Bought a 1/2 size for jazz gigs.

[ZonGuy]

I am a pretty decent electric player after 10 years of jazz gigs, but upright chops have always been way far behind esp. on soloing. I use a 4 finger technique on the electric and the 3 finger Simandl technique on upright was always uncomfortable to me.

So I bought a 1/2 size (38") scale which is pretty close to my 35" electric scale, esp. in the 2nd position and higher. I use Simandl on the lower positions. Very natural for me to play 4 finger style on the upright now and the bass just feels so much more comfortable in my hands.

Gonna try it on a gig tonite.

[damonsmith]

Check things with the tuner and the bow to make sure you are not just fooling yourself - a highly educated guess would be that you are. While there are a few legit 4 finger techniques out there the "I use 4 finger on electric" is not one of them.
There are also a ton more differences than how many fingers you use between bass guitar and double bass.
Remember, a bad case of carpal tunnel, other injuries or just being so far out of tune no one wants to play with you are all way less comfortable than just learning the accepted way with a good teacher.

[ZonGuy]

It went well last nite. Guys didn't even notice, except to say, hey is that a new bass? Sounded fine. Happy playing many things like "Night in Tunisia" and "So What" in the 4 fingered style.

Like I said, the 38" scale on a 1/2 Bass is not too far away from a 35" electric fretless. At the C on the G string or above, the electric and 1/2 size are essentially the same. The 1/2 and 1 position are still simandl, of course. I do need to practice double stops more.

[joel kelsey]

What does the 5/8ths sound like? Does it still sound full? Does it fit in a regular bag? I have never played a 5/8ths so I am curious. Pics??

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by joel kelsey

What does the 5/8ths sound like? Does it still sound full? Does it fit in a regular bag? I have never played a 5/8ths so I am curious. Pics??

I have a student who has been using a 5/8 bass, 39" SL, 18" UB, etc. It is a wonderful sounding bass, great tone and decent volume and sounded good on the jazz audition recording he made with a trio. A/B it with either of my 3/4 basses and it just doesn't have the same fullness, as I'm sure my basses wouldn't next to a good 7/8 or larger instrument. It's all relative. Now with a PU, maybe a different story.

[ZonGuy]

Originally Posted by ehochberg

Now with a PU, maybe a different story.

Bingo. Did not have the volume and fullness as its its a plywood ( a good plywood but still a plywood). Add a good pick-up and mixer and hopefully the game evens out somewhat. I Have a Full Circle with a Platinum mixer which I am going to move from the 3/4 to the 1/2 (or probably more correctly a 5/8).

A 3/4 looks small in Ron Carter's hands but I am 5'-8" and the 5/8 bass just feels so much more natural to me. I wonder how many pros play smaller than 3/4?

[ZonGuy]

Originally Posted by joel kelsey

What does the 5/8ths sound like? Does it still sound full? Does it fit in a regular bag? I have never played a 5/8ths so I am curious. Pics??

Smaller bag. Sounds reasonably full and better than my first bass - a 3/4 Engelhardt.

[PeachinRegalia]

Hey, Zon, I'm on my way of getting a 1/2 size, I was in doubt because of the sound and the sustain of the notes, but now that I see it worked out for you, I might be getting a new one in a couple of months.

[ZonGuy]

PS...its way easier to haul around, esp. thru doorways.

[peterpalmieri]

I played the Kolstein travel bass and toyed with the idea of gigging one. The idea of having a smaller sized real DB has a lot of advantages, especially when your amplifying it anyway.

I would say however utilizing an electric bass style fingering would not be part of the plan. If you can get it together and do it well more power to you, but I think most guys would caution against it.

[ZonGuy]

Michael Moore uses a Czech Bass which he fed-exes to his long distance gigs.

[Don Higdon]

Originally Posted by ZonGuy

Michael Moore uses a Czech Bass which he fed-exes to his long distance gigs.

?
Since when? For years, he's used a $2,000 Christopher with Brubeck, wherever they're playing. I haven't spoken with him for a couple of years, though.

[Freddels]

I think he meant the Czech-ease bass.

http://www.czech-ease.com/artists.php?artist_id=3

[ZonGuy]

Yes, I did mean a Czech-Ease. Thanks for the correction. Michael came through town with Brubeck about three years ago for a performance of a chorale piece by Brubeck and we got to chat quite a bit on the rehearsal the day before. He is a really nice guy and a hell of a player, esp. on the bow. He borrowed one of my combos for the performance.

[semajniwdoog]

I'd be cautious using an "electric" fingering on the upright - no matter what the size. You are liable to hurt yourself, not to mention it will destroy your technique and intonation will suffer. I actually use double bass fingering on my electric and it goes a long way and keeps me from unnessicary strain.