Naimish Bridges

Just what do those bridges look like and what's their comparative advantage, for those of us not yet illuminated?

 

I found this not sure how the height adjustment works though.

http://www.activebass.com/members/richardnaimish/

 

Seems from looking at the pic and reading the description that the saddles are split into two halves horizontally, with a fulcrum arrangement between the two halves.

I'm guessing that screwing the cap screw at the back of the saddle down would tip the front of the saddle up for height adjustment.

 

That is right.

 

Hey Stealth,

First a quick thank you to tjclem, Jools4001, and cnltb for the pix and link. How's everything in Olde London Town Mr. L.?

The two biggest advantages are; first the elimination of the set screws as string height adjusters, (any time you have to employ a threaded adjuster between the string saddle and the instrument this threaded adjuster is going to play a roll in the overall resulting sound. The bottom line, to use the most obvious pun) and second the resulting increase in surface contact area between the string saddle and the instrument.

Also, the Aluminum has proven to be very transparent. Unlike other bridges, which tend to color the sound in relation to their materials and design parameters, the Aluminum allows the instrument to speak in a truer voice.

Since I'm here I'll take this opportunity to point out something that might not be obvious at first glance. Notice that the two bridges pictured above employ a conventional base plate.(i.e. a solid piece of metal under the full adjustment range of the saddle/anvil assemblies.) The purpose is two fold, retro fitting an existing hole pattern, and keeping the anvil pieces from marring the finished surface of the instrument during adjustment. The actual bottom of the base plate can be eliminated further increasing the coupling of string to instrument, which after all was the aim of the original design. All that's really needed are the back rail, the two side rails for containment, and the front rail to complete the structural integrity. (i.e. to hold the side rails in place) With the string through body designs all you really need is the back rail for the intonation adjustment screw and the individual saddle/anvil assemblies for each string.

Hope this helps and answers your question. Thank you for asking.

Rick

 

Rick;

I am intersted in your bridge. Do you have any drawings and pics posted?

Also, what type of commitment do you need? - 5? 10? What finishes are you having done?

Thanks,
Mike

 

Interesting. Do these have as much height adjustment range as the hipshot "A" style?

 

Hey Mike,

Yes, there are some pix on flicker and imageshack. Both under Naimishbridge (I think). I'll try and post a couple here on the thread. Drawings I'm still working on. I've got a CAD/CAM program on my computer that I use to do the design work. It may as well be in a different universe. I can't export anything out of it. I'm pretty certain it has to do with the interface with my current Windows XP Pro OS. I'm going to install some software to try and remedy this. The drawings can show you more detail than pix.

I told my manufacturer, "I won't bother you again until I have orders for at least one hundred(100) bridges."

Finishes are going to be Hard Anodized, matte black, matte gold and clear.
This is a picture of the matte clear. A little darker than I expected, but a beautiful finish none the less. Also next to indestructible. You'd have to destroy the bridge to hurt the finish.

I'll have more picture samples of the finishes in a couple, three weeks. I'm going to Denver this coming week to crunch numbers with my machinist, and to drop off some samples at the plating shop.

 

String height adjustment range is 5/16" or 0.3125". This is the absolute physical limit of the design in it's current configuration. If you need more than that you'll have to make an adjustment somewhere else on the instrument. The intonation adjustment is 9/16" or 0.5625".

Rick

 

I'm good for one 4 string model in the matte black finish. I read the review on this bridge in Bass Player years ago, asked about it at several local shops, including Low Down Sound (RIP) in Ferndale, MI. One question, do the saddles need to be filed before install?

 

Hey levis76,

No. You do not have to file the saddles on this bridge. Filing the saddles voids your warranty.

That's too bad about Don closing shop. That was a great place for us bottom dwellers. He will be missed.

 

I think this pic explains it better. Cool sexy design, and I would get one if money was no object. Stole pic from your own old post. I think it would be great for pick players who rest their hand on the bridge, no screws to poke you

 

Don hasn't completely stopped. Last time I spoke to him, he was going to setup shop in his garage and continue to restore and build custom cabinets. He just couldn't afford the storefront anymore. If you want, I could find his number for you and he may be interested in getting a few bridges. I could at least ask him. And yes, if you make a run of these, I would love to purchase one. Anything I can do to support Michigan companies. I even use GHS strings for that reason.

 

Hey joeyl,

Thanks for posting that picture up for us. Yeah, you're right about no screws sticking up. Part of the design goal was to make the bridge as user friendly as possible. No sharp corners or edges anywhere.

 

Thanks for the info, that's kind of the way I understood things were going to pan out for Don. If or when you speak with him please send him my best regards.

I've got you down for a bridge, go ahead and shoot me an email and we'll take it from there.

 

That looks fantastic. Put me down for three firmly and possibly more.

 

Thanks, mikeyswood. I fear we're treading into the forbidden territory here. Please send me an email for any such specific requests. Thank you.

While I'm at it I'll put a link HERE to another thread on the bridge topic in hopes of avoiding redundant redundancy.?

 

19mm spacing center to center for the 4 string?

i wish i could say count me in for one, but im not working atm. if i wind up with a job between now and then however, ill certainly be down for one. subscribed, these look very interesting.