Favorite scale length(4-string)? ==poll==

[Cliff Bordwell]

I would like to hear about evryones personal favorite scale length.
Let's start with the 4-string.

I can't list them all so choose the closest and let us know what you really prefer.

 

[amandolin]

Man, I hope I'm not the only goober who votes 30".

 

[l0calh05t]

42"





Oh, sorry, we're in the BG forum In that case 34" (which is what I voted) anything longer is unnecessary and anything shorter feels like a guitar

 

[SwamiRob]

Just 34 for me, I'd kinda like to try something bigger one day, but I'm clumsy enough with the size of a normal bass for knocking into stuff... and people...

 

[Blake Bass]

I prefer 34" but I would like to try a 32" someday.

 

[spade2you]

I like 35" since the extra tension seems to allow the lower strings to allow for lower action and a thicker dropped D. I know it's probably in my head, but I feel that 35" scale offers a little more forgiveness in the intonation, but that's just me. Then again, I own a 35" scale CB 4 string and LOVE it.

 

[honestjohnny]

Would a 30.5" scale fall under 30" or 31"? 'Cause that's my preferrence.

 

[jsingles]

my 4 and 5er are both 34

 

[dystopiate]

I voted 34", but should start by saying that I'm very inexperienced with anything less than a 34" scale.

I've discovered that, for my hands (which are probably pretty average sized), anything over 34" just isn't comfortable. I even spent 6 yrs with a 35" b/c it was an amazing player. It never got comfortable for me. Going back to a 34", I don't feel like I've really sacrificed anything in terms of tone, but I know many people swear by the B string on over 34 inchers.

I've messed around with a few short scale basses in stores and always felt like they lacked something in tone and found them too cluttered above the 15th fret or so.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

my 4 and 5er are both 34

+1. I tune ADGCF on my 5 too, and it works out. I did move the bridge on that one, but only to get some space between the saddles and the back of the bridge. Stringing was a pain before that....

 

[bassman10096]

After lots of years playing 34's, I finally looked up several really superb shorties. The sound is different from a longer scale, but not inferior. A good short scale bass is a lot more difficult (and often expensive) to build than a good long scale, so there's a trade off to be accepted if you prefer the feel of a short scale.

 

[Wilbyman]

33" for me!

 

[DeanT]

I voted for 31" even though my favorite short scale length is 30.5". But there was no choice for that so I picked the closest one. I guess I rounded up a bit.

 

[RobJ]

What no carrots today?

heheh.. I voted 34", I found it's the most comfortable for me.

 

[BassAgent]

I like 34" on a 4-stringer, 35" on a 5-stringer. 34 for comfort, 35 to have something big in my hands.

 

[lposavad]

What about the fannned fret and carrots categories?

 

[bigcardinal]

Thanks to arthritis, its short scale (30") for me from now on. I do miss the sound of my 34" P-bass though. Maybe I haven't tried the right short scale bass yet, but I can't seem to find one that sits as well in the mix and has the clarity that a 34" does.

 

[SwamiRob]

I like 35" since the extra tension seems to allow the lower strings to allow for lower action and a thicker dropped D. I know it's probably in my head, but I feel that 35" scale offers a little more forgiveness in the intonation, but that's just me. Then again, I own a 35" scale CB 4 string and LOVE it.

On the subject of action&scale, as a fan of relatively high action, does anyone know if scale length makes a big difference to what you can do with your action?

 

[tplyons]

34" for me, but I don't particularly mind 30" or 32". I like having a variety to throw me out of my comfort zone.

 

[Solarmist]

34" for my smaller sized hands ... tried a 35" a couple times, and it was quite a noticable stretch, but if that's all they made - I'd do it anyway