34" scale???

[jzucker]

I saw an ad for an LG3005 with a 34" scale. Are you guys making that a regular option now?

[Peter Parker]

I believe it's always been an option you just have to pay a little more. I own 2 5 strings with 34" scale.

[JPJ]

I believe it's always been an option you just have to pay a little more. I own 2 5 strings with 34" scale.

Yep...that would fall under the upcharge category for "custom neck".

[sarin1]

how´s is the B ??? strong like in the 35" model??

[Peter Parker]

NO, not as strong but that could be due to the different pickup placement on mine. For my technique I find the strings to be very balanced as opposed to how some feel the Roscoe B is too strong. Several folks have played the 34" LG3005 I have at the store and nobody knew it was 34" until I told them. That bass sounds great.

[jzucker]

Originally Posted by Peter Parker

NO, not as strong but that could be due to the different pickup placement on mine. For my technique I find the strings to be very balanced as opposed to how some feel the Roscoe B is too strong. Several folks have played the 34" LG3005 I have at the store and nobody knew it was 34" until I told them. That bass sounds great.

I'd love it if that were a standard option. To me, the 35" scale makes the normal light guage set of strings sound harsh on the higher strings and in the upper registery. After owning a Sadowsky, I know that you don't really need the extra length for a good sounding B string. I imagine the main difference is going to be in feel.

[JPJ]

I'd love it if that were a standard option.

It is a standard option (for extended range basses), but it is a standard option with an upcharge. If you're talking about a standard "no cost" option, you'll need to talk to the man in charge.

[jzucker]

Originally Posted by JPJ

It is a standard option (for extended range basses), but it is a standard option with an upcharge. If you're talking about a standard "no cost" option, you'll need to talk to the man in charge.

IMO, it shouldn't be an upcharge.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by jzucker

IMO, it shouldn't be an upcharge.

Why not? It's a deviation from the configuration the shop is set up to produce. Re-tooling for a custom option shouldn't be a cost absorbed into everyone's prices.

[jzucker]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

Why not? It's a deviation from the configuration the shop is set up to produce. Re-tooling for a custom option shouldn't be a cost absorbed into everyone's prices.

Most of the competition does not charge an up-charge for this. Are they making the necks with CNC machines? If they're hand-made I don't see why it'd be that much different. They offer it as an option so obviously they have the templates already made...

[Gard]

Originally Posted by jzucker

Most of the competition does not charge an up-charge for this. Are they making the necks with CNC machines? If they're hand-made I don't see why it'd be that much different. They offer it as an option so obviously they have the templates already made...

All of our templates for 5 and 6 string basses are for 35" scale length, ANY variation from that takes a considerable amount of custom, hand done work. This is not just a "gee, just slot the board different" modification to the process, the entire neck is a different size, the body is slightly different (i.e. pickup placement, bridge locations, neck pocket cut, etc).

So, of course we charge for this. Any additional labor in ANY line of business will cause cost to go up, that means that price will need to increase to cover costs, or the business loses money doing the custom work.

The retail upcharge for this option is $350, which just covers the additional labor involved, we make no additional profit at that price (and we may even miss breaking even at times!).

[jzucker]

but if you've already done it dozens of times, wouldn't you already have the templates made? I'm just saying that if you offered it as a standard option, it'd be a nice gesture and might get you some additional sales.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by jzucker

but if you've already done it dozens of times, wouldn't you already have the templates made? I'm just saying that if you offered it as a standard option, it'd be a nice gesture and might get you some additional sales.

We do not get enough requests for this option to justify doing that. And it doesn't seem to have any negative effect on our sales numbers.

At least we offer the option, there are quite a few that do not.

[jzucker]

Originally Posted by Gard

At least we offer the option, there are quite a few that do not.

Agreed.

[west*coast*bass]

Originally Posted by Gard

We do not get enough requests for this option to justify doing that. And it doesn't seem to have any negative effect on our sales numbers.

At least we offer the option, there are quite a few that do not.

But if the "option" became a "standard" you might just get all of us guys who cannot play 35" scale as repeat customers.

I imagine I am not alone in not only liking the 34" scale better, but needing the 34" scale due to an injury when I was younger. Making the 34" scale an upcharged option negates me from buying a 5 string Roscoe... I love the product but I can't justify spending extra for the "other" industry standard.

You can easily poll all the members on TB and see who would be interested with the 34" scale as a standard..you then figure out shop costs to see how much the retooling would cost and you figure how many extra orders you would need to recoup the cost... The new sales of standard 34" scale basses would pay for the shop costs and you will have made a whole new set of customers happy and you will get customers that you would have never gotten with the upcharge option.

A little food for thought...

[Gard]

Mark, I appreciate your comments and opinions, but the reality is I've done what you suggest, and the numbers just are not there for us do offer this as a "standard" on the 5+ string basses. Further, the charge is actually not that much when you really look at it. There is a pretty sizeable amount of labor involved in getting the neck pocket, size, shape, length, and pickup locations adjusted on a 5+ versus a 4 at 34". The price ($350) does not reflect what we actually are paid for doing this work, nor what you will actually pay for having it done - that is the retail price, which neither we make, or you pay. It is actually not enough to cover the shop time in doing the work, but it at least covers part of it.

[west*coast*bass]

Originally Posted by Gard

Mark, I appreciate your comments and opinions, but the reality is I've done what you suggest, and the numbers just are not there for us do offer this as a "standard" on the 5+ string basses. Further, the charge is actually not that much when you really look at it. There is a pretty sizeable amount of labor involved in getting the neck pocket, size, shape, length, and pickup locations adjusted on a 5+ versus a 4 at 34". The price ($350) does not reflect what we actually are paid for doing this work, nor what you will actually pay for having it done - that is the retail price, which neither we make, or you pay. It is actually not enough to cover the shop time in doing the work, but it at least covers part of it.

Thanks Gard, I imagined that you may have already done the research when I was adding my post but it's nice to read that the road has been traveled.

Out of curiosity, what is the standard build time and would ordering a 34" scale bass add any time?

Thanks again.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by west*coast*bass

Thanks Gard, I imagined that you may have already done the research when I was adding my post but it's nice to read that the road has been traveled.

Out of curiosity, what is the standard build time and would ordering a 34" scale bass add any time?

Thanks again.

Mark, thanks for understanding our reasoning on this issue!

The standard build time at this point on a custom order is 6-8 months. However, that can vary a bit, and sometimes in your "favor", if you choose a dealer that has a production slot available, and they are willing to forgo an order on a stock piece to get one a bit quicker for your custom order (most dealers will do this!). That will shorten things, but there is no sure answer as to how much.

And, no, there will be no noticeable additional delivery time.

[Joel B]

It's rarely more than two weeks towards the end.



But worth every second.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by Joel B

It's rarely more than two weeks towards the end.



But worth every second.

...careful, your position in life will not keep you off my "list"...