34 or 35 scale 5 string?

[Geri O]

Also, always go for a 130 B or higher, any less and the difference is noticeable IMO.
YMMV

This….^ ^ ^

It was true back when this thread was as started and still holds true today.

 

[micahwc]

34” scale with a .140 or larger B string

 

[Windreaper]

34” scale with a .140 or larger B string

I've found thicker B-strings to lack overtones (not a problem if you want more thud/thump). Much better balance with a .120 or .125 B, and that's where the longer scale comes in.

 

[lomo]

I am deliriously content with 34" B of 120(steel round) or 118 (La Bella low tension flats). I also have a couple of 34" Bs at 130 gauge, but prefer the narrower gauges.

 

[spector_boogie]

There are some decent 34" scale 5ers, but, having played 5 strings exclusively since around say 2002, I really haven't found one that compares to the good 35" scale models.

My main axe is a Lull M5 which is 35" scale, 24 frets, also just got an upgraded Lakland 55-01, also 35" scale but 21 or 22 frets, and while my Stingray 5 Special HH is nice, the low B compared of the 3, it's not even a competition. I mean tbh my Ibby SR5005's low B actually has more musicality and less 'dead' notes than the SR5 HH. SR5005 also is 34" scale.

Not to say there aren't some good 34s out there, but compared to Spector, MTD, Modulus, some of the turbo Jazzes, Lakland, others, to me it's just not even close.

 

[chris_b]

34" 5 string basses I've owned, SR5, Wal mk3, Sadowsky Jazz. 35" 5 string basses I've owned, Lakland 55-94, 55-02, 55-01, Mile Lull PJ5.

I couldn't tell one scale from the other. I use either 125 or 130 B strings and all these basses sounded great.