• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

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

#181
A 3/4 string is much too long for a 1/4 size bass, where would you put the left over length? Cutting the string to size will leave you with strings that can never be used again and the tension is much too low to be useable. I was looking around a lot, there are no premade strings the are good for cello tuning on a 1/4 size bass. Using the medium Red Michel set works on a 1/2 size bass, but not on a 1/4 size.
 
#182
Ludwig said:
A 3/4 string is much too long for a 1/4 size bass, where would you put the left over length? Cutting the string to size will leave you with strings that can never be used again and the tension is much too low to be useable. I was looking around a lot, there are no premade strings the are good for cello tuning on a 1/4 size bass. Using the medium Red Michel set works on a 1/2 size bass, but not on a 1/4 size.
Click to expand...

It has worked very good on on my two 1/4 basses. Slightly lower tension but not as much as 30%(it doesn’t feel like that anyhow). Try it!
 
#183
Kristian said:
It has worked very good on on my two 1/4 basses. Slightly lower tension but not as much as 30%(it doesn’t feel like that anyhow). Try it!
Click to expand...
Well, the physics of the vibrating string is quite clear: to sound the same pitch, if you reduce the string length by a certain factor, you have to reduce the tension by the square of that factor. In this case, the string tension has to be reduce by a factor (35/41)^2 ~ 0.72, i.e. the tension is 28% lower for 1/4 bass as compared to a 3/4.

But, it may well be that to your fingers it does not feel that much lower. The subjective "tension" we experience under the right hand depends not only on the physical tension of the string, but also on other factors like where we play (close to the bridge or higher up on the fingerboard), the way we play, etc.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Kristian
#185
A somewhat ironic summary:
I guess, standard scale length of a full size bass is 110 to 112 cm. Anything shorter like a 3/4 has to be just for youths and small people...
Advantage of a 1/4 for me is being able to play seated on a normal stool using all four fingers. Disadvantage is needing amplification most of the time.
Advantage of a 3/4 is availability and being able to play without amplification in some settings. Disadvantage is transportability and the body is often still too small to work good with strings lower E.
Advantage of 4/4 is better support of low nodes, but often not as good with higher nodes then the fractinal basses. Disadvantage in wide finger spacings and even worse transportabilty.
Since the bass guitars are found more often then big double basses, seems smaller instruments needing amplification works for more people...
 
  • Like
Reactions: gsmonks and Ric Vice
#186
You ask a company that makes strings. I had to ask around when I bought my tenor violin. I also got a fair bit of bad advice, so I'd advise to not automatically go with the first response.

I use composite strings of most of my fiddles (gut and silver). Not at loud, but the sound!
 
#188
Papageno said:
I would like to try a 1/4 DB, played in sitting position like an oversized cello, but tuned in 4ths A D G C (low to high). Unless I'm confused that is what Ron Carter plays on the "Piccolo" album.
Click to expand...

That's a fairly popular tuning, although there are guys who tune their cello to C-F-Bb-Eb, including me when I got my first cello. Maybe it's just me, but I found it easier to learn the instrument that way. Some guys have even done that on violin and viola, despite all the squawking it evokes from fiddle players.
 
#189
Ludwig said:
A somewhat ironic summary:
I guess, standard scale length of a full size bass is 110 to 112 cm. Anything shorter like a 3/4 has to be just for youths and small people...
Advantage of a 1/4 for me is being able to play seated on a normal stool using all four fingers. Disadvantage is needing amplification most of the time.
Advantage of a 3/4 is availability and being able to play without amplification in some settings. Disadvantage is transportability and the body is often still too small to work good with strings lower E.
Advantage of 4/4 is better support of low nodes, but often not as good with higher nodes then the fractinal basses. Disadvantage in wide finger spacings and even worse transportabilty.
Since the bass guitars are found more often then big double basses, seems smaller instruments needing amplification works for more people...
Click to expand...

It also depends what you're playing, and who and what you're playing with.

My "G" 1/4 bass is for playing in a chamber group, all gut-composite strings, so of course a quieter sound overall.

I have books on early strings, but I wish they came with comparative photos plus videos, also with comparative videos showing size compared to modern/familiar instruments and sound. You tend to learn more from comparisons than from single photos.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ric Vice
#190
dbqluthier said:
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.
Click to expand...

That's mostly what I do on my "G" bass- use a bow. We're playing very old classical music.

I find it odd that octave strings for cello aren't a thing. I suppose you could have some made, if you have deep pockets.
 
#193
Ric Vice said:
Kay built a (Ray Brown) Jazz Cello that was tuned in 4ths. So they were around in the late 50’s. Those instruments were a bit bigger than a “standard cello”, with bass tuning gears.
Click to expand...

I wonder if "piccolo bass" wasn't an alternate name for them? I remember seeing the odd piccolo bass in the late 50's. Not just bigger, but deeper than a cello.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back