| Author | Message | ||
| 4u2nv
Member Username: 4u2nv Post Number: 53 Registered: 12-2003 |
Dumb question: in a 4 string upright bass, what's the highest note it can be played ? Thanks | ||
| richbass939
Advanced Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 269 Registered: 11-2004 |
Joe, that's not dumb at all. On mine, the note at the very end of the fingerboard on the G-string is the D that is 3 octaves above the open D-string. Rich | ||
| bob
Senior Member Username: bob Post Number: 433 Registered: 11-2002 |
Only the 19th 'fret'? I didn't realize the fingerboard was that short, but guess I never really thought about it. | ||
| richbass939
Advanced Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 270 Registered: 11-2004 |
It's 3 octave above the open D. 19th fret is 2 octaves. My fingerboard is 34" on a 41 1/4 scale. Rich | ||
| 4u2nv
Member Username: 4u2nv Post Number: 55 Registered: 12-2003 |
Thanks Rich, so there's other options?, like kind 24 frets, 3 octave from an open G ? Does anybody know what's the highest note on the alembic clasico ? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1775 Registered: 5-2002 |
So Rich, that would be the 31st "fret". (Message edited by davehouck on May 22, 2005) | ||
| dnburgess
Senior Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 408 Registered: 1-2003 |
I've seen / heard guys playing notes in the space between the end of the fingerboard and the bridge. Recalling Xeno's paradox, this implies that the instrument is capable of infinitely high notes. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1776 Registered: 5-2002 |
Well my memory failed again, so I looked it up. | ||
| richbass939
Advanced Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 271 Registered: 11-2004 |
Joe, I did a very rough estimate on the classico based on measuring the picture on the Alembic website. It appears to have about the same fingerboard length/scale length ratio as my upright, about 80-82%. So, I guess the classico has about the same 31 fret length. Rich | ||
| bob
Senior Member Username: bob Post Number: 434 Registered: 11-2002 |
My mistake. "D that is 3 octaves above the open D-string", played on the G string, would indeed be the 31st fret. I stand (or sit, as Nigel would recommend) corrected. Somehow I lost an octave. And I concur that a two octave (24 fret) board should be roughly 75 percent of the scale length, so the rest of the numbers here make sense. Cool, that's a huge range. Though it gets pretty sensitive up there... on a good day, if I've been playing a lot, I can do alright up to the 17-19 range, but much beyond that you really have to be dialed in (at least on a 35 - it would be a little more forgiving on a 41). (Message edited by bob on May 22, 2005) | ||
| 4u2nv
Member Username: 4u2nv Post Number: 57 Registered: 12-2003 |
Is it practicall to have that range ?, or why 31 frets ?, is there an acoustic bass player that play in that range ? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1780 Registered: 5-2002 |
Stanley Clarke uses the entire fingerboard; and he's pretty good at it too <g>. And I've seen others play up their too. Practical is relative. Some electric bass players wonder if it's practical to play above the 12th fret; for me, it would be impractical not to use all 24. | ||
| mint_bass
Advanced Member Username: mint_bass Post Number: 257 Registered: 1-2004 |
OK Heres another question on uprights. I am left handed. I know you can get left handed double basses but i cant find one in the uk for cheap. Is there any inherent reason why i cant play a right handed double bass from the other side of the neck. I know i cant change the strings around but can i just play it backwards. I realise this would make things more difficult but is there any serious reason why it is impossible or a really bad idea. thanks | ||
| 4u2nv
Member Username: 4u2nv Post Number: 60 Registered: 12-2003 |
Well i can't help you deciding , but as inspiration, John Ptitucci, and Jimmy Haslip are both left handed. | ||
| alanbass1
Member Username: alanbass1 Post Number: 71 Registered: 4-2005 |
Is there any reason you can't reverse the strings on a double bass? It might require some work on the nut and the bridge, but I thought the body was symmetric. | ||
| richbass939
Advanced Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 272 Registered: 11-2004 |
