Double Bass — Lutherie Encyclopedia

Double BassType: instrumentThe largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument, providing the bass foundation in orchestras, jazz combos, and various folk and popular music ensembles.## History The double bass (also called the upright bass, contrabass, or string bass) has a complex lineage that draws from both the violin family and the older viola da gamba family. Its sloping shoulders, flat back (on many instruments), and tuning in fourths rather than fifths reflect gamba influence, while its construction and playing technique align it with the violin family. The instrument assumed its modern form in the 18th century. In the orchestra, the double bass provides the harmonic foundation of the string section. In jazz, the double bass became the standard bass instrument from the 1920s until the electric bass guitar emerged in the 1950s. The instrument remains essential in jazz, orchestral, and roots music contexts, and has experienced renewed interest alongside the upright bass's distinctive visual and sonic appeal. ## Construction The double bass stands approximately 72 inches tall (with endpin extended) and has a body length of about 43 to 44 inches. Bodies come in two primary shapes: the violin-cornered (gamba shape with C-bouts) and the busetto (pear shape with less pronounced corners). The back may be carved and arched (like a violin) or flat and angled (reflecting gamba heritage). The top is spruce, the back and sides are maple, and the neck is maple, often with an ebony overlay on the fingerboard. Four strings tuned E-A-D-G are standard, though five-string basses (adding a low B or C) are common in orchestral settings. The bow comes in two styles: Fr…