8-string bridge reveal: TODAY IS A HAPPY DAY!!!

[BTL]

The 8-string bridges are in the mail and on their way to me...

[gearHed289]

Nice looking piece. Looking forward to seeing one on a bass, as I'm sure you are as well!

[BTL]

Yes, 100%. Interestingly, I suspect the first bass to showcase one of these bridges will be a Serek. Jake reached out to me a few weeks back and he'll be getting a couple from this first batch.

[BTL]

I have been working with an attorney on filing a provisional patent on this design. We're filing a provisional patent applications in the US, so I will have a year from today to evaluate whether a utility patent is worth pursuing...and yes, I'll be selling the bridges to fund the patent process. It seems like I've been waiting forever to share the news.

As an FYI, there are currently no plate-style, single-piece (integrated bridge and tailpiece) 8-string bridges on the market and none has ever offered this combination of features integrated into a single design. I'll talk through the details in the next day or so, but right now I'm just taking a victory lap.

[uwe]

Where will the grooves for the strings be or am I missing something?

[BTL]

The v-groove is the string guide and the shelf is a zero fret. It's a different way of solving the string alignment challenge and is an element of the design patent application.

[uwe]

I still don't get it how it's supposed to work, where do the strings run in pairs, I don't see it?

[BTL]

The octave pairs align at the apex of the v-grooves. The v-groove acts as a string guide with the vertical side maintaining string-to-string spacing. The shelf acts as a zero fret. 

This is the only currently available 8-string bass bridge that offers intonation and height adjustment for each individual string. Retrofits a standard/vintage-spec 5-screw bridge without modification. 2.3" string spacing. Saddles lock from the treble side of the bridge. Patent pending.

[uwe]

Now I get it! The original pics were just too small to make out the details. That bridge looks very well thought out, compliments!

[BTL]

Now I get it! The original pics were just too small to make out the details. That bridge looks very well thought out, compliments!

Thank you so much! I'm hoping this and my conversion necks bring a renaissance of the 8-string bass.

[uwe]

I knew we were missing something all these years. That and flight jackets of course.

[BTL]

There's something to be said for an Alembic 8-string.

[uwe]

ELP at least recorded it so that you can hear it's an 8-string and not some mushy something. To this day, I haven't heard that recording quality bettered by any other band, but to be fair ELP had the advantage of not having to worry about the bass getting in the way of the guitar(s). I think that poses an issue for most bands with a multi-string bass player. I have yet to discover for instance what Petersson's 12-string excesses really ADD to the Cheap Trick sound, try as I might. It seems to be a very expensive way of generating an indirect and unfocused bass sound.

[BTL]

As you say, I feel like the 8-string is a tool that benefits a power trio most often, but may also create an opportunity for a power duo as well. It seems less relevant the more players there are on stage.

[gearHed289]

ELP at least recorded it so that you can hear it's an 8-string and not some mushy something. To this day, I haven't heard that recording quality bettered by any other band, but to be fair ELP had the advantage of not having to worry about the bass getting in the way of the guitar(s). I think that poses an issue for most bands with a multi-string bass player

Very true. I've tried using mine with my band, but most of the effect gets lost within the overdriven guitar and violin. It seems to need a pretty specific opening in the sonic spectrum to really work. I think JPJ got pretty good results on the Presence album. Also GFTO and Changes by Yes.