3/4 or full size?

adarn · #1 02-26-2009, 10:55 PM

Hey guys,
My name Is adam, and I'm new here.
I play bass in a folk band with some friends, and I just got some money for an upright. So I was wondering, are there any advantages that 3/4 has over full size and vice versa? I'm going to be playing with no amplification a lot, so loudness might help. I would just like to know what to look for when I go out to look for one.
Thanks,
Adam

M Ramsey · #2 02-27-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adarn

Hey guys,
My name Is adam, and I'm new here.
I play bass in a folk band with some friends, and I just got some money for an upright. So I was wondering, are there any advantages that 3/4 has over full size and vice versa? I'm going to be playing with no amplification a lot, so loudness might help. I would just like to know what to look for when I go out to look for one.
Thanks,
Adam

Adam,

Most basses for sale today ARE 3/4 basses and they are considered (by most) as full basses. 4/4 basses are bigger, more cumbersome to a certain extent. We don't know where you are since you haven't filled out your profile, so we can't point you towards shops/dealers/folks that may be reasonably near you.

Do that and I'm sure folks will try to help you in your newfound quest. We've all been on it for a while now.

Read lots here, especially on this, the double bass side and don't be too tempted by those cheap Ebay prices. More than likely, they WON'T work out in your favor. They may be cheap (PC term less expensive) but they'll eat up your money in other ways, such as repairs, setups, changing strings in addition to providing you with ample dissatisfaction from the beginning that may turn you completely away from playing double bass.

Let us know where you are and we'll see if we can help you out.

Hammertime3 · #3 02-27-2009, 07:19 AM

Mike..check your PM's.

adarn · #4 02-28-2009, 12:25 AM

Thanks Mike.
I put that up.
Also, thinking about it, I came up with another question: what would be the advanteges/disadvantages of an acoustic bass, maybe fretless?

bluegrassboy · #5 02-28-2009, 07:31 AM

Adern,

Are you talking about a fretless acoustic bass guitar? In your original post you mentioned that you would be playing without amplification most of the time. I don't believe an ABG is the solution. I owned one...a Taylor AB-1. Loved it plugged in. It was OK for quiet solo practice at home, but I haven't heard one yet that can handle an acoustic jam. You'll hear a lot about the Tacoma Thunderchief (and it's a very good ABG) but, again, guitars, banjos, fiddles and other instruments will drown it out. An acoustic upright can hold its own with those instruments if it's halfway decent and set up properly. I made the switch about ten years ago and love it! Good luck!

adarn · #6 02-28-2009, 09:35 AM

yeah, I was talking about an acoustic bass guitar.
It seems to me like the portability might help a lot. but plugged in, do they sound similar to an upright?
I'm going down to the "music store district" today, and I'm going to see what I can find.
Thanks for the advice,
Adam

bluegrassboy · #7 02-28-2009, 10:20 AM

Well, I'm starting to see more and more of them in bluegrass, where upright bass has been the tradition. Plugged in, they sound good...but not like an upright. Two different animals. I have an electric upright. It, too, sounds good. Many of the guys I play with love that sound. But it still doesn't sound like an acoustic upright.

If you're going to have a small amp with you, an ABG might serve your purpose. But, again, your original post said you would be playing acoustically quite a bit.

When you "test drive" them, get someone to play guitar along with you. A couple of guitarists if you can. You should hear what I'm talking about.

Again, I loved my Taylor AB-1 and sometimes wish I hadn't sold it. But my electric upright serves the same purpose it did and my acoustic upright is my go to instrument for jam sessions.

Good luck!

shadygrove · #8 02-28-2009, 11:58 AM

+1 to Bluegrassboy's advice. I am in total agreement.

In my experience, if you want something that sounds like a double bass and is loud enough to cut through a bunch of acoustic instruments you need a double bass.

I also see a lot of bluegrass groups using Electric uprights and bass guitar, which makes sense if you're constantly flying around from one show to the next, but it bums me out when I see someone I know is local playing bluegrass with an electric bass guitar.

I started on bass with an ABG (Takamine EG512), but for me it was the worst of both worlds and I've had it out of the closet probably twice since I got a DB a year ago. Not enough volume unplugged, but prone to feedback at loud volumes. Used to play with a guy that had a Tacoma Thunderchief and it was maybe a little louder unplugged, but the same issues - you just can't move enough air to drive the low frequencies well with that small a box.