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Double Bass 7/8 & Full size bass

#42
Hi Paul... I did take a look through what seemed like the relevant newbie links but couldn't find a conclusive answer to my question. We're talking about a sight-unseen eBay purchase, in which the bass is described as a 4/4 and height without the endpin erected is given as 6ft 3ins.

The auction is within minutes of ending now and I'm probably not going to bid, but I'm still interested in the topic.
 
#43
Hi Hydrant,
Watch out for the dog jokes. Like...you're putting a doghouse next to Hydrant?

My short version reading of the newbie links is:

a.) fill out profile

b.) get thee to local bass luthier

c.)get teacher

There are lots of bluegrassers here, and folks here can help you find the luthier and teacher.

That said, there are several years worth of information in these pages. Doing some back reading will probably answer everything you want to know and didn't know to ask.
 
#44
Hydrant... please, please, please do not purchase a bass on Ebay. I've seen too many people getting screwed by Ebay sellers advertising "setup" basses. Not only are the basses poorly made with sub-standard materials, but you will spend another $300-$600 in real setup work by a bass luthier.

If possible, purchase from a local bass shop near you using this directory:

Link Removed

There are also several different bass shops on the directory that ship. However, finding someone within driving distance will be a great help in the long run, and you won't fall prey to the Ebay sharks.

Welcome to Talkbass.
 
#45
Yeah, my uncle tried buying a full size bass on ebay and ended up getting a 3/4 in the mail. Check out lemurmusic.com , they have a good catalog. 3/4 bass is a little more practical for bluegrass and rockabilly but it also depends on personal preference. I was in a bluegrass band for a bit and found that a 3/4 provided enough volume to play with the other acoustic instruments. Also depends on what kind of bass you get, what it's made out of, if it's hand carved, and what kind of strings you use. All in all a 3/4 would most likely be a better direction due to it being easily transported and less expensive while still maintaining volume which is the biggest difference between a 3/4 and full size bass.
 
#47
Got this from old upton

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

3/4 Small: 43-45" Body, 71" overall length, 19-19.5" upper bout, 25" lower bout, 15-16" bridge depth

3/4 Medium: 43-45" Body, 72-73" overall length, 20" upper bout, 25-26" lower bout, 16-17" bridge depth

3/4 Large: 43-45" Body, 73" overall length, 20-20.5" upper bout, 26" lower bout, 17-18.5" bridge depth

7/8 Small: 45-46.5" Body, 74" overall length, 21" upper bout, 27" lower bout, 15-16" bridge depth

7/8 Medium: 45-46.5" Body, 75" overall length, 21-22" upper bout, 27-28" lower bout, 16-17" bridge depth

7/8 Large: 45-46.5" Body, 76" overall length, 22" upper bout, 28" lower bout, 17-18.5" bridge depth

4/4: 48" Body, 79-81" overall length, 20-22" upper bout, 29-30" lower bout, 16-19" bridge depth

!
 
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#48
I honestly don't know. Here there is just a general knollege of ''we'll know it when we see it''. I have a large 3/4 or a small 7/8 Juzek that I was told by a violist conductor at my school (I got it from school mine now haha) that it was a 4/4. I know know what a full size was because I saw one and it was huge. I can't give a estimate but my gosh that thing was big.
 
#49
It's not common knowledge, outside of the bass community, that we almost never play full sized instruments. Remember, most violinists/violists/cellist were playing a full sized instrument at the age of twelve. This is why so many eBay basses are listed as 4/4; most of the sellers have little knowledge of the bass measurment scale.
 
#50
This society has a 'thang' about BIG My first bass was just a 3/4 German laminate that, of course, being a red blooded American kid, I christened full size' nobody seemed to notice that the end-pin was extended about 18"
But, damn, bass had to be big!!!!!
 
#53
An interesting page with a chart of sizes, which I'm sure many here have seen before.

Invalid Link Removed

He states in the article:
" Although a lot of luthiers copy well-established shapes and measures developed by old masters the sizes and proportions are less standardised than you can find them with violins and celli."
 
