Are there decent 1/4 size DBs being made?

[TheSuzie]

I have someone who is interested in purchasing my 1/4 size Kay but I am hesitating because I don't know if there is anything out there that I could replace it with for a reasonable price that would be nearly as good. To me, it sounds surprisingly large for its small size. I know there are some Englehardts out there but are there any other decent 1/4 size options available these days?

Thanks,
S

[Jake]

No.

[LouisF]

Check with George Vance -- a lot of the Rabbath/Suzuki kids are using 1/2 - 1/4 and 1/8 size basses - some must be better than others.

Louis

[lfh]

The Strunal 1/4 bass is a decent instrument IMHO (see http://www.strunal.com/new/index.php?cat=products&id=4 ). Although it lacks the low end of a typical 3/4 (of course), it has quite some midrange punch, and with Spiros it's fun to play.

Fredrik

[TheSuzie]

Thanks for that info, Fredrik. I am still trying to decide if I want to sell the Kay and if so what I should ask.

What happened is that I received an unsolicited call from a local teacher who wants a student of his to buy it. The student bought a 1/4 CCB that proved to be of very poor quality and arrived new with a cracked neck block. Probably the usual CCB green wood sort of stuff. One reason why I hesitate to sell the Kay if there is no reasonable affordable replacement available should I miss it too much.

Thanks Again,
S

[anthem274]

I played a 1/4 size solo bass at Houston String Works. It had a tiny string length and the longest endpin I've ever seen. It projected fairly well and sounded tonally acceptable. However, it was so small that it looked and played like a cello. Who here is willing to spend $7,000 on a glorified cello?

[TheSuzie]

Are you sure that it was a 1/4 bass? There are some basses smaller than 1/4 and also some instruments made specially for alternate tunings. I have no desire to use a solo tuning. The strings on my 1/4 are heavier than on my 3/4,

My Kay plays like a bass, not like my 3/4 bass but still like a bass. I was under the impression that a 4/4 cello had a string length around 27-28 inches. My 1/4 Kay has a string length between 34-35 inches. I do play it sitting on a low stool, while I play the 3/4 standing. It still feels like a bass to me.

Peace,
S

[anthem274]

When I say it plays like a cello, I mean that the size of the neck, the string length, and the overall specs of the bass made it feel similiar to playing a larger sized cello.

[Jeff Guevin]

Anyone know what Ron Carter's "piccolo bass" is, if it's not a 1/4 size?

EDIT: Just searched TB for it, and everything I found was on the BG side. I gather a piccolo bass actually sounds up an octave, though.

[Arnold]

I know for a fact of one Juzek 1/4. The guy in New York who's liquidating all of those basses seems to have a few 1/4 size bass. This is the site and he posts here under green or greene or something like that.
http://bassesonline.com/
Peace.
ASG

[jfgsquaredragon]

Check out the new basses at lemurmusic.com
I understand that they have a lot of sound for the cash. If you are considering experimenting with strings, try checking the G first, then working your way down the set. I now mix strings for the best individual match (Obligato G,D,A with Permanent E and B' for my 4/4 five-string).
Also, consider some of the better Chinese basses being brought in by Robertson Violinsin NM or Wan-Bernardel. Good luck in the low life.

[LouisF]

Ken,

Andy Stetson has one that needs a lot of work, as does Ilya Rutman in Boston (both "Prescotts" or at least New England basses). That's why I felt it was better restoring the 5/8th Tyrolean we found than ultimately buying some new.

Louis

[anthem274]

I saw Rutman's old church bass while I was in Boston. It's a little different from most church basses I've seen. Very interesting. Needs work.

Here's the link to pictures of it: http://www.rutmansviolins.com/Instru...1ChurchAll.jpg

Once it's restored, it should sound pretty nice.