gigging both 34 and 35 inch scale basses?

[topo morto]

Unless you have small hands, or can't look at the bass while playing (e.g. you're singing), I think 35" makes little difference. If the instrument has a wide fretboard too it might be more noticeable compared to a 34" with a narrow board.

[garmenteros]

All my 4 strings are 34 scale and a couple of my 5 strings are 35 scale. I have no issue going from one to the other. Its a matter of getting used to your basses. The first time I used a 35 scale bass it took me about 2 weeks to adjust.

[austentaciousC]

Size and position of the bass body, and how deep the neck pocket is, as im sure has been said already.

Example: Lakland feels like 34", is actually 35". Warwick thumb is 34", feels like 39"

[thrash_jazz]

Never really noticed... I had a 33" scale bass once, and I have a 35" 6-string. I didn't even notice that there was any difference until I measured the scale length.

Although, I did try a couple of 39" scale Knuckle basses... now THAT I did notice.

IMO, an inch or two's difference in scale length is really more of a psychological difference than a physical one.

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by garmenteros

All my 4 strings are 34 scale and a couple of my 5 strings are 35 scale. I have no issue going from one to the other. Its a matter of getting used to your basses. The first time I used a 35 scale bass it took me about 2 weeks to adjust.

I can't say I've ever had an issue adjusting to scale length. Honestly, when you break it down, it's 1/2 an inch before the 12th fret and 1/2 an inch after it. That 1 inch is also spread proportionally between all the frets and empty space from the nut to the bridge. It's such a minute difference that it really shouldn't through you off. Body positioning relative to the scale length will play a bigger part in this.

As stated before, a Warwick feels like a 39" bass, while a Fender feels like a 34", this is due to body size & positioning. Spectors are the same way. They have smaller bodies that don't come as high up the neck, so the scale feels longer relative to where the body is positioned. Another thing some manufacturers do, like spector, is keep their 34" & 35" overall lengths the same & just move the bridge further down the body and then reposition the frets for the new length.

[vernhillbass]

Went from a 4 string Jazz to a Lakland 55-02 and really like the bigger scale. I have small hands but the 55-02 spacing seems more natural, I even prefer it to my Fender Mustang,

[Baird6869]

I have small hands but dont generally notice the difference. Unless the 34" bass has a bad B.

Recently I have been gigging a 34" Fodera and a 35" MTD... And this thread just reminded me that there was a scale difference.... I forgot there was.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

So long as I wasn't playing fretless, I had no problem. Once I started gigging on my 35" fretless, I found that playing 34" at all screwed me up.... So I sold all my 34" basses, played 35" for years... but then I started missing having a simple 4 string bass. Just try to find a 35" four string - A few folks make them, but they are RARE and they are spendy. So sold all my 35" basses and now just play 34".

I also found that that low-register reach on a 35" started wearing my left hand out - - doing octave parts ~3rd fret really felt longer. So I don't miss 35" at all.

Personally I have far more problem adjusting to the string spacing difference on my 35" Modulus than any scale length thing. You just play.
The fret spacing difference is so small only "sensitive artists" can feel it.

But all my fretless are 34" and people have told me that switching between 35" and 34" on fretless can really mess with your mind. I can't say because I haven't done it. But I can see how it would be true.

[pickles]

IMHO if you play one and only one bass for a long period of time, you can get a lot more dialed in. Playing multiple is fun but has a cost, not sure that different scales is any worse.

[Darren Low]

The difference is hard to notice

[lokikallas]

As long as I use the same bass for certain songs consistently then the muscle memory will kick in. It's just like going from a 21 fret to a 24 fret bass.