Hey so I am thinking about getting a bass commissioned. I am a conservatory-level student trying to find a bass to spend the rest of my life with. I am on the small side but I want to have something made with a shorter string length but still a big dark orchestral sound. I don't know much about any makers, and was wondering if anybody had any suggestions. Let me know! Also ideas on what would be ideal for a professional level shorter player with tiny hands that will suffice in the orchestra? Thanks guys!
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Double Bass Getting a Bass Commisioned
- Thread starter x18karatharmony
- Start date
I wouldn't look at out of the ordinary sizes unless you're totally sure you can't adapt to a regular bass. There are many many small women playing bass professionally and most of them are using the same size bass as men of average height.
As far as builders I think you'll get a lot of recommendations for Nick Lloyd and he would be a great place to start.
As far as builders I think you'll get a lot of recommendations for Nick Lloyd and he would be a great place to start.
rjspear
Commercial User
- Apr 23, 2011
- 97
- 4
- Disclosures
- Luthier, owner Singing Woods Violin Shop
By altering the geometry, a bass can be made with a proportional string length (important for pedagogical reasons and for finding the octave harmonic with your thumb in the curve of the neck heel). My feeling is that a professional bassist in the classical music world needs an instrument that allows him to be a musician rather than requiring him to be a gymnast. The shorter string length is especially important for fifths-tuners, but fourths-tuners get the benefits, too.
Speaking generally, and realizing that there are exceptions, there might be a small hit in the lowest regions on a bass with a body length of 1075 mm (42 1/3") and a string length of 965 mm (38"). This would factor in mainly if you intend to use a C-extension; I know that basses this size can produce a substantial low E if you are in standard fourths tuning. Smaller basses can project well, and such a bass will tend to be well-suited for solo and high-position playing, and easier to integrate into chamber music settings.
You should talk or correspond with some of the makers on the forum and elsewhere to get an idea of what's involved.
Speaking generally, and realizing that there are exceptions, there might be a small hit in the lowest regions on a bass with a body length of 1075 mm (42 1/3") and a string length of 965 mm (38"). This would factor in mainly if you intend to use a C-extension; I know that basses this size can produce a substantial low E if you are in standard fourths tuning. Smaller basses can project well, and such a bass will tend to be well-suited for solo and high-position playing, and easier to integrate into chamber music settings.
You should talk or correspond with some of the makers on the forum and elsewhere to get an idea of what's involved.
A shorter string length is not a very good idea, a smaller body might be better.
You will need to play often enough other basses than your own, in 3/4 or even 4/4 size (in orchestras).
You won't be able to play them (in tune) if you are not used to these larger instruments.
103 to 104 cm should still be OK, but not smaller than 102 cm I would say.
Also strings behave different on smaller vibrating string lengths. The tension is lower and the lower strings might not respond and sound as well as with regular 105 cm string length.
You might want to think about a Solo bass, often with a smaller body (which could mean lower overall length), a bit less low end resonance. These instruments should be able to be sold better than smaller regular instruments as long as they are really good instruments.
Getting a bass built is often a risk, since you won't know what the result will be. It is OK in the (lower) medium quality (but this instrument might not be for life), but even then you would like to try a lot of already built instruments and take the best one for your needs.
It might be a good idea to talk about your ideas with several luthiers and experienced bass players before you take a decision. (OK, you already try this here...)
You will need to play often enough other basses than your own, in 3/4 or even 4/4 size (in orchestras).
You won't be able to play them (in tune) if you are not used to these larger instruments.
103 to 104 cm should still be OK, but not smaller than 102 cm I would say.
Also strings behave different on smaller vibrating string lengths. The tension is lower and the lower strings might not respond and sound as well as with regular 105 cm string length.
You might want to think about a Solo bass, often with a smaller body (which could mean lower overall length), a bit less low end resonance. These instruments should be able to be sold better than smaller regular instruments as long as they are really good instruments.
Getting a bass built is often a risk, since you won't know what the result will be. It is OK in the (lower) medium quality (but this instrument might not be for life), but even then you would like to try a lot of already built instruments and take the best one for your needs.
It might be a good idea to talk about your ideas with several luthiers and experienced bass players before you take a decision. (OK, you already try this here...)
I bought a bass made by italian maker Sergio Scaramelli several months back. It's a terrific instrument that I couldn't be happier with. The high end is very clear and has a warm and velvety tone, making it perfect for solo playing, and the low end has a very deep, rich, and layered sound. It's very loud and resonant too; it really stands out in the bass section I play in. I'll be playing on it for college auditions next year, and it'll be perfect for pro auditions in a few years. I didn't commision the bass from Sergio, I bought it from a private seller, but it's a fairly recent bass (2010?), so I'm sure it's fairly representative of what you would get if you commisioned a bass from him today. Every bass is different, but I'm sure you would be very satisfied if you commisioned an instrument from him. I think a couple of his basses are for sale right now in the US too. Lemur music has one that's of a similar construction to my own.
I would seriously consider him if you're looking to buy a professional quality instrument that you'll play on for the rest of your life. His basses are fantastic. Before I bought my Scaramelli bass, it was being played on in the Minnesota Orchestra alongside basses that cost probably half a million dollars, just to give you an idea of what it can compete against. Let me know if you have any questions at all.
I would seriously consider him if you're looking to buy a professional quality instrument that you'll play on for the rest of your life. His basses are fantastic. Before I bought my Scaramelli bass, it was being played on in the Minnesota Orchestra alongside basses that cost probably half a million dollars, just to give you an idea of what it can compete against. Let me know if you have any questions at all.
