Im interested in the upright bass. What should I look for in a bass?
The upright bass (or bass viol, or double bass) evolved from an older family of string instruments, the viols, and preceded the introduction of violin family instruments. The modern upright bass is somewhat of a hybrid instrument, borrowing characteristics from both the viol family and the violin family. Early basses were very large instruments. With the evolution of better strings, and better construction methods, significant reductions in size became possible without sacrificing the musical properties of the instrument. This trend has continued even into modern times, and today most bass players prefer to play what is actually a size bass. Full size basses are still available, but for practical reasons are not as popular as their smaller counterpart. For a discussion of what to look for in an upright bass, you should read the preceding FAQ about cellos. Many of the same considerations apply to both cello and bass. Fully carved basses made from traditional materials (same as cello) ca
