the acoustic bass vs the contrabass

Being tuned an octave below an ordinary guitar, the bottom string on hago's contrabass guitar is the same pitch as on the electric bass guitar, and its cousin the acoustic bass guitar (pictured left).

But the Niibori contrabass (pictured right) is very different. It has 6 strings (E A D G B E) compared to the acoustic bass's 4 (E A D G). Although there are occasional 6-string basses, their tuning is generally B E A D G C.

The scale length is different - the Niibori contra is 750mm, whereas a long-scale acoustic bass is 864mm.

The string tension is different - nylon, at about 20 pounds tension, rather than steel at 55 pounds.

The body size is different - the hago contra has the chunkier, deeper, body and the bridge is positioned in the centre of the lower bout, where it is best positioned to couple the fundamental, rather than the overtones, to the body.

Which all adds up to a rounder, deeper sound and more volume.

The Niibori contra, played in ninth position, sounds remarkably like a double bass, whereas the acoustic bass has an extended sustain and a thinner, punchier, sound.