Multi-scale or "fanned fret" basses

[Greenman72]

Anyone here played one? Have an opinion?

I plan to learn 5-string (one day). I currently own a 5-string, but the B string feels loose and floppy. (Note - I'm a rookie, so this may just be part of the learning curve.)

I've heard that the B and E strings are quite a bit more taut on the multiscale, which I think I would prefer. I just don't know if the "fan" part is problematic, or if you get used to it pretty quick.

(Yes, I know "go to the store and play one for yourself" and "don't succumb to GAS" and "you don't need more strings, you need more practice". Thanks, but spare me the usual lectures. Just want to know what your experience has been.)

(I should also add that the closest GC or Sam Ash is about 350 miles away, so I can't just run over there on my lunch break. We do have a small shop, albeit with a poor selection.)

 

[Kerry Brown]

I had an Ibanez SRFF805. Loved it. It took all of five minutes to get used to the fan frets. It took longer to get used to the B string. It was my first 5 string. I quit the band I was in due to medical reasons and ended up trading it for a very nice Gretsch G100CE archtop guitar. The Gretsch has become my number one. That was several months ago and I found I was missing a 5 string. I have a jazz and a Yamaha TRBX504, both 4 strings. A couple of days ago I picked up a Yamaha BB615. I really like it but I definitely notice a bit of floppiness in the B string compared to the SRFF805.

 

[L0ckett]

I also picked up an SRFF805 when they were released and was my first foray into multiscale. I loved that bass and, as mentioned above, took all of 5-10 minutes to adjust to the fanned frets. It helped that these were a 35"-33" scale so not as dramatic as something like a Dingwall, Payson, or Spector at 37"-34". I'm not one to have regrets when selling an instrument but I really wish I hadn't let that one go.

 

[Sean150]

Multi Scale would be my preference for a 5 or 6, but my 5 ended being a standard scale because I really hit it off with the bass that I picked up on a whim while trying a dingwall.

can’t really get around needing to try basses to pick the best one.

 

[Greenman72]

OP here, and now I have another question:
Since I'm a rookie (been playing about 9 months), and since I want to move to 5-string eventually, should I just take the plunge and buy the multiscale, and quit messing around with the 4 strings?

(Note - I don't think 5 strings is particularly holier or betterer or that Jaco loves me more than a 4-string player. I just want to play along with my favorite band - Type O Negative. They tuned all their instruments to B standard.)

 

[scuzzy]

if i played a Made in Canada dingwall, i would likely change my vote. the two that I have played were mid-range, and good, but didn't wow me. A well built 35" scale is likely better than a poorly built FF with a 37" B.

 

[nickpc]

Since I'm a rookie (been playing about 9 months), and since I want to move to 5-string eventually, should I just take the plunge and buy the multiscale, and quit messing around with the 4 strings?

When you go to a 5 you'll want to put the 4 down for a few months, at least. Build up the muscle memory on the 5 so you don't do things like fret on the E string (4th string up on the neck) and play the note on the B (top string).

Don't ask me now I know this, just trust me. Substituting that low B where it doesn't belong will draw attention.

 

[Low End Scum]

I have 5 normal fret basses, and a Dingwall NG3. My standard fret AmStand J was perfectly fine for nearly 10 years, but beyond just simple drop D it would get flabby (it's a 4 string). With drop D I'd get a little clacking. The Dingwall has a little less of that problem and I don't notice the fanned frets really until it gets up past the 12th fret. Of course, it's all preference. Some strings seem to have higher tension and remain less flabby in the lower register.

 

[Gigas444]

OP here, and now I have another question:
Since I'm a rookie (been playing about 9 months), and since I want to move to 5-string eventually, should I just take the plunge and buy the multiscale, and quit messing around with the 4 strings?

Short answer: yes!
Long answer: you have to consider the tension of the strings => the bigger is the string, the lower the tension is going to be compared with the others (with the normal 34 scale bass with parallel frets), this is the reason for "floppy" feeling/sound you experienced with the B strings on parallel frets basses, to have the same tension on bigger strings they have to be longer (this is physics), when I tried a Dingwall for the first time I was blown away by the result they achieved with their 37 inches B (incredible) finally the low B is playable and sounds like the other strings, just think about a gran coda concert piano, the lower and bigger strings are longer than the higher and thinner ones (that's why the grand pianos have that kinda shape), to adjust with fanned frets it will take just a few minutes (just the chords positions above 14th/15th fret are going to be a little challenging), it took me more to adjust to the 5th string (going from 4 to 5) than from parallel to fanned and, when you achieved that, you won't play another parallel frets (5 or 6 strings) bass anymore in my opinion

 

[Gizmot]

I’ve played Dingwall basses at the NAMM show 2 or 3 times and they instantly felt comfortable. Of course there’s more to a good bass than fanned frets, but You could feel the vibe of picking these up and playing them. I’m shocked I haven’t bought one yet

 

[jdjk7]

Anyone here played one? Have an opinion?

I plan to learn 5-string (one day). I currently own a 5-string, but the B string feels loose and floppy. (Note - I'm a rookie, so this may just be part of the learning curve.)

I've heard that the B and E strings are quite a bit more taut on the multiscale, which I think I would prefer. I just don't know if the "fan" part is problematic, or if you get used to it pretty quick.

