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Double Bass 1/4 Size upright, any fullsize people playing them?

paddydukes

paddydukes

May 8, 2007
158
20
Burlington VT
#1
So i was wondering if there are any full size people playing 1/4 size basses? Seems to me like it would make a decent enough travel bass with the right pickup on it, and it would put out quite a bit more sound than something like the Eminence EUB when not plugged in... Just curious if anyone out there had a similar thought!
 
#4
If you are used to playing a Fretless, it might not be a huge switch as you could use BG fingering on it(3rd finger). It would still be totally reliant on a pickup for enough sound though. I play a half size primarily now, and it took a while to get my intonation back...
 
#5
I have a 1/4 size Kay and it is just a hair over 35". I have Turner UB-1 pickup system placed on the bridge for each string. To me it sounds more like a URB than the EUB's have I have heard. To be honest I have yet to play it out but play it on a daily basis at home and am looking at playing out with others soon. It really can't be played without amplication but I get a pretty big sound which I think is partially due to the age of the Spirocores and turning up the amp a little more. I'm 5'6" and weigh 165 lbs.

Wally
 
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#6
Wally Malone said:
I have a 1/4 size Kay and it is just a hair over 35". I have Turner UB-1 pickup system placed on the bridge for each string. To me it sounds more like a URB than the EUB's have I have heard. To be honest I have yet to play it out but play it on a daily basis at home and am looking at playing out with others soon. It really can't be played without amplication but I get a pretty big sound which I think is partially due to the age of the Spirocores and turning up the amp a little more. I'm 5'6" and weigh 165 lbs.

Wally
Click to expand...

Mine is also an old Kay (S-10), refurbishing it now and just wondering what I am going to do with it! My plan was to use it as my EUB, working on some contraptions to put in the F holes to close them up in loud settings and open them up for more quite rehersal/in home playing. I am thinking the Realist pickup might be alright for this (I have an eminence EUB and the Realist on there sounds pretty huge in the right settings through a Sansamp) Really its just a fun little project. Just wondering if i am going to be the only big guy out there playing a tiny little bass (in comparison to a 3/4). If this offers any middle ground in the way of EUB (eminence) and Upton 3/4 it could be a cool little hybrid. We shall see how it works out!

Pat
 
#8
i have a mid sixties kay m3 which i really like. it's 35" scale. i had to put a real fingerboard on it with a shim to make it feel like a real upright neck in my hand. that really did wonders. the only problem is that you have to crank the volume on your amp to get any sound out of it. with my 3/4, i don't need my amp very loud at all. it's good for quiet cocktail gigs, but i think you'll miss the natural big sound of a 3/4 scale.

p.s. it's way better than any EUB!
 
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#9
scuoco said:
i have a mid sixties kay m3 which i really like. it's 35" scale. i had to put a real fingerboard on it with a shim to make it feel like a real upright neck in my hand. that really did wonders. the only problem is that you have to crank the volume on your amp to get any sound out of it. with my 3/4, i don't need my amp very loud at all. it's good for quiet cocktail gigs, but i think you'll miss the natural big sound of a 3/4 scale.

p.s. it's way better than any EUB!
Click to expand...

What kind of pickup and amp/cab combination are you using with the M3?
 
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#11
Which strings do you prefer for the 1/4 (36 inch speaking lenght) plys?

On my 1/4 Wilfer lami came with a chrome wound steel string of uncertain origin. They bow surpisingly well, but seem a little thuddy with pizzicato.

I wonder how Corelli's would do on the little beauty?
 
#13
I use a Fishman Full Circle on my Eastman, and it really helps fill out the low end. In fact it sounds fantastic on this bass! The fractional size Spirocores are great strings. Very expensive though. I think they are around $170. I believe you can get Helicore Hybrids in fractional sizes now. Since you need to rely so much on the pickup/amp when the bass is so small I would suggest buying the best strings and pickup that you can.
 
#14
I haven't tried them but was told the Corellis should work well on the 1/4 size and know that they can be had for about $100. The Spiros I have on there have probably been on for nine or ten years.

Wally
 
#15
I have a 1967 Kay M3 Bass (1/4 size). I use a ROUNDS Double pickup ($75) thru a Behringer EQ Pedal. Great sound. I play it in a Bluegrass Gospel group. Sounds and transports great. Wouldn't think about using a full doghouse.:hyper:
 
#19
Has anyone put a bow to a 1/4 bass. It seem this would more playing a cello with bass tuning. I'm thinking about using one for a church praise group gig ... small group amplified ... maybe a bass solo line, bowed, one in a while. Nearly all the 1/2 and 1/4 basses are plywood, but I'm thinking the smaller size would have a better arco string response.
 
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