no question about the cosmetics -- NOTHING looks as cool as a Bass VI.
I toyed with the idea of adding a Les Trem to my Hellcat VI before I sold it.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Short scale bass vs. 34" scale
- Thread starter princeadr
- Start date
no question about the cosmetics -- NOTHING looks as cool as a Bass VI.
I toyed with the idea of adding a Les Trem to my Hellcat VI before I sold it.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
Hey All
I don't have much experience with standard short scale basses, but I have an interesting collection of medium scale basses, including PRS #11, two Roscoes and a nice selection of MIJ Fenders. All strings being equal, I would challenge anyone on here with a standard 34" scale neck to record side by side with any of my instruments and be able to tell with their ears only (blindfold test?) which is which. Frankly IMHO this string length, string tension, vibration rate blah blah blah is nothing but pure bull. The EARS are the true test, and I defy anyone, even the greatest of engineers and golden "ears" to tell the difference.
When Keith Roscoe finished my first 32" scale bass he was overwhelmed with how amazing the bass sounded the first time he plugged it in. When I got to North Carolina to pick it up he had this funny look on his face and he said: "I have heard so much over the years about this 34" vs 32" scale length thing, but let me tell you - this is one of the best sounding basses I have ever heard, period!" I believe at the time that my first Roscoe was his first 32" scale bass, although he made another "twin" for me later on.
Paul Reed Smith's standard bass neck was 32" scale for years. When I was in the Studio with Ken Scott producing our first record at A&M Studios in Hollywood, Stanley Clarke was sharing the studio with us; we working noon to midnight, he working midnight to noon. We befriended each other via Ken Scott and he offered to let me use any of his basses that were laying around in the studio (he took the Alembics with him). I particularly liked a certain Jazz bass he had, so I brought it in strapped it on, plugged it in, hit four or five notes - Ken only smiled, shook his head "No" and without saying a word, he pointed back to the PRS and smiled. For those in the know, Ken Scott probably has ears in the top .1% of the world, as evidenced by his work with Supertramp, Jeff Beck, Billy Cobham, The Beatles, Elton John, David Bowie, etc. Here he was, preferring my PRS medium scale to the full scale Jazz Bass. We had recorded one of our bass tracks and Ken asked me to "double" portions of it and when Stanley arrived at the studio that day, Ken grabbed him and played it for him. He simply smiled and congratulated me as he KNOWS the sound and value of a quality medium scale bass via his Alembics. Although, this was 1977 and Paul was a complete unknown - he then wanted to check out this bass made by an unknown luthier from Maryland.
The collection is here:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Comments Welcome,
Best to all
BassHappy
I don't have much experience with standard short scale basses, but I have an interesting collection of medium scale basses, including PRS #11, two Roscoes and a nice selection of MIJ Fenders. All strings being equal, I would challenge anyone on here with a standard 34" scale neck to record side by side with any of my instruments and be able to tell with their ears only (blindfold test?) which is which. Frankly IMHO this string length, string tension, vibration rate blah blah blah is nothing but pure bull. The EARS are the true test, and I defy anyone, even the greatest of engineers and golden "ears" to tell the difference.
When Keith Roscoe finished my first 32" scale bass he was overwhelmed with how amazing the bass sounded the first time he plugged it in. When I got to North Carolina to pick it up he had this funny look on his face and he said: "I have heard so much over the years about this 34" vs 32" scale length thing, but let me tell you - this is one of the best sounding basses I have ever heard, period!" I believe at the time that my first Roscoe was his first 32" scale bass, although he made another "twin" for me later on.
Paul Reed Smith's standard bass neck was 32" scale for years. When I was in the Studio with Ken Scott producing our first record at A&M Studios in Hollywood, Stanley Clarke was sharing the studio with us; we working noon to midnight, he working midnight to noon. We befriended each other via Ken Scott and he offered to let me use any of his basses that were laying around in the studio (he took the Alembics with him). I particularly liked a certain Jazz bass he had, so I brought it in strapped it on, plugged it in, hit four or five notes - Ken only smiled, shook his head "No" and without saying a word, he pointed back to the PRS and smiled. For those in the know, Ken Scott probably has ears in the top .1% of the world, as evidenced by his work with Supertramp, Jeff Beck, Billy Cobham, The Beatles, Elton John, David Bowie, etc. Here he was, preferring my PRS medium scale to the full scale Jazz Bass. We had recorded one of our bass tracks and Ken asked me to "double" portions of it and when Stanley arrived at the studio that day, Ken grabbed him and played it for him. He simply smiled and congratulated me as he KNOWS the sound and value of a quality medium scale bass via his Alembics. Although, this was 1977 and Paul was a complete unknown - he then wanted to check out this bass made by an unknown luthier from Maryland.
The collection is here:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Comments Welcome,
Best to all
BassHappy
I don't know if anyone mentioned Status yet so I'll throw that on the pile. I'm playing a headless Kingbass which is a 32" scale and I love it!
Short scale is the way to go!
Short scale is the way to go!
I have! Original the project was to make a baritone bass, tuned A-D-G-C and that worked perfectly. I recently tried to put D'Addario strings made for the Fender VI bass, the 4 thickest (044-056-072-084), and tune it down to normal bass tuning. That works perfecly too. After all their baritones are rather long scaled 28 5/8".
It actually turned out to be a great mini short scale, with a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails for guitar at the bridge and a Seymour Duncan pickup for Rickenbacker bass at the neck.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
BassHappy
Supporting Member
I second the CortobassAlso check out:
Jerry Jones longhorn - Good basses
Birdsong basses - Their Corto bass looks cool
Fender Mustang - now made better than ever
Gretsch Broadkaster - cool archtop
Hamer Slammer -good + cheap
Alembic -Stanley Clarke plays a short scale
Epiphone Viola bass - 1/4 the price of a Hofner, 90% as good
Jay Turser 'Beatle' bass - Ditto
etc
I bit pricy but worth it
I'm looking forward to a nother build
Last edited:
I have a Fritz Bro. Custom Bass. 31.5" scale. almost a medium scale, but longer than a short scale.
Great Bass, the extra 1.5" makes for nice range after the 12th fret. Notes are full and defined. ( I find short scale tend to chock up after the 12th fret )
Huge tone, great with a pick tones too.
Great Bass, the extra 1.5" makes for nice range after the 12th fret. Notes are full and defined. ( I find short scale tend to chock up after the 12th fret )
Huge tone, great with a pick tones too.
