Can you switch between short and regular scale without constantly being a half step off?

[DanAdams]

I just scored a cool old bass that I posted about here
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/50-on-marketplace-scored-me-a-vintage-et280.1647072
I'm already playing a lot of notes 1/2 step sharp because of the fret spacing.
Can anyone play both scales? or must one commit to a scale length forever?

 

[Old gold]

Play both. I prefer the short scale because of arthritis in my hands. But, when I go to the long scale, it takes 5-10 minutes to adjust to the the fret spacing. A bit easier if I’m not reading a piece and can watch the fretboard while I play. If anything, I have more difficulty moving between narrow and wide string spacing.

 

[Lobster11]

Maybe think of it this way: The fret spacing in the lower frets on a short-scale is similar to the fret spacing on higher frets on a long-scale. If you can play up and down the neck on a long-scale bass you should easily adapt to a short-scale bass.

 

[ThingsAbove]

I regularly swapped between my Mustang and P-Bass. It just takes a few minutes for your hand to adjust.

But the shorty feels like playing a kids toy when you first pick it up.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Bridge position is a bigger factor than scale length IME. I’ve owned/flipped a bunch of shorties:

- I don’t like the bridge when it’s closer to the middle of the body. Feels off in the upper register despite easier access. Had several hollow bodies that have all the mojo but just felt off to my ergonomics.

- I prefer the bridge to be in relatively the same position as a long scale bass. Feels closest to a long scale all up & down the neck.

I currently play my Rob Allen Mouse 30” Fretless chambered piezo bass the most. Such a delight to see & play.

I leave my Danelectro Longhorn 30” (in Daddy-O Yellow) in the living area to plunk away on for fun through the day.

Almost identical ergonomics to the RA Mouse. The more I play it, the more it helps playing other shorties on autopilot. I get much better intonation on the
30” Fretless Mouse as I can “see” in my minds eye where the invisible fret lines would be.

 

[Killing Floor]

I can and do switch between a 35”, a 34”, a 30.7” and unlined fretlesses. No problem. Oh, and a 25.5”, 24.75” and 27” guitars. And 13” violin. And full sized and narrow keyboard keys.

just play it. Your brain will do the work.

 

[Pings Bass]

No, but I can switch between upright and electric

 

[Cal03]

I have multiple instruments in long-scale, short-scale, guitar-scale, even a few ukes. As long as I put in some practice time, switching is no big deal. Of course, everything I have here is fretted, I imagine this would be a more serious issue with fretless instruments in the mix.

 

[J Wilson]

Sure. Two different animals.

 

[2cooltoolz]

Fretless, I can see the problem, but I gave up on that years ago (after being told by my best friend that I suck at it!)
I am primarily a 34" player, but have a couple 30" shorties (Mustangs). I go back and forth pretty much mindlessly (as I live much of my life ).
I do find it harder to go back to 34 if I've been playing a short scale really a lot, but the transition is a matter of minutes. I am also a reader, so I glance at the FB only on significant moves. Your brain will figure it out.

(I also play 25 1/2" Fender and 24 3/4" Gibson guitars - mindless )

 

[KJMO]

Someone in a different thread suggested fairly rapidly switching between the two, say playing one song on each, or even less. That way you can practice making the transition quickly. This worked for me switching between 4 and 5 string.

 

[Papageno]

Not exactly what you asked about, but related to it:
I switch frequently and seamlessly between upright bass (42') and (fretless) bass guitar (34') (and sometimes U-bass !).

The reason why it works, in my opinion, is that even when playing always on the same instrument, we are anyhow accustomed to accomodate the change of spacing between successive notes as we move up and down along the fingerboard.

Possibly it is easier for an upright bassist, because playing DB implies much more shifting than BG, so adapting to variable note spacings is a more familiar task...

 

[ga_edwards]

Yep. I bring these two to most gigs. The Jackson Minion is my "hope-I-don't-need-it-backup", but I can switch between them without issue. FWIW I also find the Minion more comfortable to play seated when I'm practicing at home.

 

[SteveCS]

I just scored a cool old bass that I posted about here
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/50-on-marketplace-scored-me-a-vintage-et280.1647072
I'm already playing a lot of notes 1/2 step sharp because of the fret spacing.
Can anyone play both scales? or must one commit to a scale length forever?

Given that you are only a couple of days in I wouldn't sweat it too much. Just focus on the short-scale for a couple more days and you should be fine. If not, it looks like there could be decent profilt should you decide to move the ET280 on - $50 is essentially theft!!

As @Lobster11 noted above, the fret spacings coincide from fret 2 onwards. If you don't believe it, stand your shorty face to face with a long-scale, align the bridges and check where the frets fall. Bottom is a 34" FSO and top is a 30" Hofner Club with bridges aligned. The 30" nut lines up with the 2nd fret of the 34":

 

[Old Blastard]

I have more trouble with string spacing, going between a tight-fit Hofner and the wide open spaces of a Jack Casady makes some interesting finger gymnastics and pick faux pas.

 

[Smith357]

Never had any issues with scale length, I switch from 28,30,32,and 34 regularly without any problems, string spacing though, that sometimes get me, going from J to P neck.

 

[2cooltoolz]

Yep. I bring these two to most gigs.

Beautiful JB2!! What's the weight on the SS Jacksons?

 

[Bodeeni]

It can be tricky sometimes, but I just did it at my Friday gig without any hitch.

 

[Chickenwheels]

I just scored a cool old bass that I posted about here
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/50-on-marketplace-scored-me-a-vintage-et280.1647072
I'm already playing a lot of notes 1/2 step sharp because of the fret spacing.
Can anyone play both scales? or must one commit to a scale length forever?

I go from 25”, 34”, 44”, fretted, fretless, 5 string…no dramas. You adapt quickly.

 

[fhm555]

Maybe think of it this way: The fret spacing in the lower frets on a short-scale is similar to the fret spacing on higher frets on a long-scale. If you can play up and down the neck on a long-scale bass you should easily adapt to a short-scale bass.

Yep, these days I’m mostly on a Mustang bass because of hand issues, but I occasionally pick up a standard Jazz to see if it still hurts to play one (it does), but I don’t have any problem with being out of position when moving up and down the neck, just the usual discomfort after about 5~10 minutes on the longer scale.