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

[Papageno]

I'm pretty sure it's tunes ADGC, low to high.

Yeah. That's what I wrote above. But I could not tell where I got this info (don't remember)...

Ok, I got it: this must be the same piccolo bass tuned ADGC he uses on Peg Leg.

 

[JBarz]

I don’t mean to stir the ‘poopie’ pot, but I just put an Engle 1/4 in fifths (low C) and that little joker defies physics and absolutely smokes.

J

Double Bass Thread 'Englehart M3 1/4 size tuned in fifths'

Oct 19, 2025

My wife’s friend just gifted us an old Englelhart 1/4 size blonde for my cello inclined 11-year old to goof around with, so of course I had to try to put in 5ths. It needed a couple seams reglued, loosened the sound post a bit, and added flexible tailgut — but otherwise stock. I used a low B Spiro mitt for the C and 3/4 scale Spiro Red Mitchell for GDA and holy moly this thing plays far better than it should! I honestly didn’t think it’d handle the low C, but it booms! The cracked patina is super good looking, too. If I wasn’t so committed to 42” scale, I could see me putting a lot of...

• JBarz
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Double Basses

• 

I doubt I’ll ever gig with it, but wouldn’t hesitate to on an easy one if I put a Realist pickup under the bridge foot.

 

[BarfanyShart]

I don’t mean to stir the ‘poopie’ pot, but I just put an Engle 1/4 in fifths (low C) and that little joker defies physics and absolutely smokes.

J

Double Bass Thread 'Englehart M3 1/4 size tuned in fifths'

Oct 19, 2025

My wife’s friend just gifted us an old Englelhart 1/4 size blonde for my cello inclined 11-year old to goof around with, so of course I had to try to put in 5ths. It needed a couple seams reglued, loosened the sound post a bit, and added flexible tailgut — but otherwise stock. I used a low B Spiro mitt for the C and 3/4 scale Spiro Red Mitchell for GDA and holy moly this thing plays far better than it should! I honestly didn’t think it’d handle the low C, but it booms! The cracked patina is super good looking, too. If I wasn’t so committed to 42” scale, I could see me putting a lot of...

• JBarz
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Double Basses

• 

I doubt I’ll ever gig with it, but wouldn’t hesitate to on an easy one if I put a Realist pickup under the bridge foot.

Putting my Red Mitchells on a 1/4 bass is in my 5-year plan. I am encouraged that it has worked out for you. Thank you for sharimg!

 

[JBarz]

Putting my Red Mitchells on a 1/4 bass is in my 5-year plan. I am encouraged that it has worked out for you. Thank you for sharimg!

The bump up of the low C to a Spiro mitt low B is highly advised. I don’t think the regular 3/4 RM Spiro low C would balance with the 35.5” scale as nicely

 

[Francois Blais]

There must be lot of slack to wind up with a regular set on a quarter bass!

 

[JBarz]

There must be lot of slack to wind up with a regular set on a quarter bass

Not too bad. I wasn’t sure it was going to work, so I kept the strings full length except for the low C and just tucked the extra 6” or so inside the pegbox, no issues. I’ll probably cut them down at some point, but the excess isn’t really bugging me at present.