Owning/playing basses of different scale lengths

[Inara]

I picked tried it but it didn't work for me. A caveat is that this is completely based on my experiences playing unlined fretless 34 and 35 inch scale. I don't have a problem switching scale lengths on fretted or lined fretless basses. On unlined fretless, though, I just found the difference when switching to be too annoying to deal with, so I settled on 34. That scale suits my hands better anyway, especially with the longer stretches required for fretless versus fretted bass.

 

[Jonathan Eliot]

It truly doesn't matter because I suck on all of them.

I can relate! Just trying to move efficiently towards sucking less.

 

[Pet Sounds]

It's no big deal. I play mostly Fenders, but also Rickenbackers and Hofners. I do have issues with the long scale of a Tbird, though. I feel like I'm really stretching to reach the lower frets.

 

[eigentone]

I use a P Bass and 4003 mostly. I voted Yes. That difference doesn't screw me up much. Different scale lengths on guitar (eg 25.5 vs 24.75) messes me up more than bass.

 

[bfields]

It's make more of a difference if you play higher up the neck:

Yes, I realize this is for guitar scale, but take a look at the relationship of the low frets vs. the high frets.
At the higher frets the displacement becomes much more pronounced.

That's interesting! But the displacement looks more pronounced at the high end just because they chose to line up the charts by their left sides; if they'd lined them all up by the right side it would look like the nut side was off by the most.

I mean, if the nut is in fact your reference point for the location of every fret, then OK, but, for example, I think most people find high F on the E string by reference to the octave markers (or to a previous note), not by reference to the nut....

On the other hand it's true on a fretless that small mistakes matter more higher up, so if you were going to notice a problem it would probably there.

 

[matthewbrown]

It's make more of a difference if you play higher up the neck:

Yes, I realize this is for guitar scale, but take a look at the relationship of the low frets vs. the high frets.
At the higher frets the displacement becomes much more pronounced.

And this is why I sold my Guild Ashbory almost immediately. I couldn't play past Vth position!

 

[twinjet]

Greetings all,
I recently relocated temporarily from West to East coast of the U.S. and was unable to bring my gear. Although I am on a bit of a tight budget, my situation plainly is
an opportunity to buy more stuff!
My first and only bass is an SX Ursa 1 (precision style) short scale fretless, purchased in January 2017. Very happy with it, but I don't need two.

While i am considering a fretted version of the same bass, i am also open to experimenting a bit (particilarly with full or short scale five string). As noted by quite a few folks on TB the 34 inch 5 gives access to the low notes on a four with less arm reach and finger stretch. I had not considered that at all when I made my first purchase. I've got an old left shoulder that complains a bit when playing down low for a while e.g. blues in f even on the short scale.

Curious on your views, particularly if you play basses of different scale length , or have tried and decided it is not for you. I guess this is a question about brain & muscle memory. Will i mess with ability to intonate on fretless shortscale by also playing a very different neck?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Crud! Forgot to come back to your PM.

I had no issue. I used to play a 35" 6-string bass. Had it for 8 years. Switching to a 34" was no problem. I don't think it'll mess with you, but I suppose we are all different.

 

[MobileHolmes]

All of my bases but one are 34 inch scale, but I never notice a real difference playing the short

 

[Watchootognbout]

My muscle memory on my 34"scale is not so rigid that it conflicts with the muscle memory of my 35"scale.
Visa versa.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Yes! My main bass is a 35" scale Schecter fiver and my beater is a 28.6" scale ESP fiver.

I considered the Brice 37" scale bass but I prefer flatwounds and nobody makes em that long

 

[Bassamatic]

This is my next step to see if I can find a short scale 5. Guess I'll try an ibanez mikro first. Had a good impression of their 4.

The miKro 5 is really good - I like mine a lot. Amazingly good sound and playability.

 

[Steven Ayres]

When playing fretless, it's about your ears, not your fingers.

 

[mojomike001]

When playing fretless, it's about your ears, not your fingers.

Exactly. Let your ears do the walking.

 

[mikewalker]

If you own a 34" long scale - you already play a medium scale and a short scale!

Capo a 34" bass @ 1st fret and you have a 32" bass... Capo a 34" bass @ 2nd fret and you have a 30" bass...

35 inch scale is a whopping 3% bigger than a 34


I played 30.5 for a few years, then 30.0 for a lot of years ( Rickenbacker 3000) with occasional exotic 34's thrown in.

Now I like 32 THE BEST.

I have 30, 30.5, 32, 34, 35 and "28.something" in the stable at present ( Plus 27" arpeggionne, some 24.75 and 25.5 inch guitars, and 14, 17, 19 inch ukes... )

I find that "some days" the 28 inch bass can feel a little cramped, but not always. I am currently building a 19" scale 8 string mandocello, but I think I will hang on to my tenor uke (dumping the concert and bari ukes soon...)

 

[Ductapeman]

Three 30-inch (Dano longhorn, Harmony H-22, EB3 clone), a bunch of Fenders of the 34" persuasion-- so far so good-- then I picked up an electric upright with a 42" pull, and I'm back in school again, but WHAT a sound--

 

[bassbones2]

I own or have owned.....35's, 34's, 32's, 30's, 28's, and what ever Kala's are (21?)......most at the same time. It's a non issue.

JB

 

[packhowitzer]

I have:

2 - 35" NS Design CR5s
2 - 34" Fender Ps
1 - 34" Fender J
1 - 34" EB MM Stingray

The scale length differences don't really make much difference to me. What I do notice is when different basses have different string heights off the fretboard. I have all my basses set up pretty well, but by nature some have a little higher action than others. That's what I notice more.

 

[darwin-bass]

I have a 32 two 34s. I notice the difference a bit when I switch but it isn't an issue.

Unless I play only one scale length for weeks, then going to the other seems strange at first.

 

[lokikallas]

Practice, and rehearse with the bass you intend to perform the song with and the scale changing won't throw you.

 

[mc900ftj]

I think people overthink it.

This +1000