Author Topic: Upright Bass Masters (Read 506 times)

4u2nv · « **on:** May 22, 2005, 01:49:39 AM »

Dumb question: in a 4 string upright bass, what's the highest note it can be played ?

Thanks

richbass939 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2005, 06:34:24 AM »

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 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2005, 09:16:57 AM »

Only the 19th 'fret'? I didn't realize the fingerboard was that short, but guess I never really thought about it.

richbass939 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2005, 10:49:30 AM »

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 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2005, 01:19:29 PM »

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 ?

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2005, 02:08:30 PM »

So Rich, that would be the 31st fret.

(Message edited by davehouck on May 22, 2005)

dnburgess · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2005, 02:43:05 PM »

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.

David Houck · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2005, 05:45:14 PM »

Well my memory failed again, so I looked it up.

richbass939 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 22, 2005, 07:08:04 PM »

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 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2005, 09:23:35 PM »

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 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 22, 2005, 11:35:36 PM »

Is it practicall to have that range ?, or why 31 frets ?, is there an acoustic bass player that play in that range ?

David Houck · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2005, 05:39:24 AM »

Stanley Clarke uses the entire fingerboard; and he's pretty good at it too . 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 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2005, 06:09:43 AM »

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 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 23, 2005, 09:26:57 AM »

Well i can't help you deciding , but as inspiration, John Ptitucci, and Jimmy Haslip are both left handed.

alanbass1 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 23, 2005, 10:10:33 AM »

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.