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Double Bass Smallest Loudest Uprightest?

N

nicho zeppa

Feb 1, 2022
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#1
Hi there, I have been doing research for quite some time into a functional acoustic travel friendly upright that is much smaller than the standard double bass for the specific purpose of getting around and making music in various places. I don't have an interest in a removable neck.

Most of the travel basses seem to require amplification which is not always something I am interested in using. I prefer simplicity as well as the versatility of playing in places that don't have electricity, like along a river bar.

I need to be heard alongside a piano(not on a river bar) violin and guitar, as well as whatever else there is. It seems to me that no one has created something, save for the Busetto and Czech-Ease, that can really accomplish this.

I have read a couple of the forums here and that has helped me to find a few options.

As far as I can tell there is the Czech-Ease, The Kolstein Busetto, The Roberto Franceschini Small Body, The MK Classic, The Emininence, The BSX Allegro and some others I am forgetting. The last two don't interest me as much as the Busetto and this less known Italian builder Roberto Franceshini.

I live in a really rural place and really don't have the option to try any of these basses out, so I am turning to this community for a bit of help, wondering what the others are that I haven't discovered and which one actually produces the most sound.

Thanks in advance for you perspectives
 
#2
Out of the ones you listed, the Czech Ease would be your best bet for not using an amp as it has the largest body of the instruments listed. The others really need an amp to sound good. It won't be as loud as a full 3/4 bass, but it will have a full sound acoustically.

Although you said you're not looking for a removable neck, if you can come across a Chadwick folding bass that might be a better option. There are some on here who have them that can better speak about the assembly time.
 
#3
“I live in a really rural place and really don't have the option to try any of these basses out”

That puts you at a huge disadvantage.

Large basses can be quiet and small basses loud. Carved usually is louder and better than plywood, in my experience.

I have a 55 year old Chinese carved small 3/4 bass that is extremely loud. It is shaped close to a Quenoil.
I also have a larger 7/8 carved bass styled after an old Venetian that is loud in the lower register but soft in thumb position. The smaller bass blows away my larger bass in tp.

Two basses of the same make and model can sound very different. An expert in bass set-up can work a bit of magic, adding to the variables.

So there are great sounding small basses out there. You have to play them to see which work for you.
 
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#7
nicho zeppa said:
Hi there, I have been doing research for quite some time into a functional acoustic travel friendly upright that is much smaller than the standard double bass for the specific purpose of getting around and making music in various places. I don't have an interest in a removable neck.

Most of the travel basses seem to require amplification which is not always something I am interested in using. I prefer simplicity as well as the versatility of playing in places that don't have electricity, like along a river bar.

I need to be heard alongside a piano(not on a river bar) violin and guitar, as well as whatever else there is. It seems to me that no one has created something, save for the Busetto and Czech-Ease, that can really accomplish this.

I have read a couple of the forums here and that has helped me to find a few options.

As far as I can tell there is the Czech-Ease, The Kolstein Busetto, The Roberto Franceschini Small Body, The MK Classic, The Emininence, The BSX Allegro and some others I am forgetting. The last two don't interest me as much as the Busetto and this less known Italian builder Roberto Franceshini.

I live in a really rural place and really don't have the option to try any of these basses out, so I am turning to this community for a bit of help, wondering what the others are that I haven't discovered and which one actually produces the most sound.

Thanks in advance for you perspectives
Click to expand...

All the basses you mention that I am familiar with really require an amp to sound halfway decent. This includes the Czech-Ease which is probably your best option.

You may want to consider a battery-powered amp or pure sine power station.

For upright I would consider the Roland BA-330. This amp runs on a bunch of AA batteries. I would suggest rechargeable Eneloops.

Some also like the Phil Jones Double Four with a laptop battery.

Neither of these amps is very loud.

A Jackery pure sine power station and small Class-D amp would probably be a better choice. Louder and better sound quality.
 
