Is it difficult to find excellent 1/2 sized basses?

[Blazemourne]

Do luthiers tend to mainly focus on making good 3/4 sized basses?

[Maaaven]

It seems there is a lot of latitude in what might be considered
"good" or excellent. I don't think you are asking about soundly
built beginner basses that are small, but the laminate camp here
is pretty strong. Englehart has a 1/2 size, but I would not call
that excellent.

You might be asking if there are any fine old basses on a small
scale. The answer there is certainly yes. Some of the very
early basses I have seen are quite small.

I am guessing you might be asking about contemporary makers
turning out fine smaller basses for discriminating customers.
I have never seen it, but money talks. A couple of phone, some
months, and a pile of cash will get you whatever you want.

I hope this helps.

[toman]

I wouldn't think it'd be hard to find a luthier willing to make one, if you have the cash. Aside from that, finding an older one probably will be tough. They do exist though, and there are also plenty of plywoods out there in that size.

[Chasarms]

The issue is that even with the typical cavity volume of a 3/4 bass (or 4/4 for that matter) luthiers are fighting an uphill battle to produce a instrument that is even from low E to the top of the range, has a good tone and plays well.

Add the demands of shrinking the body smaller and the challenge grows greater. Most serious players in the 5-7 ft. range seem to adapt to the 3/4 well enough. So there isn't a great urgency on the part of builders.

[Martin Sheridan]

I'm sure their are some shops that carry some decent half sized instruments. In my time, I had a number of good German carved and plywood basses come through my shop, and one of the Chinese makers made some really nice ones.
You might check with Misha Krutz at KC Strings. He's a bass player and likes to have some around. Virginia Dixon in Chicago who is as fine a teacher as I've found, has sourced some in the past through me for some of her students and one or more of them may be growing out of them by now.

I've always been interested in making a half size or even a 5/8
but the market is so small that the only way I could do it would be to take it on as a commission. The work and wood cost would be so great that I don't think many makers would want to do it unless it was paid for up front.

Maybe some of the other makers would let us know if they've made any small basses. I think most of us are making 7/8s, although I'm making for myself right now a 3/4 Testore model with a short string length.(Got the neck in this week!!).

[bejoyous]

Peter Chandler has an excellent 1/2 size bass. Plus it has an detachable neck. It almost sounds as full and rich as his larger basses. Here's the plans so you can see the shape. http://www.violins.on.ca/books/plans/frenchhalf.gif You can google him to find out any contact info.

[billyfalconer]

I've read that there are a number of old Prescott & similar church basses that are good deals. There were also chamber basses made such as Edgar's Gabrielli.

[Maaaven]

I read they had serious design issues that created very
expensive repairs, making them an unlikely option.

[Martin Sheridan]

I know of two Prescott church basses and both are only a little larger than a cello, so not suitable for double bass playing.

I had another very nice old church bass that was about a quarter size.

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