Double Bass Please Please Helo me get my first Bass (BASSically, Size???)

[keytthom]

So I have been an Electric Player for 5 years and now play mostly Fretless in Jazz and Swing bands, so I thought, why don't I just man up and get a proper bass

All Joking aside, as I am currently still at school, i can Hire a bass for about £90 a year, not bad just to see if i like it methinks...

I have played my friends, which she says is 3/4 size (still seemed pretty hefty), so do you guys think I should stick with 3/4, or go Full??

I am 17 years old, 5 ft 11 ish, and damn excited to be getting one...

Cheers

 

[Mirios]

I am unfortunately not in the land of playing upright bass any longer. When I did I used both a 3/4 size and for a awhile a 7/8 German bass. 3/4 seems to the be the standard size you are most likely to find. The 7/8 bass I played sounded awesome, but I think it was more the bass itself than the fact it was a little larger.

 

[Andrew McGregor]

3/4 is standard, and there's really very little to be gained from going any bigger... although, when you're looking, don't exclude larger basses from your search, as a great bass is a great bass however big it is (5/8 and over, anyway).

 

[HunterBrodt]

Do a quick search on tb. This has been covered a lot.

 

[Rob Thompson]

Read: SIZES: Double Bass Sizing FAQ - FAQ courtesy of GollihurMusic.com

 

[bassics1975]

Octobass!

No, seriously. Most jazz players I know play 3/4 and 5/8. As mentioned above, there really is little need for anything bigger in this application. Large basses have longer string lengths and more instrument to try and get around for upper register work in soloing.

 

[moles]

Don't get a 4/4. Period. Unless you want to hurt yourself seriously, and possibly cut short your music playing career.

 

[drurb]

As has been mentioned here and on Gollihur's page, there really are no rules when it comes to the specifications of size. One maker's "large 3/4" is another maker's "7/8." Old World instrument makers knew nothing of double bass "sizes."

What is reliable is string length and body size. A 41-42" string-length is quite typical. When you get to 43-44", the intervals become quite large in the lower positions. Even with a 41-42" string-length, however, rib depths, upper/lower bout widths, shoulder slope, etc. can vary widely and be called "3/4."

My advice is to go with a 41-42" string-length and then try out a bunch of basses to find which are comfortable to play. You can also use the advice given here to narrow in on some maker's models that many have found easy to play.

Indeed, do a search here as the topic has been beaten (but, apparently, not to death ) here over the years.

Get a teacher. The DB and the EB are related, but very different instruments. A good teacher will set you on the right path in terms of technique and help you to avoid the very substantial potential for injury.