5 string basses should be 35” scale

[nmiller]

I disagree. Bass string gauges are limited. The thickest available set will still have a rubber band feel on the low B at 34". 35" scale will help remedy that.

Nonsense; they're not that limited. There are plenty of strings out there thick enough to result in high tension on a low B string.

 

[Gary Stevens]

Fanned frets. Dingwall.
Physics just like a piano’s design.

Agreed. Physics.

 

[mdmarkle]

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.

I have a BBP35 and I adore it. I did put Nordstrand PJ pickups in it. And it’s plek’d, I flip the saddle for the Low B. It’s clear and massive. It’s also Passive. Which is amazing.

 

[Bob Leton]

Plenty of 5er have weak B-String tone; the question is not about scale but rather on the density of woods. I own a '93 Streamer 5 with maple body, ovangkol neck/wenge fb and this guy is thunder pure; a 34" btw. Otherwise I went to Steinberger but that's another league ...

 

[FunkHead]

A TI flat wound B string is a round core, Low tension string. It sounds, feels and plays fantastic on every 34" bass string I have owned.
Now take a higher tension, Hex core higher tension string and it feels even tighter.

One of the absolute best B strings you can put on a bass is a Tapered Sadowsky .125. The Sadowsky 5 string set is pure perfection and 34" is all that is needed. I have owned and played enough Sadowsky 5 strings to know that the B integrates seamlessly to the other strings.

35" is the absolute least contributing factor.

 

[m3ruiz]

If I base my opinion on experience, it would be inconclusive, my brain tells me a longer scale will make the low B more defined and clear, let alone not rubbery.

Have you ever tried and heard a plucked or slapped low D on a Kubicki Factor Ex’s 36” scale on the 4th string? If so, you know what I mean.

Yet in practice that does not seem to consistently hold true, I have played several high end 35” scale basses, even my own and other 37” low B Dingwalls; that low B is not what I was looking for, floppy and rubbery. Yet as even the OP stated, the best 5th string feel and sound I found is on the EB Sr5, at 34” scale. I’m sure there are others as good or better, but I have not experienced them yet. I also recently tried the new Ibanez headless fanned fret designs, I tried the top of the line 5 string and the short scale (32”) 5 string. The low B on the short scale had better feel (not floppy or rubbery) more definition, clarity and sustain than on the full scale model at about 30% less $$$.

Go figure…

 

[Deleted member 96522]

A bass guitar with a 35" scale does not guarantee that a low B won't play floppy. There are several other factors that determine floppiness(in no particular order): Neck stiffness, truss rod relief, fret dressing, string gauge, tuning pitch, and in particular the touch of the player. In fact I have played 35" basses that had B strings that were more floppy than some 34" scale basses I've played.

 

[TJL]

I recently picked up a Lakland USA 5 string, and I agree that they do have it right. It is the best low B I have ever experienced on a bolt on bass.

 

[McTred]

I studied the Physics of Musical instruments in college, and this is absolutely the right answer. String sets for basses are typically designed with an arithmetic progression in string diameter - 45-65-85-105. This results in uneven tension. When extended to a 5th string, this thinking flat out fails. I like really light tension - 40-55-70-95 on a 4 string. A well matched B string for that set is a 130. If you’re playing a 105E, a 140 is what you need. The 120 or 125 in the set you bought is just a bad choice.

35 inch scale is a band aid for the fact that string companies don’t make matched sets - it helps the floppy B somewhat, but makes the other strings tighter as well. With well designed string sets, none of this would be necessary.

I buy single strings to get a well matched B string. It works very well on a 34 inch scale. With the right strings, a 34 inch scale bass is better for a 5 string - shorter necks are, by definition, stiffer. That difference is small, but it is there.

This is a very helpful and thoughtful post. I hate changing strings and reworking stuff like that, but it's time for me to consider a different gauge for my B string.

 

[Aceonbass]

The gauge of your B string is very important. I once converted a 30" scale Rickenbacker 3000 bass to a 5-string, and added a Rickenbacker HB1 humbucker. I did a few other mods to the bass as well. The bass ended up in Japan when I foubd it online.

 

[blowinblue]

Not because I'm a contrarian (actually, I am) but if I were ever to buy another 4-string it would be a 35" scale strung EADG. Possibly an Elrick or a Stambaugh. My hand size sits between small and medium but 35" is my preference. Why is it my preference? It just is.

M. M.

 

[rtsobon]

I play mostly 34" scale 4 string, but I do have an Ibanez Mezzo 32" scale 5 string and the B string tension is good and sounds good. I have a set of D'Addario XL round wound 45 65 85 105 130 's on it.

 

[R Baer]

In my experience, other than multi scale basses like Dingwall, scale length has little to do with how tight and focused your B string sounds. My Ken Lawrence has a 35" scale 5 piece neck and I would have to say that the B string on my single piece neck, 34" scale, Lull and Sadowsky basses actually sound tighter and more focused. One of the best B strings I've ever heard was on a 33.5" scale bass. In fact, I've definitely grown to prefer 34" scale over 35" and I doubt i will ever buy another 35" scale bass. If the only thing keeping from buying a Sadowsky is the 34" scale, I can assure you that their B string is as good as any I've heard, short of the Dingwall basses.

 

[darthdiggler]

Jaco said “You don’t need more strings, you need more practice.” That being said, my MTD 535-35’s B string it top notch. Clear, tight and responsive. My Lakland 55-94 was also pretty good! Cheers

 

[FunkHead]

If you fret at the 12th fret, Now the vibrating portion of the string is only 17". Is that short section is going to flop around like a fish? No!

Once you start fretting up the neck the vibrating length of the string decreases. Obviously, It has almost zero effect on tension.

 

[DJ Bebop]

 

[Max Allstadt]

There are other threads about this. One in Luthiers Corner about how to get a good B on a 32” scale.

Pretty clear consensus:

1. It’s possible.
2. Use a .130 or a .135
3. Maple, Wenge or similarly stiff neck wood, and/or extra graphite stiffening rods.

The playability/feel is still debatable, of course, but the recipe above will create a low B on a short scale that will sound good and not have the issue that loose strings can have where they take a second to get to their true pitch, and lose punch as a result.

 

[Dreamsinger]

A factor that has more effect on B string "flop" is the rigidity of the instrument between the nut and saddle. Carbon fiber reinforcing helps along with a rock solid neck pocket/neck heel interface with no gaposis.

 

[Max Allstadt]

A factor that has more effect on B string "flop" is the rigidity of the instrument between the nut and saddle. Carbon fiber reinforcing helps along with a rock solid neck pocket/neck heel interface with no gaposis.

Probably not needed with Wenge, though. That stuff is crazy strong.

 

[MovinTarget]

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

So you're argument stands on a single example of a single model?

Thems some mighty wide brush strokes.

I think you may have found your "the one" but that doesn't make it everyone's "The One"

You are entitled you your opinion, but I find my 28.5" Mikro low B to be totally fine for how/what I play and don't need to extend my neck another 6.5"...