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#9
First option would be basses, that are reduced in size in only one dimension, like thinner, less deep body (have seen them by Duke basses and Bassico in Munich:https://www.bassico.eu/jazz-instrum...8837-0-0-8837-0.htm?cat=921&produkt=4064&l=EN). The Czech-Easy is reduced in length.
Second option would be the basses reduced in size in several dimensions, like the 5/8, the 1/2 or the 1/4 basses. Or the basses you mentioned: the MK classic, the Bussetto and the Eminence are reduced in width and depth.
The overall volume, the thickness of the material and the frequencies supported by resonsonance will determine the possible loudness. The choice of strings and the musical material (solo repertoire in thumb position or playing only in lower position) will be important, too.
If you can get away with playing without amplification will depend on number and type of instruments you play with, the location (corner of a smaller room or stand outside in the middle of a wide field) and the level of noise in that location (talking spectators).
Even having similiar instruments can have different levels of loudness depending on quality of making them.
I have had good results in the past using a 1/4 high quality bass, but had trouble finding another one I liked as well.
Nobody can tell you, what would work for you and is loudest of the instruments you listed. I doubt, somebody has tested more then 2 or 3 of them and usually other factors, like transportability and feel is more important to somebody checking them with the understanding, that he will need amplification in many cases anyhow.
 
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#10
OP, from your description you want something as small or smaller than the Czech-Ease but louder, and you don't want to use an amp. Unfortunately when it comes to basses, in general the overall governing factor for loudness is body size. Yes, there are smaller basses that are louder and bigger ones that are softer, but that's within the range of size and loudness of a 3/4 double bass. The number of 1/2 size or smaller double basses that are louder than even a quiet 3/4 is going to be very small, near zero. Your chance of ordering something from afar and lucking out will be even smaller.

For ampless playing you're basically stuck with the general run of 3/4 and maybe 5/8 basses, depending on the individual bass; for compact size you've got the removable neck 3/4 basses which make a better package (but still not REALLY SMALL like the alternative I'm about to propose).

To me everything in between seems like a weak compromise (though I haven't personally tried all these, so I'm just talking theoretically; keep that in mind; my advice's worth what you've paid for it). Seems as if, by all reports, once it gets smaller than a 3/4 (or maybe 5/8, which isn't really much smaller) DB, you're using amplification. Once you start using amplification in low-volume situations, why not go smaller, and then smaller, and then smaller still, and just increase the contribution of the amp?

Frankly, if what you prioritize is size and portability, I'd just go straight to the Fender Precision bass with flat wound strings and a piece of foam rubber under the strings near the bridge; a small practice amp; and a battery-powered inverter "power pack". If what you prioritize is ampless playing and the true DB sound, I'd go straight to a 3/4 standard DB, and have a removable neck if you can.
 
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#11
Wasnex said:
All the basses you mention that I am familiar with really require an amp to sound halfway decent. This includes the Czech-Ease which is probably your best option.

You may want to consider a battery-powered amp or pure sine power station.

For upright I would consider the Roland BA-330. This amp runs on a bunch of AA batteries. I would suggest rechargeable Eneloops.

Some also like the Phil Jones Double Four with a laptop battery.

Neither of these amps is very loud.

A Jackery pure sine power station and small Class-D amp would probably be a better choice. Louder and better sound quality.
Click to expand...
The Double Four with a good preamp can actually get pretty loud.
 
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#12
All else being equal, size determines frequency response, not loudness. A violin is loud within its frequency range. A bigger bass tends to be louder in its low frequencies than a smaller one. So ... perhaps you want to trade the lowest notes for smaller size. A cello or half-sized bass tuned higher might fit your needs.
 
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#13
AGCurry said:
... perhaps you want to trade the lowest notes for smaller size. A cello or half-sized bass tuned higher might fit your needs.
Click to expand...

Good idea!
Many years ago I made a compact ABG and tuned it up an octave. It was loud enough! No one paid attention to such a tuning: compared to flutes, mandolin and violin, it was a bass! I didn't have to learn a new fingering, transcription, etc.
I think a 1/8-1/10 DB tuned an octave higher will be quite compact and loud enough. No one will understand that you play in a different octave!
 
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#15
Earl said:
The Double Four with a good preamp can actually get pretty loud.
Click to expand...

Thanks...I never played through the Double Four. I have played through the original PJ Bass Briefcase and although it sounded great, I was pretty disappointed in the volume and amount of lows it could produce. Supposedly the Double Four is a bit louder and fuller sounding despite being rated for lower power.

:thumbsup:
Ref: NAD - Phil Jones Double Four! Review and Pics.
 
#17
I have one as well, mine had to have a new neck. As Jason says, they can be fairly loud and amplify well. I’d encourage you to consider a removable neck. They stow easier under busses, trains, and planes. Just my take of course.
 
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#20
Here's what the bass sounds like playing live, using some amplification, in a trio setting. Once again with Miroslav Vitous.



I once had the pleasure of watching (and hearing of course :)) Miroslav play live with the first Weather Report on tour in Indianapolis, Indiana. Herbie Hancock and Headhunters were their "warmup act"
 
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