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Medium Scale vs. Long Scale Basses

#141
peterpalmieri said:
Very cool I will be interested in hearing your results. Like I said I've had success at 33 and failure at 30. Very few have I even heard of with a solid B at 32, but you have to be willing to roll the dice or spend some bucks. Good luck.
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I own 3 35 scale basses, all custom made. All with clear and very well defined low Bs. They beat my stingray 5 hh easy in that regard (stingray is a 34 scale). The problem with this headless bass is that it is too uncomfortable to play. The reach is too long. So I just spent an extra 300 dollars to convert it to 32 scale. I have the fretboard, frets and binding for the project but have recorded soundclips of it already at its current state. For the record I'm using the same wood (ebony) for the fretboard.
 
#143
Hey Basshappy, could you repost a link to the pics of all the basses you referred to in your first post of this thread please. That link is dead and I, as well as others I'm sure, would love to see them. And as always I enjoy all your threads as well as thoughts on this subject. Ironically I may have to change some of my basses over to 32" scale as I've had a shoulder problem for over three months now that's preventing me from playing any of my longer scale basses. It is very frustrating since that rules out all my five strings. Currently the only one I have is a SH Urge MIM basic the low end one w/jazz PU config.
 
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#144
Kirk Bryant said:
Hey Basshappy, could you repost a link to the pics of all the basses you referred to in your first post of this thread please. That link is dead and I, as well as others I'm sure, would love to see them. And as always I enjoy all your threads as well as thoughts on this subject. Ironically I may have to change some of my basses over to 32" scale as I've had a shoulder problem for over three months now that's preventing me from playing any of my longer scale basses. It is very frustrating since that rules out all my five strings. Currently the only one I have is a SH Urge MIM basic the low end one w/jazz PU config.
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Hey Kirk

Sure, since you asked, I am happy to.

You bring up a great point. Countless players on here have experienced great relief from their repetitive stress issues by moving to shorter scales. It's always gratifying to read the details of those stories. Tendonitis, arthritis and a number of neck, shoulder, spine, wrist and elbow ailments - re-enforced and repeated over the years by lots of playing hours - can take their toll over a lifetime. That is why I am not a fan of any extended range basses. I want light, I want streamlined, I want well balanced - with a reach that is natural and comfortable. For many players, it turns into: quit playing or go shorter as the only option left. We don't always realize how much toll an instrument can take on you if it doesn't fit you properly. And of course, many players like me find the shorties a little cramped in the upper registers, and many don't have much experience with the mediums. Medium scale basses are always a bit scarce at the local music stores, but there are many, many options - especially if you are willing to go at least semi-custom.

Yes, the early post was before I created a web site for my medium scalers. I am adding to the herd currently with the two medium scale Fender P and J hollows, a medium scale replica Fender Performer (Transformer) and I am having a replica Les Paul Florentine semi-hollow bass built from a flamed maple top and back donated by Paul Reed Smith. Note: The Rob Allen is a shortie while all the rest are medium scalers:

Spice-of-Life.png


The website is here - and you can see close-up photos and the build history, by clicking on each individual bass.

Welcome to the Bass Guitar Gallery!

The build threads on the four new ones are here;

Taking the Plunge on Building Two Fender Hollows...

Fender Performer Build

My Les Paul Bass Build - I need a Gibby too...

The first three are in final assembly now and I should have them in early March. The neck is finished on the Les Paul Florentine bass and we will start on hollowing the body soon. My builder, Keith Horne wants to keep them an extra week in LA after they are finished to be sure that everything settles in alright.

While some may look at this as a little excessive, all four builds have been in the works for well over a year - almost two in some cases, plus I can pay as I go. So it's actually a pretty economical way to stay within your budget and always have some exciting one-off projects coming in. I mean, I see folks on here who buy relatively expensive basses every couple of months, and I certainly could never afford that!

The most exciting news for me is that my wife Leah bought me a gift certificate for Christmas to a local woodworking school/shop and I have designed and I am building my own prototype medium scale basses. They are all Honduras mahogany and flamed maple with thin 1/16" walnut pinstripes sandwiched between. I have four bodies done, one design is a semi-hollow acoustic model and the other one is a solid body, two of each with slight variations. Those four bodies still need a little final shaping and some routing - and I am completing a modified "frame" version of the acoustic model - with a maple top and back - this saturday. So that will be five to experiment with.

I am in treading water mode, until I get the other basses and spend some time with them. We incorporated a lot of experimental features that I need to try out and put through the paces before I finalize exactly what I am going to build-in to my prototypes. I should have some interesting surprises in the way of electronics, I have been working on that for months. I have always had my own ideas about basses, I play very hard with a pick and use fretted 4-string basses only - so my needs are way different from the extended range, extended scale, fretless and the finger player folks. I don't need a lot of mids and top, the pick and frets provide plenty of cut along with the playing technique I have developed over my 50+ years of playing.

It's great to finally be hands on and learning the ins and outs of the table saw, jointer, thickness planer, radial arm saw, band saw and scroll saw. I have also been learning the finer points of hand carving , shaping, chiseling and hollowing out the wood - and learning gluing and clamping techniques. Leah thinks the sawdust on my clothes is sexy when I get home - so it's a win win.

:smug::smug::smug::smug::smug:

No reveal until I make sure that these are going to work. Although the body shapes are fairly simple and symmetrical, there is a radical kind of element to the design and I need to be sure they work out ok ergonomically before I post anything and embarrass myself. I have documented all the steps and if the builds work out, I will post a build thread/diary with detailed photos at a later time.

