Im looking at getting an Ibanez SR 505 or a Spector Legend Classic 5. The Spector has the 35" scale the Inanez 34. I heard 35 is better as it Gives the low B better tension. I own a Spector Legend Classic 4 currently and love it. Is the 35 inch scale 5 string my best bet????? Thanks
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34 or35" scale for Five String
- Thread starter bohemond
- Start date
mark beem
Wait, how does this song start again??
I prefer 35" and get them whenever I can. I like the tone of the B string better and the length just feels more comfortable to me. Having said that, I have played 34" scaled basses that have a great sounding B. My Ibanez SR5BBLTD is one.
35" is supposed to be better for intonation (especially) on the B-string, and especially for the higher frets.
You can get basses that sound great for both scale lengths, so maybe pick it based on what feels more comfortable with the fret sizing. 34" is personally my sweet spot, just get strings with higher tension.
35" is good, longer than 35" is even better. You might want to wait a bit for the new Ibanez multiscale SRs to hit the market. The multiscale 5 will have a 34-35.5" fan, so you'll get the better tone on the B, while still having a sensible length for the D and G. I've got a 33-36" ACG 6 string, and I looooooove the B on it.
Here's the page for the fanned 5:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Here's the page for the fanned 5:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I don't recommend a 35" scale or a 34" scale! The difference between a 35" and 34" scale is so minor as to not be worth discussion. My SR206 and SR506 both have great B strings. Also my Alembic, Ken Smith and G&Ls are 34" and have no problem with the B strings. I also have 35" scale basses and they are fine too. But be aware the problem is finding strings that will fit. 5 or 6 string 34" sets are hard enough to find locally, but the extra long scale stuff pretty much forces you to go on line.
Mostly the "need 35" for a great B" story is urban legend. The key as dojix says is to pick a bass with a killer B. Worry about the scale length later. It takes fanned fret to really make a lot of difference in a B string.
Doesn't matter, if you have a good bass. There are good examples of both scales that have good B strings.
What feels comfortable in your hands? I really love 35". Some 34" feel pretty good too. Only way to see which one is for you is to try them.
What feels comfortable in your hands? I really love 35". Some 34" feel pretty good too. Only way to see which one is for you is to try them.
I started on 34" but has since for many years only played 35" because I bought into the "better sounding B" argument. I still have one 34" bass which I rarely play, but every time I do I feel the difference, it is more comfortable to play for the fretting hand; with 35" I'm right at the limit for strecthing out my fingers at the nut end of the neck. I can't say the B string sounds any worse, and on the flip side of a better B argument some think the thinner strings sound better with a 34" neck.
If I were to do it all over again I would go with 34" because there is - to me, even with large hands - a difference in comfort, there is a wider selection of instruments to choose from, and (though I don't have much personal experience) I'm told there are 34" basses with good sounding B strings.
If I were to do it all over again I would go with 34" because there is - to me, even with large hands - a difference in comfort, there is a wider selection of instruments to choose from, and (though I don't have much personal experience) I'm told there are 34" basses with good sounding B strings.
My 5 string Wal was 34", as are Smith, Sadowsky and many other great makes. The Wal was one of the best sounding and playing basses I've owned. All my other "best" ones have been 35" scale.
Of the basses I've owned, the other 34" scale basses (Fender and MM) have not felt as good to play on the B string as my Lull and Lakland. I don't know if it's materials, manufacturing process, the scale or what. IME the good 34" 5 string basses seem to be from the more expensive end of the market. Maybe the scale isn't the important factor here but how you build them.
At any price, I haven't played a 35" scale 5 string bass that felt bad on the B string. What I take from this is that, generally, lower strings can benefit from the extra length, as do pianos, harps etc.
Your mileage will almost certainly be different, but these days (as I can't afford the real expensive ones) I'll always go for a 35" 5 string bass. I just think they are how I want a bass to feel and sound.
Of the basses I've owned, the other 34" scale basses (Fender and MM) have not felt as good to play on the B string as my Lull and Lakland. I don't know if it's materials, manufacturing process, the scale or what. IME the good 34" 5 string basses seem to be from the more expensive end of the market. Maybe the scale isn't the important factor here but how you build them.
