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

[lowfreqgeek]

Yes, never had a problem with being off by any amount when switching.

I currently have 28", 30", 33.875", 34", 35", and ~41.5" scale lengths. Not an issue.

 

[Hounddog409]

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 dont have any issue playing my Gibson Les Paul tribute and fenders Or ric.

 

[Bassnkeys]

OP — reiterating what some have said. It can definitely be temporarily disorienting on some days. I sometimes need a few minutes for my brain to acclimate that “hey, that’s the B on the E string on my 30” — not the A on my 34”. Few minutes to adjust and a few flubs sometimes till the brain adjusts (off a step/half step, as you said).

Best advice that people were saying — I’ll stick with the same scale for several days before gigging it.

 

[dune]

I've never had a problem switching between 30" and 34" scales, but the first time I sat in playing a Steinberger, yikes!

 

[primusfan1989]

Can anyone play both scales?

I switch between a P bass and a Gibson EB3 with little difficulty (I also will jump from 34" P bass to a 40 something inch upright bass)....

 

[bassburner]

Just keep switching regularly between them and you'll adjust automatically.

Or tune your long scales to D standard. Then everything is always in the same spot. You just have two extra sets of lower notes on the long scale.

 

[retroXvertigo]

I mainly go between a 6 string Dingwall and a 4 string Serek without any issues.

 

[sean_on_bass]

i guess i got used to playing different scales via not only playing multiple basses, but guitars and the double bass. i don't think about scale length in general, although on double bass switching to a longer scale length would probably throw me off and take some time to adapt to since no frets.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Yeah. 28.6", 30", 30.5", 32", 34", 35". Got 'em all, play 'em all. You might get used to it after a bit. 4 string to 5 string trips me up sometimes (if I'm not well rested ) but I usually don't use both at the same gig.

BBB

 

[Wfrance3]

Been reading a lot of "play both". I agree. I have a 5 and a 4 and can switch between them. I have to say that playing both is how that happened. If you switch to between the two, you should be fine. I'm not there yet and rely pretty heavily on side dots to help me navigate.

 

[Killing Floor]

Exactly. Multi scale 33-35.5, 34-37, 28.5, 30, 34, 35 it's all the same for me. Stop thinking about it and just do it.

Honestly the hardest change for me was learning 5 from 4 string. It took several weeks before both hands were on the same strings.
But have never had an issue with scale.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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?

Not much difference with the short scale, it's just like playing up the finger board of a 34". Going the other way, it takes some adjustment. Muscle memory is a hard master to counteract. Best idea is not to play the same songs on both basses.

 

[Gorilla Monsoon]

I go from a 30” Rob Allen Mouse to a 35” GG five with no trouble at all, but they are fretless.

 

[Gorilla Monsoon]

Honestly the hardest change for me was learning 5 from 4 string. It took several weeks before both hands were on the same strings.
But have never had an issue with scale.

^^^^^THIS^^^^^ is a more difficult switch, by far.

 

[brianrost]

I switch between 30”, 34”, 35” and 40”+ (upright) all the time.

 

[Rickplaysbass]

Honestly the hardest change for me was learning 5 from 4 string. It took several weeks before both hands were on the same strings.
But have never had an issue with scale.

Even that never tripped me up, idk. I suck equally at all versions of bass I suppose. \_(°.°)_/

 

[stringthrough]

I switch frequently just to make playing more interesing. For me, going from long to short is the bigger challenge. It results in the occasional "over-extension" of about 1/4 of the way into the next higher fret. It's OK for the first 5-7 frets but things can get messy beyong that point.

 

[eldorado2001]

I do, most every gig, no problems with scale.

 

[jdjk7]

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'm not very sensitive to scale length. I mostly play 34'', but have played 35'' and 30''. I think one of my basses might be 33.25'', but I'm not sure.

In that range, I just pick up a different scale instrument and it does not take me long to readjust. For very short or very long scales, it takes more.

 

[Dabndug]

I play upright, long scale, Rick scale, short scale, and various guitar scales without issue, but I do have the "bad habit" of eyeing the fingerboard every now and then, which helps a lot.