Sizing Question

[timidbassist]

Well this is going to sound stupid, but since the bass I am using is being rented from school I don't know the size of it. I have been doing a lot of posting in the Orchestral Technique board, but thought this one would fit in better here. Well my question is this...

How do I know what size of a bass I am playin? (I told you it would sound stupid to you guys.) I am curious to know because I am sure in a year or two I will be looking into buying my own so there is no better time than the present to start learning more about them. Is there a way to find this out by measuring or something?

Thanks in advance!
Davey

[conte2music]

This kind of thing isn't totally standard, and there are a lot of gray lines. I would be most concerned with string length(from the bridge to the nut). Chances are that it is around 41.5 inches. Especially if it is a factory made bass like a Kay. The standard size is a 3/4 and I'd be amazed if the one you're playing on is something other than that.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Most likely with a school Bass it is a modern shaped and desigh model. The older classics had no set standards. I will post a sampe of the way to measure a Bass. This way we can tell you what it is. Add the overall height not including the endpin, just the woor head to toe/saddle.

Sample; This Double Bass is a 7/8 size Orchestra Model (74.5" tall)
Upper Bout: 21 1/4" Belly Length: 45 1/4"
Center Bout: 15 1/2" String Length: 42"
Bottom Bout: 27 1/4"

And; This Double Bass is a 3/4 size Flatback
Upper Bout: 21" Belly Length: 41"
Center Bout: 14 1/2" String Length: 41 1/4"
Bottom Bout: 25 1/4"

It's a combination of the height and Body length. The string lengths vary too much by design to measure by.

[Kcorren]

Here is a link timidbassist that shows you the bouts and how to measure
them etc.


http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass/FAQ-size.html