Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Any long-scale hollowbody with the bridge (in the typical guitar location) somewhere close to the middle of the body will be big. I have an Ibanez Artcore AGB140, which is semi-hollow, and it feels absolutely massive. The neck is truly thick, and the first fret feels like it's miles away. I'm 6'1", and I find it uncomfortably large. The ASB140 is similarly large, but fully hollow, so might struggle with feedback in a louder live setting. Both are beautifully made, though benefit from upgrades to the wiring.
Here's a pic I stole from image search:
I've played some Gretsch basses that feel almost as big, but not quite.
Another alternative would be a five string Dingwall. It's definitely in another league cost-wise, but is more of a modern bass. The B has a 37" scale length, and Dingwalls are about as nice as any bass out there.
Here's a pic I stole from image search:
I've played some Gretsch basses that feel almost as big, but not quite.
Another alternative would be a five string Dingwall. It's definitely in another league cost-wise, but is more of a modern bass. The B has a 37" scale length, and Dingwalls are about as nice as any bass out there.
Gotta rep the T Bird. I love mine. Also would love a Guild Starfire II. Those seem to be right up your alley.
Takamine TB10, can be used as a regular bass but also has an end pin for upright playing. Sounds awesome. See picture with a puny jazz bass next to it!
I'm surprised I don't see more input for the 35" basses. The first thing I saw the OP ask about was why his 34" Jazz felt so dinky.
I strongly recommend that you try some 35" basses.
Ibanez BTB
MTD
Also, Gretsch's full scale basses are 34" but they feel like 35". I have a White Falcon and it dominates visually. Sonically too, thank you. It's an expensive model, but they make more affordable ones.
Ergonomics are an underappreciated factor in buying the "right" bass for you. It's common to think that we should all play Fenders cuz they fit, but the truth is they don't fit everyone. Some of my favorite bass players play Jazz basses, but they feel very awkward on me. Nothing lines up. Ricks are fine for me, but many others complain about their feel.
I used to play stage right, but my 35" BTB was likely to sweep the entire band off the stage, so I moved to stage left.
I strongly recommend that you try some 35" basses.
Ibanez BTB
MTD
Also, Gretsch's full scale basses are 34" but they feel like 35". I have a White Falcon and it dominates visually. Sonically too, thank you. It's an expensive model, but they make more affordable ones.
Ergonomics are an underappreciated factor in buying the "right" bass for you. It's common to think that we should all play Fenders cuz they fit, but the truth is they don't fit everyone. Some of my favorite bass players play Jazz basses, but they feel very awkward on me. Nothing lines up. Ricks are fine for me, but many others complain about their feel.
I used to play stage right, but my 35" BTB was likely to sweep the entire band off the stage, so I moved to stage left.
I passed my Peavey Grind 6 on to a friend because it was a little big for me to play comfortably. 35" scale length, and mine was about 13 pounds.
Try a Gretsch 5440LSB - it's enormous! 34" scale, 16" wide body, 2.5" deep - dwarfs my other basses and has a great tone, a lot of fun to play.
How about this one? I'm sure they're in Stock at your local chain store.
36in scale semi hollow body
36in scale semi hollow body
You can always build your own. The hardest part would be plotting frets for a longer scale than 34", but there are charts available online to help you. If you go fretless it's an easy job. Hope this helps.
If you have the money, Status S-2 could be an option, if you want a big-body bass. It's fairly standard otherwise(34'' and 19mm string spacing), but from what I've heard, you can contact the guy who makes them and ask for more specific customizations. Anyway, like I said, the body on S2's is huge, if that's any help 
It isn't always good to rely on my memory,especially after several decades.
Thanks for the info.1.25" sounds really thin....
It isn't always good to rely on my memory,especially after several decades.
1.25" sounds really thin....
Don't be impressed. I only know because I have two of 'em sitting in a rack across the room from me.
My memories are becoming more and more suspect as the decades climb up for me too.
And yeah, they're about a 1/2" thinner than anything else. Gibson actually made it a point in their advertising about how it was thin and light but sounded like a much heavier bass. That was back in the day when some questionable wisdom equated weight with low notes and good bass tone. Probably why the lower bout is so big. They needed something to increase the mass and get it to balance on a strap. Didn't want to make it thicker (harder to source thicker wood maybe?) so the only thing they could do to get it back was increase the width of the body.
That's my best guess anyway.
I'm built very similar,y to you my friend. I'm 6'2", 270 lbs on a good day, but slim for my weight. Here's what I have to say:
+1 to the Thunderbird suggestions. I own a Pelham blue Epi T IV, and it does my size justice, but it isn't too big to manage as far as stands/cases/real estate.
Also, +1 to the long scale hollow bodies. I scored a vintage Gretsch 6072, had it for three years or so now. It's the red bass in my avatar pic. It looks big on me, and the neck is perfect for we lumberjack-built bass players. But, its size does come at a cost. I find that it needs a Hercules stand or similar. A normal stand doesn't extend high enough to keep it from overbalancing unless it's out 3 feet from the wall. On a hanging stand, it wants to fall forward, so the body ends up hanging a little closer to the wall than the headstock, if you can picture that. Also, forget about finding a hard case for it that isn't a custom-made ATA case. Also, you need extra-long-scale strings because there's tons of travel beyond the bridge and nut, even though it's just a 34" scale. And, its neck dive makes a TBird look like a Steinberger. But I wouldn't trade it
I'm sure other long-scale hollowbodies aren't as bad, but they aren't easy basses to live with.
There's my $0.02!
+1 to the Thunderbird suggestions. I own a Pelham blue Epi T IV, and it does my size justice, but it isn't too big to manage as far as stands/cases/real estate.
Also, +1 to the long scale hollow bodies. I scored a vintage Gretsch 6072, had it for three years or so now. It's the red bass in my avatar pic. It looks big on me, and the neck is perfect for we lumberjack-built bass players. But, its size does come at a cost. I find that it needs a Hercules stand or similar. A normal stand doesn't extend high enough to keep it from overbalancing unless it's out 3 feet from the wall. On a hanging stand, it wants to fall forward, so the body ends up hanging a little closer to the wall than the headstock, if you can picture that. Also, forget about finding a hard case for it that isn't a custom-made ATA case. Also, you need extra-long-scale strings because there's tons of travel beyond the bridge and nut, even though it's just a 34" scale. And, its neck dive makes a TBird look like a Steinberger. But I wouldn't trade it
I'm sure other long-scale hollowbodies aren't as bad, but they aren't easy basses to live with.
There's my $0.02!
I once bought a Bass that was so big it took two men and a boy just to look at it.
