Mike Sabre

DOMINIQUE DI PIAZZA


Fretless Bridge

Fretless sound, Fretted intonation

The Dominique Di Piazza Fretless Bridge produces a fretless bass sound while playing in tune on a fretted neck. The saddles are based on the principle of the Indian sitar, where the string relies on a long surface with a slight arch, liberating at its end a slight gap that renders a soft and beautiful rowing sound as produced on fretless or upright basses.

The amount of « arching the saddles » is very critical, as in India it is considered as an « Art » to produce the right sound for each string.

My experience of 15 years producing and ameliorating this device, with the best materials, has brought me now to spend quite an amount of time on each saddle, finding the right « arch » for each string, and test them separately on a simulator.

While playing, according to the attack and the location of the right hand on each string, you can also vary the intensity of the effect on each note. If you use a compressed attack near the bridge, it will sound like a regular bass. If your right hand goes further to the neck and let the string vibrate the effect will come dramatically.

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DOMINIQUE DI PIAZZA FRETLESS BRIDGE