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Double Bass Gamba vs Violin Shape

Jumamoro

Jumamoro

Apr 8, 2007
343
68
Miami FL
#1
Hey,
I am new playing the upright and I have been renting a bass, now it is time to buy one, I was wondering if any of you could tell me the difference between gamba and violin shape,Is it just a matter of look, Is there a difference in sound.

I am a jazz player, I have seen more jazz players that use gamba shape than violin shape, Can any body tell me something about that.

Thanks
 
#2
Gamba shapes are for jazzers. Violin shapes are for classical players only. And for Bluegrass? Those guys are better off sticking to washtub basses.

;)

It's really just a design element. I like violin corners because it's easier to scoop the bass up. But violin corners are more prone to damage. Buy the best sounding bass you can afford and learn to love those curves, regardless of the shape.
 
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#3
Jumamoro said:
Hey,
I am new playing the upright and I have been renting a bass, now it is time to buy one, I was wondering if any of you could tell me the difference between gamba and violin shape,Is it just a matter of look, Is there a difference in sound.

I am a jazz player, I have seen more jazz players that use gamba shape than violin shape, Can any body tell me something about that.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Where do you live? If and when you get around to asking more specific questions, it will be easier for the peanut gallery here to advise you if we know about more about you. Please fill out your profile. :)
 
#5
Jumamoro said:
......tell me the difference between gamba and violin shape,Is it just a matter of look, Is there a difference in sound...
Click to expand...
Violin shapes sound slighty better, due to the extra material in the corners. Corners of both the violin and gamba shape collect turbulence, disrupting the sound. But the extra material of the violin corners dampens this effect. The improvement in sound is very slight, most people's ears wouldn't notice.
 
#9
Bass said:
Violin shapes sound slighty better, due to the extra material in the corners. Corners of both the violin and gamba shape collect turbulence, disrupting the sound. But the extra material of the violin corners dampens this effect. The improvement in sound is very slight, most people's ears wouldn't notice.
Click to expand...

But that damping effect only applies to unladen European swallows, doesn't it?
 
#10
Bass said:
Violin shapes sound slighty better, due to the extra material in the corners. Corners of both the violin and gamba shape collect turbulence, disrupting the sound. But the extra material of the violin corners dampens this effect. The improvement in sound is very slight, most people's ears wouldn't notice.
Click to expand...

...but those corners have blocks in them. :eyebrow:
 
#14
Bass said:
Violin shapes sound slighty better, due to the extra material in the corners. Corners of both the violin and gamba shape collect turbulence, disrupting the sound. But the extra material of the violin corners dampens this effect. The improvement in sound is very slight, most people's ears wouldn't notice.
Click to expand...

I am just curious what you are basing this on. I have and have had Basses with all styles of Corners, sizes and even Cornerless.

I currently play both Gamba and Violin model Basses as well as a Cornerless one. The Cornerless one I have is the smoothest but one of my Violin models is the deepest and almost as smooth but just not as old. The few Gamba models I have are actually punchier. Is that the Bass itself you think or the Corner design which I think is mostly exterior cosmetics?

Overlay the insides of two similar sized Basses over one another, one with Violin corners and one with Gamba corners. Then see how much is changed inside the Bass.

Unless you remake the exact same Bass in both styles you are only comparing different Basses, not Corners.
 
#18
every bass plays and souds different, just a set of strings could change the whole sound of bass Violin or Gamba. Get bumbers if your concerned about the violin sides. Gamba's seem just my opinion to be bulkier up top ad the violi's seem easier to get around the bass, especially in the upper register.
 
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