Multi-scale or "fanned fret" basses

[ajkula66]

Definitely pretty cool, and have their merits based on a Dingwall Super J and an Ibanez 6-string (can't recall the model) that I've sampled.

Not for me, though.

 

[lamarjones]

So the reason I like both is past the 12th feet, I prefer standard. Below, fanned fret. But also, fanned fret really helps with downtuned heavy stuff. The higher register stuff is different but doable. That said standard is still my jam on the higher registers.

That said, I've had a few dingwalls and I was lukewarm on them. Then I happened on the Ibanez ehb1505ms, and I'm floored by it. Switched the pre to the east uni pre and that bass is everything. Not my jam for the funk stuff but for the crunchy stuff it's great. That's where I'm at right now.

 

[Snake101st]

So the reason I like both is past the 12th feet, I prefer standard. Below, fanned fret. But also, fanned fret really helps with downtuned heavy stuff. The higher register stuff is different but doable. That said standard is still my jam on the higher registers.

That said, I've had a few dingwalls and I was lukewarm on them. Then I happened on the Ibanez ehb1505ms, and I'm floored by it. Switched the pre to the east uni pre and that bass is everything. Not my jam for the funk stuff but for the crunchy stuff it's great. That's where I'm at right now.

Hey, the pour house! My profile pic is from my band's show there on Tuesday.

As you can tell, I dig fanned fret basses.

 

[BassByBaldSteve]

Hey, the pour house! My profile pic is from my band's show there on Tuesday.

As you can tell, I dig fanned fret basses.

Hey, the Pour House! I'm playing there Saturday night. I also dig fanned fret basses.

Hahaha - lotta Raleigh peeps around here!

 

[Snake101st]

Dozens of us! Let's get a talkbass members' bands' gig booked somewhere cool some time... Maybe even fanned fret basses only? haha

Here's mine if anyone wants to hit us up on the social medias. The guitarist usually responds. Used Dingwalls on all of the tracks - our drop G# tuning would be rough without em

Creepboåt | Facebook, TikTok | Linktree

 

[silky smoove]

I don't know how long those extenders are

There's no "length" to the extender per se. It's a rear-mounted strap button recessed into the body that shifts the hanging position of the bass considerably.

 

[getBAK]

'll just give a general disagreement that 37" is the "correct" length for a B string at a given string gauge. There's no mathematical equation for correct and you can find any number of people who prefer different lengths, including many notable pros. Sheldon determined that by building an adjustable jig and using a B string from an unknown manufacturer (there's a story he's told that he couldn't find a suitable string for some time after determining he wanted to go with 37" scale length on the B).

We can disagree and still be friends

There is an equation for the optimum tension and mass for a resonant frequency. I don't know it and don't care to explore the math but it exists.

I've heard the jig story too, and completely believe that Sheldon did that for his initial research. But that was also 30+ years ago and there's been a lot of R&D and he's stayed with that spec on most instuments. Since Dingwall and Payson have both spec'd strings specifically for the 37" scale, I think one can consider it to be "right" for that scale.

It says it is a "34-35.5 inch" scale. I suppose that means that it's 34 on the first string and 35.5 on the fifth.
Are you saying that this will most likely NOT be an improvement over the Yamaha TRBX605? I'm looking more for what is easy to play. I *FEEL* like a tighter string would improve my playing. (Of course, practice would improve it too. But I digress....)

This ultimately comes down to what you like, I can't say what that is. The TRBX605 is a fine instrument, I've considered buying one before. Will the 35.5" scale on the Ibanez have higher string tension; yes by definition. But vs a 35" linear bass, I don't think it's worth it.
For the record, Sweetwater does carry Dingwall, if you have the means, it is a better instrument than the Ibanez. If it was me - needing to operate in a similar budget, I'd be looking at a 35" Linear Scale Lakeland 55 series.

 

[Recover9720]

I played Kiesel's fan-fret bass for years. It was about 35.5''~33''. With low B, it sounded much tighter than my Fender 5 string which was 34''. But when comparing to my Modulus and Yamaha which are 35'', both are much better. So in the case of 35.5'' multi-scale, I cannot say it is much better than just normal frets. I haven't tried any 37'' so I cannot say about that.

The biggest thing that holds me back from using 37'' is the string price. It is pricey compared to other lengths. Not many brands produce strings for 37'', so my options are much restricted. Also, my hand is not that big so it would be really hard for me to play technical riffs with 37''. For me, 34 and 35 are the right lengths until now.

 

[logdrum]

I already have a fan fret Hybrid Bass+Guitar. - for these type of instrument, it's the only way to make them work having a guitar and a bass in one instrument. If I am going to get one for just a bass, it will be an original Novax Jazz. Dingwall and others seem to have deviated from Novak's original ratio and I do not like where the vertical fret lies. That's just me though.

 

[KenD]

I think they're an intelligent and very useful instrument for some styles and genres of playing. If your fingers are not long enough to pick up a basketball from the floor with one hand, the shorter scale of the treble strings makes chord formation easier. However, that same shorter scale on the bass strings could produce what some consider a "flabby" tone. A longer scale on that side of the neck creates some additional tautness.

