• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Scale Length

B

Bayha

May 2, 2005
34
0
42
Tehachapi
#1
I have a question on scale lengths. I've done a search on the forums and didn't really find anything (I realize it's probably there, but didn't spend a whole lot of time. So I apologize for any repeats), so I decided to ask.

All I'm familiar with is a 34"; it all I've owned or played. I'm curious what kind of differences I can expect (tonally and playability) going to a 36", and likewise to a 32"? Thanks in advance.
 
#2
Bayha said:
I have a question on scale lengths. I've done a search on the forums and didn't really find anything (I realize it's probably there, but didn't spend a whole lot of time. So I apologize for any repeats), so I decided to ask.

All I'm familiar with is a 34"; it all I've owned or played. I'm curious what kind of differences I can expect (tonally and playability) going to a 36", and likewise to a 32"? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
there was a thread about tone woods. Someone posted a quote from carl thompson. I'm paraphrasing but he scale will affect the tone more than the wood.
 
#3
I own 35-34-32-30.5 & 30" scale basses. The only two that can be compared fairly are my Jazz (34 & 32) basses. Myself and everyone I have let play them can tell no difference. I can not compare the 35" Cirrus and my 30.5" SG because the pick up's are totally different. Like different woods do not make that much of a difference I do not believe scale length makes that much ether. Pick ups make the most.
 
#9
IMO 35" scale is pretty much pointless. Sure it makes the B tighter. It also affects the other strings. IME it makes the G string too taught and thins out it tonally. Any floppiness issues with the low B can be easily addressed with a different low B string. It places the notes further out making the instrument a touch more of a PITA also. In short, there is realistically zero benefit of 35" over 34" that can't be achieved with string selection.

Since I play a lot of fretless, I try and keep my scale lengths consistent to not ehf with my muscle memory. Notes are always where I expect them that way. I find shorter scales (like 30") to be annoying for fretless. Smaller areas to intonate acceptably. This has lead me to try and just stick with the standard long scale 34".
 
#10
Kael said:
IMO 35" scale is pretty much pointless. Sure it makes the B tighter. It also affects the other strings. IME it makes the G string too taught and thins out it tonally. Any floppiness issues with the low B can be easily addressed with a different low B string. It places the notes further out making the instrument a touch more of a PITA also. In short, there is realistically zero benefit of 35" over 34" that can't be achieved with string selection.

Since I play a lot of fretless, I try and keep my scale lengths consistent to not ehf with my muscle memory. Notes are always where I expect them that way. I find shorter scales (like 30") to be annoying for fretless. Smaller areas to intonate acceptably. This has lead me to try and just stick with the standard long scale 34".
Click to expand...

I got ur point, I play an 34" G&L tribute 5 string’s and the B its floppy but I have tried lakeland's and the B in my opinion is just great, so my question is, should I try a whole different set of strings for my G&L or just buy the B string separately?, they guy at the music store couldn’t point any difference between 34" and 35" string sets!!!
 
#12
Kael said:
IMO 35" scale is pretty much pointless. Sure it makes the B tighter. It also affects the other strings. IME it makes the G string too taught and thins out it tonally. Any floppiness issues with the low B can be easily addressed with a different low B string.
Click to expand...

I have a plethora of 35" scale basses with good G and C strings. My 34" scale 6 still has a good B, although I do not feel that the G and C strings have been enhanced tonally.
 
#13
rgarcia26 said:
I got ur point, I play an 34" G&L tribute 5 string’s and the B its floppy but I have tried lakeland's and the B in my opinion is just great, so my question is, should I try a whole different set of strings for my G&L or just buy the B string separately?, they guy at the music store couldn’t point any difference between 34" and 35" string sets!!!
Click to expand...

I'd just order a thicker B string. Alternately start looking for 5 string sets with thicker B's to begin with next string change. I recall reading that Sadowsky strings have a thicker than average B string to facilitate B string tightness. I could be wrong there as I don't use their strings.
 