At any price, I haven't played a 35" scale 5 string bass that felt bad on the B string. What I take from this is that, generally, lower strings can benefit from the extra length, as do pianos, harps etc.
Your mileage will almost certainly be different, but these days (as I can't afford the real expensive ones) I'll always go for a 35" 5 string bass. I just think they are how I want a bass to feel and sound.
try both.
different scale necks sound different. I am not saying one sounds better than the other. I am also not saying that one will have the better B than the other. I am saying different. See what you prefer.
different scale necks sound different. I am not saying one sounds better than the other. I am also not saying that one will have the better B than the other. I am saying different. See what you prefer.
Just yesterday I was told that as the necks get longer, it's just an added insurance that makes one feel better as it gets longer.
I have a 33, 33.5, three 34s, 35, and a 37 , all of them are 5 strings except two of the 34, one which is a 4 string and one which is a six string. Not all 33, 34, 35, etc are made equally. My 33.5 has a tighter b string than one of the 34. The 37 is obviously good but if I had to pick one, I'd say the 33.5 Nordstrand headless is the best because of the tightness, lightness, mobility, feel of the neck, sound, tone, build quality, etc etc etc.
Please keep in mind, I'm just a beginner so I could be a little off, but after having played so many guitars, I can tell you that the sum of all parts is just as equally important as the tightness of the b string. The headless will never give me the sustain and ring of the 37 but the 37 costs more and is expected to outperform all others due to the price point.
Also it seems like strings have a lot to do with tightness. Old strings vs new strings, brand a vs brand b. It does make a difference.
I personally think you should take into account every single aspect of the instrument when making a choice. The sum of all aspects is the final verdict.
I have a 33, 33.5, three 34s, 35, and a 37 , all of them are 5 strings except two of the 34, one which is a 4 string and one which is a six string. Not all 33, 34, 35, etc are made equally. My 33.5 has a tighter b string than one of the 34. The 37 is obviously good but if I had to pick one, I'd say the 33.5 Nordstrand headless is the best because of the tightness, lightness, mobility, feel of the neck, sound, tone, build quality, etc etc etc.
Please keep in mind, I'm just a beginner so I could be a little off, but after having played so many guitars, I can tell you that the sum of all parts is just as equally important as the tightness of the b string. The headless will never give me the sustain and ring of the 37 but the 37 costs more and is expected to outperform all others due to the price point.
Also it seems like strings have a lot to do with tightness. Old strings vs new strings, brand a vs brand b. It does make a difference.
I personally think you should take into account every single aspect of the instrument when making a choice. The sum of all aspects is the final verdict.
Is this your first 5 string? A 35" is probably best suited to low range tunings like BEADG, so if you get a 35" 5er you better be sure you want the low range.
My first 5er was a 34" and I am so glad it is, because I discovered that I didn't really use the low range and I much prefer a higher range. It's now tuned DGCFA#.
Different strokes.
My first 5er was a 34" and I am so glad it is, because I discovered that I didn't really use the low range and I much prefer a higher range. It's now tuned DGCFA#.
Different strokes.
If given the option, i'd go 35".
But there are many factors that put more weight into my decision.
But there are many factors that put more weight into my decision.
Hey, since you're after an Ibanez SR you don't have to choose between them anymore, you can choose both by now!! Hooray! 
Ibanez has gone fanned frets with their SRFF805, from 34" on the high g-string and 35,5" on the low B! PERIOD! And all of them are available right now :
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Ibanez has gone fanned frets with their SRFF805, from 34" on the high g-string and 35,5" on the low B! PERIOD! And all of them are available right now :[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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So bohemond, skip all advices you got so far. Go for this then, if that is your concern. You simply don't have to choose between 34" or 35" if you're looking at an Ibanez 5 SR string anyway. Is fanned fret not your thing? It is after you've tried it. I'll promise. It takes longer to learn going over from a 4 string to a 5 string, than having to adapt to ANY fan fret bass. Fan frets is like 2 seconds ...
