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Fodera Club Part XXIII

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#811
The whole scale length thing (aside from relative tonal and string tension differences) as it relates to the height or hand size or whatever of the player is an interesting subject. Felix Pastorius is tall but is currently playing a 33" scale while someone like Victor W. is playing (I think) a 34" scale. (And who remembers when Talking Heads came out and people were amazed that Tina Weymouth, a little woman, was playing the bass at all!).

There are so many elements that factor into this, but it all comes down to your technique and personal preference. Anyone of any size can play any size instrument if they know what they are doing.
 
#813
Honestly, just playing bass lines has never been a problem at any scale length, it's just when I start doing stuff like chording that it becomes an issue for me. Weight and position of the bass has been a bigger factor then the scale length. 33 & 34 work out pretty well for me.
 
#814
Hou said:
How is your 33 roscoe compared to your MGS feel like?
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They are both very comfortable to play, although the Roscoe is very noticeably lighter than the MGS. The MGS isn't a heavyweight at about 10lbs but with my padded levys leather strap is balances very well and I feel fine doing a 2 hour gig with it.
I got my MGS last Tuesday and gigged it Friday Saturday and Monday and it was great, sounded and played great but the only problem I have with it is trying to slap on it. The extra 2 frets make it difficult (for me) now it can be done its just harder.
Also the string spacing feels fine to me, my Roscoe has 18.3 (I think) and the MGS when I got it was set to it's widest which I like and it's fairly close to 18mm.
I'd love to order a 33" scale Imperial with an undersized body like the MGS but with 24 frets but keep the rest of the specs like the MGS as it sounds great (maybe change the headstock to 2+3 as well).
On a side note I'd like to restring it B-G if I can get someone to widen the nut slots as that's what I'm used to playing.
 
#816
Hey Fodera owners, just i want to discover something more on this stunning instruments. I have to say, the monarch is my favorite, but i saw on their website the monarch standard and the monarch series, are they different in body shape? Also the headstock is different!! Sorry but my english sucks, so witch are the main differences?

Thanks anyway!!
 
#819
Steveman said:
Comfort wise, the size of your hands > the size of your body imo. Victor may be pretty short but his hands are pretty huge from what I can tell from all the videos I've seen.
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Victors hands are pretty tiny. I've shaken his hand enough times....but hand size/body size really has very little to do with being able to play the bass. Maybe the double bass, but not electric bass. I've seen guys with insanely short little sausage fingers tear down 7 strings, and guys with MASSIVE hands tear up 4 strings. Felix Pastorius has absolutely enormous hands. When we used to jam in Florida he always played a '72 jazz bass and could almost wrap his fingers around the whole neck twice. He even owned a 9 string back then and it wasn't an issue for him. I'm 6' 1", and also have really big hands. Not as big as his, but definitely bigger than most. I find the 33" scale just incredibly compact and comfortable, yet I had absolutely zero problems on the 34"s, 35"s, and 36"s that I've played. Just personal taste. I think Felix feels the same about that, hence his newer Fodera.
 
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