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Multi-Scale

#21
If you did a 37" - 34" scale 5 string (or similar 6 string), I'd certainly love to get my hands on one to try. I'll admit, it would be an uphill battle to take a spot away from any of my Dingwalls, but, I'd still love to try one!
Four string multi-scale makes sense still. Especially if you offer an OEM option for BEAD tuning, but even if not.

To me, jumping on the multi-scale waggon is great, but I'd also look to see a bit more distinction. Headless? Maybe. Unique electronics options? Definitely! Quality of Life things, like magnetic covers, rechargable LiIon batteries? - absolutely! It would just be cool to see someone really push new areas and execute well on the design (i.e. not just take a current or previous design and shoe-horn something in -- start ground up and truly -engineer- it).
 
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#24
RichSnyder said:
I own a Dingwall 5 and multi scale and before owning it I would have argued against a multi scale 4 string. But based on the E string on the Dingwall, I would have to say it’s useful. Really tight fundamental. It it seems like everyone is doing a multi scale now. You might sell more of a lightweight T-40 reissue.
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Everyone is trying to do modern looking multi-scale. If someone would put out a decently priced MS with traditional styling I'll bet more people would take the plunge. If D would produce an SP or SJ like they do the Combustions in that price range I would be all over it. If Peavey put out a PJ multi-scale I'd send them my deposit right now.
 
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#26
Multiscale is amazing regardless of string number. The evenness in tension and timbre from string to string can't be replicated otherwise. It would be awesome to see a 5 string in a scale similar to Dingwall. The scales Ibanez uses are just lackluster.
 
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#28
I'd like to see Peavey come back with an interesting new bass. Make it good and I'll buy one. I've never played a MS bass so I can't comment.

I have 3 Peavey basses: 2 T40s and a Dyna Unity. I've also got a large 'Peavey Authorised Dealer' sign with Hartley's signature, and am going to make a new lightbox for it. It's about 100x60cm
My Peavey Bass VI head and 15" Black Widow box served me 3 nights a week for over a decade and is still going strong.
 
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#29
J Posega said:
The scales Ibanez uses are just lackluster.
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The only multi scale I've tried was a recent Ibanez headless model; if I recall correctly the 5 strings went from 33" G to 35" B. I only had a chance to play it unplugged, but it felt very nice. In as far as I can judge without plugging in I was impressed. The low B and E seemed excellent.

I've never felt the need to shorten a bass's G and D strings, so I kind of wondered why they didn't go 34-36" instead of 33-35", but it did feel good and actually i didn't realise what the exact scale lengths were until I got home and looked it up online.
 
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#30
I’d go for a multi scale 4 and 5.
As previously mentioned, the instrument and tone can benefit from the different scale lengths regardless of # of strings.

I own two dingwall 4 string basses. A Super J and a Super P. Both are 32”-34.25” and they can sound thick and smooth or really aggressive depending on the playing style.

Maybe an important question would be if you’re looking to create multi scale going up to something like 37” or remain in the more traditional scale lengths. Somewhere between 32-35”.

Samples of the Super P:


 
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#34
My input, if you decide to do it:

  1. Commit to multiscale and design your body shape and headstock around it! In my opinion you ought to put your design hat on and make the look work. If you just slap a multiscale neck on an existing body shape you’ll have a weird looking product.
  2. Don’t be sloppy/lazy with the fretboard by the nut and by the body! Look at the difference between a Dingwall Combustion and an Ibanez SRFF805. Again, incorporate the multiscale neck into your design.
  3. Go for long scale lengths. Yes, 37” is LONG on a 5 or 6, but it works so well for the B!
  4. Have fun with it :thumbsup:
 
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#35
StatesideRambler said:
MS fives get my thumbs up while fixed scale is better for fours IMO. A MS four would probably get attention (as a novelty?) but it wouldn’t offer much utility and I’d be surprised to see a lot of them sold/played. There’s a bizarre fixation with weight here on TB and I surmise that weight will outweigh scale and playability when shopping for a bass.
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Actually there is the same fascination on the Tele forum, Strat forum, Gretsch forum, Les Paul forum, keyboard forum and every other musical forum I’ve ever been on. ;)

How fortuitous, I open my email and what do I find on the Gretsch forum?

Which do you prefer ? A heavy guitar or a light guitar ?
 
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#37
Nuage420 said:
Everyone is trying to do modern looking multi-scale. If someone would put out a decently priced MS with traditional styling I'll bet more people would take the plunge. If D would produce an SP or SJ like they do the Combustions in that price range I would be all over it. If Peavey put out a PJ multi-scale I'd send them my deposit right now.
Click to expand...

There's been rumblings of import Supers in development now for a while. I know a lot of people would like these, and I might even spring for one.
 
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#38
EMoneySC2 said:
My input, if you decide to do it:

  1. Commit to multiscale and design your body shape and headstock around it! In my opinion you ought to put your design hat on and make the look work. If you just slap a multiscale neck on an existing body shape you’ll have a weird looking product.
  2. Don’t be sloppy/lazy with the fretboard by the nut and by the body! Look at the difference between a Dingwall Combustion and an Ibanez SRFF805. Again, incorporate the multiscale neck into your design.
  3. Go for long scale lengths. Yes, 37” is LONG on a 5 or 6, but it works so well for the B!
  4. Have fun with it :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

There have been a few recent multi-scale basses produced that have basically just pretended it's a drop-in feature to a company's regular body. It's not, and you're totally right. To do it right you really need to spend some time engineering the bass in a holistic fashion, but in particular people seem to have trouble getting the headstock correct in a bunch of ways. Also make sure your pickups are wide enough, ;)
 
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#40
I’m in the market for a MS 5-er, and I think there’s still room for a good, well-speced, well-designed, and mid-priced model. Particularly from a reputable maker like Peavey. I think a MS4 would go well along with it.

Dingwall obviously is the benchmark, but the relatively high price of the Combustion creates some room right underneath. ESP almost got it right, but has a few design issues.

there’s also no models in what I consider the sweet spot - keep the A string at or around 34-34.5”, extend the B to 35.5-36”, and shorten the G to 32.5-33”. From my experience, the fan on the Dingwall seems about right; one thing ESP got wrong is that the angle is slightly too much at the nut. It seems really important to determine which fret is parallel.

I wouldn’t bother with a 35” 4 bass, but it might be interesting to do a 36” 4 and 5, tho it would probably be a very niche bass.
 
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