Janek, I hate to start this thing out about gear but I've been curious for some time....what are the specific custom things that are different on your fodera from a basic Garrison model? The one thing that I notice right off is the string spacing. What is the spacing at the bridge? My bass is 19mm but I've been thinking about going with a narrower spacing to accomodate chording with my left hand. Thanks.

Hey man,

no worries about being a gear question. without gear, we might not be as effective....

I believe the string spacing is just shy of 17mm. I like it close. Ecconomy of movement is key for me. And as string crossing is the hardest thing to do on a stringed instrument played finger-style, and I don't employ any slapping technique when performing my own music, it works out great.

I had a slightly darker top put on the bass, tweaked my cicuit board a little, and had the shortest possible scale bass I could.

They're going to build me a 6 string on the same neck as the 5 so I'm going to stay with the tight spacing and short scale. These are such well crafted instruments that you can get the sound and action out of such extreme dimensions.

Easy,

Janek

What's the scale length? Is it 34" or 33"? I'm finding more and more that to get certain chord voicings I'm needing a shorter scale length. Thanks Janek.

it's a 33.

but john P has one of those huge 35 scale basses I think, and still gets all the voicings he needs......

it's a 33.

but john P has one of those huge 35 scale basses I think, and still gets all the voicings he needs......

He has longer fingers than I do... :-)

I have an F Bass with a 34.5" scale. I'm finding that, for me, it's too long for certain chord voicings. I'd love to find a 33" scale 6 string that had an good low B. I may settle for 34" though. Sounds like you're going to have your 6er be 33" as well.

Janek/EmJazz help me here. What is this thing about chords being longer/shorter on different scale basses? I thought the scale affected sound, not fingering. Excuse my ignorance guys. Help.

A shorter scale just makes the frets closer together, thus making farther reaches just a little closer.

A shorter scale just makes the frets closer together, thus making farther reaches just a little closer.

Did 33'' scale helped significantly?? These days I practice chords A LOT, and my left hand soars. I may want to get a 33" or 32" 5er with high C.

Did 33'' scale helped significantly?? These days I practice chords A LOT, and my left hand soars. I may want to get a 33" or 32" 5er with high C.

Janek will have to answer that one as I don't have a 33" scale bass. I'd like to though for sure. Don't quote me on this but I believe I remember chording being part of the reason for Matt G. going to a 33" scale.

For me it's more about the position of the left arm more than the fret spacing. I can play on wid fret spacing on a long scale bass just fine, but when you spend your whole like holding your left arm way out there, it will tire out way easier. I'm all for economy of movement and the easier things are the better. I don't need to kill my left arm by playing a super long scale bass for the next 50 years.

I haven't played, seen or heard of a 32" scale. Not to say that it doesn't exist of course, I just haven't heard of it. Unless you have a very small body structure, I think a 33" is more than small enough.

You're going to notice significant changes in sound that you will have to adapt to when you get that small.

Matt goes for the small scale for the same reason I do the last time I spoke to him about it. it's easier, lighter and causes less muscle problems.

Matt goes for the small scale for the same reason I do the last time I spoke to him about it. it's easier, lighter and causes less muscle problems.

Thanks for clearing that up. I remember when he had the older 35" scale one. I saw him do a clinic in Boston with Lincoln and they were both complaining about the weight of their basses. It makes sense that he went to a smaller bass. Actually, now that I think of it I believe Lincoln went to a 33" scale as well, at least the last time I saw.

Thanks for clearing that up. I remember when he had the older 35" scale one. I saw him do a clinic in Boston with Lincoln and they were both complaining about the weight of their basses. It makes sense that he went to a smaller bass. Actually, now that I think of it I believe Lincoln went to a 33" scale as well, at least the last time I saw.


Hmm I would probably blame the singlecut design more than 2" of scale, but I'm just guessing.

Hmm I would probably blame the singlecut design more than 2" of scale, but I'm just guessing.

The Matt Garrison bass is not just a shorter scale, it's also a downsized body.

I haven't played, seen or heard of a 32" scale. Not to say that it doesn't exist of course, I just haven't heard of it. Unless you have a very small body structure, I think a 33" is more than small enough.

You're going to notice significant changes in sound that you will have to adapt to when you get that small.


http://www.bassnw.com/Used%20Basses/stambaugh_custom_bolt_on_5_st.htm

This is the one I am looking at. ;) 32" Stambaugh. They say it has 16mm string spacing. Short and tight!! I am not sure I'd go that small one either so I am asking around. Believe me, I have no chance to try out(my location, please).

Currently I am using an old Yamaha TRB6 which has 19mm string spacing and flat fingerboard. I believe this old version is still 34" scale. I have been using this bass for 8 years and I think the string spacing and flat fingerboard radious is not for me.

Hey man,

no worries about being a gear question. without gear, we might not be as effective....

I believe the string spacing is just shy of 17mm. I like it close. Ecconomy of movement is key for me. And as string crossing is the hardest thing to do on a stringed instrument played finger-style, and I don't employ any slapping technique when performing my own music, it works out great.

I had a slightly darker top put on the bass, tweaked my cicuit board a little, and had the shortest possible scale bass I could.

They're going to build me a 6 string on the same neck as the 5 so I'm going to stay with the tight spacing and short scale. These are such well crafted instruments that you can get the sound and action out of such extreme dimensions.

Easy,

Janek

so the darker top, was it just because you prefered the looks or wasit for the tone?

also how did you have your pre amp tweaked?


cheers


Dave

Alembic makes 32". Even 30.75" (Stanley Clarke mainly). Actually, I'm sure they'll make any scale you want (if you can pay for it). I think the old Kubikis were 32" too if I'm not mistaken.