(Yes, I know "go to the store and play one for yourself" and "don't succumb to GAS" and "you don't need more strings, you need more practice". Thanks, but spare me the usual lectures. Just want to know what your experience has been.)

(I should also add that the closest GC or Sam Ash is about 350 miles away, so I can't just run over there on my lunch break. We do have a small shop, albeit with a poor selection.)

I've played them in store before, and generally like them. Only reason I haven't gotten one is because the ones I've tried haven't suited me in other ways. If I had some money for something like a Dingwall, or some other opportunity to get into multi scale, I would.

 

[Seth DuSith]

They are a game changer, I can hear a very audible difference between parallel frets. But that being said I still love my parallel fret basses. It's not so different that I'd never use parallel frets again

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

I never tried one, but have danced on the edge of getting one a few times. What stops me is not so much a concern about fanned frets being hard to get used to. My concern is that adding one fanned fret multiscale to my mix of non-fanned, non multiscale guitars and basses will make transitioning back and forth between them more challenging. It's already challenging for me to switch numbers of strings, guitar and bass, but having some standard frets and some fanned seems like it would just mess with my muscle memory even more when bouncing between instruments. Curious if those who have both standard and fanned feel this is a valid concern or not.

 

[Greenman72]

I never tried one, but have danced on the edge of getting one a few times. What stops me is not so much a concern about fanned frets being hard to get used to. My concern is that adding one fanned fret multiscale to my mix of non-fanned, non multiscale guitars and basses will make transitioning back and forth between them more challenging. It's already challenging for me to switch numbers of strings, guitar and bass, but having some standard frets and some fanned seems like it would just mess with my muscle memory even more when bouncing between instruments. Curious if those who have both standard and fanned feel this is a valid concern or not.

But if you have a comfortable 5-string with fanned frets, why would ever want to switch back to parallel? (real question, not a sarcastic comment)

 

[Low End Scum]

I never tried one, but have danced on the edge of getting one a few times. What stops me is not so much a concern about fanned frets being hard to get used to. My concern is that adding one fanned fret multiscale to my mix of non-fanned, non multiscale guitars and basses will make transitioning back and forth between them more challenging. It's already challenging for me to switch numbers of strings, guitar and bass, but having some standard frets and some fanned seems like it would just mess with my muscle memory even more when bouncing between instruments. Curious if those who have both standard and fanned feel this is a valid concern or not.

I did not find it difficult at all. Last Friday I did a cover gig with my Dingwall and a standard G&L SB-1 switching back and forth between them twice throughout the night (from SB1 to Dingwall and back, then again SB1 to Dingwall and back later). The only thing that seems like it could be problematic is if you're doing a lot of playing up past the 12 or chords up there.

 

[DingwallDingus]

But if you have a comfortable 5-string with fanned frets, why would ever want to switch back to parallel? (real question, not a sarcastic comment)

There is such a thing as too much sonic clarity for certain genres and styles in my opinion, you would have to do some experimenting to get a sound that is adequate for those styles.

There are things that can vintage up a 37 inch scale fanned fret bass, a passive mode option/flatwounds or a passive tone control come to mind as well as certain amp + cab combinations.

The Super P and J series from Dingwall seems like a best of both scenario in my head but never played one.

 

[VoodooJazz]

My go-to bass is a ‘94 Dingwall 5-string. I love it in every way. That said, I do not have any trouble moving between the Dingwall and my parallel fret basses. I do notice two differences, though. The fanned frets become a bit challenging up past fret 14, especially for chords. On the other end of the fretboard, I find that notes near the nut are much easier and more comfortable to play on the Dingwall. (!) Something about the ergonomics of the design just makes that feel really comfortable, and it certainly impacts my note choices when I’m playing.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

I did not find it difficult at all. Last Friday I did a cover gig with my Dingwall and a standard G&L SB-1 switching back and forth between them twice throughout the night (from SB1 to Dingwall and back, then again SB1 to Dingwall and back later). The only thing that seems like it could be problematic is if you're doing a lot of playing up past the 12 or chords up there.

Cool, thank you for the info!

 

[mattj1stc]

To the OP, I had a Dingwall AB-2 5 string. One thing I noticed is that you had to float you plucking hand forward and backward relative to the bridge to get a consistent string tension/feel. This was due to the bridges for each string being in a slightly different place. If I moved my plucking hand just up and down and not back and forth, the B would feel really floppy, and the G would be impossibly tight. Hope this makes sense, but the B isn't inherently floppy, it's just longer and you're hitting it further from the bridge than you might usually do on a non-multiscale bass. Hope this makes sense.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

But if you have a comfortable 5-string with fanned frets, why would ever want to switch back to parallel? (real question, not a sarcastic comment)

It's a fair question. I bounce between different stringed instruments all the time, so I'm not looking for one comfortable 5 string to rule them all. I use different instruments for a variety of reasons, mostly related to recording. Maybe a active 34" J-style bass with rounds is the right thing for a song, but I'll also try a 30" SG with old flats just to see if it sits in the mix better. Then swap to a 25.5" Strat to do the clean parts and an 27" 8 string guitar to do the heavy rhythms. For me, it's already pretty challenging to switch between those instruments one after the other for a recording. So my concern is that adding another difference would just exacerbate that.