Double Bass 1065 mm (41.9') scale length

[Lionel Albert]

Hi !

My bass has got that scale length, is it rare or something normal ?
Yamaha scale length is about 41' as I read somewhere.
Maybe most of basses are made like mine.
No issue about it but I would like to know what is the most common string length.
As I read, it's maybe impossible to know.
There is maybe someone who knows more than expected.

 

[JBarz]

Lionel, scale length is variable to a certain degree because the bridge is floating (not attached) to the top. You could easily wiggle it to be a clean 42” or 41.75” with a slight adjustment if it bugs you… Anywhere from 41-42” is well in the “zone”

 

[Lionel Albert]

@JBarz 42" doesn't sound so clean for me (I'm French, I think in metric).

 

[RSBBass]

1065mm is within the "normal range" for a 3/4 sized upright. More importantly is how does it play and sound.

 

[Lionel Albert]

1065mm is within the "normal range" for a 3/4 sized upright. More importantly is how does it play and sound.

I asked because in Thomastik tension chart, the reference is 104 cm.

 

[Lionel Albert]

About that, I think about something else.
I know nothing about strings by my own but a lot because of your expérience.
Some talk about stark spirocores because of their sustain.
They are hard to find, and they are only available for 4/4 double basses.
Sure they can be put on a 3/4 bass.
Since my string length is over the reference, I wonder if my new strings (Spirocores Medium) has got the same tension than Starks on a 3/4 bass.
Because the sustain on E string is something.

One day Rufus Reid said the first time he touched a double bass, he played a low F and felt in love with the instrument.
The first time I touched my bass, I also tried a low F, it sounded very familiar an common to me since it sounded like a fart.
Now it's not a fart anymore.

 

[Lionel Albert]

Forgive it !

It's 1055 mm !

Another useless thread !

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Some manufacturers give tension for 104 cm, others for 105 or 106 for a 3/4 scale. But anything is possible. 4/4 strings are typically 110 cm, but this can vary easily from 107 (more a 7/8 scale) to 115 cm (which might be closer to a 5/4 scale, but 4/4 Spiros are used for them too).
Often it is helpful to check the bridge position and angle before measuring.