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typical diff 3/4 to 7/8

Discussion in 'Basses [DB]' started by greitzer, Dec 4, 2007.

  1. Dec 4, 2007 #1
    greitzer

    greitzer

    Jul 25, 2002
    Near Berkeley, CA
    I searched the newbie threads on this and found one about bass sizes, but it didn't address this question.

    Can someone give me a general idea of the difference in size between a 3/4 bass and a 7/8 bass? Even if there aren't specific "standard" sizes, is there a ballpark figure on how much bigger a 7/8 bass is, compared to a 3/4?

    Looking at some basses online, the string scale length seems to be about an inch or so longer on the 7/8, but I can't find information about the dimensions (upper bout, lower bout, depth, etc.).

    Thanks in advance for any help.
     
  2. Dec 4, 2007 #2
    KSB - Ken Smith

    KSB - Ken Smith Inactive Commercial User

    Mar 1, 2002
    Perkasie, PA USA
    Owner: Ken Smith Basses, Ltd.
    There is really no standard that I know of. If the Bass seems to be a regular size, we call it a 3/4. If it seems bigger, we call it a 7/8ths. To this day, the Basses I own can be 3/4 or 7/8 on some, and 7/8 or 4/4 on others depending on who is measuring them.

    I refer to the bigger 3/4 sizes as 'full' 3/4 or small 7/8ths sometimes. In Europe they jump right to 4/4 or even 5/4 when its bigger then the average 3/4 size.
     
  3. Dec 5, 2007 #3
    Matthew Tucker

    Matthew Tucker Commercial User

    Aug 21, 2002
    Sydney, Australia
    Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
    if you can get it in front seat of your car OK, its a 3/4. If you have to shove and wiggle it around to get it into the car, its a 7/8. If you curse every time you need to go to a gig its a 4/4.

    Ken's right, there's no real standard. The string length has not much to do with the "size" of a bass.
     
  4. Dec 5, 2007 #4
    greitzer

    greitzer

    Jul 25, 2002
    Near Berkeley, CA
    Okay, thanks to both of you for the replies.