4 String Multi-scale Options?

[Fenwick]

Mulling getting into the multiscale world - never gelled with 5s but now I'm seeing some MS offerings in 4 strings. Have a few basic thoughts on the ones I know exist, but wondering what else is out there?

If I get a MS bass, it must be 37"-34" as I don't see the real benefit/point otherwise - feel free to educate me though. Definitely cool to post different options as other tastes may find it useful.

Dingwall - various series, more attainable for me would be Combustion or NG. From what I've heard on the internet - best sounding MS to my ears in general. I'm generally not a fan of the Ding aesthetic, though a solid color (as opposed to the quilt/fancy top options) I like, might sway me one day.

Spector Dimension - So far my fav aesthetics of the few options I know of - I have a Warwick Streamer so know and love the NS shape. I do not like either available finish option rn, maybe they'll open that up down the road. I wish I liked the sound of Dimensions (Fluence is getting so much hype now) as much as Dings, cus would be full package with right finish.

Strandberg Boden - Interesting cus they're headless but less interesting for me cus not 37" - whats the point if that low string isn't extended to its full scale? That being said while I don't like the aesthetic as much as the Dimensions, I do like it more than Dings - soundwise, maybe less attractive than either Ding or Spec, but not unattractive.

Ibanez? Do they make 4-string MS? Any other medium or large scale builders make 4-string MSs these days?

Feel free to share any related thoughts or experiences.

 

[Sid the Kid]

None of the commercially available fan fret Basses have a 37” 4 string. Largest is the Dingwall style fan at 36.25-34.

Another option to consider is the Kiesel vanquish bass, it is 35.5-34 for the 4 string.

 

[BurningSkies]

If you can stretch a bit, find a used Dingwall Super...Lots more 4 strings than the Combustion/NG series...and they're shorter.

The 4-strings are 32"-34.25"

 

[Fenwick]

None of the commercially available fan fret Basses have a 37” 4 string. Largest is the Dingwall style fan at 36.25-34.

Another option to consider is the Kiesel vanquish bass, it is 35.5-34 for the 4 string.

You're right, 36.25" is longest 4-string MS I'm seeing too - though I'm lead to believe might be the case for Dings too?
Combustion

Good recommendation on Kiesel, thanks!

 

[Nuage420]

You're right, 36.25" is longest 4-string MS I'm seeing too - though I'm lead to believe might be the case for Dings too?
Combustion

Good recommendation on Kiesel, thanks!

The Zeus headless MS is a gorgeous bass.

 

[lz4005]

If I get a MS bass, it must be 37"-34" as I don't see the real benefit/point otherwise -

Then you'll have to get something custom made. There are no current production 4 strings that fit that specification.

What tuning are you planning to use? There's no need for 37" unless you're going significantly lower than standard.

 

[Fenwick]

Then you'll have to get something custom made. There are no current production 4 strings that fit that specification.

What tuning are you planning to use? There's no need for 37" unless you're going significantly lower than standard.

I understand now that 36.35" is my limit for commercial 4-strings MS basses - I would be tuning in C#, C & B standard. I'm happy with my passive 4s anywhere between E-D.

 

[Fenwick]

On a separate but maybe not so separate note; - it's Seerday night right here in lockdown land and this right here has me rethinking my rejection of 5s altogether and just questioning my own deeply held beliefs in general.

 

[BassmanM]

Maruszczyk! You can probably order most if not all of their 4-strings in multiscale. Here are two from their current stock.

Invalid Link Removed

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[Dincrest]

ESP/LTD offers a 4-string multiscale that goes from 34- 36.25"
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

As for the Ibanez... their 4-string multiscale Soundgear goes from 33.5- 34.5"
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Schecter offers their Stiletto Studio 4 in multiscale, but it seems to be 34- 35"
Invalid Link Removed

 

[ItsmeSantiago]

You may consider playing a few, if possible. Every electric guitar I've played, I've noticed a difference in comfort and playability. Every multi scale bass I've played, I haven't noticed much of a difference. The exception being I played a Combustion that was in drop G standard, and it was sturdy.

 

[Fenwick]

Nice, more options out there than I thought - LTDs are pretty interesting. Thanks everyone!

 

[singlemalt]

I’m all in with Dingwall on the multi scale front. There’s a lot more going on than just the fanned frets. Everyone else is playing catch up.

I’ve got both the longscale AB-1 and a Super series four strings. There’s a clarity to the longscale Dingwalls. The Supers are flirting with the short scale, giving the treble strings a great punch.

Both are excellent, and super light, around 7.5 lb. I get more string choices with the Super.

The Dbird and Droc are also longscale and have a whole different vibe visually.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

I’m all in with Dingwall on the multi scale front. There’s a lot more going on than just the fanned frets. Everyone else is playing catch up.

Darn right.

Something for you OP besides the aesthetics is the playability and quality of construction.
Dingwall fit and finish is fantastic and they use smaller (Banjo) frets and spend a lot of time with the neck.

The Ibanez use big frets and that nut is a mile high and had corners. It was very sharp on my palm when fretting the first fret my palm was getting poked by the nut. They seemed a lot like a "Me to." bass.
All three Ibanez ez??? were not near the fit and finish as well as playability as the Dingwall I got.

