Cheap 36" scale four string

[LajoieT]

I checked out the Wish bass site for the first time the other day... If I ever want a really really ugly guitar, I'll be sure to go there,

I think you missed the point of owning a Wish.

Don't hate it 'cause it's ugly, hate it cause it's made like $h1t.

 

[Drake Kennedy]

haha, he didn't say anything against you, why'd you reccomend wish?
Check out www.rondomusic.com if you want some 35" options. For a little more, you could get a BTB from ibanez. I'm braggin on them because i just got one, and they're wonderful.
Not that it really matters, but the C string doesn't sound near as hollow as most 35-ers.

 

[mattpnolan]

What basses does Rondo have that are 35"?

 

[Dincrest]

Finding a 35" scale 4-string can be difficult, especially on a budget. ESP's LTD F104 is a 4-string with a 35" scale.

It's much easier to find a 35" scale fiver, even at a lower price bracket like Brice.

 

[joeyhimself]

Finding a 35" scale 4-string can be difficult, especially on a budget. ESP's LTD F104 is a 4-string with a 35" scale.

+1. That's the only 35" scale 4-string I've been able to find. It has active EQ to boot, albeit, not the best. I believe it can be had for $300 at Musician's Friend too.

 

[heretic]

Schecter makes a 35" four string called the Scorpion. I think it comes tuned BEAD. Its a little under $600 new, I bet you could find one used for about $300-$400.

Link Removed

 

[sargebaker]

I'm just curious but can you actually give a coherent detailed reason as to why you want a 36" four-banger as opposed to just "why not?" (partly because we've went over the why not...) I'll tell you right now IMPOSSIBLE. To my knowledge there are no production 36" scale basses especially in 4s for which I really don't see it bennefiting unless you are André the Giant .... Furthermore I don't know too many production basses at 300 bux...( well okay I actually know plenty but still!) All this to say it will be impossible to find unless you go Wish or custom which will cost you more than 300$.

EDIT: If you can only spend 300$ on the bass itself I really don't know what you'll do for strings because there are strong chances they will have to special ordered form your store / online.

 

[knuckle_head]

It's not terribly hard to get a good sounding E string on a 34" scale bass, so unless you're tuning BEAD, an extended scale 4 string would probably do more harm than good.

I find I actually prefer the timbre on a longer scaled instrument.

When you get to 36" and beyond you have to reconsider how you string your bass. The longer you go the better served you will be in reversing traditional thinking with regard to tension.

Traditional string sets are such that as you go lower the strings become looser. A normal gauge low string on a 36" scale or longer picks up overtones it lacks at a shorter scale length. As well because of the additional tension the action can be set lower to make it easier to play. It will require less compression as well because the excursion is lessened.

Treble strings are affected extremely profoundly by changes in tension. Even a slight variant in any characterisitic that increases tension will make treble strings more shrill, will diminish output and can quickly become the proverbial cheese slicer.

The benefits will out-weigh having to rethink gauges and sets IMO - the timbre even on the lower strings (once you settle on what is comfortable to the fingers and pleasing to the ears) will give you a sound that is unique and powerful.

As traditional gauges go a 36" scale E will blow you away. You can feel the difference in the A. You would likely want to go lighter for your G (.005 or so) and most definitely lighter for the C (.010 or more).

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

As traditional gauges go a 36" scale E will blow you away. You can feel the difference in the A. You would likely want to go lighter for your G (.005 or so) and most definitely lighter for the C (.010 or more).

A .010 C string sounds extremely thin...are you saying a thinner C and G at higher tensions (36" and up) will do more to thicken the timbre of those strings than standard gauges?

And you didn't mean a .005 G string, did you? I assumed that was a typo.

 

[knuckle_head]

A .010 C string sounds extremely thin...are you saying a thinner C and G at higher tensions (36" and up) will do more to thicken the timbre of those strings than standard gauges?

And you didn't mean a .005 G string, did you? I assumed that was a typo.

What I meant was a gauge of string that much thinner than the gauge you would otherwise use in a standard set.

If your set went .105 .085 .065 .045 on a 34" then the more appropriately gauged set would be .105 .085 .060 .035 on a 36" scale.

The timbre will thicken up with less tension and more excursion is what I was getting at. You can reach a point of diminishing returns depending on how high you want to tune your bass.

Wound strings are available in as thin as a .025 gauge. Plains are an option as thin as .008 but you would be well above standard pitches at tension with either of those methinks.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Ok, thanks for clarifying. I normally use a .120 .100 .80 .60 .40 on my 35" scale basses and recently acquired a 36" six-string. Would you suggest switching to a set of .120 .100 .80 .55 .35 .20 or so to maintain a thicker timbre?

 

[Brendan]

Aren't the Dingwall AB1 four bangers 36.25" on the E? The Dingy Superjazz is a 35" E, I know, but I'm pretty sure the AB1s have the full 36.25" E.

Considerably more than $300, but they are production basses 4s with a 36.25" E.

 

[knuckle_head]

Ok, thanks for clarifying. I normally use a .120 .100 .80 .60 .40 on my 35" scale basses and recently acquired a 36" six-string. Would you suggest switching to a set of .120 .100 .80 .55 .35 .20 or so to maintain a thicker timbre?

Yes.... yes I would - but only if you are unhappy with either the timbre or tension you have at the moment.

Let me know how it works.

You might have to go about getting single strings to pull this off.

 

[FCM3]

AS Brendan mentioned...
Dingwall Afterburners 4 strings have a 36.25" E string. The Dingwall SuperJ production models have a 34.5 E string. Since they have a Novax fretboard the higher strings dont have that thin sound