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Getting used to both 34" and 35" basses?

E

Enmesarra

Apr 29, 2007
157
6
Turkey
#1
I am currently playing a 34" scaled 5 string bass that I feel so connected that I won't break up with unless some real serious financial trouble or something like that happens. Now I am considering of buying a 6 string bass (probably fretless) in addition to that and there aren't much choices for a 34" player, like I can't get a Brice HXB-406 fretless for just $290 because of the 35" scale, or if I win the lottery or something, high end brands like MTD, Modulus, etc.. are out of the game too.

I feel like I won't have much trouble with generally adjusting to the 35" scale but the thing that scares me is the false harmonics. I got used to the exact points on my 34" bass, if I planned selling my current bass, it would just take some time to adjust to 35" but since I decided to keep it, I'll have to play 34" then 35" then 34"... and adjust my physical memory everytime :confused:

So, what do you say? Did anyone go through this problem? Any solutions?
 
#2
Some guys really have no problem and are able to switch easily. I struggled a bit and ultimately couldn't hack it - the difference in tension of strings on a 34" and a 35" was just too distinct for me to comfortably adapt to. I think a lot of it will depend on your comfort in stretching over a slightly longer fingerboard, particularly in the lower registers.

Lonnybas
 
#7
I don't have any problem with fretted basses, or with fretlesses with big differences in scale, like the aforementioned 30" to 35" scales. I play upright and electric upright with 42" scales, etc. Large differences in scale length just feel like different instruments to me, and my brain seems to store different sets of instructions just fine. With 34" to 35" scale fretlesses, though, it's close enought that my brain, or muscle memory, or whatever, gets fooled. I would always have to spend some time readjusting when switching back and forth. So I just decided to standardize on the 34" scale of my P basses.

You should try, though ... some players can just switch back and forth with no problems, others (like me) can't.

Cheers
 
#8
My main gigger is 35" (5-string MTD Artist); main recording axe is my Line6 Variax 705 (34"-scale 5-string). It's zero problem going back & forth to me.

If you are having trouble, IMO, that just means you need to practice more on each, and especially switching back and forth. That's a key, IMHO, to improving - target the things that you're not good at, and work on them specifically. Play on a 34" scale for 1 minute, then a 35" scale for one minute, running scales (including open strings and playing scales up & down single strings, etc). Do this for 20 minutes two or three days in a row and it shouldn't be a problem ever again. Hope this helps.

- Dave
 
#9
Mayers said:
Try Carvin , they have 34" 6 strings basses.
Click to expand...

Dave Muscato said:
My main gigger is 35" (5-string MTD Artist); main recording axe is my Line6 Variax 705 (34"-scale 5-string). It's zero problem going back & forth to me.

If you are having trouble, IMO, that just means you need to practice more on each, and especially switching back and forth. That's a key, IMHO, to improving - target the things that you're not good at, and work on them specifically. Play on a 34" scale for 1 minute, then a 35" scale for one minute, running scales (including open strings and playing scales up & down single strings, etc). Do this for 20 minutes two or three days in a row and it shouldn't be a problem ever again. Hope this helps.

- Dave
Click to expand...

Buy a new bass vs. practicing.......practicing seems a bit cheaper, eh?
 
#11
I really struggle with this. My hands are pretty small. I have trouble in first position on a 35" scale, especially when speed walking is involved.

I don't see it as a player weakness at all... 35" scale is just a feature... not a necessity. I am really dissapointed because so many of the high end basses that I'm looking at for session work are 35" scale. I would love to be able to like an MTD or another nice bass, but I don't see it as something really worth getting used to. This might change as I get older, but right now I think I'm sticking with 34". Just means I'll have to find a real mean sadowsky ;).
 
#12
Enmesarra said:
... Now I am considering of buying a 6 string bass (probably fretless) ...
Click to expand...
To me there is more to consider than adjusting to a longer scale length.

