Double Bass Pierre Joseph BRIDGE CHARGER (not String Charger)

[Guyfi]

I bought a String Charger from Pierre Joseph 20+ years ago, he sent along at no charge a “Bridge Charger”, an element that mounts on the bridge or underside of the fingerboard. I thought that this was mainly to pick up string click for slap players, but I have found that when blended with my Full Circle (via a K&K blender preamp) it adds an airy top end (similar to what a small diaphragm condenser pointed at the neck adds to the primary mic during recording). I use. I love it; no messing with mics but some of that mic-like high end articulation.

My primary bass is strung with Velvet Blues. I have a secondary bass set up with Rotosound synthetic gut strings (and an Underwood pickup) and I built a little bottle cap piezo transducer to do the same thing as the Bridge Charger but it’s not really picking up any sound from the bass. If I tap on it that comes through so it is working.

Any insights into the Bridge Charger or why this isn’t working?

 

[dylanjohnson]

Is Pierre still around?

 

[Francois Blais]

Found this:

In Larkspur, the Lark Theater has hosted jazz/cabaret vocalists like Jackie Ryan and Paula West in their renovated performance space. Also, in Larkspur lived Pierre Joseph, a double bass luthier in the town for many years. He hosted internationally renowned bassists at his home, including Danish virtuoso Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, best known for his work with pianist Oscar Peterson. Joseph designed an electronic amplification system for the double bass that was popular in the 1980s called the “Pierre Joseph String Charger.”

Here:

A History of Marin Jazz: The Thriving Music Scene You Didn't Know Existed

Tying into the Bay Area's history of Black American Music, Marin County was a vibrant place to see jazz in the '60s and '70s.

marinmagazine.com

Then found this:
Invalid Link Removed

Don't know if the man is still alive though.

 

[basss]

I bought my first bass from him many years ago at his shop in Larkspur. Nice guy, did great work. I've been on the east coast for a long times so haven't stayed in touch. IIRC he was older and this was more than 30 years ago, hope he's still around. Can't help with the pickup though.

 

[dylanjohnson]

I bought a String Charger from Pierre Joseph 20+ years ago, he sent along at no charge a “Bridge Charger”, an element that mounts on the bridge or underside of the fingerboard. I thought that this was mainly to pick up string click for slap players, but I have found that when blended with my Full Circle (via a K&K blender preamp) it adds an airy top end (similar to what a small diaphragm condenser pointed at the neck adds to the primary mic during recording). I use. I love it; no messing with mics but some of that mic-like high end articulation.

My primary bass is strung with Velvet Blues. I have a secondary bass set up with Rotosound synthetic gut strings (and an Underwood pickup) and I built a little bottle cap piezo transducer to do the same thing as the Bridge Charger but it’s not really picking up any sound from the bass. If I tap on it that comes through so it is working.

Any insights into the Bridge Charger or why this isn’t working?

If you look on Pierre's website (long gone) in Wayback Machine, you can see the ad for it. I think he describes it as being for slap bass. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any other documentation for it.

 

[Opus_Pocus]

Pierre was an old-timer when I bought a bass from him ~22 years ago. He did great setup work and would answer all kinds of questions when I called him about strings as a clueless teenager. Once in a while I would see him gigging with a trio in downtown Larkspur a few years later, circa 2006. If he's still around I hope he's happy and healthy. He had a cool shop setup in his house up in the hills. From what I've read about him, he comes from a long line of luthiers, musicians, and bow makers.

Sorry I don't have anything to add about the Bridge Charger. It certainly wouldn't hurt to give him a call and report back. Note that his name is "Pierre Josephs", not "Pierre Joseph"

 

[dylanjohnson]

Research shows a possible move to Oregon.

 

[PierreAJosephs]

Is Pierre still around?

Yes he is still around. He’s 88 today

Found this:

Here:

A History of Marin Jazz: The Thriving Music Scene You Didn't Know Existed

Tying into the Bay Area's history of Black American Music, Marin County was a vibrant place to see jazz in the '60s and '70s.

marinmagazine.com

Then found this:
Invalid Link Removed

Don't know if the man is still alive though.

he is still alive. 88 happy and healthy

 

[eh_train]

Yes he is still around. He’s 88 today

he is still alive. 88 happy and healthy

Fantastic to hear from the man himself! Are you still gigging? Inquiring minds need to know!

 

[PierreAJosephs]

Fantastic to hear from the man himself! Are you still gigging? Inquiring minds need to know!

I’m his grandson. He plays at home. He’s been hand building violins lately. Just got on here to let everyone know he is doing well

 

[brianrost]

I still use my String Charger but the Bridge Charger is long gone. I don’t even remember what I did with it, probably sold it. I have the String Charger on a plywood Juzek strung with Helicores and take it out when I need to play at rock band levels.

Rather than using a mixer, I did what the instructions said, plug it into the RCA jack and both pickups would be present at the output jack. There was no way to balance them which is probably why I stopped trying to use it.

The 1/4” is the output. The RCA is the input for the Bridge Charger.

Both pickups go through this can I have no idea what’s inside, maybe a transformer?