Scale Length

[jworrellbass]

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.

I totally agree with that. I've noticed with a 125 gauge B string on a 35" scale it's responsive all the way up the neck. On a 34" it wasn't the same, after the 12th or 13th fret it just seemed useless.
After building a fanned fret bass 35" - 32" 6er. I might not ever build a regular bass again (I probably will though).

 

[rgarcia26]

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.

I see, I must tell you I was scratching my head the first time that I read ur post, the ticker the string (more mass) more tension it need to reach a low tone, and that is why for my 34” I should be checking on a ticker B string……… now the same goes for a 35” G,D, high E, u could try a thinner string I guess Lol…to lower the tension, any ways seems like between 34” and 35” there is almost no difference… but of course I’m comparing a G&L tribute to a Lakeland two different animals……

 

[Kael]

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.

Tell you what. Go snag a fretless bass. Now intonate off key at the first "fret" by that 1.4 mm difference that is present between 34" scale and 35" scale. Now look across the stage at the face of the guy who just hired you for the sub gig you are in the middle of playing. There's the problem. There's a difference, and I for one can feel it and find it to be intolerable. If it doesn't bug you or you can't feel it, I consider you fortunate.

 

[hdracer]

Tell you what. Go snag a fretless bass. Now intonate off key at the first "fret" by that 1.4 mm difference that is present between 34" scale and 35" scale. Now look across the stage at the face of the guy who just hired you for the sub gig you are in the middle of playing. There's the problem. There's a difference, and I for one can feel it and find it to be intolerable. If it doesn't bug you or you can't feel it, I consider you fortunate.

+1 I can feel a big difference between my 35" & my 34" When you stretch it from the 1st frett to the 4th

 

[spade2you]

+1 I can feel a big difference between my 35" & my 34" When you stretch it from the 1st frett to the 4th

The 1-4 on the first string can be somewhat of a stretch, but I don't find it a huge difference between 34" and 35" scale. The bigger difference for me is 5 to 6 string and fighting the extra neck width. For my music, I rarely have to play in the key of C minor, so it really doesn't bother me. For the F-Ab, I just play it on the B string.