First, 35" is fine for a 5 string bass, but I dislike it for 6 string basses. While the B string may benefit from the longer scale, the C string doesn't. In many cases, the C strings of 35" basses sound tinny and artificial -- not like they are coming from a bass anyway. I'd never buy a 35" 6 string bass without playing it (or hearing it played) to make sure the C string is good.

Second, people are different and obviously this doesn't affect some players, but then again, how much of your practice time do you want to dedicate to adjusting to differences in basses, and how much to getting BETTER at bass?

Third, I've found that the more drastic the differences, the easier it is to adjust. For example, moving from an upright with a 42" scale to a bass guitar with a 34" scale isn't that hard because your mind, your visual perception and your muscle memory all "get" that this is a different instrument. It's like playing bass and piano -- playing bass doesn't hold back your piano skills and visa versa. However, when instruments are very close is where I struggle. You approach them with a false confidence that you've got it, when actually it is a bit different.

Also, scale length adjusting is MUCH easier with fretted basses than fretless. Think about intonation alone. Again, how much of your practice time do you want to spend adjusting to the differences in your basses so you can play in tune as a habit, and how much of your practice time do you want to spend getting better at playing the bass.

People are different, and they adapt quickly or not, but just in principle, it makes sense that the more similar the instruments, the more readily they are mastered.

If you keep your eyes open, you can find Yamaha John Patitucci basses, the first version, used. They play great, they sound great, they are 34" scale, and I've seen them pop up from time to time very nicely priced.

Anyway, I mostly wanted to point out the C string thing. What is good for the B is bad for the C... you have to be careful to get a bass that does both well.

That's my experience anyway.
 
#14
Different scale lengths are like cars for me. If you drive just one car all the time, its difficult to drive another comfortably. Drive two or three routinely and the problem gets to be less.

I play a 35" custom fretless and a 35" BTB fretted, three 34" fretted on a less than routine basis (an Ibanez 300, '78 Precision and a '75 Travis Bean), and a Yamaha 34" fretless. I also play two double basses, a 41" and a 43 7/8" scale length (over half of my gigs are for double bass). I try to play them consistently over a period of weeks (don't always succeed) and practice on them on a somewhat regular basis besides gigs. The more I do, the less of a problem scale length is. Its pretty much creating muscle memory associated with each instrument. Switching to an instrument I've never played before is almost a non-issue anymore.

Lloyd Howard
 
#16
Thanks a lot for your help guys, but I guess I wasn't able to ask my real question clear enough :)

"I feel like I won't have much trouble with generally adjusting to the 35" scale but the thing that scares me is the false harmonics."

Other than the false harmonic thing, I think agree with you, I can practice and get used to it. But again, thank you very much for your replies, they were really enlightening about the general 35"-34" conversion.
 
#17
IMO--Playing a bass, like any other instrument, has a lot to do with muscle memory. I decided to stick with one scale to maximize my muscle memory for intervals/distances etc. I was able to switch reasonably well, but I didn't want it to be cognitive so much as automatic, for harmonic notes, false harmonics, and regular notes.

Sometimes I test myself by playing in the pitch dark, to see how well I can visualize the fingerboard in my head; definitely pretty tough (for me) on fretless and was tougher with different scale lengths. Now my fretted 6 and fretless 6 are both 34" and I think I'll stick with it. I thought the B on my 34" 5er Sadowsky and my Sukop 34" 6er were fantastic; I saw no loss of tightness at all.
 
#18
Both my analogy (driving two different cars) and my advice (practice more) are covered - you guys are on the ball.

I go from 36" to 28" (with lots of variations in between) and don't have any problems - but I do practice a little more than the average bear. I find that horizontal changes (string spacing) effect me more than vertical.
 
#19
Enmesarra said:
So, what do you say? Did anyone go through this problem? Any solutions?
Click to expand...


I have two basses w/ 35" scale lengths in my stable -- one of which I've had for 19+ years -- and three with 34" scale lengths. Plus, up until a couple months ago I had one with a 32" scale length.

I've switched back & forth regularly and I never experienced any of the problems you're anticipating. It's an absolute non-issue ime.
 

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