I got the darker top for the sound and the looks. It worked out that they were one and the same thing that I wanted. I don't have my pre amp tweaked at all. It's totally flat. Just pure pre and amp and pure power amp. All the sound is from the fingers and the wood.

oh sorry, i miss read that, you said you tweaked you circuit board.


Dave

i played a *gasp* r-bass with a 33inh scale adn it was amazing hwo quickly i was able to get aroudn the neck..the fretwork and action helped a bit too, blew my tobias 5 away though. im goign to be ordering a custom singlecut form chris stambaugh sometime this year and will probabaly wind up gettign a 33inch scale strung E-C. +1 on the economy of movement, especially in regrds to chordal playing and soloing.

Is this the bass that we're talking about?

http://www.theinstrumentconnection.com/images/namm06/janek.jpg

Joe

ha! that's the one. my one and only now....

but there's another on the way........ :eek:

ha! that's the one. my one and only now....

but there's another on the way........ :eek:

You mean the 6 string fodera?

could be.... even I'm not sure yet. We've been talking about it this week and I was in the workshop yesterday. I have to check out some design ideas and see what's going to work.

im just wondering,is it easy to get a good low B out of a 33" scale bass? or would you put an extendo B haedstock on it?

i think i might have seen one or two like that before, got any hints as to the specs?


Dave

IF I get the 6, it'll have the extended B-string with a hip shot to an A on it too. and it'll be 33" scale.

If I don't get that then it will more than likely be a fretless five to match the bass I have now.

IF I get the 6, it'll have the extended B-string with a hip shot to an A on it too. and it'll be 33" scale.

If I don't get that then it will more than likely be a fretless five to match the bass I have now.



both sound great!

keep us posted on you decision :D


Dave

cant wait to see whichever one you decide on. i would deffinitely like to hear you doing some work on a fretless though.
-grady

The fretless will probably only be for the studio to play on other people's records. I'm really not into the instrument that much, and to sound unique on it is another lifetime's work I think.

It has it's place in my music somewhere, but I think it'll take a long time before I find it.

IF I get the 6, it'll have the extended B-string with a hip shot to an A on it too. and it'll be 33" scale.

If I don't get that then it will more than likely be a fretless five to match the bass I have now.

Hi Janek,

Anything new on your "new Fodera on order" thing :smug:
If you want a 6 string.. Ss it because you like it or is because you need it to play others music where you need the low B?

Christian

Hi Janek,

Anything new on your "new Fodera on order" thing :smug:
If you want a 6 string.. Ss it because you like it or is because you need it to play others music where you need the low B?

Christian
Funny enough, I was thinking about the very same thing today and that's why I returned to check out the topic.

Has anyone here played a 33" 6 string? I was recently diagnosed with tendonitis on both of my hands and I thought about going to 33" since I'm ordering a new bass guitar. I play 34" bass, but 33" feels so much easier on hands. I guess that the scale should not be a deciding factor if the bass is built proper, but I'd like to know if any of you had any experience with the B string on 33" instruments.

I think a 33" is more than small enough.

You're going to notice significant changes in sound that you will have to adapt to when you get that small.

what are the significant changes in sound?

I guess the changes in sound come from the way you play a short scale bass with a low action. my touch is a lot lighter with a bass like that I have to adopt a completely different playing style to get the bass to do what I want.

Easy,

Janek

IF I get the 6, it'll have the extended B-string with a hip shot to an A on it too. and it'll be 33" scale.

If I don't get that then it will more than likely be a fretless five to match the bass I have now.


so did you got it, the 6 or the fretless...? i would be curious to hear one of those played by you, expecially the 33" 6 string with the extended B :eek:

IF I get the 6, it'll have the extended B-string with a hip shot to an A on it too. and it'll be 33" scale.i have this same bass on order only in 34". great minds i gues...

:lol:

haven't got anything yet.....

it's still on the way.

easy,

Janek

Funny enough, I was thinking about the very same thing today and that's why I returned to check out the topic.

Has anyone here played a 33" 6 string? I was recently diagnosed with tendonitis on both of my hands and I thought about going to 33" since I'm ordering a new bass guitar. I play 34" bass, but 33" feels so much easier on hands. I guess that the scale should not be a deciding factor if the bass is built proper, but I'd like to know if any of you had any experience with the B string on 33" instruments.

Tony Grey plays a Fodera Monarch 6 string with 33' scale and it's looks pretty cool I think..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNhitJ2XCtE&feature=related

Hi Janek,

Any news on your new Fodera?

I have a Garrison 6 being built and the only thing I'm unsure about at the moment is my string spacing. I've always used 19mm but I'm rethinking what I want on my Fodera due to the points you've explained in this thread. I love chording and I'm thinking that a smaller string spacing will work better and cause less fatigue.

Anyways, just wondering if anything has developed with your new Fodera.

Thanks!

Hi Janek,
I've been wondering lately if the frets on your Fodera are any different than "standard" bass frets. You mentioned playing with a very light touch and you slide around the neck so effortlessly, so I wondered if possibly your frets were a bit smaller or set in a bit lower than usual. I imagine your string action is pretty low as well.

Love the music!

Hi Janek

Just saw your clip from the Fodera Shop. Are you getting a bass like the one you have now? Or something different?
I'm a bit curious :smug:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mJHrnbkd8w

It's going to be pretty much like the one I have now. Minor changes in the wood for the heel block, and a couple of added extras in the custom department, but that's about it.

Easy,

Janek

Is that for a different tone or weight?