bass sizes

[LizzieBurns]

i am bass shopping now and am curious about sizes. i'm pretty serious for a high schooler and i'm willing to pay from around $4,000 to $6,000. i currently have a 3/4 size with 41 1/2" string length. my teachers old student is selling hers and its a small 5/8 size with 37 5/8" string length but it is a little too small. She (Linda McKnight) and her husband a luthier (Jay Vandercople) told me that the ideal string length for me would be about 40" to 40 1/2". does anyone know where i should look for my "ideal" size bass around the NYC area?

[KSB - Ken Smith]

That sounds more like a half sized bass to me. If you are training to play in an Orchestra, stay with 41" minimum if you can. 40" sounds ok for solo work but may not cut it in on orchestra section. On some older Basses the measurements can be wacky but on most Basses made within the last 100 years, they are fairly well dimensioned. 37 5/8" is a very small Bass for anything but solo. As a matter of fact, I think there is a minimum string length for solo competitions of about 40 or 40.5" so if you go to compete, you may have to use a bigger Bass anyway.

[pkivory]

Originally Posted by LizzieBurns

i am bass shopping now and am curious about sizes. i'm pretty serious for a high schooler and i'm willing to pay from around $4,000 to $6,000. i currently have a 3/4 size with 41 1/2" string length. my teachers old student is selling hers and its a small 5/8 size with 37 5/8" string length but it is a little too small. She (Linda McKnight) and her husband a luthier (Jay Vandercople) told me that the ideal string length for me would be about 40" to 40 1/2". does anyone know where i should look for my "ideal" size bass around the NYC area?

There are many well regarded bass shops and luthiers in the area that I'm sure would be happy to help you in your search for the right instrument. Bob Gollihurs Luthier Directory would be a good place to get you started. You're going to have to pound the pavement and try as many different basses as possible until you determine what is comfortable for you. Take into consideration Linda and Ken's comments and work from there. If you are in Bergen County and would like to try a couple of instruments with a 41" string length let me know. - Paul