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Is there any reason to consider a regular (34") scale bass?

#41
rpt50 said:
I'm a bass newbie, but longtime guitar player (45+ years). I bought an Ibanez Mikro on a whim, and now I've decided that I really like playing bass! And of course, just like with guitars, I've got the urge to get more basses, starting with a partner for the Mikro.

My question is, is there really any reason to consider a full scale regular size bass? I borrowed a nice Yamaha bass with the 34" scale and for the most part it does not seem to be too difficult to adapt to that length scale. But is there any real reason to get a bass with that scale length, or is it just tradition? The shorter scales (something like a 30" scale) are easier for my "guitar hands".
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Play 'em all! ;)
 
#42
34" is what a bass is supposed to sound like in my head. It's twangy down the bottom without being too nasal up top. Not to bassy. Flexible. Usable anywhere. Versatile. My guess is that Fender hit 34" by trial and error rather than by the appliance of science, but I am a firm believer that Leo got it right first time. If I sound like a grumpy, conservative old man, it's because I am.
 
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#43
If you're asking if there's any reason you should buy a bass, short-scale or regular, that's better than the one you're currently playing, of course!
If you're ready for a quality bass, I'd go with a regular bass...so many to choose from...$500, $700, $1,000 and up.
 
#44
Do you play in the role of bassist with guitarist overtones? I.e.
As a lifelong bassist, trigger words such as "short scale bass," "former guitarist," and similar statements tend to bring up visions and the fear that the main function of bass will be ignored or undervalued.
 
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#50
rpt50 said:
I'm a bass newbie, but longtime guitar player (45+ years). I bought an Ibanez Mikro on a whim, and now I've decided that I really like playing bass! And of course, just like with guitars, I've got the urge to get more basses, starting with a partner for the Mikro.

My question is, is there really any reason to consider a full scale regular size bass? I borrowed a nice Yamaha bass with the 34" scale and for the most part it does not seem to be too difficult to adapt to that length scale. But is there any real reason to get a bass with that scale length, or is it just tradition? The shorter scales (something like a 30" scale) are easier for my "guitar hands".
Click to expand...

Other than there may be more of the 34" version than any other scale, you play with what you are comfortable using. Following convention in such matters might steer you a way from something you would really enjoy. And that's from a guy that plays a black PB with a tort.
 
#51
No, not really.

Play what you want.

I play 30.5, 32, 34 and double bass.

I bet if I put a sound sample here, people couldn't tell which is which, between the 30.5, 32 and 34.

Besides, when people talk about tone, which tone are they referring to?
Passive? Active? P? J? MM? Soapbars? Tone full? Tone rolled down?

And with which strings?
Rounds? Flats? Tapes? Old? New?

What about the EQ?

And woods?

You get the point.

Scale is just another factor. You make a bigger difference in tone with strings, than with the scale of the bass.

I play all sizes, I have no favorite.

The 34" crowd likes to joke about the 30s. But then come 35" and 36" guys and now what?

Anthony Jackson and Steve Swallow play 36". They must find the 34" cute, too.
 
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#52
rpt50 said:
OK great thanks for all the tips! I think it makes more sense to me to stick with a shorter scale given my guitar background and age. I'll keep looking at shorter scales. I did play a couple a levels of Mustang (road worn and American) that really left me oddly disappointed considering that I'm a Fender guy when it comes to guitars. I guess I kind of like the flat necks of the Mikro and the Yamaha 34" that I've borrowed.
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Try the Squire Jaguar VM SS, Ibanez Talman TMB30, Rickenbacker, Gibson SG bass, Epiphone EB0, Ibanez Mezzo, and lots more that I can think of right now....
 
#53
The main reason to go for one scale one another is if you want your strings to have certain tensions at certain pitches, and you can't get them sounding good with the scale of your current bass. If you can get the tension and tone you want at the notes you want, then there isn't much reason to change scales.

E.g. I needed a low B for this one band. I never played a 5-string or a B-E-A-D bass I thought actually sounded good at 34" scale, but I had played some extra long scale basses that sounded great in that low range. So I custom built a 36" scale B-E-A-D bass for that project.

The other big reason is to get the fret spacings to fit the left hand formations you will be using for the project at hand. If you need to use multiple fingers, spaced closely, more like typical guitar playing than like typical bass playing, then a short scale will serve you better.
 
#55
Esteban Garcia said:
Correct! In more words:

With longer strings, there is higher tension and more pronounced overtones. It might seem counterintuitive at first, but this means short scale basses sound more boomy and have less mid-high range articulation than long scale basses. If you've ever heard a U-bass compared to a double bass, you know what I mean.

Of course you can compensate with technique, strings, and signal chain, but you cannot get around the physics of a shorter vibrating length of wire having lower tension and less pronounced overtones.

This might be perfect for you and the kind of music you make. But if you find yourself wanting a tighter sound, you might try a long scale.
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I started playin bass in the early 60s. All I had was short scales, and learned on them. In the mid 70s I got my first long scale (as they called it then, 34 inches). And that is what I mostly play to this day. And as far as I'm concerned, they are what sounds right to me.

I own a few short scale basses, but they rarely get playing time. BTW I currently have 17 basses.
 
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#57
Over the years, I have gone through many instruments. What I have now - one 30" scale acoustic/electric, one 32" scale, one 34" scale, one 35", and one 36.5" scale. Each is uniquely different - feel, tone, playablity, etc.

Just play what you prefer. No one has ever asked me the scale of a bass that I am playing.
 
#58
rpt50 said:
I'm a bass newbie, but longtime guitar player (45+ years). I bought an Ibanez Mikro on a whim, and now I've decided that I really like playing bass! And of course, just like with guitars, I've got the urge to get more basses, starting with a partner for the Mikro.

My question is, is there really any reason to consider a full scale regular size bass? I borrowed a nice Yamaha bass with the 34" scale and for the most part it does not seem to be too difficult to adapt to that length scale. But is there any real reason to get a bass with that scale length, or is it just tradition? The shorter scales (something like a 30" scale) are easier for my "guitar hands".
Click to expand...
Full size bass, full size tone
 
#60
rpt50 said:
I'm a bass newbie, but longtime guitar player (45+ years). I bought an Ibanez Mikro on a whim, and now I've decided that I really like playing bass! And of course, just like with guitars, I've got the urge to get more basses, starting with a partner for the Mikro.

My question is, is there really any reason to consider a full scale regular size bass? I borrowed a nice Yamaha bass with the 34" scale and for the most part it does not seem to be too difficult to adapt to that length scale. But is there any real reason to get a bass with that scale length, or is it just tradition? The shorter scales (something like a 30" scale) are easier for my "guitar hands".
Click to expand...

yes a 34 scale sounds more traditional and IMO better in terms of more useful and wanted. All of this is subjective. I have 2 short scales and 5 34 inch scale basses. i use them for different things.

Because you picked up a short scale and it made you wanna play bass, and you say a normal scale bass was ok, I would recommend getting a used mexican made fender for around 300-500 and seeing how that feels and sounds to you. I think a p bass is better over a J but only by a small difference.
 

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