Hi all I am new to DB after years of playing Fretless ,and making up exuses as to why I don,t play a DB I finally bought one. I went to a shop that specialises in stringed instruments and tried a few cheap basses ply and solid top , I did not like ply and settled on a solid top with ply sides etc ,it is a Hofner (prob China) it had been set by the shop and is quite playable . my greatest criticism Lack of overall volume and a weak tone on the E string . as I play jazz and its amlified I have a K& K with its pre amp as the pickup and I can get a reasonable sound through the PA .my Bass amp is not suitable for it, not transpaant enought and too may hot spots.I hope to buy an AI when I have the money . My main concern is will it improve with playing? by the way it 1/2 size with 40" scale great for me as I am horizontaly challanged with small hands
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Double Bass Will it get any better
- Thread starter tez123
- Start date
I dont know they were on it , I will find out if the shop knows. I would guess they are a medium to light gauge but what Brand ,I would not have a clue
Also worth noting is that technique plays a HUUUUUUGE role on tone and volume with DB.
I had the same complaint when I started (low volume, especially on the E) but the more I play the more volume and clarity I get.
I had the same complaint when I started (low volume, especially on the E) but the more I play the more volume and clarity I get.
You're asking a small box to do the impossible -- the laws of physics say you can have a small box, or you can have a deep sound. Better touch and technique and stronger hands will help, maybe a heavier E string, but beyond that I don't know what else to recommend.
Hello, welcome to the wonderful world of db!
I also have a 1/2 sized bass. It sounded pretty bad to me at first. Now I love the way it sounds.
Given a lot of learning and experience, as your technique improves you'll learn how to get better tone and volume from the instrument. Also, age matters (the bass, not you). It will open up and sound better over time. I also believe that bathing it in sweat (preferably your own) as often as possible greatly improves the personality and tone of any string instrument.
I recently complained that I could not hear my bass while playing with 2 accoustic guitars. I was told from about 12 feet away that it sounded perfect, on pitch and well blended with the guitars. A recording made with a hand held recorder on one of the tables about 8 feet away verified the report I had gotten, the bass was all there! The fact is that you cannot hear how loud it is or what it really sounds like standing to the side and above the instrument.
Good luck to you. Keep at it and you'll end up loving it.
.02
I also have a 1/2 sized bass. It sounded pretty bad to me at first. Now I love the way it sounds.
Given a lot of learning and experience, as your technique improves you'll learn how to get better tone and volume from the instrument. Also, age matters (the bass, not you). It will open up and sound better over time. I also believe that bathing it in sweat (preferably your own) as often as possible greatly improves the personality and tone of any string instrument.
I recently complained that I could not hear my bass while playing with 2 accoustic guitars. I was told from about 12 feet away that it sounded perfect, on pitch and well blended with the guitars. A recording made with a hand held recorder on one of the tables about 8 feet away verified the report I had gotten, the bass was all there! The fact is that you cannot hear how loud it is or what it really sounds like standing to the side and above the instrument.
Good luck to you. Keep at it and you'll end up loving it.
.02
Oh... I didn't see the 1/2 size bass part. That's what you get for playing kiddie basses. 
Sorry man, can't help you there.
Sorry man, can't help you there.
Oh... I didn't see the 1/2 size bass part. That's what you get for playing kiddie basses.
Tez, before you take that personally look up Edgar Meyer. Either he's bigger than Andre' the Giant or he's playing a 1/2. If it's grown up enough for one of the world's greatest, it's grown up enough for you (and me) brother!
I have been told that more and more performing bassists are switching to 5/8 and 1/2 size. They are easier to transport, more manageable for those of us with short fingers, and don't contribute as much to the mud in a heavy live mix or recording, which can be an issue if you don't get an engineer proficient at mixing double bass.
- Jan 25, 2006
- 1,292
- 6
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist; Arnold Schnitzer/ Wil DeSola New Standard RN DB
A sound post adjustment by a qualified luthier may help the E string speak better as well.
Good luck,
BG
Good luck,
BG
Tez, before you take that personally look up Edgar Meyer. Either he's bigger than Andre' the Giant or he's playing a 1/2. If it's grown up enough for one of the world's greatest, it's grown up enough for you (and me) brother!
I have been told that more and more performing bassists are switching to 5/8 and 1/2 size. They are easier to transport, more manageable for those of us with short fingers, and don't contribute as much to the mud in a heavy live mix or recording, which can be an issue if you don't get an engineer proficient at mixing double bass.
I've seen Edgar Meyer play in person. He's at least 6'1" and a big guy. You ought to read this thread too: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f29/question-edgar-meyer-fans-264617/
I've only seen one pro use a 1/2 sized bass, he's a local here and uses it as a travel bass. Typically 1/2 sized basses are made for kids/young students. I have yet to see a serious pro use a 1/2 sized bass. Ron Carter's piccolo bass does not count, esp since Buster Williams was right there behind him with a regular bass.
Anyways, good luck with that.
Oh... I didn't see the 1/2 size bass part. That's what you get for playing kiddie basses.
are you naturally that arrogant or do you have to work at it
+1. You have to really pull the E to get a big sound out of it.
As for the bass itself: Could be that the strings don't really suit it (for example high-tension strings make my bass sound thumpy and lifeless), or perhaps a soundpost adjustment could improve the sound of the E, or maybe it's something as simple as the bridge not quite being in the right place (level with the nicks in your f-holes?).
But for starters I'd say really get that string moving when you play it - give it some!
you could be right and as someone else said I am not hearing it from out front ,but from above I have not heard my bass with anyone else playing it . I am really enjoying the challange of DB and I will eventully buy a 5/8 but due to my small hands that will be as big as I will get I dont need to play a 3/4 or bigger to prove my manhood . sorry about the sarcasm but one of the previos posts highlight the underline attitude that some DB players haveon this forum that they are the chosen ones and if you dont play a 3/4 or bigger and god forbid an EB you are just pretending to be a bass player . I dont mean to upset or offend I just have noticed attitude come through from time to time in some posts and I do respect the guys that help with positive input . thanks to them and you
Matthew Tucker
Commercial User
- Aug 21, 2002
- 2,686
- 387
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- Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
However ....
my daughter was playing a 42" scale, large 3/4 bass by year 8, age 13. She is very average height and does not have big hands.
I suppose this illustrates that small hands does not mean you need a small bass. It is very much a matter of technique.
But on a 1/2 size bass, even with good technique, setup is very important to get an even sound and best volume, because every 1/2 size bass struggles in this respect, particularly the E string. Heck, even most 3/4 basses struggle to get a good E sound!
Oh and by the way "setup by the shop" is notr always a guarantee of a good setup
my daughter was playing a 42" scale, large 3/4 bass by year 8, age 13. She is very average height and does not have big hands.
I suppose this illustrates that small hands does not mean you need a small bass. It is very much a matter of technique.
But on a 1/2 size bass, even with good technique, setup is very important to get an even sound and best volume, because every 1/2 size bass struggles in this respect, particularly the E string. Heck, even most 3/4 basses struggle to get a good E sound!
Oh and by the way "setup by the shop" is notr always a guarantee of a good setup
I would say a smaller 3/4 would be fine. Lots of players with small hands and pudgy fingers and they manage to still get around the instrument just fine. Technique and a good set up will do wonders.
Keep playing and upgrade when the time comes.
Keep playing and upgrade when the time comes.
