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Short Scale Basses

#61
Avezzano said:
while a good string set (any average set) is generally homogeneous with maybe a few exceptions, the "good" B string is strongly affected by the "freshness" of the B string, by the "rightness" of the B string (its build/tension/diameter/set-up is it any good on this bass?), by the overall quality of the bass self and its overall proper set-up. Do not forget a good amplification.

Always in general, for the low B it is really difficult to express an opinion, an objective one, after a simple three minutes road test. 35" basses start with an implied "stiffness" advantage vs. 34", but there are tons of good sounding B 34" basses around; just check yourself on any occasion you'll may have: you will be amazed.
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I don't think that "freshness" has much to do with the quality of a B string.
I also think that opinion is never objective and voicing an opinion is what I did in my previous post.
To me a 36" bass just sounds bigger and therefore better( no ,it's not imagination:-) ).
The comparison between an upright piano and a larger Grand piano is the best way I can describe what it is i am talking about
That is not to say that I dislike short scale basses.
I like them, but for other things.
 
#62
teleharmonium said:
I don't think there is any inherent ease/difficulty in scale length differences of the type we are talking about. For a person with unusually large or small hands, maybe.

Short scale basses typically have fatter neck profiles and that requires a different left hand position. If you try to play a short scale bass with your thumb fully stood off in the center of the neck like you would on a bass with a thin neck profile, you're stretching farther and you will get tired for that reason. But you don't have to do that. You can keep the neck cupped more between your left thumb and index finger. IMO this is easier than when I play my long scale basses (again the difference being the neck profile rather than scale length).

It does take time for this to feel natural if you're used to the other way, which is a good example of why brief experiences with musical instruments may not tell us much.

If it was really a matter of scale length, anybody that has trouble with a short scale bass must also have trouble with a guitar, and a lot more people play guitar than bass, but I don't think I've ever heard of anyone that just couldn't play a guitar for left hand physical reasons other than some actual injury or disability.
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+1 Best response so far...
 
#63
cnltb said:
believe you me, I have.:)
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Then you need to play more luthier made basses. I was one of the biggest 35" scale or nothin' guys for many years, but all it took was for me to play a friend's Curbows for me to squash that.

I now own this and compared to my 35" scale basses the B isn't missing any meat.

DSC00640.jpg
 
#64
I just LOVE my '70 EB-3 short-scale bass though my other basses are all traditional long-scale. Mostly use the EB-3 for Jack Bruce covers. Biggest issue I have is switching back and forth between long & short-scale..... have not mastered this yet!
 
#65
spade2you said:
Then you need to play more luthier made basses. I was one of the biggest 35" scale or nothin' guys for many years, but all it took was for me to play a friend's Curbows for me to squash that.

I now own this and compared to my 35" scale basses the B isn't missing any meat.

DSC00640.jpg
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I've done that too.
I've played, many basses by many luthiers.
It has nothing to do with "meat" either.
:)
 
#71
UnfortunateTony said:
The problem with a lot of teachers nowadays is that, being a little older, they're a little more stuck in their ways. They don't like picks, they don't like short scales, etc.

Short scales are just as good as any comparable long scale.
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...agree totally with the comment about short scales, but the first comment about teachers is just a throw-away generalisation that is both unfair and untrue.
 
#72
Listen. I made the mistake of adhering to the opinions of music teachers and instructors for years against my own better judgement.

The problem is, I have very small hands, and have struggled to play full-scales throughout my life with little success.

I finally got smart and dumped them for short scales exclusively. My playing ability has been leaps and bounds better ever since.

The moral of this story is to ignore everyone else, and play what you are comfortable with!
 

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