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5 string basses should be 35” scale

#341
Well since I now have a 35" 5 I can weigh in with experience (limited experience as she's only been with me 2 days ).

OK now the important part, I have finally found a clear resonant B string equipped bass.
The shocking part is that it's a sub £300 harley benton
It may be the 5 piece neck, tilted headstock and 35" scale combined... But DAMN the marquess is an impressive bass.

I'm still waiting on a few things for the bass before I give her a proper personal set up (set up from thomann is OK, no problems.. just not set up for me), but right out of the box she's playing amazing, I don't have to overly compensate in attack for the B like I do on my yamaha and sandberg (both 34), the strings have the same clarity and overall tone, with no dip in the B at all.

I'm well impressed, while I don't play snobbery with my gear... I happily have a 90s yamaha BBG5a on stage with my sandberg and status graphite... I am astounded that harley benton have done as well as they have for the price point.

I'm certainly a convert to the 35" club but I'm not saying there are no good Bs in any shorter scale lengths.
 
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#342
I agree that it has a lot to do with string gauge. A 130 B string on a 34” scale length can feel a little floppy but a 125 is golden. A 125 on a 35” scale length almost seems a little too taught and I like 130s better on there. I have a 35” custom with a string through body that I have to get the extra long strings for.
 
#343
Geri O said:
Unless you've found a direct quote and documentation of Jaco saying that (and can show it here), that's just another one of not-funny memes people use to push forward their opinion on string count.

There's enough mis-information in this thread without adding that.
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Geez. Uptight much? Jaco did say that in an instructional video and I don’t feel as though providing proof of an anecdote is warranted. It was said in jest. Clearly I play five strings as evidenced by the follow up sentence, or do you need documented evidence of that as well?
 
#345
A9X said:
Were you the guy talking about the Marquess a few days back and is this it?
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Yup.
Figured I'd drop by and give my initial impression as I've been playing 34" 5s since 98.

Expect a proper NBD post this week when I get her set up and stuff.
But honestly if anyone is wanting to try a 35" 5 I'd say give the bass a go, it's hardly expensive and with a tiny little bit of work they are FINE instruments.
(a bit of fret work and set up for my taste, not a problem on a sub £300 instrument).
 
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#347
E741F1F4-0F2B-44D5-B232-48C355C744BB.jpeg
 
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#348
darthplagis said:
Yup.
Figured I'd drop by and give my initial impression as I've been playing 34" 5s since 98.

Expect a proper NBD post this week when I get her set up and stuff.
But honestly if anyone is wanting to try a 35" 5 I'd say give the bass a go, it's hardly expensive and with a tiny little bit of work they are FINE instruments.
(a bit of fret work and set up for my taste, not a problem on a sub £300 instrument).
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I have some stuff to order from Thomann in the NY and had considered the Marquess. For the price I might get one especially as it won't add much to the shipping. I'll look forward to the NBD thread.

Lesfunk said:
View attachment 4503410
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That took longer than I thought it would.
 
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#349
el jeffe bass said:
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.
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You're going to find that you'll figure out a use for that b string. I went 5 string and really don't care to play 4 anymore. The extra versatility is wonderful. You can play e string notes further up the neck on a b string and it will give you a different sound. I love having that as an option.
 
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#350
GTHintz said:
You're going to find that you'll figure out a use for that b string. I went 5 string and really don't care to play 4 anymore. The extra versatility is wonderful. You can play e string notes further up the neck on a b string and it will give you a different sound. I love having that as an option.
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I have to agree and runs across the neck are just that much more dramatic too.
 
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#352
I think the quality of a B string has more factors than just the scale. I had a top line multi-scale bass who’s B string was nothing special, but my 34” Moollon JV has an amazing B string… sounds like the natural extension of the E string, and frankly the guitar has a very alive feel when playing it.
 
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#353
micguy said:
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.
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Absolutely.
I also buy single strings or balanced sets if available. Too bad most manufacturers are still stuck in the old 40-60-80-100-120/45-65-85-105-125 mindset.
Or even worse: 45-65-80-100 (tight G/D, loose A/E) - just ascking for a neck twist.
 
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#354
kelvmo said:
I agree that it has a lot to do with string gauge. A 130 B string on a 34” scale length can feel a little floppy but a 125 is golden. A 125 on a 35” scale length almost seems a little too taught and I like 130s better on there. I have a 35” custom with a string through body that I have to get the extra long strings for.
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:eyebrow:

A .130 has more tension than a .125.

anchorman-science.gif
 
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#356
MovinTarget said:
It will have more tension if tuned to the same pitch at the same length...
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Of course.

The particular post I quoted said that the .130 felt more floppy than a .125 on a 34" scale bass and that a .125 felt more taut than a .130 on a 35" scale bass - both statements are factually incorrect given the same basses, string types, pitches, etc.
 
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#357
KaseOfBass said:
Of course.

The particular post I quoted said that the .130 felt more floppy than a .125 on a 34" scale bass and that a .125 felt more taut than a .130 on a 35" scale bass - both statements are factually incorrect given the same basses, string types, pitches, etc.
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No, you are right if all other things were equal, my bad, I was just focusing on the ".130 has more tension than a .125" statement b/c people on this thread are getting awfully turned around at times...
 
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#360
bobknowsbass said:
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?
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Specter 5 strings are 35" scale or at least my euro model is
 

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