It must be pretty amazing to have a bass with a removable neck, is that how you usually travel with it? Why not get another neck made? It's going to be expensive but probably worth it in the long run. You can still keep the other neck as well. I remember this bass had some structural problems - ie. the top was caving in; is that still an issue?
It's not to say that there aren't people out there that play with that short a string length but they're few and far between in the professional classical scene. One of the Principal bassists in a major U.S. orchestra uses an old lovely Italian bass with a 39" string length. That bass sounds incredible and HE'S incredible so I think it works for him.
I personally haven't found anything under 41" that can really belt out the low notes clearly, but I'm sure there are wonderfully built old basses out there that accomplish this task well.
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