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Short scale influence on your regular bass playing?
- Thread starter mikeluch
- Start date
Recently changed from 34 inch to 30 inch after playing long scale for 30 odd years. I wouldn't go back to long scale now, just received a 30 inch maruszczyk custom made bass really pleased with it and my BL prefers the sound of a short scale. I could easily switch back to a 34 inch scale but won't be.
Thoughts? Yeah, I have them - occasionally; most of them involve food of some kind, though - and, all of them give me a headache...I just picked up a G&L Fallout bass. I really like it, too much
I have many high end "regular" scale basses and I am curious of others that might switch back and forth between the scales if they have any issues. I have been playing for over 50 years and never played short scales, but after playing one it makes me wonder if I get too attached, could it might impact my playing on the full scale basses. Any thoughts?
As for "regular" vs. short scale basses? Out of my 25 basses, roughly 1/3 of them are short scale. I've never had much of a problem switching between scales. But, most of what I play very seldom requires venturing up past... oh, let's say, the 8th fret. Going up past the 12th fret? A Red Letter Day for me...! There's not much difference between the 2 bass' necks where I play, really; other than a shorty being a little smaller, and maybe balanced better? On the whole, they're all pretty much the same. Maybe it's a different story with other music; maybe not. But, I don't do the slap thing - ever; and, with only a couple of exceptions, I can play all of them with a pick - short scale, or long. And, yes; most of my short scale basses are noticeably lacking the overtones most of the long scales have; but, AFAIC? That's hardly something to worry about...So, bottom line? Switching from one to the other, for me, isn't much of a problem...
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I just picked up a G&L Fallout bass. I really like it, too much
I have many high end "regular" scale basses and I am curious of others that might switch back and forth between the scales if they have any issues. I have been playing for over 50 years and never played short scales, but after playing one it makes me wonder if I get too attached, could it might impact my playing on the full scale basses. Any thoughts?
I have four 34" basses, two 32" basses and a half-dozen short scales.
Everything you play should influence your playing on everything else. Don't create artificial distinctions based on scale length; they're all basses.
Just play them. You'll get attached to whatever suits you. I play more short scale than anything else these days.
My 32" scale P bass has ruined me. I still play 34, but it is always a bit of an adjustment for the first couple of minutes. Like getting into a cold swimming pool.
I have several basses. Some of them are 34", some of them are short scales. I play the same way, regardless of the scale.
I find it takes a little adjustment — a few minutes — to get my head on straight when I change between scales or 4 to 5 string. If I have a gig, I’ll exclusively play the “gig” bass for a few days to make sure I am comfortable and not mistaking the A for a B on the E-string for instance.
Playing a 5-string (not like a 4-string player typically plays one) is essentially playing a short-scale.
I'm playing higher up on the neck, rarely use the first few frets (never play an open string), playing the B much like you play your E, the frets I use are closer together, so
effectively playing a short-scale.
I'm playing higher up on the neck, rarely use the first few frets (never play an open string), playing the B much like you play your E, the frets I use are closer together, so
effectively playing a short-scale.
I view my short scales as a vacation for my frettting hand. No problem changing scales, but sometimes the short scale is a breeze to play.
Interesting question! I can't answer to it directly, as I've only owned short scales, but I've been curious about this, too. I've had two occasions recently where friends have put their full-scale bass on me, so I could play something (not performing or anything.). And I found them really easy to play, like having more space between the frets made it feel less "busy." The only thing for me is the weight. And I don't know if people have trouble adjusting to that between the two scales. If I could find a medium or regular-scale bass that weighed like a short scale, I'd be interested.
If playing a right hand style with a lot of attack - fingers galloping - on the strings, the long scale provides more resistance which seems to be helpful for that style.
Hey guys, thanks for all the great feedback. I have 34 inch scale basses at 7.5 lbs, so it it is not the weight thing. As I said, I never played short scale, and was just looking for bassists thoughts on the short vs. long scale. A previous post mentioned that they use their pinkie finger more than they should on regular scale and I do the same thing as I have short fingers. I have learned to deal with it, and slide a bit more than I like, but it works. Not planning to abandon my reg scales, just find it fun on how easy the short scale is at least for me even though it is very new to me.
I'm probably looking for something absurdly light.. around 8? I've read that the Fender Aerodyne Jazz is very light, and have seen some from Fender Japan. But I don't know much about them.
Age 69. What he said!! Bad back, bad shoulder, arthritis in hands. My #1 is still a 34, but I am enjoying my parts Mustang. I think I'm probably done with 5s. Weight mostly.
