Yes and no. Changing the scale length, but not repositioning the pickups accordingly changes the eq, but it does it differently on every string. Unless you have a pickup and an eq per string (and it'd be a damn complicated one at that, and active circuitry to combine those 4 signals, you can't fundamentally undo the eq that comes from messing with the geometry of string lengths and pickup positioning. Put another way, it is fundamentally impossible to take a Gibson short scale and give it the identical sound of a Fender long scale.
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Short-scale basses are no substitute for long-scale basses?
- Thread starter wiscoaster
- Start date
Yes and no. Changing the scale length, but not repositioning the pickups accordingly changes the eq, but it does it differently on every string. Unless you have a pickup and an eq per string (and it'd be a damn complicated one at that, and active circuitry to combine those 4 signals, you can't fundamentally undo the eq that comes from messing with the geometry of string lengths and pickup positioning. Put another way, it is fundamentally impossible to take a Gibson short scale and give it the identical sound of a Fender long scale.
Those are great sounding basses. Played one this past week. The neck was just to small to be comfortable for me which kind of defeats the purpose . But it did sound good. If they make a comfy 5 string version I’d be interested for sure .
To my ears a long scale bass simply has more harmonics and once you get up past the 12th fret it still has enough string length to vibrate with strength. Short scale basses have a simpler tone.
Now whether or not those differences come through in a mix is another matter.
Now whether or not those differences come through in a mix is another matter.
Since you seem to have your mind made up, I guess its time for you to stop playing?
Barring that, try different strings with different tensions and materials.
I own 106 basses and they all sound different, but they all make the sound of a bass...because that's what they are.
I did not vote as there was no choice for 'carrots'
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If a short scale must sound identical to a long scale to be an adequate “substitute for the sound” of a long scale, your hypothesis might be correct, but you are going to have to play a lot of short scale basses to move your hypothesis on to theory &/or proof status. A characteristic of a short scale bass is more fundamental and less overtone(s), so there is a chance you won’t find a 30” scale bass that will sound identical to a 34+” scale bass, but is a substitute required to sound “identical” to the original? If not, does the difference in sound disqualify one from being a substitute for the other? If so, your hypothesis is equally valid in reverse; any long scale bass CANNOT substitute for the “sound” of a short scale bass.
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I currently have basses ranging from 32" ABG to 41.73" EUB with 34" and 35" EBG inbetween. They are all tuned the same, but there are differences in sound and feel between the scale lengths. But they are all totally usable basses. Although I'm afraid none have tort. I'm about to order a 30" fretless EBG.
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I have two short scale viola basses, and a long-scale JB. There are more factors than just the scale length at work in the differences in timbre. In listening to more similar comparisons, I have heard a Fender Mustang sound indistinguishable from a P-bass. In that case, the short-scale was strung with medium flats and the P-bass with light flats. Both had the tone control way down. The player adjusted his attack a little on the Mustang because it didn’t take as much force to get the string moving. Made me want a Mustang, darn it!
They're different instruments. Of course they don't "sound" exactly the same, even if tuned the same.
Which short scale? Which strings. I've owned a number of SS, including 4 Alembics, a 7ender Jag and currently have 2 Samicks that I really love, not to mention the 2 Ibanez SRC6 30" 6 strings. In most situations I could use them fine and no one in the audience would ever know I was playing a SS.
And I'd love one of these.
Sounds great.
And I'd love one of these.
Sounds great.
Someone needs to give Stanley Clarke the bad news…
+1
Info for the thread:
Way back, I chose the TMB30 (PJ, despite not really wanting the J pickup) because I figured out (don't remember how accurately) that the TMB30's P pickup location was proportionally the same as a full length P (see micguy's post above), while the other 30" basses, P or PJ, that I checked (don't remember which) were not, so they were proportionally more forward than a full length P, which I did not want at that time.
Another reason why the TMB30 sounds so good is the thick neck profile (thickness, not (nut) width). I didn't have a clue about that at that time, but I believe it now, having learned this bitter lesson from a Fender J.
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In the past I may think that but I know play a Hybrid Guitar which is a fan fret and I only have 3 strings and the E is 29.5 - I actually tune 3 semitones up so my E is a G. For upright I also have a 5/8-1/2 and that is 38.5 inch scale vs the normal 41.5 to 42 for the regular 3/4 bass. I have Fender Vintage Mustang bass and I am fine with it. Tone wise though I like my longer basses for the work I do but if I only had the Mustang and the hybrid, I can keep on going.
@wiscoaster, my original reason for buying that short scale - as my first bass - was for the sake of my joints; I don't have problems yet but I'm watching for it, so in the future, if I need to, I would certainly play with a capo on my 34s. Might be interesting to try this on your Squier.
Short scales fall short sonically in comparison. Thats the trade off for being more comfortable on stage. Doesnt mean short scales arent good instruments but yeah.
My daily-driver is 35" but my favourite bass guitar scale-length is about 32"
To me it's kind-of the Goldilocks scale... It seems to be short enough to shift the dead spots right off the fingerboard, but doesn't significantly alter the taught-ness of the string, especially if you play hex-cores.
If you're used to playing 34s, it can surprise you a bit. It took me a bit of time before I realized what it was about the Kubicki Ex-Factor that I liked so much... It was the 32 inch scale.
To me it's kind-of the Goldilocks scale... It seems to be short enough to shift the dead spots right off the fingerboard, but doesn't significantly alter the taught-ness of the string, especially if you play hex-cores.
If you're used to playing 34s, it can surprise you a bit. It took me a bit of time before I realized what it was about the Kubicki Ex-Factor that I liked so much... It was the 32 inch scale.
