your bass, and every bass is a little bit different. Getting it to fit perfectly to the top is an art, and then you have to match the top to the radius and/or bevel of the fingerboard. From there, most shops and makers do a considerable amount of other shaping of not only the thickness, but the wings and cut outs as well. The mass of the bridge can greatly alter the tone.
I am not saying it can't be done. I imagine it would be a lot easier to go from a piece of wood to a blank vs. a blank to a properly fitted bridge.
Best of luck.
Its not like you are trying to build a large scale particle accelerator....
If you have moderate woodworking skills or just good intentions, get a few basic hand tools and start carving away at a piece of wood until you get to a point where you are satisfied. Chances are you'll make a few mistakes with dimensions, wood selection, and overall setup and mass, but you'll learn a ton in the process. If you decide it is not what you want, put the old one back on or take it to a pro to install a new one. If you have a drill press, a spindle sander, or a scroll saw....an hour later you'll have a bunch of bridge shaped objects! Bridges and tailpieces are a great starting point for people with an interest. Give it a try and post a few photos for the visual nerds around here.
j.
www.condino.com
www.kaybassrepair.com
If you have moderate woodworking skills or just good intentions, get a few basic hand tools and start carving away at a piece of wood until you get to a point where you are satisfied. Chances are you'll make a few mistakes with dimensions, wood selection, and overall setup and mass, but you'll learn a ton in the process. If you decide it is not what you want, put the old one back on or take it to a pro to install a new one. If you have a drill press, a spindle sander, or a scroll saw....an hour later you'll have a bunch of bridge shaped objects! Bridges and tailpieces are a great starting point for people with an interest. Give it a try and post a few photos for the visual nerds around here.
j.
www.condino.com
www.kaybassrepair.com
- Dec 13, 1999
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- Disclosures
- Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
