Question about short scale basses

[Knavery]

Hey all,
I've been learning some Primus material as of late and am wondering about something. I believe most of the basses Les plays are short scale if I'm not mistaken. If that's true, is it also true the tension on short scale basses are a little looser? I know the frets are closer together naturally, but I'm curious about string tension. It seems that some of these songs have chords that are super tough to hold down and that's with a bass with nice low action, but with a 34" scale.

If the string tension is a little looser on short scale basses, wouldn't the strings be a little easier to manipulate as far as holding down chords, and sliding up and down the neck while holding those chords? Just curious what the experts have to say about it. Thanks!

 

[jd56hawk]

I've played very few short-scale basses...Epiphone Rumblekat, Supro Huntington, Fender Mustang, Hofner Ignition and this one, but I've never experienced floppy strings.
As for action, that depends on the setup...this one was set up in the store and it was very impressive.
For ease of play, just buy yourself a set of D'Addario black tapewounds...you'll he happy you did.
If you're thinking about buying a short-scale bass, you won't find better.

 

[Pilgrim]

I personally don't feel any difference in string tension between 30, 32 and 34" basses. However, that may just be me, as I don't worry about such things.

 

[jd56hawk]

I definitely notice the difference when I'm playing Rotosound or Ernie Ball strings, though.
Same goes for DR coated strings.

 

[Mushroo]

1. One of Les Claypool's special talents IMHO, is the ability effortlessly switch between different size and shape basses. His Fenders are standard 34" scale, and his Carl Thompsons range from 32" to 36", I believe.
   
2. Yes, all other variables being equal, the strings on a short scale bass will have lower tension and feel looser than a long scale bass.
3. If you can't get your hands on a short-scale bass for a test-drive, here's an easy way to kind-of-sort-of simulate the feel, using the 34" bass that you already own: Drop-tune all the strings a half step (to D#/Eb standard tuning) and put a capo on the 1st fret. This will feel kind of like a 32" medium scale. Now take the capo off, drop-tune another half-step (to D standard) and put the capo at the 2nd fret. This will feel kind of like a 30" short scale bass.
4. Besides scale length, the other important variable that determines your string tension and "feel" is the gauge of the strings. You can achieve higher tension with heavier-gauge strings, or lower tension with lighter-gauge strings.

 

[tstone]

Yeah, it's a pretty strong effect. For the same set of strings tuned to the same pitch, the ratio of string tension going from one scale length to another varies with the square of the ratio of scale lengths. So going from, say a 34" scale to a 32" scale, the tension would go down by a factor of (32/34) squared, or 0.886 So if your original total string tension was, say 100 lbs at 34" scale, it would be 88.6 lbs at a 32" scale. If that feels too loose and sloppy, you can compensate by going up a string gauge, but that has its own issues.

Mushroo's answer on how to simulate the feel of this by detuning and capoing is right on.

 

[Kevin Doyle]

So a shorty with a stringthrough body will have higher tension but will it be noticeable? i’m actually in the market for a new Shorty but I realized today the only thing I prefer about the feeling of playing a long scale is the extra tension.

 

[Samatza]

If you up the string gauge it makes a difference also. On my 35" scale bass 40-125 feels a lot like 45-130.

Hex core strings generally feel stiffer also so that may be another way to get the feel you want on a short scale.

I can't say that my Hofner BB feels floppy at all, it's currently strung with Pyramid Gold Flats 40-100. I think the core type and size plays a big role in the feel of the string.

Round core strings tend to be more supple and feel easier to fret particularly in smaller gauges. If that's what you're looking for then maybe this is the way to go. I tried 30-90 but they sounded way too thin for me. I settled on 40-100 on most of my basses.