Hi there, I'd like some advice about the set-up of my instrument. Let me first give you a bit of my background information. I'm a University student with not too much money to spend, my current instrument was made in China with all German wood and parts by Xue Chang Sun, it is a good conservatory instrument, and has a very clear and even orchestral sound. I stand at 5'6" and I have fairly short arms, so access over the shoulders of my bass is quite difficult at times.
Here is a list of my basses specifications to give all of you a better idea with what I'm dealing with:
2003 Xue Chang Sun, Round Back.
Mensure: 41.00"
Upper Bout: 20.00"
Central Bout: 14.75"
Lower Bout: 26.25"
LB Rib Depth: 8.75"
CB Rib Depth: 8.65"
UB Rib Depth (At widest point on shoulder): 7.75"
UB Rib Depth (At Button): 7.00"
Body length (Measured to top of Button): 44.50"
Bridge Height: 6.18"
Block Height at Neck: 1.10"
I do have the money to purchase a new instrument, perhaps something tailored more to my needs but I'd rather keep the money in the bank considering I do like the sound of this bass and I want an instrument that can keep up in an orchestra and not resemble a Rabbathian style instrument.
I'd like to know if a possible re-alignment in the angle/height of the neck would make a significant difference in allowing me to get over the shoulders and not have my forearm in pain. The neck is currently set fairly parallel to the sound board. I don't exactly know how or what is overstand or how to measure it.
I have by the way tried the Egg-Pin but it didn't really work with my instrument and I feel that this is more of a set-up issue versus how I sit when playing, because I've tried everything under the sun.
Thank you so very much.
-Calvin
Here is a list of my basses specifications to give all of you a better idea with what I'm dealing with:
2003 Xue Chang Sun, Round Back.
Mensure: 41.00"
Upper Bout: 20.00"
Central Bout: 14.75"
Lower Bout: 26.25"
LB Rib Depth: 8.75"
CB Rib Depth: 8.65"
UB Rib Depth (At widest point on shoulder): 7.75"
UB Rib Depth (At Button): 7.00"
Body length (Measured to top of Button): 44.50"
Bridge Height: 6.18"
Block Height at Neck: 1.10"
I do have the money to purchase a new instrument, perhaps something tailored more to my needs but I'd rather keep the money in the bank considering I do like the sound of this bass and I want an instrument that can keep up in an orchestra and not resemble a Rabbathian style instrument.
I'd like to know if a possible re-alignment in the angle/height of the neck would make a significant difference in allowing me to get over the shoulders and not have my forearm in pain. The neck is currently set fairly parallel to the sound board. I don't exactly know how or what is overstand or how to measure it.
I have by the way tried the Egg-Pin but it didn't really work with my instrument and I feel that this is more of a set-up issue versus how I sit when playing, because I've tried everything under the sun.
Thank you so very much.
-Calvin
, I'm actually very happy with my French bow technique. My teacher is all about the bow and he was a student of Petracchi. I've tried a few Rabbath style basses with smaller upper bouts, but they just don't have the deep sound needed for orchestral playing. I've contacted several luthiers but none of them were really willing to make a bass with a small and very tapered upper bout and a large lower bout. I understand there should be a sense of symmetry but there are instruments like that, like the Pollman's. But I can't afford 20k. 
