How many 35 Scale basses?

[ODDBALL]

How many of you guys use a 35 Scale bass? Did it take some time getting use to? How many switched back to a 34 scale? I play a Lakland 55-02, and I am still getting use to it. I have been thinking of switching back to a 34 scale. I am trying to convince myself to keep it. Don't get me wrong I love my Lakland. I just can't use to the 35 scale.

Thanks
Shaun

 

[deekay911]

Peavey Cirrus here,no noticeable difference for me, I can switch back and forth without much effort. Certainly for a 5 string, I think there are advantages..

 

[Meatrus]

I own two 35"s, and 3 34"s, I honestly dont notice a difference when switching between them unless I think about it (then I think its subconscious). My first 35" was a BTB, which I still own, and I didnt actually realise it was a different scale till two weeks after buying .

Could it be the shape of the neck rather than the scale of the Lakland you dont like?

 

[bigdaddyforge]

35" is preferable for a 5 string to give the B proper tension.

i know it screwed with me for a while going from my fender 34's to my ric's 33.25 for a while so i'd imagine it's gonna be noticable. takes time to get used to it, or ya may just not like it.

 

[Double Agent]

My last 3 5-ers have all been 35" scale. I've always "noticed" the extra reach, but I've learned to live with it. I do prefer to play 34" scale basses, not just because of the reach but also because the D & G strings have a "fatter" sound on most 34" scale basses I've played. However, the improved response and tension on the B & E strings that you get with 35" scale is a worthy trade off.

I will probably go back to a 34" scale bass at some point, but not ONLY because of the scale length. I think scale length is just one ingredient that makes up a bass, not the most important one either. If a bass has every feature that I want and I like it's tone, I'll get it whether it's 34" or 35". There are trade-offs both ways, so you have to look at the total package that the bass gives you. FWIW, I've played 35" scale basses with terrible low B strings and 34" scale basses with very nice B strings. But, Laklands have a consistently good low B IME and part of that is the 35" scale length.

 

[Supertanker]

2-34's and 2-35's.

I prefer the 35's, but I switch between them effortlessly...

A bigger issue was the number of strings more than the scale length.

And that soon went away...

 

[Dave]

2-34's and 2-35's.

I prefer the 35's, but I switch between them effortlessly...

A bigger issue was the number of strings more than the scale length.

And that soon went away...

Ditto to all. I switch back and forth b/w my P and my Lakland JO5.

 

[bigdaddyforge]

I've always "noticed" the extra reach, but I've learned to live with it. I do prefer to play 34" scale basses, not just because of the reach but also because the D & G strings have a "fatter" sound on most 34" scale basses I've played. However, the improved response and tension on the B & E strings that you get with 35" scale is a worthy trade off.

yeah, that's the damn shame about being a big 6'4" mic on bass. the shorter the scale the fatter the sound, but most short scale basses are so small =/

 

[Bassist4Life]

i have no problem going back and forth between 34 and 35 (i have both), but in the lower register i play a 3 fret span. i suppose if i played one finger per fret i would notice a difference.

 

[baba]

My two main basses are 35. I prefer the 34's, but my best playing basses just happen to be 35.

 

[ethompson2]

I dont really have any issues with it either. If you can play one I would think you could play the other without too much additional effort.

 

[DoubleGStrap]

I have a Pedulla Thunderbolt 5-string with a 34" scale and when I got my BC Rich Black Widow 5 with a 35" scale it didn't seem that much different to me, I can switch between the two no problem. Where I can see it being a problem would be if you would switch between two fretless basses, one 34" and one 35" scale.

 

[serein2j]

It's not that hard to go back and forth but if you have fairly short fingers like me, then you might have some problem in long gigs.

 

[lamarjones]

Used to do 35", now back to 34" and just leaving the 35" alone. The two things are the span in the first 5 frets, (i do play one finger per fret on EB), and bending strings. After finding a few basses that host a good sounding B string, I don't mind leaving the 35" world one bit. Though there are some very killer 35" basses.

 

[SteveC]

How many of you guys use a 35 Scale bass? Did it take some time getting use to? How many switched back to a 34 scale? I play a Lakland 55-02, and I am still getting use to it. I have been thinking of switching back to a 34 scale. I am trying to convince myself to keep it. Don't get me wrong I love my Lakland. I just can't use to the 35 scale.

Thanks
Shaun

Shaun - if you are not comfortable, than play a 34" bass. I recently had a Lakland 55-02 that was going to be my "last, one and only, all I need" bass. Before that it was a Modulus Q5. Etc., Etc. Like all 35" scale bass I have tried in the past, it's now gone. I am so comfortable on my 34" scale Yamaha that I think I have finally convinced myself to ignore all the talk and play what is comfortable to me. My B sounds fine. You don't need 35" scale to have good tone.

There will be people who will toss out measurements, explain it's how it hangs, etc. In the end, we need to play what's comfortable for us. There are plenty of great sounding 34" scale basses out there.

 

[Philbiker]

I had a hell of a time intoning a 35" fretless. Since going to a 34" fretless I've been happier. My 35" fretted Peavey Axcelerator is great, I barely even think about the scale when I play it.

 

[lomo]

After some initial difficulty I now go back and 4th between 34 and fanned, multi-scale 34-37 inch 5ers. Takes a minute to aclimate and I'm good to go. Just as lousy regardless of scale length

 

[Pilgrim]

I bought a Dearmond Pilot Deluxe 35" used recently. When I played it in the store, I didn't even notice the difference in scale length. I had no clue it was a 35 until I read reviews of the instrument. I don't think you'll notice any difference.

I play about half and half 30" and 34" basses, but as far as I'm concerned the Dearmond falls in the 34" category.

 

[gre107]

I've played some 35's that I've never been able to get used to but my Fodera is insanely comfortable and it took no adjustment to play. I actually measured it to verify that it was not a 34".

 

[SteveC]

I've played some 35's that I've never been able to get used to but my Fodera is insanely comfortable and it took no adjustment to play. I actually measured it to verify that it was not a 34".

Yeah, but it's a Fodera.