34 or 35 scale wide 5 string

[tjclem]

I am building a wide 5 and was wondering what scale most people prefer them to be?

 

[spade2you]

If I were building, probably 35" scale to ensure a good B. An experienced pro can get a killer B out of 34" scale, though.

 

[Lo end PUNCH]

34 would be cool.

 

[aproud1]

35" is cool but I can never get used to that extra inch. Some people tell me they sound better but I haven't had it proven to me.

So my vote goes to 34"

 

[chris.gotfunk]

Go 35" and put a little neck angle to help with the extra arm reach. Of course, that does not help with fret spacing but at least your left arm will not feel like it is detached from your body. My Elrick 5 has 19mm spacing and is 35" scale with some neck angle. I noticed it right away.

Enjoy....and you better post pics in the Luthiers Corner!!!!!

Peace,
Chris

 

[funkboy5]

I prefer 35" scale.....

 

[DanielleMuscato]

I am building a wide 5 and was wondering what scale most people prefer them to be?

*Wide* 5 = 34"
Normal or narrow 5 = 35"

Unless you have huge hands, wide neck 5-string + 35" scale = too difficult to play, at least in my opinion.

Edit: Are you talking about a wide nut-width, wide string spacing @ the saddle, or both?

 

[spade2you]

*Wide* 5 = 34"
Normal or narrow 5 = 35"

Unless you have huge hands, wide neck 5-string + 35" scale = too difficult to play, at least in my opinion.

Edit: Are you talking about a wide nut-width, wide string spacing @ the saddle, or both?

I dunno, I have a wide 5 in 35" scale and it's no biggie. Definitely need something with a thinner back profile. My 6 is wider overall and isn't too bad either.

 

[DanielleMuscato]

I guess it depends on how wide we're talking here. My custom neck's nut width is 2.125" (54mm) with 0.75" (19mm) spacing and 34". It's very thin in profile, but I don't think I could play it if it were a 35" scale.

 

[Blake Bass]

I don't have any measurements for you but I can say that I definitely prefer the feel of may Sadowsky 34" over my Roscoe 35" both 5 strings. Tone , well that's another story!

 

[Nyarlathotep]

I say 35". I tune down all my basses a full step and it kinda makes the low B (A in my case) a little extra floppy on my SX jazz 5.

 

[tjclem]

Pretty close poll so far, interesting.....t

 

[smperry]

For a fretless, 34" is great. For a fretted, I sometimes prefer 35" though. I split the difference...my two customs are 34.5". Either scale works for me, but forced to choose, I'd go for 34"

Marshall

 

[Rodent]

having built a few short scale basses, a few 34", and also a few 35" ... I see no significant difference sonically between a 34" and 35" when using the same construction methods and materials.

if you're looking to sell to the current market trend, then you should consider a 35" scaled instrument. if you're looking for a solid B that plays well, either scale will do just fine if you build it right

I guess it really comes down to fulfilling what your customers are asking you for, and being capable of turning a comparable sounding instrument in either scale

all the best,

R

 

[tjclem]

It is a bass for e-bay I was just trying to see what would be more sellable. I have had some people that just can't get used to the 35 scale so I wanted to go with what the majority thought....t

 

[mccartneyman]

It depends on the neck whether a 35" feels harder to play than a 34". My Lakland 55-94 neck is superior to any 34" neck I've played, and the string spacing is ideal.

 

[tjclem]

The poll really is close I am suprised.

 

[KJung]

The poll really is close I am suprised.

I think that's a reflection of two things:

1) Most 5 string basses come in one or the other scale length. So, if your 'favorite' bass is a particular scale length, and it sounds and feels good to you, that's probably the one you prefer.

2) More importantly, I've never found a meaningful correlation between the slight increase in scale length and the performance of the B string. There are so many things that impact B string performance (neck stiffness, inherent string tension, body mass, electronics, set-up, etc., etc.) that my experience is if you randomly pick a bunch of 34 and 35" scale instruments, there will be no systematic difference in performance based on scale length.

Given this experience, I greatly prefer the standard 34" scale. If the instrument is designed correctly, there seems to be no downside, and the upside is a slightly more comfortable 'feel' for many players.

IMO. I guess the larger point is, it doesn't matter. From a marketing perspective, since those without a lot of experience associate 35" scale with a 'better B string', that would in some ways be a safer 'marketing' bet.

 

[ras1983]

Having played a sadowsky 5 string and several lakland 5 strings, i saw no benefits other than tension when playing the 35" scale laklands. the sadowsky B string was just as great to play and to hear as the laklands.

So I don't really think it will matter either way as long as the bass is constructed well. But that's just my opinion.

 

[tjclem]

It is a 1 piece 1/4 sawn Hard Maple neck so stiffness is not an issue. You may have a point with marketability though.......t