again, this is hypothetical, just wanted to hear some opinions on whether this variation on a bridge would mechanically work: imagine a normal bridge, but instead of independent feet, a solid (shaped and fitted of course) piece of wood across the belly of the bass. so, basically the feet are connected. would this be possible? how would it effect the tone? just an idea i'm considering tinkering with, to facilitate the possibility of a nifty designed bridge i've been messing with. thanks guys!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass hypothetical bridge design
- Thread starter Slim_McLean
- Start date
Hi.
On an X- or otherwise more "guitar-like" braced top it'd work as long as there still was somewhat independent "feet".
The ability to balance the sound by changing the top to back coupling would be lost obviously though.
There's no such tops found on classical bowed bass instruments AFAIK. But I'm often wrong
.
There's several reasons why there generally isn't such bridges on any curved top instruments either, mating the bridge to the top would be a major PITA for starters.
Regards
Sam
On an X- or otherwise more "guitar-like" braced top it'd work as long as there still was somewhat independent "feet".
The ability to balance the sound by changing the top to back coupling would be lost obviously though.
There's no such tops found on classical bowed bass instruments AFAIK. But I'm often wrong
.There's several reasons why there generally isn't such bridges on any curved top instruments either, mating the bridge to the top would be a major PITA for starters.
Regards
Sam
I don't think it would do anything GOOD for the sound. AFAIK, the bridge feet apparently rock from side to side (imagine standing with your legs apart and going from one foot to the other without bending your legs).
Yes! This is precisely why an extended solid foot seems not to be a good idea at all. On some basses you can demonstrate the rocking by pulling down the E-string as if you were going to pizz. and looking very carefully at the alignment of the two edges of the f-hole across the gap. On my bass, for example, I can see the flexing of the top.
I've never made a bridge like this for a double bass. I HAVE made dozens of this style for archtop guitars and mandolins.The results vary from instrument to instrument. Some instruments had a perceived increase in the low end and sustain of about 25%; others were completely choked by it. Guitar builders Jimmy D'Aquisto and John Monteleone use them extensively with very good results, not always using an X braced design. Be prepared to stand back and wait for the same guys who have never built a guitar or a bass jump on the bandwagon and tell me how they are completely different beasts....once you've built a couple of hundred instruments, you'll recognize a lot of value in cross pollinization of ideas....
Just go ahead and make one- a bridge is a pretty simple task and you'll find the answer to your question as it directly relates to your bass, rather than speculation from a bunch of web nerds. For a quick test, you could modify the lower half of an existing or old bridge to find the answer. Although I DO NOT recommend it, I know firsthand that superglue will hold a broken bridge together under full tension for over six weeks ( before it explodes violently...); in the short run, you'll have enough time to run a few experiments and test your theory. Recognize that it only has direct value and application on the bass that you test. There are a number of modern violin builders who do some pretty non-traditional things with bridges and have very good results.
No offense intended towards web nerds or speculators; too often threads get sidetracked by both groups.....
j.
Just go ahead and make one- a bridge is a pretty simple task and you'll find the answer to your question as it directly relates to your bass, rather than speculation from a bunch of web nerds. For a quick test, you could modify the lower half of an existing or old bridge to find the answer. Although I DO NOT recommend it, I know firsthand that superglue will hold a broken bridge together under full tension for over six weeks ( before it explodes violently...); in the short run, you'll have enough time to run a few experiments and test your theory. Recognize that it only has direct value and application on the bass that you test. There are a number of modern violin builders who do some pretty non-traditional things with bridges and have very good results.
No offense intended towards web nerds or speculators; too often threads get sidetracked by both groups.....
j.
Hi.
Pics, if You'd be so kind.
Not that I doubt You or the great luthiers You mentioned, But I don't think we're talking about the same exact thing here.
At least I think I'm not.
Back in the late 80's I tried to make a full contact bridge for a friends cheap arch-top guitar, that failed, and I never made another. Just didn't found any benefit, only downsides.
I was relatively young tough, so there was probably something I missed if full contact archtop bridgers are used by the masters.
Before the oh-so-familiar browser crash often associated with sites like that, i think I saw light shining through between the ends of the bridge bottom?
If that's true, its not what this internet nerd is talking about, and the way I read the op, neither is he.
If I did see incorrectly, could You kindly point me into a site with less "bells and whistles" and less ad tracking.
I visited his site, obviously, but couldn't quite find what I'd hoped.
No matter how unconventional looking for traditional luthier his bridges may be, for a mundane engineer like me, they're just another innovative take on an old design. A take I for one wholeheartedly welcome.
Regards
Sam
Pics, if You'd be so kind.
Not that I doubt You or the great luthiers You mentioned, But I don't think we're talking about the same exact thing here.
At least I think I'm not
.Back in the late 80's I tried to make a full contact bridge for a friends cheap arch-top guitar, that failed, and I never made another. Just didn't found any benefit, only downsides.
I was relatively young tough, so there was probably something I missed if full contact archtop bridgers are used by the masters.
Before the oh-so-familiar browser crash often associated with sites like that, i think I saw light shining through between the ends of the bridge bottom?
If that's true, its not what this internet nerd is talking about, and the way I read the op, neither is he.
If I did see incorrectly, could You kindly point me into a site with less "bells and whistles" and less ad tracking.
I visited his site, obviously, but couldn't quite find what I'd hoped.
No matter how unconventional looking for traditional luthier his bridges may be, for a mundane engineer like me, they're just another innovative take on an old design. A take I for one wholeheartedly welcome.
Regards
Sam
Check out Jim Hamm's website, the violin bridge story can be found here
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
