Bigger than 4/4?

[off-topic]

A local luthier has told me that Eli Magen of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra owns a 5/4 bass. I corrected him and he insisted that it wasn't a mistake, he said the bass is huge.

Do 5/4s really exist?

[chris1125]

Well, generally, when people say 4/4 for an upright bass they are referring to a "standard size" bass which most proffesionals would call a 3/4 bass. There is no true "4/4" instrument. If anything, I guess you would call some of the larger prescotts 4/4 but 5/4 doesn't really make any sense.

[Eric Hochberg]

It really boils down to the specific measurements of this bass. Can you get them? The lines between different size basses are fluid. My guess for 5/4 measurements would be:

UB >23"
LB >30"
LOB>47"
SL >44" (I'm not sure SL is as relevant as other measurements)

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by chris1125

Well, generally, when people say 4/4 for an upright bass they are referring to a "standard size" bass which most proffesionals would call a 3/4 bass. There is no true "4/4" instrument. If anything, I guess you would call some of the larger prescotts 4/4 but 5/4 doesn't really make any sense.

While 5/4 is a bit like saying the amp goes up to "11", the term is used for unusually large basses. We commonly think of basses as 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, 4/4, etc. with corresponding measurements.

[Don Higdon]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

While 5/4 is a bit like saying the amp goes up to "11", .

[Feral Feline]

5-4?

That's a 10-4 good buddy!

Okay, I lie. It's only an 8-4, hence "Octo".

[LouisF]

Looks normal:
http://www.ipo.co.il/eng/About/Membe...cians,217.aspx

[iiipopes]

Hmm. Interesting. I would also think that a "5/4" bass, if there was one, would be as described above.

Point of departure: where the "standard" for DB is now what we call "3/4," by contrast, for tubas a 4/4 tuba is something like a Miraphone 186, and it is common to call larger tubas 5/4, or even, including the Chicago York that Mr. Jacobs played, a 6/4, and depending on a lot of the geometric variables, including leadpipe taper and bore of the valve block, are not necessarily harder to play, as might be a 7/8, 4/4, or, if it does exist, a 5/4 DB.

[BeowulfKingsley]

The Octo Bass is just goofy, I'm sorry. I love it but it's goofy.

[Jluvial]

Generally anything larger than a standard sized string instrument is still called "full-size" or 4/4. This true for all strings, but especially for viola and bass, as violins and cellos have more standard sizes. For instance, a 4/4 viola is generally 16 inches, but it can also mean a 17", 18", or larger size. For the bass anything about 46 inches and up I'd consider full-sized, or 4/4.

"5/4" seems like a hyperbole of sorts. I really like the way Eric put it, like saying an amp goes to 11.

[Don Higdon]

Since the bass, unlike the violin, does not have standard dimensions for the bouts and ribs, the only fair way to determine size is by how many gallons of water it holds.

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by Don Higdon

Since the bass, unlike the violin, does not have standard dimensions for the bouts and ribs, the only fair way to determine size is by how many gallons of water it holds.

[MaxJohnson]

Is he 9 feet tall?

[Jazz Ad]

[HCF]

Are that freaking plain guts on that octobass?

That must be damn expensive.

[Don Higdon]

That's alot of dead sheep

[Ike Harris]

I like how the guy is resting his arm on the thing, like it's just another gig with the old octobass.

[robobass]

Originally Posted by LouisF

Looks normal:
http://www.ipo.co.il/eng/About/Membe...cians,217.aspx

You can't tell much from the bio photo, but it seems to me like the spaces between the stops on the extension are unusually large, indicating a very long string length.