On the other hand not all things intelligent and useful about bass guitars find their groove with us players (me included). For example, a common problem with many (most?) bass guitars is neck dive, in part due to the weight of the headstock and tuning machines at the end of a long neck. One intelligent solution for that is a headless bass but it just doesn't seem to look "right" or cool and hasn't been widely adopted.

 

[Nolan Tremblay]

There is an equation for the optimum tension and mass for a resonant frequency. I don't know it and don't care to explore the math but it exists.

Hmmmm… PhD in physics here. This isn't true and even if it were, in a practical system (i.e. a real bass guitar) it would need to account for every part of the system, so changing any variable of the neck, body, bridge, etc would affect this. It's simply untrue that 37" is the "mathematically correct" scale length for a B string.

Sheldon didn't work out 37" with complex math, it was done with a jig and what sounded good to him. This doesn't discount that it sounds good, it simply is not mathematically optimal and without evidence that it is I don't think anyone's going to buy that.

 

[lamarjones]

Hmmmm… PhD in physics here. This isn't true and even if it were, in a practical system (i.e. a real bass guitar) it would need to account for every part of the system, so changing any variable of the neck, body, bridge, etc would affect this. It's simply untrue that 37" is the "mathematically correct" scale length for a B string.

Sheldon didn't work out 37" with complex math, it was done with a jig and what sounded good to him. This doesn't discount that it sounds good, it simply is not mathematically optimal and without evidence that it is I don't think anyone's going to buy that.

Plenty people buy stuff like that all the time. It SOUNDS scientific, which is where most people are at. Thanks for bringing some common sense here.

 

[Gigas444]

Plenty people buy stuff like that all the time. It SOUNDS scientific, which is where most people are at. Thanks for bringing some common sense here.

hello, sorry I have to disagree, it does not just "sound" scientific, it is, just do the math here below :

 

[retslock]

I went to the store some years ago intending to buy an Ibanez SRFF805 if I liked it but I didn't care for it's sound. IIRC it had Bartolinis. I just happened to pick up the SR655 next to it and it sounded much better to my ears. I went home with the SR655.
I don't have a problem with the concept but I'm no longer financially free to buying basses.

 

[TeeSee]

Plenty people buy stuff like that all the time. It SOUNDS scientific, which is where most people are at. Thanks for bringing some common sense here.

I'm having a bit of a problem myself working out where to move my bridge pickup on my fanned fret. Using maths alone, the pickup would end up partially into the bottom of the neck. So I've been advised to build a pickup jig to determine optimum placement. Just got to figure out how to build one.

My 2 fretted basses are Dingwalls and my fretless is a shortscale. I haven't struggled switching between Dingwalls and mono-scale basses.
I really like Dingwall basses for the design/engineering that goes into them along with the benefits of multi-scale. I have had a total of 6 Dingwalls over a decade. My first was a 1st gen Combustion and it wasn't long before I had an AfterBurner. I currently have a 5 string Z3 and that is the best bass I have played or owned, period. (Sorry but not sorry Wal, Alembic, Warwick, Fender Custom Shop, Ernie Ball, etc etc etc) I also have a 4 string Super J because it smokes a Fender Jazz in the way it's engineered and plays - I had it painted & added in an ACG/East EQ 01 filter-based preamp. It sounds great and can cop a lot of different tones. I found my keepers.

I don't think the reach on a 37" scale bass is bad. I am 6' 1" but not a giant. The reach is similar to an Alembic Series 1 34" that I had but of course the bridge is at least 3" in from the end of the bass. I know there are other 34" basses with long reaches too.

I am sure there are other multi-scale basses that I would like (Elrick or Le Fay maybe) but a lot of them feel like Me Too! basses rather than thoughtfully designed, functional tools that are works of art.

Might as well show you all some pics:

View attachment 5400404
View attachment 5400405 View attachment 5400403


OP, do what makes you happy!

Don't know what's more impressive, the basses or your synth stuff.
You probably know already about this brilliant chap
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCafxR2HWJRmMfSdyZXvZMTw

 

[lamarjones]

hello, sorry I have to disagree, it does not just "sound" scientific, it is, just do the math here below :
View attachment 5400877

Well, how does that apply to various gauges of b strings and also the nornal frequencies people are actually hearing?

Where's your math?

 

[Jefenator]

Three things that really suck about fanned frets IME:

• Chording above the 17th fret
• Shopping for strings on Amazon
• Going on break without having someone come up and ask about it

Everything else is epic IMHO.

 

[ZachM]

Might as well show you all some pics:

View attachment 5400404
View attachment 5400405


OP, do what makes you happy!

Whew... your Dingwalls are cool, but let's talk about your massive wall of Serge!

 

[Poobini]

I've had three (one import Dingwall, one Canadian Dingwall, and one totally custom build) and another custom on the way from someone other than Dingwall - while I do like them, I don't want to play fanned frets all the time sometimes I want a shortscale or something a little more conventional. For non-standard or extended tunings, though, they're great!!

 

[Gigas444]

Well, how does that apply to various gauges of b strings and also the nornal frequencies people are actually hearing?

Where's your math?

hello, ok, I didn't/don't mean to disprespect you or wanna start an argument, but the answer to both your questions is in the equations I posted above...just do some research, it's just physics!