The Preserve Saddle for
Double Bass
Seeing so many old and (even worse) new instruments with
saddle cracks has given us pause to rethink one of the most overlooked areas
of bowed instruments.? The concept is simple, and the result is traditional
in appearance.? It is our intent to significantly reduce the likelihood of a
saddle crack occurring in an instrument with this saddle installed.
Traditional saddles have squared off, 90 degree edges.?
As the top shrinks (due to the nature of the wood) the shrinking
plate meets resistance at the saddle area.? Inevitably the stress results
in a crack at one of the edges of the saddle.? Our idea was to create a
saddle that will not act as a wedge and thus split the top.? The theory
behind our saddle design is that as the plate shrinks, the saddle will be forced
out of the mortise or will shift aside.? At that point it is much easier
(and less expensive) to refit the saddle than to repair a crack.
Saddle is available as a blank
and will need to be custom installed.
Please visit
www.stringrepair.com for installation pictures
