5 string basses should be 35” scale

[bobknowsbass]

Floppy B strings are intolerable.

Leo made the modern bass at guitar 34” scale to accommodate 4 strings. It is perfect for that specific purpose. Years ago I switched to 5 string and got an American Deluxe Jazz V. It was beautiful, sounded great, but the low B felt a bit like a rubber band.

Years later, Musicman Stingray 5. I loved that bass. It was slightly better with the low B. Still didn’t feel right. At the same time I played an Ibanez 6 string for solo bass arrangements. The high C was fun but that low B was rubber city.

Then I got a Lakland 55-02. Dammit, they got it right. The 5th string is taught, clear, and feels like a natural extension of the bass. It’s big, no doubt. I had to adapt to it but it’s the best 5 string I have ever owned.

My query is, what’s next? Does Sadowsky make a 35” 5 string? I want to get my high end, forever bass at this point in my life. I have pondered owning a Sadowsky for the build quality and tone. Does the B string sing with clarity? Should I go with an American Lakland? What are your thoughts?

 

[nmiller]

If your only reason is string tension, you're using the wrong gauge string.

 

[ElectricBass72]

If I wanted a 35" scale on the low B string... I'd go multi-scale. No need for all strings to be on the 35" scale, IMO.

 

[A9X]

What strings? What bass construction? What pickups and electronics?
Making a 2.9% change in scale length somehow makes a massive difference? My experience doesn't agree, nor does it with many other players in terms of tone. Feel is a very particular and individual preference and string properties are most likely to have the most effect here.

Is Tony Grey a moron because his new headless Fodera 6, strung B-C is 30.75"?

 

[P. Aaron]

Now I have to dump my 5 string basses and get the right ones?

 

[ElectricBass72]

Now I have to dump my 5 string basses and get the right ones?

No.

 

[bass12]

Regarding Sadowskys: none of the three Jazzes I've owned had B strings that impressed me all that much. The B string on my Sadowsky Modern is, however, great. The B string on my 34" MTD Saratoga is just as good as most 35" Bs I've played. If you are looking for Sadowsky quality in a 35" Jazz style bass then you definitely have options (Lull and Valenti come to mind immediately). I love my 35" Lull M5V (with Sadowsky preamp).

 

[bobknowsbass]

Regarding Sadowskys: none of the three Jazzes I've owned had B strings that impressed me all that much. The B string on my Sadowsky Modern is, however, great. The B string on my 34" MTD Saratoga is just as good as most 35" Bs I've played. If you are looking for Sadowsky quality in a 35" Jazz style bass then you definitely have options (Lull and Valenti come to mind immediately). I love my 35" Lull M5V (with Sadowsky preamp).

Thanks, I’ll look into that!

 

[SJan3]

My Yamaha TRBX5 is 34" scale and the B string feels fine. I'm using D'Addario med/light gauge. No issues..
FWIW, the Stingray5 consistently gets high marks for it's B string in any 5 string shootout I've read.
That said, Lakland makes an excellent 5 string, IMHO.

 

[bobknowsbass]

What strings? What bass construction? What pickups and electronics?
Making a 2.9% change in scale length somehow makes a massive difference? My experience doesn't agree, nor does it with many other players in terms of tone. Feel is a very particular and individual preference and string properties are most likely to have the most effect here.

Is Tony Grey a moron because his new headless Fodera 6, strung B-C is 30.75"?

Tony Grey is no moron! I got the privilege of working with Louis Johnson years ago. He told me “The 4 string was never broken, you don’t need a 5!” I said that I need the extra notes, he said “use a synthesizer!”

My point is that 34” is ideal for 4 strings. I have played wonderful 34” 5 strings, but none stand up the Lakland 35”

 

[bobknowsbass]

If I wanted a 35" scale on the low B string... I'd go multi-scale. No need for all strings to be on the 35" scale, IMO.

I never considered multi-scale. I honestly never got my hands on one. I will amend this! Thanks.

 

[BassNugget]

For me, the sound of the B trumps the feel. So far, my favorite B string sound is the F Bass BN5. It is an odd duck at 34.5 inch scale. My next favorite is any flavor of Ernie Ball B string. That being said, my Sterling SUB 5 B string sounds epic, especially for the price!

I don't find any EBMM or SBMM B to be floppy. As for the F Bass, I just wish I could afford one.

 

[baxter_x]

My Sadowskys are 34 and they sound perfect to me. Even "better" than my Lakland 35". This scale thing doesn't have much to do with tone IMO.

 

[iiipopes]

My 33-inch B string on my Ibby does just fine, thank you very much: no flop, good tone, consistent with the rest of the strings, defined in articulation.

 

[P. Aaron]

No.

Whew! I was worried there. Peer pressure and all that.

 

[bobknowsbass]

My Sadowskys are 34 and they sound perfect to me. Even "better" than my Lakland 35". This scale thing doesn't have much to do with tone IMO.

Good to know!

 

[Killing Floor]

Birdsong 5 strings are remarkable. They’re short scale.

My Kiesel 5 B is as solid as the E.

It’s not the scale alone. It’s the design and the strings.

Just saying it’s over simplistic to say the scale alone is the factor. There are a lot of builders making shorter 5 and 6. And it’s equally true there are some floppy B strings out there too.

 

[JW56789]

I've played 34" five-strings since the late 80's exclusively. Yes, depending on the set on a given bass, some may feel tighter . . . . and some looser, as you've experienced. I learned to live with it and forget about it a long, long time ago. All instruments are a compromise in one way or another, and for me it was never a thing. I just play it. If anything, it's easier to bend or vibrato!

I'd also suggest two things I've found from experience:

First, the harder the woods, the better B (and overall articulation up and down the neck) you'll find. In most regular instruments, I find an ash body and a hard maple neck are a very good recipe, with a rosewood or better yet, ebony fingerboard.

Second, regardless of whether it's cheap passive pickups all the way to sophisticated low-impedance electronics, a good setup followed by very careful attention to the pickup heights on the B side can be critical. It's very easy with that big string for it to get woofy REAL fast if you're pickup height is off.

I prefer 34" over 35" (or more . . . ) as basses are big enough (and I'm not a little guy) and I far prefer the greater string choices available for 34" than 35".


As seen above . . . . your results may vary.

 

[bobknowsbass]

Whew! I was worried there. Peer pressure and all that.

Play what you like! My position is controversial for sure. It’s also purely experiencial. Maybe I haven’t found the right 34” 5 string yet…

 

[el jeffe bass]

I have absolutely no use for a B string, However, I find myself greatly DESIRING one. I am casually researching five strings. From what I can determine by reading a few threads on Talkbass string gauge and construction can mitigate scale length. That said, when I do finally get a fiver it will probably ether be a Yamaha BB or an Ibanez SR.