Does nut width, string spacing and/or scale length influence your bass purchases?

Nothing really matters to me other than scale. I'm happy with 32" on some basses but I prefer 34". I have gone off the 'stiff' feel of 35" scale.

 

I voted the bottom option. I love playing anything but recently purchased an Epi T-Bird and I’m finding I can fly up and down that skinny neck a lot faster than my Precision or my Reverend. I’ll certainly consider nut width in any of my future purchases.

 

To answer the question:-

Yes. On all three points.

 

I like narrow string spacing, wide nut width, and 33.25" scale.

 

I adore the baseball bat warwicks

 

First, I limit myself on the price. $500 is the limit. I am not professional musician (thank God). so, it's pretty much wast of money, something like alcohol or fancy clothing.
Second, I like to have diverse options in the sound range. Lately, I found 35"scale is not more for my fingers. For that matter 34" is also pain in the fingers.
Third, I hate fat neck. But, I need to reconsider this. It might be easier for me to play fat neck, like it was easier to play short scale. Our bodies change and we need to go back and reconsider our dislikes sometime. You never know what you can find out.

 

No. None of this matters. Put it in my hands and I will play it.

 

I try anything that catches my eye. If it feels good in the hands I can make it work.

I consider nothing beyond that.

 

Since my left shoulder has turned to dust, it's all about scale length and reach for me. More specifically, where first position falls. My Starfire, while short-scale, has its bridge set mid-body, which pushes first position way out there... beautiful bass that is essentially unplayed. My 32" conversion P is far more comfortable, and just about at the "reach" limit for me. It sounds wimpy, but that extra 2" for regular scale is a deal breaker. Sad because my old warhorse MIA P now resides with my son, and my J sits unused...

-robert

 

I have huge hands. I do have one 32 inch scale bass I built that has a J width neck; in my hands it feels like a toy. I keep it around for gigs on crowded stages, but every thing else I have is a P width neck on a 34 inch scale. Even my J has a P neck.

 

For 4 strings, anything is fine. With 5ers, I'm surprisingly sensitive to string spacing at the bridge. I bought then sold a really nice MM Sterling because I couldn't get comfortable with how close together the strings were. On the verge of selling my Roscoe Beck 5er because the strings are too far apart.

Never cared much about scale length but been playing a Univox Hi-Flier lately and I'm really enjoying the shorter scale.

 

Yes, I do have my preferences, but if I find it cheaply enough, I would buy basses that doesn't check all my ideal criteria as long as the bass provides a special sound and uniqueness, I'm willing to tolerate any slight inconvenience, or perhaps even try to get used to it.
However for the most part, yes - my selection is based heavily with comfort in mind - this is more true for 5 string basses than 4.

 

I can get used to anything. I have preferences but I'm willing to overlook them if the overall vibe is good.

 

I feel like a beginner or novice can easily adjust to any configuration, but anyone who has spent a few decades on one particular instrument will find it hard to learn to accommodate a new physical arrangement. Personally, I remember a year and a half in another country without my main instrument, when I purchased a cheap substitute locally, of a different scale. Later, when reunited with my main instrument, my orientation had altered by a whole fret, and I could no longer find notes strictly by feel—an orientation I never quite readjusted to.

I liken it to automobiles. The mechanics of driving are essentially the same between a Smart car and a Hummer, so it would be easy for most drivers to drive either, but if you spent your whole life driving one car, it might be hard to adjust to another.

 

Not much matters on a 4 string except scale length. I prefer 34". Five string, I am much more proficient with 34" and narrow spacing (17-18mm). I struggle reaching the low B on a 19mm 5-string.

 

I can get used to anything as well, but I do prefer certain specs over others and given the choice I'm going to purchase an instrument based around them.

 

Whenever I do decide to use my medium scale for a weekend, I play it the whole week before - it takes a while to feel natural.

 

The only one of those specs that I feel strongly about is having a 35" scale on any bass with a low B string. The rest is pretty much a case by case (or bass by bass) basis.