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Full Scale or Short Scale?

#2
I play extra long scale (35"), but I play 5-6 strings almost exclusively. 34" is just not enough scale length to let that B shine, which is tragic that Ibanez hasn't figured that out yet. I love the tone of their SR basses, but those B's are just too floppy for my taste.

Now if I'm playing a 4-string, I'll take full scale (34"). Short scale basses are just plain fun though.

Wow. That made me miss my Dano...
 
#4
I like 34" for my bass thats tuned B-G and I like my 30" tuned E-C. I think the G and D strings sound better on a 30". TBH I think I would like medium scale the best, but good luck finding a 32" 5 string with 16.5mm or less at the bridge that doesn't have to be custom made, or cost more than my first house.
 
#5
I prefer short scale because it's what I've got. Thinking of getting a full scale, though -- I see kids and teenage girls on Youtube, with hands half the size of mine, completely wailin' on 'em, so I figure I should be able to handle one. :)
 
#6
Shortscale 4 strings.

I find them generally lighter, easier to play, sound like a bass, and (this is my favorite) the response of my short scales is more even and better at controlling hot/deadspots than long scales.
 
#7
I think we can predict the feedback here, given the general dearth of high-quality-but-reasonable-cost short scale models on the market compared to full scale models. Being new to bass, I ordered a short scale Gretsch to learn on. Who knows, maybe I'll stay shorty forever. Why be all splayed out like an orangutan in a tree if you don't have to be? ;D
 
#8
My Warr guitar is basically a six string bass for each hand, so when I play bass I play four string basses exclusively. Definitely prefer 35 inch scale over 34 though. Anything in first position sounds like God talking. Not that I don't love a fast 32 or 30 inch neck, but never heard one that I would record with.
 
#10
So sorry neither....

I DO enjoy my only 30" short scale - it's a Rob Allen Mouse - especially for marthon sessions when I am writing or drilling parts - tapes are easy on the fingers and the bass is so easy to play I don't get fatigued.

But it's 32" MEDIUM scale for me all the way. Will never own another long scale, period. Absolutely no interest whatsoever....

Play what fits you.

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net
 
#12
I've found that there is a real lack of good quality short scale basses if you like a classic Fender jazz or precision tone. I've played a Mustang but it just feels like a toy to me. The Gibson SG bass plays good and feels good but it's not the right tone for me. I don't like the sound of most hollow bodies either so my options are pretty limited. There is a Fender jazz short scale made in Japan and available on ebay that will run you over a $1000 to have shipped here. That's too much for me to take a chance on so I'm in the process of having Michael Dolan make me a short scale neck for my American jazz with Fralin pickups. My hope is the tone will be maintained. It's a $400 experiment.
 
#14
Solarmist said:
34" scale for me - I had a shorty once, and it felt like a toy.
Click to expand...

stickynotes said:
I've played a Mustang but it just feels like a toy to me.
Click to expand...

Hmm. My AmStd Strat doesn't feel like a toy, and it's smaller & lighter than a short scale bass. Perhaps they only felt like toys because you were used to the 34" models? Basically there's an arbitrary view of "normalcy" based on market volume. Did 34" become the standard because it's "best," or did 34" become the standard because Fender was the big dog in the marketplace and 34" was their decided-upon standard?

I've also heard the comment that short scale basses look goofy. As a guitarist, 34" basses look goofy to me. Different perspective I suppose.

stickynotes said:
I'm in the process of having Michael Dolan make me a short scale neck for my American jazz with Fralin pickups. My hope is the tone will be maintained. It's a $400 experiment.
Click to expand...

Please keep us informed. I'd love to know how this works out.

I keep bugging G&L for a short scale Fallout bass. Maybe someday...
 
#17
I like them both! I play both 34" and 30" scale. I have some very nice short scales that really are a blast to play! Have a lot of great 34" scales too. I feel that the 30" scale basses have this underlying woolly tone that I really gig. I'm a big guy too, and both scales are very compy.
 
#18
I started in the 60's on a borrowed EB-2, short scale so when I bought my first bass, it was a Hagstrom shorty (with the world's greatest neck). I played that for many years, modding it now and then as I saw fit.

Then moved to Long scale, with my USA P bass the first of many, and now I that my hands are slowing down I have been progressing back through medium scale and may go back to short. My back and my hands are asking me to.

My 2 Hagstroms are great, but the sound is a little too aggressive for some things. Need to try the new Mustangs and/or look for a Birdsong and just be done with it.
 
#20
Absolutely short scale.

I think the notion that a bass has to be the size of a tree for great tone is nonsense.

Lots of bass players play a long scale bass - and then spend the rest of their lives chasing tone that they can only have - with a short scale.

I play and market guitar-scale basses. Eventually more players will realize that there is great tone - and playing joy - to be had with a much shorter scale bass.
 
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