Medium Scale vs. Long Scale Basses

[BassHappy]

Hey BassHappy!

Thanks for your response! And I am serious...your playing constantly amazes me; it is "off the scale". (LOL)

Thanks for all the music!

Again thanks. Unfortunately, an unenviable combination of my passion, my arrogance and my big mouth has completely alienated a number of good folks on this board. No apologies, I am who I am and I made my own bed - but admittedly - it is vey rare for me to see a musical compliment of any kind coming my way on TB...

It means a lot.

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net

 

[Indiedog]

Many of us here are just hobbyists and our opinions don't count for much (IMHO).
But you are a professional with an impressive body of work so your opinions carry more weight. I may not agree with everything my musical heroes say but they deserve a listen.

 

[Crimax]

Hi, my two cents

I own three medium scales (you can see them in the medium scale bass club), i play them almost daily, and i play gigs quite often: i really play everything, from Georgia on my mind (with drummer with brushes) to Motorhead via My Sharona, always play medium scales (except with a metal band), never had anyone complaining my sound or saying that the sound was muddy, different ecc..

When I explain people that my bass is medium scale, the majority of people (many musicians) simply smiles and adknowledge they didn't even notice it neither for the sound nor for the size ( i have to say that i'm relatively small, 170 cm. so the medium scale is proportioned).

Regarding the matter of the lower tension of strings, i know the physical theory but all i have to say is that sometimes theory tells one thing and your ears another (don't want to offend anyone, just my opinion); as I said I played countless hours with medium scales and nobody, musicians and people listening, ever told me that my basses sounded different from long scales...really nobody.

I play also with a hard rock/metal band who plays with the guitars and basses tuned one tone lower, i didn't liked the feel on the strings so I tried a long scale bass (a sterling sb14) believing/hoping that the 2 inches could have solved the problem, but the feeling was more or less the same, so the only solution was to switch to a 5 string and translate the songs.

 

[BassHappy]

Hi, my two cents

I own three medium scales (you can see them in the medium scale bass club), i play them almost daily, and i play gigs quite often: i really play everything, from Georgia on my mind (with drummer with brushes) to Motorhead via My Sharona, always play medium scales (except with a metal band), never had anyone complaining my sound or saying that the sound was muddy, different ecc..

When I explain people that my bass is medium scale, the majority of people (many musicians) simply smiles and adknowledge they didn't even notice it neither for the sound nor for the size ( i have to say that i'm relatively small, 170 cm. so the medium scale is proportioned).

Regarding the matter of the lower tension of strings, i know the physical theory but all i have to say is that sometimes theory tells one thing and your ears another (don't want to offend anyone, just my opinion); as I said I played countless hours with medium scales and nobody, musicians and people listening, ever told me that my basses sounded different from long scales...really nobody.

I play also with a hard rock/metal band who plays with the guitars and basses tuned one tone lower, i didn't liked the feel on the strings so I tried a long scale bass (a sterling sb14) believing/hoping that the 2 inches could have solved the problem, but the feeling was more or less the same, so the only solution was to switch to a 5 string and translate the songs.

Hey Crimax

My experience is very similar. No one ever knew that PRS #11 was 32.5" scale. No one, not one person - unless I mentioned it and told them it was. I can't tell you the dozens and dozens of compliments I have gotten over the years - PRS #11 was the only bass I owned and the only bass I played over the course of 20+ albums and 19 years. It was only retired from active duty because it was so valuable, I could no longer take it out of the house.

The only thing I ever got after shows from other musicians is "What kind of bass IS that! It sounds amazing....."

 

[Crimax]

The thing I don't understand is why there are so few medium scale instruments...Builders like Fender playerIbanez sometimes put a short scale on the market, but aside of fender japanese ones (i've heard that fender japan will soon be closed) medium scales are very rare. Here in Italy when someone put on the used market a medium scale, it goes quickly, so i think there is a request for them, but really I don't know why there are just a few.

BassHappy, sometimes i let other bassists play my mediums, and the thing the majority say is "Wow...that's far more confortable than mine..."

 

[BassHappy]

The thing I don't understand is why there are so few medium scale instruments...Builders like Fender playerIbanez sometimes put a short scale on the market, but aside of fender japanese ones (i've heard that fender japan will soon be closed) medium scales are very rare. Here in Italy when someone put on the used market a medium scale, it goes quickly, so i think there is a request for them, but really I don't know why there are just a few.

BassHappy, sometimes i let other bassists play my mediums, and the thing the majority say is "Wow...that's far more confortable than mine..."

