Double Saddles?? What for?

mc2NY · March 16, 2012, 02:35:17 PM

OK bass gurus....on some of my 8-string basses there are DOUBLE SADDLES on each string. No one seems to be able to tell me why.

I DO NOT MEAN separate root and octave saddles.....LOOK CLOSE, each string has TWO saddles. Most strings have a space between the two saddles. A couple on the the top pic are adjusted pretty close with little gap.

My guess it that perhaps they are meant to reduce the angle the string crosses the saddle at, in order to reduce tension and string breakage?

Or perhaps it is some odd locking system to keep the intonation locked, like when you put two nuts on a bolt?

Either way, I have had four basses with these double saddles and NONE have been set up in any way that seems uniform. So, I guess no one who owned them had a clue what they are for either.

Does anyone know for sure? If so...what is the proper way to set the double saddles up?

Extra points if you can ID the two basses these bridges are from

iamthatguy32 · March 18, 2012, 06:53:17 PM

As far as I can guess, they're there for stability because a double set of bass string puts a lot more tension on the saddle. Most 8 string basses I've seen just have really thick saddles, so I imagine that this is just another way to do it.

gearHed289 · March 19, 2012, 10:23:15 AM

I don't know about that top one, but the Warwick looks like single saddles (black) mounted in the gold pieces. Saddle within a saddle I guess, but still only one surface where the string makes contact.

OldManC · March 19, 2012, 06:39:42 PM

Citron Veillette? I always thought they looked cool.

Dave W · March 19, 2012, 07:00:10 PM

Since Citron and Veillette went their separate ways, neither uses a bridge like that.

hieronymous · March 19, 2012, 11:32:12 PM

Maybe to cut down on vibrations between the bridge & saddles?

mc2NY · March 23, 2012, 08:49:29 AM

One of the guitar gurus on the Hamer Fan Club agreed that it it to step down the string angle to reduce breakage....although no one seems to know if there is any proper spacing to use.

dadagoboi · March 23, 2012, 09:57:10 AM

Quote from: mc2NY on March 23, 2012, 08:49:29 AM
One of the guitar gurus on the Hamer Fan Club agreed that it it to step down the string angle to reduce breakage....although no one seems to know if there is any proper spacing to use.

Steepest break angle you can get is with a string thru and no problems with properly done ones from the '51 P on. Myth IMO.