Everyone owns a Short Scale.

[Clef_de_fa]

I think you have a fundamental misunderstanding of how fret placement is calculated and what it means.

ok I'll go read on that

 

[hover]

What am I missing?

You stated the "feel" is essentially the same, I'm suggesting that isn't necessarily the case. Does the note ring the same and in tune? sure thing. But the string feel / response may feel different.

 

[petrus61]

You stated the "feel" is essentially the same, I'm suggesting that isn't necessarily the case. Does the note ring the same and in tune? sure thing. But the string feel / response may feel different.

That would be my primary concern if I was utilizing a capo to simulate a short scale.

 

[smeet]

You stated the "feel" is essentially the same, I'm suggesting that isn't necessarily the case. Does the note ring the same and in tune? sure thing. But the string feel / response may feel different.

Yes. I was referring to feel being the same whether or not you use a capo. I don't think either one is the same as using an actual short scale bass.

 

[flameworker]

If people say witness points change tension they don't know the difference between tension and flexibility.
Tension is the pull the tuner is exerting on the string. It doesn't change with witness points or length.
Flexibility is the bendiness of a string. It changes with length even if tension is kept constant.

perfect, i never heard it put that way, I like 2 piece bridges and have been planning to move the rear part back to decrease flexibility, I have been referring to it as tension, and thats where the miscommunication came from. I want the stiffest string possible. Thanks.

 

[hsech]

I have a 1975 Musicmaster bass with tape on the neck that I used to teach my kids intervals with.

I'm pretty sure that's the best use of a short scale bass guitar.

The best use of a short scale bass is to play it every gig like I do.

 

[hsech]

Forget the capo. Just learn to play in the difficult keys. You will be a better musician for it.

 

[lz4005]

perfect, i never heard it put that way, I like 2 piece bridges and have been planning to move the rear part back to decrease flexibility, I have been referring to it as tension, and thats where the miscommunication came from. I want the stiffest string possible. Thanks.

In that case you want the shortest behind-the-bridge length possible. More string will, in theory, stretch more.
Think about it this way: If you could move the tail piece back 34 inches you'd have double the string length to stretch when you bend the string. But if it was the same string material and thickness, tuned to the same note, the tension would be the same.

That being said, adding or subtracting an inch or two of behind the bridge length probably won't make an appreciable difference.

 

[Robert Spencer]

This is my 32" scale Hohner acoustic. Due to very limited ability in my left hand and arm I detuned it to drop D and used an ebay capo at 2nd fret. Its now a 30 " scale in standard tuning. Can even tune it with capo in place. The dots are a little confusing in the beginning but you get used to it soon.. My other basses are 30" from the factory. Hard to find a good 30" acoustic so i did what i had to do to make it work. Glad i did though. it was worth it.

 

[Pacman]

Definitely not Technique related. Moved to Basses.

 

[mongo2]

Is there a decent bass capo available? I was just reading about lopping the first fret to get a 32.5" scale, or 2 for a 30, and I realized if what people say about witness points determining tension (assuming the capo is damn tight) is correct, then we all have short scale basses, just tape the dots or they will drive you nuts.

About 20 years ago I injured my left shoulder and couldn't reach the lower frets without pain. I used a capo to shorten up the scale on my longscale, set it up for the lower string tension and used it that way for about 6 months while my shoulder healed and got back into shape. I never had a problem with the dots since I don't look at the fingerboard.