Hey Crimax

You are absolutely right - there are very few available. Here in the US too - it is next to impossible to walk into a music store anywhere and check out a few really nice medium scalers. That is why I have almost all of mine custom built. If you are lucky, you may find a Vintage Modified Telecaster, or an old Fender Urge I, or maybe a Kubicki hanging on the wall. Maybe it is your lucky day and there will be a medium scale Alembic - and that is about it. That is what is so funny about it - you have all these opinions floating around about medium scale and most players haven't even had an opportunity to really check them out. They play shorty 30" scales and think they get it. Many times they don't - and it always makes me smile. There is actually a huge difference between 30" and 32" - and many times the short scales are entry level student models - so of course that colors the initial opinion they may have about them.

It's all improving though - when I first came on the board I was heavily criticized from the "know it all's" and "technique gurus". It took a while for them to understand it - but now the acceptance is growing every day - or maybe they are just more polite about it or more accepting of it. There has slowly been a quiet renaissance with respect to medium scales over the past 10 years - as the awareness has grown of the many high-end offerings being played by world-class folks like Stanley Clark and Jonas Hellborg. Also, as players get older and repetitive stress issues kick in - like arthritis and tendonitis - they learn it is sometimes "go shorter or quit playing." There are dozens of players here who were able to continue their playing careers by making the downward adjustment. I always find it heart-warming to read those stories.

In my teaching days, all my students asked to check out my PRS medium - and then - they wouldn't give it back - so I had to teach the lesson on their usually horribly set up long scales. I ended up learning to do set ups - and setting their basses up so I could at least get through the lessons - and make them as comfortable for me to play as possible.

Thanks for your post and yes, Fender Japan is no more and if you are into the mediums you better hurry and keep your eyes open. I have been looking for another medium P for several months. As you might know they were made in 1984-1987 for the most part, so they are nearly 30 years old - and the only ones that seem to come up are priced way out of whack with the market already. You can find a deal if you hang in there, but you have to be diligent.

 

[Crimax]

Also here in Italy most bassists think that there are only short scale (30) and normal (34), but the 30" is considered nearly a toy (except for the gibson sg), and effectively i had always the impression that they have just one sound...that 60's bass...which is great if you play blues (i played some and they were great). Most of the (rare) 30' on the market have really a very bad setup, which doesn't encourage people.

As for the 32, as i said, there is no difference with the 34, and a famous italian bassist (now on the 60's) plays with a custom 5 strings medium scale, but i think it has to deal with age and health issues, and it's really a shame. Here is virtually impossible to find one on the shops, they only seldom come in throught used market.

On the Ishibashi used instruments web page there is a JB 62M for sale. I'm seriously thinking on buying it just for "investment" because i have already one.

Have you have any experience with medium scale Aerodyne MIJ?

 

[BassHappy]

Also here in Italy most bassists think that there are only short scale (30) and normal (34), but the 30" is considered nearly a toy (except for the gibson sg), and effectively i had always the impression that they have just one sound...that 60's bass...which is great if you play blues (i played some and they were great). Most of the (rare) 30' on the market have really a very bad setup, which doesn't encourage people.

As for the 32, as i said, there is no difference with the 34, and a famous italian bassist (now on the 60's) plays with a custom 5 strings medium scale, but i think it has to deal with age and health issues, and it's really a shame. Here is virtually impossible to find one on the shops, they only seldom come in throught used market.

On the Ishibashi used instruments web page there is a JB 62M for sale. I'm seriously thinking on buying it just for "investment" because i have already one.

Have you have any experience with medium scale Aerodyne MIJ?

Hey Crimax

I agree with what you said - you nailed it for sure and for certain - and it is much the same here as far as 34" vs. 30" scales go. Terrible set-ups and worn out dead strings are the norm in the stores - and the short scale models are definitely considered in many pro circles to be "toys" for the young beginners.

I played a medium scale Aerodyne and it didn't speak to me. Not even sure why - it simply didn't grab me. But they must have made a boatload of them, they are still for sale all over ebay and other places - although the price on those has gone up too. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to pick up another JB 62M. Fender Japan was the first and possibly one of the only companies that scaled down the body size on the bass - and kept it enitirely in proportion. I have a couple built both ways, and I love them all - but every time I pick up one of the Fender Japan P or J's I always have to marvel at how perfect they are.

This bass was on ebay for a short time and I am kicking myself to this day for not picking it up. It's only the second medium scale Fender Japan bass I have ever seen with a maple board. I bought the only other one I have seen.

If someone here on TB bought this one, and they are interested in letting it go, I would love it if someone would let me know:

I would sell the body as is - fully loaded - and keep the neck for a special project I have in mind.

