Adjusting to different necks/string lengths

[Bobby King]

I've got two basses, one has a 43 1/2" string scale (mensure) and is a "D" neck. The other is 42" and an Eb neck.

I use both regularly and have to adjust when I switch, which usually means I'm playing flat or sharp for a few minutes.

I've talked to some bassists who travel and often have to use rented instruments and some say they enjoy the challenge of different instruments, but that sounds pretty scary to me. Basses can range from around 39" to 44" which puts the notes in very different places.

I usually try to quickly find the b3rd, 4th, 5th and octave off of an open string. Any other good tricks for making quick adjustments to different scale basses?

Thanks

[anonymous0726]

Do it a lot and it'll bother you less.

[Aaron Saunders]

Originally Posted by Ray Parker

Do it a lot and it'll bother you less.

Yeah, it's basically one of those things that gets easier the more you do it. My teacher has a 50's Kay with a 41" D neck. My other teacher (a bit more infrequent) has a strange hybrid D/Eb neck of unknown mensure, while mine is a 42" D-kinda-Eb neck. Just change a lot and you'll get used to it. Also, the bass at school had a 40" mensure D neck THAT was an adjustment and a half.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Bobby King

I've got two basses, one has a 43 1/2" string scale (mensure) and is a "D" neck. The other is 42" and an Eb neck.

I use both regularly and have to adjust when I switch, which usually means I'm playing flat or sharp for a few minutes.

I've talked to some bassists who travel and often have to use rented instruments and some say they enjoy the challenge of different instruments, but that sounds pretty scary to me. Basses can range from around 39" to 44" which puts the notes in very different places.

I usually try to quickly find the b3rd, 4th, 5th and octave off of an open string. Any other good tricks for making quick adjustments to different scale basses?

Thanks

I play on several different Basses and even if they are the same SL, the Bass feels different anyway. I have had Basses from under 41" to almost 43" but currently my max is about 41-42. I have been selling off Basses as I find ones I like better so it's par for my course.

What I do for this is to play Scales, pieces or anything I can remember with my eyes closed, WITH the Bow for about 30 minutes. Taking breaks so I don't fall down ofcourse..lol

I play mostly Classical/Orchestral now but also some Jazz things from time to time. I don't need to practice my intonation with Pizz. The Bow tells all and fixes it alot better so the plucking would just be for a change of pace for me. Eyes closed and ears open. Your fingers will hunt down those notes like a dog in a fox hunt!

[spdrswb]

I feel the same as KSB, 2 basses with the same string lengths can be totally different, either.

I always had huge problems with that.
I have a Storch etude, with guides me through all basic positions. If I have 10 minutes, I play it slowly, then in medium tempo, legato, and yes, eyes closed. At the end, the instrument is at least OK to play. I think, just having one small fixed piece helped me a lot. It is a warmup, a bass orientation guide and a sound test of a new instrument, in one.

[TroyK]

I play out of tune. Changing mensure is nary a factor.

[anonymous0726]

There's also the effect that if you consistently miss the target, that moving the target may actually enhance the odds that you'll hit it.