4/4 Questions

[Violen]

Im a pretty big guy.

How big is a 4/4 really? I started on a 7/8ths, and now play a 3/4.

Im asking about this Ad:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...id=p2761.l1259

He says it has a 43 inch scale length.

Does it make that much of a difference? Share your stories and comment on the bass.

I know you guys saw me frothing at the mouth on that other bass.

Why wouldnt i want this bass? Thanks for the help.

[Maxvla]

The 4/4 will certainly be harder to play, but eventually you'd adjust to it.

I'd say the biggest factor in judging if you can play a 4/4 is hand size and how flexible your extensions are (stretch between fingers). There's the factor of arm length to consider also, and overall height, but they aren't quite as important.

Very generally, I usually say 3/4 for players up to 6 feet, 7/8 up to 6'3" and 4/4 beyond that, but those are just estimates. In the end you really have to play the instrument and see if it is comfortable, or close enough that you think you can get used to it. A 4/4 bass is a big monster.

Another thing to consider is the size of your transportation. Will a 4/4 fit in your car?

[Big B.]

What kind of music are you playing? If you play a lot of orchestral music a 4/4 is great for producing a big sound but can be a bit tedious for more delicate chamber and solo work. If you mostly play jazz and amplify your bass I dont think the benefits of a 4/4 will outweigh the extra effort of playing the bass.

Not only does that extra string length require bigger stretches, it also increases the string tension and the amount of force required from your left hand. On basses with long string lengths a good setup can make the difference between playable and cumbersome.

Personally I like big basses but everyone has their own cup of tea.

[Violen]

Thanks, anyone else want to weigh in?

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by Violen

Thanks, anyone else want to weigh in?

Sure, I'll bite.

The dimensions given make it a pretty standard 3/4 size by my reckoning. And why you'd want to pay that much money for a poorly refinished plywood bass with a coat hanger tailpiece wire is none of my damn business but - you could slide the bridge up a little to shorten the string length if that's what you wanted.

I'm out because they won 't ship to Canada OR Mars!

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Originally Posted by Violen

Thanks, anyone else want to weigh in?

Since you asked:

It's a butchered plywood bass. Bad refinish and dowels at the neck heel for starters. The fact that it's in NY and local pickup only might be a deal breaker even IF you were willing to pay at least twice what it's worth.

[forester]

the size isn't scary, but for a carved bass the flatsawn top sort-a is... furthermore,i can't see getting much sound out of that skinny little bow.

be prudent.

[Eric Hochberg]

It doesn't seem to me that the body dimensions are any bigger than most 3/4 basses. You're really only talking about a longer string length than most basses made today. I know average size guys that play 43". You have to see if it's something you want to deal with.

Woops, Jake beat me to it...

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by forester

the size isn't scary, but for a carved bass the flatsawn top sort-a is... furthermore,i can't see getting much sound out of that skinny little bow.

be prudent.

Yeah, but its a really long one! I don't think it comes with either the bow or the pink floral bow stand just beside it!

If you look just to the left of the saddle you can see where the plies are delaminating...

[Maxvla]

I guess I should have actually looked at the advertisement. Stay far far away!

[Steve Swan]

A of contemporary german basses labeled 4/4 are what we usually consider 7/8 size.

[Violen]

Thank you for the responses! Can we further point out things to look for on this bass that people should look out for on other used instrments?

I realize that the delamination is a dead giveaway for a plywood bass but is there anything else that cues any of you in from say, the first picture?

I do appreciate the information!

[fdeck]

Though possibly not universally true, a carved bass tends to have a raised "lip" at the edges of the plates. Also, a 100 year old carved bass being sold for $2k should have some cracks.

But possibly the main thing is that the bass is on eBay, and described in language that would seem out of kilter if written by someone who plays bass. The Music Den is in a huge shopping mall, not a specialized bass luthier. The seller dissed you about asking for a typical parameter. This doesn't look like a situation where you are going to find out enough about any bass, whether "vintage" or not, to make an informed judgement.

I could see buying on eBay if you were, for instance, looking for a wreck to restore yourself, or if you could communicate at high baud with the seller and really nail down a lot of details. Even then, it would still fall short of meeting the bass in person.

While not strictly on-topic, what sort of bass are you looking for? My view is that even if you're a big guy, the sheer size of a real 4/4 is a negative that would have to be outweighed by positive factors such as tone that can't be ascertained at a distance. After all, would you put up with a 4/4 if you could get the same or better sound out of a 3/4? So a 4/4 bass needs a reason to exist other than just its size.

Are you looking to upgrade? By all indications, KC Strings is a reputable shop.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Originally Posted by Violen

.................................................. ............... but is there anything else that cues any of you in from say, the first picture?
..................

I see an ugly plywood bass that is cut through the veneer on the top bass side bout.
It's in a pink room with white trim, pink wastebasket. That tells me either the bass is owned by a little girl, a non-player or somebody with no sense of color. Thus, they aren't to be trusted to know what they have.

What did I win?

[drurb]

Originally Posted by clink

What did I win?

Here's your prize.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by drurb

Here's your prize.

LOL!!

[Violen]

LoL!

Fdeck: I have a KC Strings PLy bass. Its awesome but im growing as a player and i want something better. I guess i just want champagne dreams on a beer budget.

Thank you for everyone's imput!

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by Violen

LoL!

Fdeck: I have a KC Strings PLy bass. Its awesome but im growing as a player and i want something better. I guess i just want champagne dreams on a beer budget.

Thank you for everyone's imput!

Here's what I suggest. I think that we all dream of discovering a bass that is seriously underpriced for what it is, and of course we read the occasional story where it actually happens.

As I made my way through the process of shopping for a bass, I realized that trying out a bass was a skill like any other, and one that requires practice. So I suggest that you just start trying out basses that emerge on the market in your locale. This will let you form a mental picture of what's out there in terms of tone, playability, price, condition, etc. Some of my original assumptions, such as whether I wanted a new or old bass, were overturned. When "the bass" finally emerged, it didn't take me very long at all, because I had done my homework. Likewise, if a miraculous bargain falls in your lap, you will have the knowledge and confidence to make your decision.

[Violen]

Thank you, i appreciate your advice.


I still have hope i could get lucky locally, the other Jazz bass player in my dpt got a "Barn Residing" Kay for 200 bucks.

Hopefully there is a bass out there for me. Being in this part of the country means you never know what someone is hanging onto or what you find at an estate sale.

Like when my saxophonist found a naked lady conn for 12 dollars at an estate sale.

I gotta keep to the pulse of the people arround here and save my money for a possible full price bass if i dont get lucky.

Thanks again guys!

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by Violen

Thank you, i appreciate your advice.


I still have hope i could get lucky locally, the other Jazz bass player in my dpt got a "Barn Residing" Kay for 200 bucks.

Hopefully there is a bass out there for me. Being in this part of the country means you never know what someone is hanging onto or what you find at an estate sale.

Like when my saxophonist found a naked lady conn for 12 dollars at an estate sale.

I gotta keep to the pulse of the people arround here and save my money for a possible full price bass if i dont get lucky.

Thanks again guys!

"Chance favors the prepared mind."