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difference between neck lengths and string tension?

Ian the bassist

Ian the bassist

Sep 15, 2009
426
11
Dublin, Ireland
#1
I have been playing bass for 5 years but have never really gotten into the mechanics side of the bass. I have 2 main basses a 4 string 20 fretter and a 5 string 24 fret. The 4 string is a dirt cheap model and doesn't sound great but feels great to play. My 5 string has great sound but isn't as nice on my hands. The action is higher and the strings are tighther and I snap strings regularly with bends on this bass but have never snapped one on my four string. I just want to know is there a way of loostening the strings so they aren't as tight? I heard that with longer scale necks thats why the strings are tighter but am not sure if you can loosten them to make it easier for bends etc.
 
#2
We don't know that your basses have different scale lengths. Truth be told, there's a really good chance that your basses, even your 5-string, have 34" scales (brand & model would be nice info to give us).

In any case if you increase the scale (speaking length of the string), you have to do one of the following to achieve similar tension:
1) Detune the string.
2) Find a lighter gauge.

Where are you snapping strings at? From experience, and from a physical standpoint, unless you are tightening the strings to tensions just below the threshold, (highly unlikely), the issues with string breakage probably come from somewhere else and not from the added 1" in scale length.
 
#3
FunkMetalBass said:
We don't know that your basses have different scale lengths. Truth be told, there's a really good chance that your basses, even your 5-string, have 34" scales (brand & model would be nice info to give us).
Click to expand...


To further clarify, there is no correlation between scale length and the number of frets on the bass. In theory, you could have frets running all the way to the bridge and not change the scale length. Generally, a 24 fret bass means more neck and less body, but the string remains the same overall length from nut to bridge.

All that considered, as Funk stated, the only way you are going to get a "looser" feel on the bass is to use a lighter string.
 
#4
Scale length (the distance from the nut to the bridge saddles) affects string tension. However, neck length does not necessarily correspond to scale length, and number of frets is completely irrelevant to string tension.

There're a LOT of factors that impact perceived string tension when you're playing, and these include:

Scale length
Nut height
Saddle height
Fret size
String length beyond the anchors (nut to tuning machine, and saddle to ball end)
Action adjustments
Neck relief
Players' preconceptions

Now, what exactly are the two basses? Have you had them both set up by the same person going for the same feel? What strings are you using? Where exactly are the strings breaking? Is the core snapping, or is the outer winding coming undone?

These answers will help find a solution for you.

John
 
#5
Another issue, is the brand and type of string. For example, Thomastik and La Bella flats both look similar, but the TI's are super low-tension, while the La Bella's are about as tight you can find.

Anyway, since you've not been into the mechanical side of things in the past, chances are that your basses haven't been professionally set up. Most stores simply unbox 'em and sell 'em, these days...

If that's the case, then get thee to a tech, with both basses in hand. A good tech can set up the 5-string to suit your preferences, based on how you've been running the 4. As a bonus, he can probably also make the 4 feel and sound better than it currently does.

And if there are physical reasons why they can't be matched (if your 4 is a Beatle bass and your fiver is a 35" scale Lakland, for example), then he'll tell you that, as well.
 
#6
Also keep in mind that to a certain extent you aren't directly reacting to the tension of the string when plucking it; you're feeling the flexibility of the wound string assembly (which can be very different from brand to brand). True, increased tension will make the string feel "tighter", all other things being equal; but it's not the only thing which can make a string feel tight or loose.
 
#7
Thank for all the replies. Sorry I should have put up more info on my basses. The 4 string is an sx lefty 'Vintage series' And the 5 string is a 'Dean Edge'. They are both set to low action. Now here's the strange thing. My 4 string is tuned standard and my 5 string is tuned half a step down since I use the 5 string to play gigs and the 4 string just for home use. Yet the 5 string still has a tighter feel on the strings. About a year back I had the 5 string taken to be set up by a pro. At the time I couldn't achieve low action on the higher frets without getting a fret buzz so he placed a shim in the neck. I don't know if this has caused the strings to be tighter or not but I have the low action which is the most important thing. The string tension is just a small problem my bass plays fine and all it's just the 4 string feels better to play and was hoping I could get my 5 string to feel the same way. To John- The strings I am using are didario nickle wounds regular light gauge. The string usually snaps just below the nut. And the winding is coming undone the strings is still intact.
 

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