Length Of A Bass Guitar?

[Mitch]

Okay, I know it sounds like a stupid question but if anyone has a bass guitar what is the overall length of the instrument (from the tip of the head to the end of the body)? And also what is the width at the end of the fingerboard?

Thanks in advance.

[j. pierce]

44 1/2" length on my ibanez J-bass copy, although this has two tuners each side rather than a longer 4 on a side headstock.

The fingerboard is about 2.5" wide at the 24th fret. This of course is determined more by your nut width and bridge spacing - this instrument has a 2 3/8" string spread at the bridge, but I believe 2 1/4" is more common. It has a fairly common 1.5" nut width.

[postal]

As mentioned, number of strings and nut width/bridge width, but also scale length and number of frets will determine your FB width.

Also, do you want a Jazz bass style narrow nut, or a P bass style with a wider nut-

Best thing to do, is get your bridge and a slotted FB in the scale you want and number of frets, and draw the outside strings to the bridge spacing, and leave 3/32 to 1/8" extra on each side. So, assuming 34" scale 4 string with a nut width of 1.5, draw 1.5, go in 3/32 to where the outer strings would sit in the nut, and draw the lines for those strings all the way to the bridge. Look at where the fretboard ends, and measure the space between the 2 strings, and add 3/32 or 1/8 on each side, and you have your FB width.

Most 4 string basses- the nut is 1 1/2 to 1 3/4.