 

[blue4]

Also here in Italy most bassists think that there are only short scale (30) and normal (34), but the 30" is considered nearly a toy (except for the gibson sg), and effectively i had always the impression that they have just one sound...that 60's bass...which is great if you play blues (i played some and they were great). Most of the (rare) 30' on the market have really a very bad setup, which doesn't encourage people.

As for the 32, as i said, there is no difference with the 34, and a famous italian bassist (now on the 60's) plays with a custom 5 strings medium scale, but i think it has to deal with age and health issues, and it's really a shame. Here is virtually impossible to find one on the shops, they only seldom come in throught used market.

On the Ishibashi used instruments web page there is a JB 62M for sale. I'm seriously thinking on buying it just for "investment" because i have already one.

Have you have any experience with medium scale Aerodyne MIJ?

30" definitely has more than one sound. Nobody has any idea my basses are 4" shorter than normal and I play a Viola and a $179 SX SS jazz. 30" is all about finding the proper string, IMO. I always thought one day I'd go to medium scale, but who can find one? All I know is that 30" can do far more than just blues or 60's music.

 

[grrg63]

There is actually a huge difference between 30" and 32"

I used to play short scales but the G string always sounded weak to me compared to a 34". Mediums dont have that problem.
I snatched an 80's vintage 32" MIJ P Bass off ebay this morning.

 

[hopsbb]

I'm a short scale player mostly. I do enjoy my two medium scale basses though. A Copley Cab-54 aeb and a Den Cabbie. Both are great.

 

[BassHappy]

I used to play short scales but the G string always sounded weak to me compared to a 34". Mediums dont have that problem.
I snatched an 80's vintage 32" MIJ P Bass off ebay this morning.

Hey - so you got that one eh?

Darn, you are quick.

I don't like to think of it like a 4" difference between long and short scale. Here are there actual Fender Jazzes in short, medium and long scale. There is a one fret difference on either side on the medium and two frets difference between long and short.

 

[Bassamatic]

I prefer the 32" medium scale and started collecting them a while back. Now all I have left are a MIJ Squier and an Aria Pro II and instead I am playing short scale when I don't play 34". Why? STRINGS! The selection of 32" strings is really poor, so I started selling them off. This includes the Mustangs that require 32" strings as they are through-body only.

Someone above asked if there are any GOOD short scale basses. Are they kidding? The Lakland HOBO 30 is exceptional. The Squier VM Jag SS is a fantastic Best Buy for under $200 and sounds and plays amazing! My Gretsch 2202 is the Blues Monster. Then of course there are the esoterics - Alembics, Birdsongs, etc.

Yes - there is a sound difference between the scales. I wonder if the string makers put as much effort into designing the medium and short scale strings since they sell so much less than standard scale.

 

[Crimax]

I use flatwound on all my medium scale, i play quite smooth and like sometimes slide between the frets, so i bought online 10 pack of d'addario flats medium scale and i solved the problem.

 

[grrg63]

Hey - so you got that one eh?
Darn, you are quick.

Impulse buy, though I did try to talk myself out of it for about a half an hour.
Now Im experiencing the pre-NBD euphoria stage.

 

[mongo2]

I used to play short scales but the G string always sounded weak to me compared to a 34". Mediums dont have that problem.
I snatched an 80's vintage 32" MIJ P Bass off ebay this morning.

When this thread started, I had little experience with medium scale basses. Since then I've added 2 medium scale basses to my several short scale and sub short scale basses. None of them suffer from a weak G string, nor has one scale length shown itself to be inherently better than another.

 

[DigitalMan]

Natural selection is an amazing thing. Look how a troll thread evolved into a zombie thread in just four short years.

 

[BassHappy]

Natural selection is an amazing thing. Look how a troll thread evolved into a zombie thread in just four short years.

Hey DigitalMan

Thanks so much for your intelligence and insight. It really adds a lot to the subject matter being discussed here, and as the OP I for one really appreciate your sense of irony.

 

[DigitalMan]

Hey DigitalMan

Thanks so much for your intelligence and insight. It really adds a lot to the subject matter being discussed here, and as the OP I for one really appreciate your sense of irony.

What's ironic? The premise of the thread was deliberately contentious and baiting. The fact that people carry it on without noticing that it's a zombie is amusing. Your sarcasm could use some fine tuning because it doesn't have the bite that you probably think it does,

 

[BassHappy]

What's ironic? The premise of the thread was deliberately contentious and baiting. The fact that people carry it on without noticing that it's a zombie is amusing. Your sarcasm could use some fine tuning because it doesn't have the bite that you probably think it does,

LOL........