They may have improved, this was a few years ago.

 

[MasterG]

I have an Ibanez MS. I like it a lot.

 

[EMoneySC2]

I'm a Dingwall player, through and through. I'll just add a vote to that pile

 

[Nephilymbass]

Mulling getting into the multiscale world - never gelled with 5s but now I'm seeing some MS offerings in 4 strings. Have a few basic thoughts on the ones I know exist, but wondering what else is out there?

If I get a MS bass, it must be 37"-34" as I don't see the real benefit/point otherwise - feel free to educate me though. Definitely cool to post different options as other tastes may find it useful.

Dingwall - various series, more attainable for me would be Combustion or NG. From what I've heard on the internet - best sounding MS to my ears in general. I'm generally not a fan of the Ding aesthetic, though a solid color (as opposed to the quilt/fancy top options) I like, might sway me one day.

Spector Dimension - So far my fav aesthetics of the few options I know of - I have a Warwick Streamer so know and love the NS shape. I do not like either available finish option rn, maybe they'll open that up down the road. I wish I liked the sound of Dimensions (Fluence is getting so much hype now) as much as Dings, cus would be full package with right finish.

Strandberg Boden - Interesting cus they're headless but less interesting for me cus not 37" - whats the point if that low string isn't extended to its full scale? That being said while I don't like the aesthetic as much as the Dimensions, I do like it more than Dings - soundwise, maybe less attractive than either Ding or Spec, but not unattractive.

Ibanez? Do they make 4-string MS? Any other medium or large scale builders make 4-string MSs these days?

Feel free to share any related thoughts or experiences.

Dingwall doesn’t make a 37” scale 4 string. That’s only the 5 and 6. Their long scale 4 is slightly shorter basically the same as the e string on the 5 and 6 strings that do have a 37” low b. I love my Dingwall. Sounds great, feels great. Love the playability and smaller frets. The main cons compared to shorter scale multiscale basses like keisel for example are how extreme the fan is. This can make playing way up the neck where the fan changes direction more difficult for a little while until you get more used to it. Playing near the nut was actually more comfortable right off the bat for me and the middle of the neck where the fan is less extreme pretty much feels just like any other bass. But There was a bit of a learning curve to playing way up the neck. For example I had to learn how to finger some double stops like tenths differently. Not a big deal but it took a little getting used to.

Also while I personally love the longer scale I can see one of the reasons a lot of other brands use stuff like 33”-35” is because with those scale lengths you don’t need special strings. Which to be honest there’s been a couple times here and there where it’s been a pain in the butt getting the specific strings I like. Really the string availability thing is my main gripe about my Dingwall. Otherwise I’m very happy with it.

as far as how they look if you want to stick to production stuff the D-roc, NG2 and standard combustion actually have a pretty decent amount of variety as far as finishes. And don’t forget you can always change things like the pickgaurd pretty easily. That’s what I did. Mine is an NG2 but I didn’t really care for the carbon fiber factory pickgaurd so I replaced it.

 

[Fenwick]

Lot of great info there, thanks - Dings sound so damn good, hard not to stay at the top of the list. The Keisel Zeus looks totally badass to me, don't find it has the same punch or clarity (nothing does) that I hear from Dings - not a ton of examples to be fair. Maybe I get a Zeus and slap some Ding pups & prep-amp in it, make it totally unsellable in case I don't like it lol.

 

[Nuage420]

Try a D-Roc or NG2 and see

Lot of great info there, thanks - Dings sound so damn good, hard not to stay at the top of the list. The Keisel Zeus looks totally badass to me, don't find it has the same punch or clarity (nothing does) that I hear from Dings - not a ton of examples to be fair. Maybe I get a Zeus and slap some Ding pups & prep-amp in it, make it totally unsellable in case I don't like it lol.

It's the Dingwall scale. Nothing comes close except the LTD

 

[Fenwick]

Try a D-Roc or NG2 and see


It's the Dingwall scale. Nothing comes close except the LTD

I was particularly interested in the ESP for this reason - found it sounded like a modern Jazz (maybe Nordys) which is super cool but I wanted something more, modern, punchy & crisp sounding as I my collection includes both solid passives and passives on steroids already. Dings punch, Esp is more throaty & warm by comparison to me. I wouldn't arm wrassle ya over it, but I'm inclined to lean on Dings pups & pre contributing to the distinctive sound more than just scale - purely based off a massive sample of a few LTDs vids. Sound science, me thinx.

Dings do modern very well, Spector too - though Fluences might be a little too (leaning to thin/sterile) much for me. Kiesels sounding more in my lane than ESP now - think I've opened up to shorter extended scales (less than 26.25") now that Talkbass has lifted the veil a bit more for me. Gotta be pretty. FTR I think Ding Supers do look really cool but my collection is retro heavy and if I get a more modern aesthetic, I wanna lean into it. I wouldn;t get extended scale to play the same music I am now (funk n' rock), so aesthetic 180 is what I'm looking for.

NGs & Combustion def look modern - but I don't love the shape & thats a hard pill to swallow.

Thanks!