5 string basses should be 35” scale

[Sam Dingle]

It’s funny I actually got a lakland recently and because the B was so good I sold my fender elite which failed in comparison. I’m moving to just using my 4s whenever I can (currently finished a gig on my P tuned a whole step down). If I end up needing a 5 string for a long/serious gig (as I’m not a quick run or a few subbing shows) I’d look into a 34 inch scale 5er simply because it does feel better to me. A sadow modern probably.

 

[LHbassist]

If you compare the various sized pianos in a typical showroom, play a low b on several different ones. The longer pianos use a thinner string, which according to my research, is a more harmonically 'in tune' string, for a given length, in reproducing lower frequencies. The shorter pianos use a shorter, thicker gauge string, and they sound 'tubby' or, kinda 'off' to me. I have experimented with many different gauges for my low 'B' strings. I use 34" scale in my builds. If you build a good strong neck, and engineer the 'B' side of the fingerboard to provide some clearance beyond the 12th. fret, for that thick string- a .125 low 'B' string will sound as good as any 35" boutique bass out there. I have played some 35" scale basses, and do not really hear a significant difference from my own instruments. If you feel 35" is a must, so be it. Bass builders, mainly large commercial ones- seem to think 1-3/4" is the standard nut width that a 5 string bass 'should be.' I strongly disagree. The first five I built, was in 1983, and I decided that a 2" nut width was ideal. That bass is in my profile avatar. I still play it, it fits like a glove. I've built 2-1/4" nut widths, and a 2-1/8" widths. All of them work great for my big hands. I just ordered a Sire 5- with a 1-3/4" nut. Carl Thompson once said to me- after I compared, and expressed concern of acclimating to the 1-11/16" nut on the bass he built me- to my '71 Jazz bass- "Dave, you can get used to anything" He was right. For a 34" scale 5- the absolute never exceed gauge for me is .130, and in truth, I only use that if I have no other choice. A .125 is a good gauge for me, and I'd suspect, a .120 would sound even better. Just adjust the string until it 'speaks' like you think it should.

 

[bobdabilder]

Yes, lakland got it right. Fender? Not so much. One of the best posts on this site.

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?

 

[swink]

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?

The holy grail in (5 string) basses does not exist.
It's going to take you less time and money to adjust to an instrument with a setup that is close to your needs, than it will to find one or have one made that meets your requirements 100%.
Keep in mind that personal tastes and requirements can change as you get older.

Try as many as you can, and draw your own conclusions.
I can only wish you good luck with your personal search.

 

[Afc70]

To the re-education camp for you.

Hey that sounds awesome,sign me up!

 

[TrustRod]

I love floppy B's. 40-120 is the largest gauge I play with 112 or 115 on some basses and I only have 34" or less anymore. I suspect some of the love for tight B's is just agreeing with the common viewpoint without ever trying something else.

I've found 35"s to sound great in the low notes but not so great as you go up the neck. I'm the type of player who plays low E on the 5th fret of the B string so the higher positions are important to me.

Which brings up the question, what specifically are people doing to test a B? Open string only? All the way up the neck? Balance with other strings?

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Tension depends on scale length, so provided the witness points are solid, basically any 34" solid body bass is going to basically have the same characteristics with the same strings, apart from electronics and feel that's based on ergonomics and set up. Dead spots excepted.

 

[chadds]

The overall design of a bass makes for an effective representation of each string. Scale length is one parameter. Without changing gauges it seems that 34"s have less equally balanced B strings. The proliferation of booteequee 35" 5s in the 80s that had good Bs compared to the 34"s that were 34" 4 designs with Bs added that were weak contributes to this conclusion.

I repeat the design overall is the predictor of all strings speaking the same. You can't be a major manufacturer and just slap a B on a bass designed in the '50s to function as a 4 string and expect all strings to speak the same. If they do it requires a change in technique and the feel is different.

Conversely look at an upright bass. The lows from the E on a good upright sound like the fundamental of a B string. String length. There is no exceptional difference in string gauges.

 

[chadds]

Without adjusting technique and changing string guages why aren't we playing Mustangs?

Conversely Pyramid strings were outstanding in feel in tone. These strings were specifically for 30.5 Guild and Gibson basses in the '60/'70s. They made the shorter scale viable professionally where Fender/Gibson etc strings were meh. I'm speaking from experience. Though no B was involved the shorter scale wasn't bringing what 34" was.

 

[jeffb28451]

Interesting opinion. I've been playing 5s since 1989. Have and have had many nice basses, 4 and 5. Carbon fiber, conventional and multi-laminate necks, etc.

Best 5th string was a Skjold Drakkar at 33". Never got on with Lakeland, have had 3 or 4, all 5 string.

