Carl Thompson called me yesterday....

[J Gold]

He gave me his rationale as to why I should get a 36” scale as opposed to 34” which I specified back in May.
Who am I to argue with a master??

 

[Teacher]

And...?

 

[Snaxster]

He gave me his rationale as to why I should get a 36” scale as opposed to 34” which I specified back in May.
Who am I to argue with a master??

Hello. In case your question was not only rhetorical, the answer is that you're the one has to play the thing and will be paying for it.

 

[J Gold]

He has compelling arguments for why 36” is better, most specifically intonation . He said he’d do 34” but doesn’t feel it’s the best, it’s just the size Leo Fender decided upon.
I play 35” regularly on my 6 strings, and I do love the feel and sound.
I hate 32”, which is Carl’s other go-to scale.
I’m not yet sure I could handle 38”, which he says is on his main bass, even though he’s about 5’8 and quite older than me.
Anyway, it’s my money, and who knows how many more CT basses will be built, so I’m taking the risk and going for 36”. If I hate it, I’d bet someone here will make me a fair offer for it and I’ll go buy 20 Squiers instead.

 

[ModuMan]

If you are comfy on 35" scale basses you may barely even tell the difference.

Might be worth a flight to go play one and be sure?

Whatever you go with, congrats on getting a CT!

 

[cataract]

The longest scale I’ve played on was the ‘73 Gibson Ripper I owned years ago, which I believe was 34.5”— the neck was cozy enough to not really feel any different than the standard 34” Fender Precision I’d been playing for several years prior.
When it comes to overall comfort, in my experience it really all depends on the nut width & overall taper of the neck.
I’d take Carl’s word to heart— I can only imagine owning one of his instruments (let alone putting my hands on one) but if he called me with any sort of advice in a build he had going for me, I’d let him take the reins for sure.
There must be a specific reason for his opinion on this matter, possibly preferred tuning involved.

 

[mikewalker]

 

[Bassist30]

There are many 36" scale players. Carl Thompson said its the best regarding intonation. What makes all luthiers different is their beliefs and their differences. I like longer scale on 5 and 6 string basses. But for 4 string I like a 34 scale. If intonation is an issue you can have a 0 fret which would give it a Buzzy Feiten tuning. If you have a newer Peterson floor tuner you can get a somewhat of a buzzy feiten tuning without the 0 fret. Close but not the same. I have a 34 scale 5 string sadowsky and love the B. There are many great sounding 34 string basses as well as 35 and 36. But keep in mind the G string will also be effected by the scale length. I don't mean to confuse you but experiment with a 36 scale bass before making a choice if you never played one.

 

[GHOST AT]

He has compelling arguments for why 36” is better, most specifically intonation . He said he’d do 34” but doesn’t feel it’s the best, it’s just the size Leo Fender decided upon.
I play 35” regularly on my 6 strings, and I do love the feel and sound.
I hate 32”, which is Carl’s other go-to scale.
I’m not yet sure I could handle 38”, which he says is on his main bass, even though he’s about 5’8 and quite older than me.
Anyway, it’s my money, and who knows how many more CT basses will be built, so I’m taking the risk and going for 36”. If I hate it, I’d bet someone here will make me a fair offer for it and I’ll go buy 20 Squiers instead.

Just curious how many years have you been waiting for the call?

 

[Gorn]

You gave someone several thousand dollars to make something for you and now six months later he thinks he should make something you didn't ask for? You are the one who should argue because it's your money. If he didn't make this suggestion in May than he never should've made it at all.

 

[Axstar]

So you've comissioned a Carl Thompson bass, right?

Definition of HUMBLEBRAG

 

[J Gold]

Just curious how many years have you been waiting for the call?

He told me in May when I gave the deposit to check with him in November, it took a few weeks for him to call me back after I texted and left a voicemail and once got him briefly on the phone. He called me this past Sunday and we talked for a good 30 minutes.

 

[India_Sierra]

Who am I to argue with a master??

A paying customer, that's who. But if Carl thinks he knows better than you what you want...

I don't have any objection to a 36" scale bass but they don't feel like a 34".

 

[Kelly robinson]

Interesting dilemma you have here - if you are a professional musician playing out regularly as I would assume if you are spending that much on a bass - I would wonder if your hearing is good enough to detect the differences . Several of my friends are heavy players who have noticeable hearing loss after years of exposure . So in a sense - you are trading the scale comfort off for the potential intonation improvement that you may or may not be able to hear - Kelly

 

[fretno]

I have no problems taking advice from a master even if at first it’s outside my normal comfort zone.

 

[Turxile]

It's true that intonation is better in longer scales. However I doubt you will hear the difference between 34" and 36".
For example, I have a 26" scale bass which doesn't have significant intonation problems, but I also have a 17" scale bass which is a pain to tune let alone intonate.
There are tonal advantages to 36" for sure, the B string should sing.
I'd be very tempted to go along with a 36", just because it's not conventional

 

[Gorn]

Wasn't the time for masterly advice before money changed hands?

 

[ezstep]

My main bass is 36" scale. You will like it.

However, I cannot help wondering if CT has a few 36" scale necks lying around and no 34" scale necks - hence the call. lol

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

With all my respect, I'd go with a multi-scale bass instead in that case. Good for the B but I'd prefer less than 36" on other strings.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

With all my respect, I'd go with a multi-scale bass instead in that case. Good for the B but I'd prefer less than 36" on other strings.