You could learn to play upright on the other side of the instrument without reversing the strings. However, it seems that it would mess up your lefty electric playing since it would be the opposite of how you normally play. As far as the construction of the upright goes, I don’t think there is any reason why you couldn’t string it goofy (I hope the club lefties don't smack me for using a snowboarding term here). In addition to the nut and bridge, the other thing you would need to change is the sound post. It goes from the top to the back and is placed more or less under the G-string. It is slightly below the G side foot of the bridge. I don’t know why it is placed exactly where it is but supposedly there is a perfect place for it to go. The bridge could probably be flipped around so the string slots are under the right strings. As far as I can tell the bridges are perfectly symmetrical. You may need to get a new blank nut and file string slots in it. International Violin is a really good luthier supply company. They have ebony bass nuts listed for $2.60 to $3.30, pretty inexpensive. Their site is http://www.internationalviolin.com . Good luck with it. Upright is a real challenge for me but the sound and fretless flexibility are really cool. Rich | ||
| bob
Senior Member Username: bob Post Number: 438 Registered: 11-2002 |
The idea of the soundpost is that it serves as sort of a pivot point for the bridge, which in turn vibrates the top plate, which moves air, makes sound, etc. You need more of this action for the lower frequencies, which is why the post needs to be pretty much under the G. All I know is the theory, I've never played one of these, and I understand that getting it positioned just right is a bit of an art. But if you were to swap the strings around, you would definitely want to move the soundpost as well. | ||
| mint_bass
Advanced Member Username: mint_bass Post Number: 258 Registered: 1-2004 |
I thought that the fingerboard on a double bass was non semetrical (if thats the right term) under the E sting. i.e. under the E is the fingerboard flat. I dont know much about double basses but i thought this might have something to do with compensating with the size of the E string. so if i flipped the strings then what would be the effect. any ideas thanks for the replies by the way. andrew | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 408 Registered: 10-2003 |
Every good 4-string upright I've played has had an asymetrical fingerboard contour. The couple of really nice ancient German 5-string uprights I've been blessed to play have had symetrical fingerboard contours. John | ||
| keebler
Junior Username: keebler Post Number: 21 Registered: 2-2003 |
There are upright players that use the upper range of the instrument quite well. Check out Scott Lafaro or Neils-Henning Orsted Peterson (who just recently passed away, and will be greatly missed!). Also, at a great concert this last spring, Edgar Meyer demonstrated some excellent use of harmonics between the end of the fingerboard and the bridge on the G string. Edgar looked so relaxed playing the entire range of the bass, I thought he looked like he could fall asleep right there! Incredible!! | ||
| keebler
Junior Username: keebler Post Number: 22 Registered: 2-2003 |
There are upright players that use the upper range of the instrument quite well. Check out Scott Lafaro or Neils-Henning Orsted Pederson (who just recently passed away, and will be greatly missed!). Also, at a great concert this last spring, Edgar Meyer demonstrated some excellent use of harmonics between the end of the fingerboard and the bridge on the G string. Edgar looked so relaxed playing the entire range of the bass, I thought he looked like he could fall asleep right there! Incredible!! | ||
| son_of_magni
Intermediate Member Username: son_of_magni Post Number: 174 Registered: 1-2004 |
Mint, If you reverse strings on an upright bass it will completely screw up the sound. There is a piece of wood an inch square or so, that runs down the inside of the body and passes under the E-string leg of the bridge. This is called the "Bass Bar". It serves to balance the volume by reducing the low end, and in combination with the sound post it gives you pretty even volume over the range of the instrument. But playing lefty on a righty strung instrument would certainly be an interesting experience, and a unique skill if you can do it. Oh, and Edgar Meyer. He's just amazing. When he plays arco, his bowing is so effortless. It's just beautiful to watch, and hear... (Message edited by son_of_magni on May 25, 2005) | ||
| mint_bass
Advanced Member Username: mint_bass Post Number: 259 Registered: 1-2004 |
thanks guys i am undecided what to do but i am in no rush just my friend just got a upright and i got a severe case of gas | ||
| richbass939
Advanced Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 283 Registered: 11-2004 |
If it looks like finding a lefty bass will be too difficult, you could check with a luthier to see what it would take to move the bass bar and replace the fingerboard with a lefty or symmetrical one. Rich |
