And it's almost certain that someone, probably more than one someone, thought of it before 1987 as well. Torn was just the first to both put it to tape and be well known enough to be recognized for doing so. I like David Torn as well. Not trying to diminish him either, just pointing out that many of the giants on whose shoulder we sit on are anonymous or lost to history.

@@ludamillion agreed.

Yes. I’ve spontaneously experimented by sticking a drumstick under the strings by my own inspiration, and I have no doubt that many other people have tried something similar without any big recognition of it publicly. Just to underline what another mentioned here, that the concept of inserting something to improvise a bridge in the middle of the strings of a guitar is not really all that unique. Yet of course, this is a more highly engineered/refined version of that.

@@user-yv6xw7ns3o The concept of a "third bridge" goes back quite a while and numerous people used it during the 20th century. From Wiki: "In the 1930s, Harry Partch experimented with this technique on an instrument he called a Kithara that had movable glass rods. In the late 1960s, Keith Rowe made occasional use of third bridge guitars, inspiring a slew of experimental guitarists (notably Fred Frith) to use prepared guitars, inspired by John Cage's technique of the prepared piano. Classical guitar duo Elgart & Yates wrote a small book, Prepared Guitar Techniques, in which the technique is described and used in the added written musical piece, although not defined with the term 'third bridge' yet. From the 1970s, Hans Reichel's self-made and modified acoustic guitars sometimes featured third bridges. From the late 1970s, Glenn Branca adopted Partch's theory and used amplified string tables for some of his symphonies.[6] After being trained in the Branca orchestra, Sonic Youth applied their own guitars with screwdrivers, mainly in their early years. On their debut EP and the album Confusion is Sex this technique is often used.[7] Afterwards Bradford Reed developed the Pencilina. Reed plays mainly with drumsticks hitting the strings as well. "Nails" (2004) by Kaki King uses a third bridge set over the 16th fret and the technique has also been used by Fred Frith and Keith Rowe in addition to Branca, Moore, and Ranaldo."

Wow! Thanks so much.Truly appreciated. Please stick around. The future is bright!

kzfaq.infoLSrT7Nrpb5E?si=zEnDmKyWfNr13HpU

Ha! Thanks Trent. Have fun!

Guzheng (damned spellcheck)

Glenn Branca did this with Stratocasters

@@Chris-mc2dt Thanks, I didn't know that!

Yes. It has a subtle radius.

@@MarkGutierrez Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.

From the sound of his, a very hard wood, (like the Walnut that was mentioned above, or even brass, like the original will probably yield better sounding results.

@@deltavistastudio124 my first prototype is made from cheap soft wood, it works, but yes, hard wood is the way forward...

The bow experiments didn't make it into the vid. The bridge allows for bowing all six strings. The only thing getting in the way is the body

@@MarkGutierrez Try a psaltery bow - much shorter so you might be able to keep off of the body on the end strings. Otherwise, go with an ebow.

I did that a couple of years ago, basically a heightened fret of rosewood, placed on the 16th fret. You get a new instrument!😊

Yea, why don't you do it, he is giving the files to make one, file 2 extra slots and Bob's your aunty!😊

@ErickvdK I lost my hands from frostbite but I still have a love for guitars and 3d printers are expensive

You'd have to have one hell of a high pickup lol or may throw neodymium magnets on the back

Also, moving it closer to the soundhole will increase volume as well. Charm is weak.