So that is it for now - thanks to all - I love this place!
 
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#145
anavar said:
@BassHappy

someones ears must be burning. Custom shop 30' Warwick thumb bass :)

New Warwick CS short scale thumb bass completed!
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Hey Anavar

Just to be clear on the discussion - 30" is referred to normally as "short scale" while 32" scale is generally referred to as "medium scale". My intent here as the OP was to compare medium scale 32" vs. long scale 34" in this thread.

No big deal, and that bass looks really nice to me, but it is 30" short scale - just wanted everyone to be clear....

Many folks lump short scale basses into one category, and it really isn't a good idea. All three of the traditional bass guitar scales have their merits - and should be discussed in that context.
 
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#147
peterpalmieri said:
Basshappy, I love Wilma, the 33" I posted early under construction is being done by Andrew Drake.
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Thanks Peter!

Yes, when I saw it I thought it looked like more of Andrew's fantastic work! The workmanship on Wilma is as good as it gets and I have a ton of respect for Andrew and follow everything he does.
 
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#148
Kirk Bryant said:
Hey Basshappy, could you repost a link to the pics of all the basses you referred to in your first post of this thread please. That link is dead and I, as well as others I'm sure, would love to see them. And as always I enjoy all your threads as well as thoughts on this subject. Ironically I may have to change some of my basses over to 32" scale as I've had a shoulder problem for over three months now that's preventing me from playing any of my longer scale basses. It is very frustrating since that rules out all my five strings. Currently the only one I have is a SH Urge MIM basic the low end one w/jazz PU config.
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As I get a bit older I find that in general I am in good shape but my shoulders are the only weak link. Shoulders are funny things and it is VERY easy to get a frozen shoulder from very ordinary tasks like walking the dog (they can suddenly lurch and yank your shoulder), working out, and doing chores. SO MANY people I know have had the issue and it takes months of physical therapy to go away. I have had problems over the years with my shoulders when drumming. It makes keeping one's arm elevated (to play the ride cymbal) near impossible. Ditto for playing certain areas of a guitar or bass neck.

That is why I think it is worth having threads like this. Perhaps not everyone needs or wants a medium scale but for those that have had issues with normal and long-scale basses, these mediums can mean the difference between giving up or playing.

Your health is EVERYTHING. My brother always said, don't go cheap on your shoes and your glasses...maybe we should add basses to that list.
 
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#150
DrDAV14 said:
I play a 32" Kubicki Ex-Factor and have a 30" Kiesel Vader due for delivery in March. It all works excellent for me.....and thats all that matters in the end.
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Absolutely Dr. Dav

I couldn't agree more. Play the bass that fits you, just make sure you know what that means. I am not sure everyone takes the time to explore the options.

I had to chuckle - I just spoke to John Ingram, who set up every PRS guitar and bass that left the PRS factory for over 25 years - and now sets up everything that Knaggs ships. We were discussing the medium scale project. John has pretty small hands and he said:

"Man, I picked up a Fender long scale the other day and played for a while and an hour later I thought I was crippled. Had to soak my left hand in Epson Salts for half an hour. This getting old thing sucks...."
 
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#152
This thread is rife with the usual Talkbass posters having their periods, but...

The step from 34" to 32" is much less than you would expect. The step from 34" to 30" is much more than you would expect.

For my part, I think that I'm going to be a 32" player. That Fender 34" Standard is wonderful and it sounds nice but the neck is heavy, the head is a mile away and bumps into things, and unless you're a real zealot it's just a little too inconvenient. If you are a long scale zealot, I send you my love and God Bless You.

If the 32" sound is diminished in some way, it's negligible.

On the other hand, a 30" broken-in Bronco with old broken-in strings is an awful lot of fun.
 
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#154
With regard to how far the nut is away from your body and the reach its all about the upper horn and strap button placement. It is pretty easy to get the nut closer to the center of your body without changing the scale length. It also matters what angle the neck is to your body if held perpendicular at 90 degrees it is far away. If you watch John Patitucci play he often has the neck closer to a 45 degree angle and puts much more bend in your elbow.

Where a 30" alembic puts the nut the same distance away as a fender when hanging in a strap.

I own a 30" scale bass and a 33" and I'm interested in what folks are thinking about the 32s. That being said at some point you have to work on your technique too. Injuries aside.

I've had the opportunity to play a number of 36" basses including 2 Anthony Jackson Foderas. They were very playable. You do have to revert to a traditional 3 finger double bass style in half position but it never very felt to far away.

My Ken smith tends to be super playable in the middle of the neck and the upper register. I often approach it as a bass strung E-F rarely going back to the lower positions and often spending most of my time between 5th and 12th fret. Where as my 30" Kinal I tend to sit back and use open strings and half position more like a double bass. Using the sweet upper register for chords, melody and soloing.

There are lists of reasons to make good use of different scale length basses and some you fall into after the fact.
 
#155
Personally i tried different scales, 35,34,32,30 and 28 (The Ibanez mikro bass, which seems a toy but if you don't ask it too much it gets the job done and is much than easy), and at the end I'm confortable with 32...same sound as 34 but way much easier to play, my fingers can reach every fret without needing a lot of exercise in stretching.
I sometimes play long scales only for two basical reasons: i have to play a 5 string for certain songs and i can't find a 5 strings medium scale, and i play sometimes a 34" 4 string for training just in case i have to play in occasions where the only bass is long scale.
 

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