PRODUCT INFORMATION
The body: The body is hollow, moulded from a kevlar and carbon fibre composite giving a high strength to weight ratio. It is smooth and forgiving when played presenting an open sound without the use of reverb or delay, and allows low volume practise without the use of headphones or amps. Highly stable across temperature and humidity ranges.
Headstock: Inspired by a Stradivari 1701 Viola da Gamba and modified to the modern sized peg box this headstock has become the trademark of ‘Bridge’. The distinctive shield, through peg box and neck is carved from a single maple block.
Pegs and Strings: The high quality ebony pegs are professionally fitted to give a smooth tuning action. The Aquila standard is fitted with Thomastik Dominant strings or equivalent. The Aquila octave is fitted with specialist octave strings designed to perform an octave lower at the violin string length.
Fingerboard and Nut: The ebony fingerboard and nut are shaped to modern orchestral measurements and traditionally finished.
Chinrest: This is a Dresden style chinrest. The style may vary with availability but will always be of an equal quality.
Tailpiece: This is a Wittner lightweight alloy tailpiece fitted with integral tuners.
Endpin: Ebony endpin in keeping with all the high quality ebony fittings on this instrument.
Bridge: The bridge houses the ‘Bridge’ pick up system, a piezo crystal configuration, designed specifically and only for use with our instruments. It is designed to pick up both the string vibration and the body resonance generated from the hollow composite body. Utilising all the properties of a traditional acoustic bridge it captures the warmth of tone synonymous with its acoustic counterpart, with no feedback
Battery Holder: The battery holder is located neatly on the underside of the instrument and powers the Bridge Active Circuitry. It houses a 3V coin cell battery, which keeps the instruments light, is readily available and easy to fit. It provides approximately 3000 hours playing time, and only drains whilst the jack is connected.
Active Circuitry: Each model has its own sophisticated active circuitry, frequency dedicated to each model and designed to perform in conjunction with the ‘Bridge’ pick-up system. It supplies power to drive effects and radio packs and puts the string player on equal footing with every other amplified instrument in the band. The bespoke Aquila Octave circuitry is designed to support the frequency register of the octave strings.
Jack Socket: ¼ inch jack - industry standard. The switch jack system automatically switches the active circuitry on and off as the jack is inserted or removed. It is carefully positioned and angled to avoid drag and interference from the cable. We have also ensured that the angle and proportions are compatible with all common wireless solutions.
Controls: All our electric range of instruments carry a volume and tone control, easily accessible for quick adjustment during performance. The tone control is a tilt control, not a boost/cut control, changing the tonal range of the instrument.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Construction
Body Length 358mm
Neck Stop 130mm
Body Stop 195mm
Weight 500g approx
Set Up
Nut width 24.0mm
String spacing at nut 16.5mm
String spacing at bridge 34.0mm
String tunings standard G d a e’
String tunings octave G, D A e
Electronics
BRIDGE pick up Piezo Configuration
Active surface mount pre amp
Instrument Output 100mV nominal
Load Resistance 10K Ohms minimum
Battery 1 x Lithium 3V CR2032
Battery life playing time approx 3000 hours
Designed by the Bridge Luthiers UK
Aquila made at the Bridge Workshops Eastman Strings Beijing