More than just scale length is involved, in my opinion. But it is just an opinion, isn't it?

But my opinion is based on many setup and string changes, gauge and tension changes, and so forth.

May you find your 5 er bliss. If a Lakeland makes you happy, have at it.

 

[TTPbass1]

I've had few 5 strings and 6 strings of different brands in the past, and I'm not expert in the physics of strings and I'm not aware of the science behind my opinions; but maybe it helps if I share my experience:

- Most 34" are ok with a B string .130 gauge if they're string through the body.
- Most 35" are great with a B string .130 gauge if they're string through the body.
- .125 B string tends to be floppy on either 34" or 35".
- Tapered B strings tend to be less floppy that non tapered ones.

That said, and again is just my experience; .130 gauge on B strings has good tension and definition on open or fretted notes. I actually have a 6 strings Sire M7 (35") with Labella gold white nylons and the B string sound fantastic, but it is .135 gauge. I also have a Sire V5 5 strings (34") that I bought with the idea of tuning EADGC, but it has a great sounding B string, maybe the best on a 5ver I've ever had, so I kept it ob BEADG.

I use Ken Smith Taper Core strings on almost all my basses (except the 6 with nylons, a Mustang with Labella flats and a Bronco with EB Slinky). My choice is the medium gauge sets with 028, .044, .063, .084T, .106T, 130T. Definition on their .130T B strings is great, and they feel of similar tension than the .106T E string.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

My Sadowsky NYC 5-24 Modern has the loudest and fattest low B I’ve heard, and is more comfortable than a 35” scale bass due to the 34” scale and light weight.

 

[chris_b]

I have never understood the "floppy" string thing. Never noticed any strings being high or low tension. Maybe problems with "floppy" strings are as a result of playing technique? If you're pulling the strings or playing hard you'll notice the strings more, but I don't do that. My right hand technique is light-ish and I mostly skate over the top of the strings. I never hook or pull. Maybe that's why I never see these differences that bug so many people.

 

[Discount Bassy]

My "forever" bass is a G. Gould GGi-5. 35" scale strung with his taper-wound hybrid blend strings. The transition from four to five was one-way for me. I tried to go back out of curiosity and found it limiting in my approach to the instrument. The carbon fiber neck is stable, predictable and right comfy to play. No troubles with "boomy" or "floppy". I can set it up as low as I like and never run into trouble with buzzes or seasonal changes. It works and checks all of the boxes for me, eliminating troubles I've had with previous basses that seemed like consumables. I suppose if someone found what they liked, it is a win no matter what the scale or string count.

 

[Geri O]

I knew this thread would ruffle some feathers...

I understand why people like their 34” scale 5s, I get it.

However with that being said. I greatly prefer 35” as well.

I find pickups that have the neck pickup pulled back a bit help.

In fact, I think the ruffling of feathers is the larger intent than anything else in a post like this.

I do agree totally with your assessment, Tony. Finding these 35” Lulls has been one of the greatest lifts, for lack of a better term, in all of my playing years. Everyone take a breath, of course I know there’s other great 35” basses with great B strings as well.

Having said all of this, I do enjoy my 34” Stingray 5 quite a bit. It’s got “that” sound, heavy and neck-diving notwithstanding. The B string on that bass is “good enough” for me, if not a stellar example of a great B string.

Still hoping to check out the B string (as well as the rest of the bass!) on a TP signature Lull some day soon!….

 

[HeavyJazz]

I knew this thread would ruffle some feathers...

I understand why people like their 34” scale 5s, I get it.

However with that being said. I greatly prefer 35” as well.

I find pickups that have the neck pickup pulled back a bit help.

...and the bridge. I totally agree. I have a Zon in a 35" that plays like a 34" because of this design, while on the last Elrick I had, you could really feel the reach for that extra inch because of the bridge's more standard placement. Tone wise, between the 35" and 34" I don't particularly have a preference. All my Bs are as convincing as they are fulfilling regardless.

 

[Hypocrite]

Agreed. Same strings on a 34" and 35" five, 34" has always been to flubby

 

[A9X]

Most 35" are great with a B string .130 gauge if they're string through the body.

Stringing through the body makes zero difference in tension compared to typical stringing through the bridge.

 

[pepj]

My B's are fine... I tend to run low tension strings and 120 Gauge.
I run rounds and get a clean pure B sound and all my 5's are set up like this.

 

[Slevage]

ALL of my basses are 5er’s with a high C.
Scales are 34, 35, 41.5, 41.5. All play great.

When I did use low B strings, the B string tension and sound was depended on my string choice and quality of bass’s build.
I had 2 Yamaha basses that were 34”.
The $1500 instrument was significantly better than the $400 instrument.