Help!!!!

[newbie2bass]

I'm afraid I may have jumped the gun in my attempt to purchase a DB to transition into from other instruments. I'm attaching a link to an aution I won yesterday. On further investigation, I have a suspicion that I have purchased a 1/2 size bass, although I was told that Framus did not make a 1/2 size. Anybody care to comment? I would rather take the hit for his relisting fees, than accept a bass that I will regret buying!

thanks,

here's the link to the auction I won.
http://cgi.ebay.com/FRAMUS-Double-Ba...QQcmdZViewItem

[newbie2bass]

I would also appreciate any feedback as to whether this was a fair value to pay for this bass!

[Jake]

I couldn't tell you much from the picture, but if it's a 1/2 sized bass, a refund may be the best option. Also, E Bay in general is not a good place to buy a bass for a lot of reasons. You would probably find something a lot nicer with much better resale value if you go to a bass shop or a private seller. If you buy from a private seller, be sure to have a good bassist or luthier look at the bass before buying.

[woodsgirl]

New, I found this
http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass/dbcase.html

Pic shows 76" for 3/4 size and 66" for 1/2 size, so it is half size, I would guess. I don't know if you can get a refund, but I do know of people playing 1/2 size.....................
Of course, you need all the usual setup stuff, adjustable bridge, strings, neck planing, maybe, but you won't know til you get it!
All I know, is that from reading this forum, buying a cheap bass might not be cheap to get it into playing condition. Do you know a good luthier to take it to? Shipping seems cheap. I would think you could get your $ back reselling it if it won't work for you,
ps, visit the keep me off of ebay thread!!!!

[Silversorcerer]

Well, getting an education late is better than not getting one at all. FYI, Stradivari made no basses that anyone knows of, so it is definitely not a copy of a Strad bass. He did make some significant cellos, but that certainly isn't patterned after those either.

If the bass is in OK shape, you might have gotten lucky. Some better bass bags cost more than you paid for the bass. On the other hand if it needs anything more than a set-up and strings, you probably lost on that deal. It's not a crime to play a half-size bass. If you don't like it resell it. Framus made decent laminated instruments so at least it is not a BSO.

[junglebike]

As I understand, the whole 3/4 vs 1/2 vs 7/8 thing is all pretty subjective.

However, seller answered a question and said it's got a 37" scale length from nut to bridge. That's very short -- standard (again with some variation) is around 41.5" I believe. Electric basses are 34" or 35".

I'm no expert, but I'd say that based on the scale length it'd not be considered a normal 3/4 bass.

That said, it's a really cheap bass, and it might sound great. The only issue I'd have is if you were regularly switching between it and a "normal" scale length bass you might have some difficulty adjusting to the 4.5" difference. Otherwise, it might be great.

[newbie2bass]

junglebike, I can see the valid points that are being made here. It would primarily be used for Bluegrass, which is generally played outdoors, in among many other instruments, and I'm afraid that (1) being smaller, with obviously less volume, it might not cut through, and (2) I would eventually end up in a fistfight at a bluegrass festival, for someone making fun of the size my bass! LOL

[Jazzman]

If you are a normal sized person, I would back out of that deal without thinking twice. Read the newbie threads on buying basses and buy something that will better suit your needs. They make larger basses for a reason...

[Tritonis]

Looks like a half size to me.

[junglebike]

If you're looking to play unamplified bluegrass, I'd wager that this isn't a good instrument, as jazzman sez.

I think some of the big swing band guys play 1/2 sized basses -- I'd guess that they might amplify better (frustratingly, feedback can be proportional to acoustic volume, so a loud bass might be tougher to amplify well -- the electric bass or EUB is at the extreme end of this spectrum).

Yeah, you might want to think about backing out -- hopefully the buyer is cool; I'd guess if they weren't you could try offering a bone ($50) or something; e-bay will probably allow them a way out of the fee.

EDIT: I see you're in Nashville -- I'd guess you should be able to play a dozen decent bluegrass uprights in that town without driving far! Find a good shop -- these aren't like p-basses, every one's different (see newbie links)

[JimmyM]

If you don't want it, I'll take it! Well maybe...if I can talk my wife into letting me buy it.

[PB+J]

Ken Smith knows more than I do but I'd call that a big 1/2 bass. A 37 inch scale length is short for a double bass, and it would be fairly easy to use electric bass technique--"one finger per fret"--to play it. Unless you consciously worked on traditional double bass left hand technique, you'd have a hard time switching to a more conventional sized bass.

Other disadvantages of a smaller bass: maybe less volume, less bass-ey.

On the other hand, it may sound great, play great and it'll be easy to carry around. If you were planning to play it unamplified, you might be disappointed. But if you were going to amp it anyway, it might be great. Price seems reasonable to me, but I'm no expert

[drurb]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

The only thing mentioned is the total length of the Bass which means very little. It is the String length that is most important.

The seller lists the length as 37" in the Q&A section. That's short for a "3/4", no?

[SLaPiNFuNK]

From those numbers etched on the back and the old glue goo stuck there, looks like it used to be a public school bass...