#54
mcnaire2004 said:
Got this from old upton

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

3/4 Small: 43-45" Body, 71" overall length, 19-19.5" upper bout, 25" lower bout, 15-16" bridge depth

3/4 Medium: 43-45" Body, 72-73" overall length, 20" upper bout, 25-26" lower bout, 16-17" bridge depth

3/4 Large: 43-45" Body, 73" overall length, 20-20.5" upper bout, 26" lower bout, 17-18.5" bridge depth

7/8 Small: 45-46.5" Body, 74" overall length, 21" upper bout, 27" lower bout, 15-16" bridge depth

7/8 Medium: 45-46.5" Body, 75" overall length, 21-22" upper bout, 27-28" lower bout, 16-17" bridge depth

7/8 Large: 45-46.5" Body, 76" overall length, 22" upper bout, 28" lower bout, 17-18.5" bridge depth

4/4: 48" Body, 79-81" overall length, 20-22" upper bout, 29-30" lower bout, 16-19" bridge depth

!
Click to expand...

Ok, if I have a 47" body and 77" tall with only a 'D' Neck (Eb neck would make it a bit longer) does that make it a 15/16ths sized Bass? :confused:

Also, what does Bridge depth have to do with size? I have a small 3/4 Pollmann with deeper Ribs than all of my other much larger Basses.

While newer Basses may have some level or standard measurements, older Basses were made before the rule books were written and do not necessarily fall into any one size category.

On the term 'Full Size' have any of you guys rented a Car lately? I think 'Full Size' today can refer more to the average Orchestral Bass used today with is not considered to be a smaller sized Bass. These are usually large 3/4s and 7/8ths size Basses. My previously owned Prescott and Morelli Basses were huge and were probably in their day considered to be a Full Sized Bass in that period. I have a huge Bass (Mystery Bass of early English or French origin) in restoration now that is the biggest I have ever owned and still it is considered to be a large 7/8ths. Many many older larger Basses have been cut down to be made usable. My Bass will have some surgery in that department as well. It will loose about 1" at the Neck/ Top shoulder area and the neck will be set lower and with a slightly smaller neck heel to get the Bass down to 42" strings length or slightly less from it's original 44" size.

On the original question about sound, all things being equal and I mean ALL Things, a larger Bass should be more powerful than a smaller Bass just like a Bass as compared to a Cello.

Just my opinion here, nothing more..
 
#55
It's hard to have a standard size when every maker makes them a little different. If you buy a violin or cello, you know the size is based on the body length. A full size (4/4) violin is 14" long, a 3/4 size is 13", a 1/2 size is 12" long. Maybe we would be better off just using body length and specifying a body length for the size like is commonly done for violas. For all practical purposes, there is no full size viola. There are 14", 15", 16", 17" and fractional sizes such as 15 1/2". What is now being passed off as a 4/4 size doublebass is laughable when you've had your hands on a "old" 4/4. I understand that some are now calling the "old" 4/4 (48" body length) size a 5/4 size.
 
#56
Heres a Bass by Link Removed that by modern standards of lengths must be a 6/4 or 8/4 size. Sounds like we are talking about lumber.

Here's a 58 1/4" body length; :eek: :eek:

busan1.jpg


This is from Tony Scelba's web page. Check out the Tononi Bass as well. It's much smaller, only 56" body length! :eek: Link Removed
 
#57
Verrry interesting - you can see all the extra room below the bridge on the Tononi, but the Busan seems to have much more 'standard' proportions. Out of curiosity I fiddled with Scelba's photos to see his playing position more clearly ... holy moley.

btw, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.
 

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#59
lizzzyb said:
Hello can anyone please give me advice on 1/2 or 5/8 size basses? I've been playing a 3/4 and really enjoying it but wondered if i would benefit from a smaller one as i am quite small? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Well, how small are you? As you likely know, there are really not standards in terms of bass sizes. There are many "3/4" basses that have smaller-than-usual bodies and string length can vary a bit among so-called 3/4 instruments. What are you playing now and why are you not satisfied? Tell us more.
 

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