1/2 or 5/8 size

[Bass Barrister]

Given the following dimensions, would you consider this bass to be 1/2 or 5/8 size?

String length = 39 3/4"
Width, upper bout = 19"
Width, lower bout = 23 1/4"
Rib depth = 7 7/8"
Body height, front = 40"
Body height, back = 39 1/2"
Total height = 66"

Thanks

[jimmyduded]

i would post this in setup and repair, those guys know what they are talking about and know their dimensions well

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by jimmyduded

i would post this in setup and repair, those guys know what they are talking about and know their dimensions well

What's a base?

Given the following dimensions, would you consider this base to be 1/2 or 5/8 size?

Now if it's a BasS then it might be easier to answer you by knowing the body length from the top, back and overall length as well.

On the Top, measure from the bottom saddle area to the tip touching the sides of the Neck. On the Back, measure to where the Back meets the upper Rib and over the button as well. Full length is from the bottom to the tip of the Scroll. Do not measure any of this with the endpin or socket. The String length you gave means very little for size without the rest of the #s. Also, pictures will help as well seeing where the Bridge is sitting.

Sizes are measured very loosely. Nothing is uniform with Basses. Your Bass can actually be a small 3/4. 5/8 is more of a slang term for small 3/4 as I don't think anyone ever set out to make on. Most so called 5/8s Basses are actually half sized by the standards the makers used then or just a smallish 3/4.

I played a small Italian Bass with a 39 1/2" string length not long ago. I also own 2 Basses in 3/4 with a 42" length and have seen many at 43" or so.

[Bass Barrister]

OK . . . it's late. The typo is corrected (thought I did that before posting but . . . it's late). I'll do the rest tommorow.

BTW: thanks for the C. Loveri bow, Ken . . . very nice.

Bass "but not base" Barrister

[Bass Barrister]

I have added dimensions. This bass is one of the Romanian basses offered by Steve "greeene" at Ideal Music. The local set-up was done by Mark Sonksen, Sonksen Strings. Mark did the following:

*Carve new bridge with adjusters
*Install new strings which Ideal supplied (Flexocores)
*Plane and dress fingerboard
*Carve new nut (original was expoxied in and had to be chipped out)
*Replace useless endpin with good used one
*Adjust soundpost
*Replace tail piece wire

I'm thankful to Mark for all his great work. While this bass can not match the power of my larger bass, it produces a very decent tone and gives me some portability that I would not otherwise have.