#14
spade2you said:
I have a plethora of 35" scale basses with good G and C strings. My 34" scale 6 still has a good B, although I do not feel that the G and C strings have been enhanced tonally.
Click to expand...

Perhaps we are after differing tones? Perhaps our string choices alleviate any tonal ickiness? Perhaps I am overly sensitive to the changes brought on by longer scale lengths? Perhaps we EQ out amps differently? Who knows? What I do know is that every time I play a 35" scale bass I notice the G string sounds less like a bass guitar and more twangy than I'd like. Sometimes this creeps over to the D string. Not usually though. The thought of a 35" 6'er... shudder. Twang city would be what I expect.

I suppose I could select a different G string to avoid this, but at that point I could have simply selected a different B string for a 34" scale bass and had a bass that was a more comfortable scale length.:eyebrow:

Different strokes for different players I guess.
 
#16
The math will show that as the vibrating length decreases, the influence of the overtones also decrease and the fundamental is prominent. That is why the 30" short scales are so deep and thud-y.

As the scale length increase, the fundamental's influence is lessened by the increasing presence of the overtone series. That is why the longer scale instruments usually sound "richer."
 
#17
bhunt1 said:
What is the rationale for a 35" scale on a 4 string? I've seen this on some nicer custom basses (Gadow is one that offers it) and always wondered why.
Click to expand...

Tension and tone. String tension increases with added scale length. It's all preference.

For the record, a 1" difference in scale length equates to a 1.4mm difference in distance from the nut to the first fret. It's insurmountably small, and the difference decreases as you go up the neck. (only a 0.3mm difference at the 24th fret)
 
#18
Kael said:
Perhaps we are after differing tones? Perhaps our string choices alleviate any tonal ickiness? Perhaps I am overly sensitive to the changes brought on by longer scale lengths? Perhaps we EQ out amps differently? Who knows? What I do know is that every time I play a 35" scale bass I notice the G string sounds less like a bass guitar and more twangy than I'd like. Sometimes this creeps over to the D string. Not usually though. The thought of a 35" 6'er... shudder. Twang city would be what I expect.

I suppose I could select a different G string to avoid this, but at that point I could have simply selected a different B string for a 34" scale bass and had a bass that was a more comfortable scale length.:eyebrow:

Different strokes for different players I guess.
Click to expand...

Pickups, pickup location, strings, woods, electronics, amps...everything is going to make them sound different.

I don't truthfully believe you could feel the difference in scale length alone between a 34" and a 35" scale. Hear, see, or indirectly "feel" through improper balancing and poor quality, yes...but I don't think your hands would notice a difference at all.
 
#19
Kael said:
Perhaps we are after differing tones? Perhaps our string choices alleviate any tonal ickiness? Perhaps I am overly sensitive to the changes brought on by longer scale lengths? Perhaps we EQ out amps differently? Who knows? What I do know is that every time I play a 35" scale bass I notice the G string sounds less like a bass guitar and more twangy than I'd like. Sometimes this creeps over to the D string. Not usually though. The thought of a 35" 6'er... shudder. Twang city would be what I expect.

I suppose I could select a different G string to avoid this, but at that point I could have simply selected a different B string for a 34" scale bass and had a bass that was a more comfortable scale length.:eyebrow:

Different strokes for different players I guess.
Click to expand...

Both fretless 35" scale 6ers already have custom strings on them and sounded fine with no reason to change things.

Strings can help, but using the thinnest possible string that the bass will allow can lead to a low B that's solid, yet usable all over the fingerboard. My Conklin's 0.127 taperwound still sounds great in the 15th position.
 
#20
Im about 6'5 and I have a Ibanez sr 605 34" scale I believe and it feels very small to me that is the main reason I wanta 35 I have heard the B is better but I dont really think it matters because you can get and ebony and some maple with some bart pups and there you go the bass will be so snappy crisp and clean IMO
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back