I'm 5'9 and I had a 5/8 bass for a little while and it was FUN. So easy to play, I felt like I could fly on this instrument. The drawback was that when I went back to my 3/4 I couldn't play it, my intonation was off etc. Eventually I sold the 5/8 bass because if I ever sat in on anyone's gig chances are, they would have a 3/4 bass and I would look bad. There's a guy in NY who plays 5/8 and he just brings his bass around to sessions. Nothing wrong with that. Anyway, maybe to someone who is 5'6 a 1/2 size bass would be to him what a 5/8 bass was to me. Again, nothing wrong with that.
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Double Bass Whats wrong and right about a half size?
- Thread starter DevilDogWWII
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fromafinancialpointofviewa1/2sizebassisabadinvestment
whateveryouspendonityouwontgetitback
thereisnomarketforhalfsizebasses
whateveryouspendonityouwontgetitback
thereisnomarketforhalfsizebasses
Turnaround
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Greg Cohen, sometime bassist for Tom Waits, used a quarter-size bass onthe Orphans album. I have one too. Nice size bass for transporting but doesn't have much of a voice on its own. I always use mine amplified, but it still lacks depth and thump like a larger instrument.
So it depends on what you want from a bass. For me I wanted transportability and was willing to sacrifice some sound quality for it. Even then I must say I prefer the sound of my amplified quarter over solid body UEB's. The half size might be a good compromise - but I think it WILL be a compromise.
Sure would be a shame to pass up a smaller instrument that sounded and felt great and really inspired you just because some dooflincky on the internet told you not to......
On the other hand, if you're a pretty tall person and your friend tries to sell you 1/2 size bass as your first upright, it would be a shame to get stuck with an instrument that's hard to sell simply because you didn't know enough about the limits of said instrument.
It's the beauty of a public forum. And while we chased the OP away with jokes about bad grammar (I'm a HS English Teacher...can't help myself!) I do hope that he considers and plays other instruments; then goes with what feels right to him.
Yes, it's about feel...but it depends on what you want as well. I know that if I buy a 5/8 I'm going to limit myself in terms of going to jazz jams in NYC because I will be unused to whatever the 3/4 house bass is. So I'll have to bring a bass. But I've played 5/8 basses and they just feel so comfortable to me...probably a lot like how taller players with bigger hands experience a 3/4 bass. I met Ron Carter and dude has ET fingers! Tall guy with big hands and looooong fingers. I'm sure that the way he mechanically approaches a 3/4 (and I'm no Ron Carter by a long shot...I'm not even good enough to take lessons from Ron Carter) is physiologically similar to how I approach a 5/8.
And, yes...there are great players who are 5'2" and play 7/8 basses. Few and far between but if you're dying for that sound and you are willing to be a technique monster then it's possible. But it's way better to play an instrument that fits you well and you're comfortable with, at least in my estimation.
So, OP...we're just joshin' you. You can spell any way you want but I for one hope you play a bunch of uprights and figure out what feels right.
Of course you're right. I was just playing devil's advocate as I'm sorta keeping my eyes open for a small bass myself. And I didn't think about the resale issue....but then I never do.
Exactly, Jed. The OP is a newbie. What may feel great and inspire a newbie is very likely to change, Jeff. A case in point is DBs with skinny neck profiles. Many newbies prefer them until they actually learn to play and then suffer left-hand fatigue and the inability to maintain the left-hand claw. Dooflinkies on the internet have often been around the block a time or two and can help newbies to avoid costly mistakes. Armed with a bunch of knowledge, if the OP picks a smaller bass, then at least he's done it with eyes wide open.
Please know there was a very long pause at the keyboard before I called you a dooflincky.
Please know there was a very long pause at the keyboard before I called you a dooflincky.
I don't know if that's better or worse. I didn't realize that you were singling me out amongst the others who shared my opinion.
I guess "dooflincky" is far better than what you might have called me. 
I'm a normal size guy, but my left pinky is too short, and my left index angles in just slightly from straight. So I have my bass false nutted down from its original @ 41 5/8" to 40 5/8". I am much more relaxed and focused on the music this way, but stil have the benefit of a full-sized "box" to the bass.
I agree with all the above: for normal playing, a 3/4 bass is the way to go. Now, as also set forth, there are many flavors of what constitutes a 3/4, so there is leeway. Have someone measure the spread of your hand on a real neck to see what is the longest scale length practical for the stretch from low F to F on the D string, and work that backwards to a scale length.
Then shop, and try, and shop, and try as many basses as possible with the scale of the derived measurement to something as much as a 1/2 inch longer. With all the variables of neck thickness and fingerboard width and arc, you will find something that works in a "standard" sized bass.
I agree with all the above: for normal playing, a 3/4 bass is the way to go. Now, as also set forth, there are many flavors of what constitutes a 3/4, so there is leeway. Have someone measure the spread of your hand on a real neck to see what is the longest scale length practical for the stretch from low F to F on the D string, and work that backwards to a scale length.
Then shop, and try, and shop, and try as many basses as possible with the scale of the derived measurement to something as much as a 1/2 inch longer. With all the variables of neck thickness and fingerboard width and arc, you will find something that works in a "standard" sized bass.
- Mar 19, 2002
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I should have let you know about this 5/8 Bostonian we just finished...it KILLED. You would have liked it...
Have you seen rockabilly players technique? I'm pretty sure you'd be more at risk using Simandl than monkeyfisting it on a 3/4 instrument. I think they is more concerned about right hand technique than left hand.
I think that guy is fairly well regarded for rock-a-billy, and his left hand is a less than perfect example of Simandl technique.
Just trying to reconcile your hand size with your height. What is your shoe size? You say you're "shorter"; has your shoe size changed? Odd question, but I can explain after your answer
Thanks for all of the advice, everyone. I'll look into the 5/8's and won't rule out 3/4's either. Don, I take either a 10 or 10 1/2 shoe, it seems to vary a bit by type of shoe or maker. I'm still skeptical that I really got shorter, I should probably check myself instead of waiting for next year's physical. I haven't gotten any new shoes since then, but haven't noticed my old shoes feeling loose or anything like that.
-- John
I "shrunk" from nearly 6' to 5'-10.5" At the same time, my shoe size increased from 10.5 to 11.5.
What was really happening is that as part of my training to teach the Alexander Technique, I released so much unconscious tension that my overly tight arches let go and my foot appeared to "grow", at the same time lowering my skelton in space. I'm just making the point that you might not be "shrinking" but somehow altering your ability to fully extend.
