Cello as a double bass for 6 year ol child

johnlegg · #1 08-15-2008, 05:44 AM

has anyone set up a cello as a double bass?

I have a 6 year old who is too small for the regular small size basses but I have access to full size cello which is just the right size.

How do you set it up as a double bass? Special strings/bridge etc?

Thanks
John

charlespf · #2 08-16-2008, 07:19 PM

If you do a search, I remember a thread a while back where Ken Smith reported fairly in depth about doing this, as he did it for his own son.

nicfargo · #3 08-20-2008, 02:55 PM

It would be fine but you'd need to do some serious setup. The strings would be much thicker gauge then the Cello was originally setup for, so you'd probably need to do some nut work and bridge work. Also, I wouldn't be too confident in a cello's tuning pegs to handle bass strings. You'd also have to work about string length and intonation I'd think...but maybe not.

toman · #4 08-21-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicfargo

It would be fine but you'd need to do some serious setup. The strings would be much thicker gauge then the Cello was originally setup for, so you'd probably need to do some nut work and bridge work. Also, I wouldn't be too confident in a cello's tuning pegs to handle bass strings. You'd also have to work about string length and intonation I'd think...but maybe not.

I don't think putting bass strings on a cello is the idea, but rather to tune the cello like a bass, i.e. GDAE rather than ADGC. Just an octave up. So it's more about getting the right strings to even out the tension across the instrument, and maybe a few setup tweaks.

Or maybe I'm way off, but I don't think setting up a cello in the same register as a bass is going to work very well.

Andrew McGregor · #5 08-21-2008, 05:04 PM

Couldn't you use Thomastic Jazz Flat bass guitar strings? They're pretty much short, low tension Spirocores...

GDAE an octave up with 'cello strings is going to be quite a bit more tension than at bass pitch with much heavier low-tension bass strings, and probably considerably more than the 'cello was designed for.

I think if you tried the BG strings, you'd be below standard 'cello tension. All you really need to do for that is do a new nut and bridge to fit them. Using a tailpiece with fine adjusters is probably a good idea too, it's going to be tough to tune accurately with just pegs.

nicfargo · #6 08-21-2008, 09:25 PM

Toman,
I agree with Andrew McGregor about there being too much tension using cello strings tuned to the bass equivalent. Bass guitar strings would be an interesting choice...and just might work. Ken, I've heard you've done this...what is the correct setup?

toman · #7 08-22-2008, 02:56 AM

I dunno... Given that this would most likely be an inexpensive, probably overbuilt plywood instrument, if there were some low tension strings (I don't know if there are) I don't think taking GDAE up an octave would hurt much. Could it be worse than stringing one of our basses up with Spirocore Starks?

Pure speculation here; I haven't even played, let alone monkeyed with a cello in many years.

robobass · #8 08-23-2008, 10:50 AM

I actually bought four of these 1/10 size basses. They are 28-1/4" scale. With afterlength I don't think slab strings would be long enough. The strings they came with don't totally suck (tuned to normal bass tuning, but I put an old set of Oblis on one of them (only the top three; not enough pegbox clearance for the E) and it was a big improvement.

I wrapped them twice around the tailpiece and back through the string hole so the old bridge spot wouldn't be under the bow, and of course cut down the peg end. I don't know if they (the basses) are still available , but I recommend them. At this price, you could maybe sell that cello and have money leftover.

Up to now I have not seen any short length strings that are any good. It seems more practical to me to adapt normal length strings to the short scale. Does anyone know if the Spirocore slab strings are really bowable?

Robobass

johnlegg · #9 08-25-2008, 06:03 AM

Appreciate your ideas, thanks
John

PocketGroove82 · #10 08-25-2008, 06:18 AM

As a 3rd grader, I wanted to play Double Bass so my parents got me a cello and figured it was the same thing. I think I played it for about 3 months and quit because the things that attracted me to the DB (walking bass/swing music) had very little to do with the cello.
If you want your kid to be a cello player, get him a cello. I wanted to be an upright bass player, and found that, for me, the cello was not a viable alternative.

Matt

nathanmcnathan · #11 08-25-2008, 09:00 AM

I'd say if the kid's really young, start them wth a short-scale BG. Then once they get bigger and they've already learned the theory aspect of playing bass, move them to DB, because there would be a lot less to learn. DB is hard enough when you first start out, it was easier for me because I already knew my theory and could read music.

toman · #12 08-26-2008, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanmcnathan

I'd say if the kid's really young, start them wth a short-scale BG. Then once they get bigger and they've already learned the theory aspect of playing bass, move them to DB, because there would be a lot less to learn. DB is hard enough when you first start out, it was easier for me because I already knew my theory and could read music.

I don't know; how many kids, when given what amounts to an electric guitar, are going to give two flips about learning to read music or about theory? I started out playing cello, "graduated" to bass when it was physically practical, and more than anything I wanted to play electric guitar/bass so I could be "cool" like all the rockers. Fortunately my teachers and family just said no until I was old enough to temper that; otherwise the DB and classical music would have been out the window by the time I was twelve, no doubt to be replaced with a nice heroin addiction.

Now I enjoy playing all sorts of instruments, including fine electric guitars plugged into huge stacks and boutique bass guitars, but even they don't compare to the original string instruments.

robobass · #13 08-26-2008, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PocketGroove82

I think I played it for about 3 months and quit because the things that attracted me to the DB (walking bass/swing music) had very little to do with the cello.
Matt

Too bad no one turned you on to Mark Sommer of Turtle Island String Quartet! I think that for most small kids, a bowed string instrument (or any acoustic instrument) has much more potential to inspire than electric guitar or bass, not to mention being easier for the parents to deal with. Of course it helps to have ensembles to play in and a teacher who can do more than just walk you through the book!
Robobass

nathanmcnathan · #14 08-26-2008, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toman

I don't know; how many kids, when given what amounts to an electric guitar, are going to give two flips about learning to read music or about theory? I started out playing cello, "graduated" to bass when it was physically practical, and more than anything I wanted to play electric guitar/bass so I could be "cool" like all the rockers. Fortunately my teachers and family just said no until I was old enough to temper that; otherwise the DB and classical music would have been out the window by the time I was twelve, no doubt to be replaced with a nice heroin addiction.

Now I enjoy playing all sorts of instruments, including fine electric guitars plugged into huge stacks and boutique bass guitars, but even they don't compare to the original string instruments.

I learned music just fine by sarting on electric bass, but luckily my teacher was mainly a DB player, and played lots of jazz and classical. I wouldn't recommend tuning a cello in 4ths for a younger student, but many times I wish I'd started on cello than moved to bass, just so I'd be better.