Short Scale / Long Scale can they tell?

[BassBob185]

I recently added a short scale SX to my bass family. I am curious as to whether my fellow TBers believe that an audience can tell the difference in sound if someone is playing a short scale versus a long scale.

Scenario: Your are playing at a gig and you have a regular scale Fender P. You unplug the long scale and plug in the P configured short scale on the same rig. Adjustment to the volume and tone knobs on the bass can be made.

I know it is hard to compare but please give this old geezer and long time bass player a break.

Many thanks!

 

[DrPepper09]

the audience wont hear any tonal difference (unless it sounds like a wish bass), but they will see a difference in the neck.. i've had people ask me why my basses neck is longer (so the audience is at least observant in that category... no matter how stupid they are.)

In Short: Physically yes, sound wise no.

 

[lawsonman]

99% of the audience wouldn't know if you was playing a long scale Jazz or a Tuba.

 

[Johnny Crab]

I've one shortscale in my "play live" basses and about to add another.

Typical audience at a gig?
No, ESPECIALLY if you make adjustments as mentioned.
If you have a Line 6 preamp or other with presets, you can even tweak presets to make your shortscale sound better than the longscale.

 

[Stone Age]

99% of the audience wouldn't know if you was playing a long scale Jazz or a Tuba.

 

[Jjango]

99% of the audience wouldn't know if you was playing a long scale Jazz or a Tuba.

Ain't it the truth?

 

[Joe Smithberger]

Just about every time I play my Rob Allen Mouse (30" scale, single cut), someone will come up and ask what the deal is with the little bass. It's almost always accompanied by a remark on the sound too, but the look gets the first question. Of course the fact that I am 6'4" makes it look that much smaller too.

 

[JustDavid]

Presuming EADG, right?

I don't think you can discount the visual aspect. If you could, a lot of bands could save a lot of money on stage lighting.

 

[Sgtthump]

99% of the audience wouldn't know if you was playing a long scale Jazz or a Tuba.

Absotively posolutely true.

 

[BassBob185]

Presuming EADG, right?

I don't think you can discount the visual aspect. If you could, a lot of bands could save a lot of money on stage lighting.

Yes, tuned EADG

 

[mongo2]

On the off chance that somebody did notice how long the neck is on my instrument, why should I give a flying rats patoot?

 

[Pilgrim]

A very few of the audience might hear a difference - if there is a significant difference in sound. For instance, if the long scale had flats and the short scale had new rounds. Most would not perceive any difference at all. Any real difference would be a result of the overall character of the bass, not just whether it's short or long scale.

Most people would perceive no difference even IF there was one.

 

[spade2you]

Visually, people will probably notice. I'm only 5'6" and people still notice that my Mouse 30 is kinda small. I remember in my last band switching from my Conklin 6 to the Mouse 30, which made the transition even more obvious!

Sonically, kinda depends on how different the tones are.

 

[amandolin]

If the audience notices, it's probably a bunch of dudes anyway

 

[DeanT]

Not only can't they tell the difference in tone between long and short scale, but they probably couldn't tell you which is long and which is short (unless the basses are side by side). They don't care either.

 

[honestjohnny]

Heck, a friend of mine who plays bass for a national touring act couldn't tell that I was playing a short scale, even when I was jamming at his place. So how's that?!

 

[lomo]

I voted carrots 'cause it depends what music you're playing and assumes a good rig. Play a blues scale or classic rock above the nut and noone will know, but play a chord or double stop or lean on your open E and it won't sound nearly as good or clear. Intonation above the 7th fret will be off IMO/IME (unless it's a fretless). The average audience member won't realize in the moment, but could tell the difference if asked to discern between the 2.

 

[lonote]

The audience can't tell and, even if they could, they wouldn't care.

 

[cnltb]

They probably don't care, but I guess they could tell quite easily.
Short scale is just shorter. I'm sure the audience could spott that.

 

[Jazz Ad]

The audience wants a good show. They don't care about the rest unless they're gearheads.
Will you feel the difference is the only important factor.