Rubber Bridges

[MrNovember]

So I was watching the Taylor Swift docu-concert thing on Disney+ with my fiancee (as an aside: her new album is actually quite good and is co-written with Aaron Dessner of the National and Justin Vernon. Also, it's all filmed at Aaron Dessner's Long Pond Studios, which is an absolutely beautiful location; I would love to own a place like that). Anyways, there's a bunch of little interviews in between each song they play and in one of them Aaron talks about how he likes this little rubber bridge parlor guitar so much that he sent Taylor Swift one when they were writing the album. This got me curious so I started looking into it and apparently putting a rubber bridge on a guitar is becoming a pretty common mod:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndjgn7YsDsU[/youtube]
https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/je ... ode-to-joy

According to reddit, it all seems to have started with Reuben Cox of Old Style Guitar Shop in LA, but this guy seems to make them too:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxGoGFIvSWI[/youtube]
https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/2020/ ... ified.html
Big close up picture from the blog:

NSFW: show

Long story short, I've been thinking about grabbing one of these Gretsch Gin Rickeys and putting a thick elastic in between the strings and bridge to give it a go:

I was already thinking about grabbing one of these because I want a parlour guitar for the living room, and I want to try out that pickup, and because they're pretty inexpensive.

[Blackened Soul]

How different do you think this is from a bass string mute?

https://nordstrandaudio.com/products/nordymute

[MrNovember]

I mean, I don't see why it would be any different

I had no idea that existed either. I also recently learned about banjo mutes, which one of the reasons I never play the banjo is because it's so ridiculously loud

[Blackened Soul]

I had no idea that existed either.

Almost all the 50's / 60's basses originally had mutes, Rics still have them built into the bridges, that what the thumbscrews are for

[coldbrightsunlight]

I had no idea that existed either. I also recently learned about banjo mutes, which one of the reasons I never play the banjo is because it's so ridiculously loud

This really stopped me playing the banjo as much as I wanted. Then I sold it because I never played it but maybe I just needed a mute.

[Phosphene Audio]

[voerking]

you can always squeeze a strip of foam under your strings right where the strings leave the saddles to get this sound.

[dubkitty]

i cannot envision a single instance where a rubber bridge would be a good idea.

[MrNovember]

That'll definitely work!

i cannot envision a single instance where a rubber bridge would be a good idea.

To each their own

I like experimenting with prepared guitars and I've seen several artists I enjoy who have used and highly recommend guitars with rubber bridges, so I'm keen to give it a shot

[dubkitty]

i'm all for prepared guitars, and on reflection a rubber bridge could be useful for e.g. the sound Eno achieved on U2's "Indian Summer Sky" by using small pieces of modeling clay on the strings just north of the bridge saddles to get that unique barely-muted, almost Oriental sound.

[MrNovember]

I'm also curious to try it with a gated fuzz. I feel like the short sustain will make for some interesting textures through a gated fuzz.

[voerking]

i'm all for prepared guitars, and on reflection a rubber bridge could be useful for e.g. the sound Eno achieved on U2's "Indian Summer Sky" by using small pieces of modeling clay on the strings just north of the bridge saddles to get that unique barely-muted, almost Oriental sound.

i'm not familiar with that song, but i get a sound similar to your description by weaving a small plastic strip (a cut up credit card) through the strings right up against the bridge. I picked that up from my pal Shane Parish of Ahleuchatistas.
he's using it here: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D06Tb01Pe8k[/youtube]

[dubkitty]

i beg your pardon...the Unforgettable Fire track i meant to cite is "Wire." the motif recurs throughout, but is most noticeable in the introduction from 0:00-0:16. you know you're getting painfully old when you can't even remember which track is which on one of the best albums by one of your favorite bands.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5xlCvWOPj0[/youtube]

[Dowi]

i'm not familiar with that song, but i get a sound similar to your description by weaving a small plastic strip (a cut up credit card) through the strings right up against the bridge. I picked that up from my pal Shane Parish of Ahleuchatistas.
he's using it here:
[youtube][/youtube]

Just jumping in to say: they were kiiiiiiiiiiller! such an awesome live band too.

@MrNovember
i have one of those cheap Gretsch Jim Dandy - which i think are with the same size/materials as the Gin RIckey but without the pickup - and i can vouch for it A LOT. I use it as my "guitar to have always around" at home, considering its price range it sounds really good and it's a perfect size for random noodling. Don't know how's the pickup on the electrified one though.

[MrNovember]

Thanks for the feedback Dowi, that's pretty much exactly why I want the Gin Rickey! I'm pretty sure the price different between the Gin Rickey and the Jim Dandy is like $50 CDN and you can also buy the pickup on its own for like $125 CDN. So seems to make sense to grab the Gin Rickey and get a pickup even if it's not that great. I have almost pulled the trigger a few times now, but I'm going to try to wait until after Christmas; It'll be a late Christmas present to myself