I'm aware I will most likely have to start getting bass strings online (As well as the ones I like for my 12 string guitar), but I would prefer to get it all at brick & mortar stores--there's something about the experience I love, and I don't want them to go away.
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Small Scale Bass Hate?
- Thread starter DOOGLER
- Start date
I should also add that the people employ me like my playing much better when I'm not grimacing in pain. I have stuff joints and arthritis in hands and possibly back from ulcerative colitis 20 years ago, so the scale gets shorter, the bass gets lighter, and I can keep playing. I have a birdsong (31" scale, 6 lbs ), and the uke bass in that video (20" scale and 4 lbs), and am thankful that I'm not in pain for 3 days after a gig anymore.
I'm with you on that, but when you want something besides ghs boomers or d'addario xl stainless steel, chances are you're getting them online these days. I rarely change strings though. In fact, broke one on a gig on may 1st- 5 year old flatwounds. That was a sad day because new flatwounds are not too fun.
i bought two of my three most recent basses used in stores, but i haven't found a set of strings i like in a store in.... well, ever since i learned there was a great variety of strings and i preferred extra lights or short scale, none of which are in any of our many local music stores. there's a chance, depending on what i can find and how things work out, that i'll end up getting a head or cab in an actual brick and mortar store.
I can't find any--at all--and the two types I liked the most are the ones you mentioned, but mostly I've mostly sued regular D'Addarios.
But the Stainless steel ones just made the sound pop out & stand out so the sound didn't get lost.
But then that's okay to like different strings--we can't, and shouldn't, all use the same gear, strings, etc.
Variety is a great thing in music.
Tell them that anything under 41" is a short scale.
<--- This Deusenberg semiacoustic in my avatar is 30.5". Love it.
<--- This Deusenberg semiacoustic in my avatar is 30.5". Love it.
I am currently living away from home for work, and I am sorely missing my basses.
I don't care about scale length or brand name or price. I'm happy to play anything that sounds good and feels good. Now, after a couple of weeks without a bass I would be happy to play an ice cream tub with rubber bands.
So, don't tell my wife, but I have just bought a lovely lightweight Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat shorty to play in my hotel room. Just enough acoustic volume to play without an amp.
I don't care about scale length or brand name or price. I'm happy to play anything that sounds good and feels good. Now, after a couple of weeks without a bass I would be happy to play an ice cream tub with rubber bands.
So, don't tell my wife, but I have just bought a lovely lightweight Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat shorty to play in my hotel room. Just enough acoustic volume to play without an amp.
Well, just to point out the obvious, Paul McCartney would probably tell you he's happy with his choice of short scale bass.
The scale lengths of the basses I've owned and gigged are 18, 20, 23, 24, 28.6, 30, 32, 34, 35 and 42 inches. Now I most frequently use a 30" scale.
My current #1 is a new Squier Bronco (30" scale) modded with an SD Hotrails Strat neck position pickup, D'Addario nylon tapewound strings and a Swicthcraft jack. Some may think it's strange but it's simply the best sounding electric bass I've ever had.
Nobody has ever said anything about my choice of scale or bass.
My current #1 is a new Squier Bronco (30" scale) modded with an SD Hotrails Strat neck position pickup, D'Addario nylon tapewound strings and a Swicthcraft jack. Some may think it's strange but it's simply the best sounding electric bass I've ever had.
Nobody has ever said anything about my choice of scale or bass.
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My main concern with doing anything outside of the 34" bass length is simple, am I going to mess up my feel on my main basses? That is why I don't do DB as well (other than I have no desire to part with that kind of money)
BassHappy
Supporting Member
I have no idea what the OP means by SMALL scale?
If the OP means short scale - approximately 30" - I mean hate is a very strong word - but they don't fit me. I get clumsy in the upper registers, it's too cramped - and yes - 25 albums later I would agree. The short scale keeps me from reaching my full potential as a player. As a rule I don't like them, but i don't hate them. However, full disclosure - I do have a Rob Allen Mouse short scale but my other 18 basses are medium.
I play medium scales 32" pretty exclusively and I love them. Is a medium scale a small scale? In my view, no it isn't. The difference between a QUALITY medium scale and a long scale (34") is much more subtle that you might think. It's lopping off one fret - as the bridge also moves the same amount. Unfortunately, there are few to no mediums in your local GC or mom and pop. Next to impossible to take one for a spin.
You will get over your hate really quick when body pain forces you to go shorter. As many of you know - there can be a point where it's go shorter or stop playing. Not a fun decision to make perhaps, but a serious one that many of us will face at some point. I have played nothing but medium since 1976 and I am remarkably pain free. Not surprising at all to me.
I say play what fits you and get over it. From my website:
"Like shirts, basses come in a variety of sizes - they come in small, medium, large, extra large and even extra small and extra extra large. They also come in various string configurations, from standard 4 string to custom 7 strings and beyond. By all means, play what feels most comfortable - play the size that fits you. Medium 4 strings are my size, they simply fit me.
What do Paul McCartney (Beatles), Jack Bruce (Cream), Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), Glenn Cornick (Jethro Tull), Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads), Jonas Hellborg, Stanley Clarke and countless other world class bassists have in common? They all played short scale (30") or medium scale (32") basses during the time period that was arguably the pinnacle of their careers - as opposed to the more conventional long scale (34"). Although played by many very gifted players since the beginning of the rock era, shorter scale basses have become much more in vogue in recent years - even though they sometimes get a bad "rap".
If you are truly interested in finding out more, there is a Primer on Shorter Scale Basses on my site here: Why Not Play the Bass That Fits You Perfectly?
If the OP means short scale - approximately 30" - I mean hate is a very strong word - but they don't fit me. I get clumsy in the upper registers, it's too cramped - and yes - 25 albums later I would agree. The short scale keeps me from reaching my full potential as a player. As a rule I don't like them, but i don't hate them. However, full disclosure - I do have a Rob Allen Mouse short scale but my other 18 basses are medium.
I play medium scales 32" pretty exclusively and I love them. Is a medium scale a small scale? In my view, no it isn't. The difference between a QUALITY medium scale and a long scale (34") is much more subtle that you might think. It's lopping off one fret - as the bridge also moves the same amount. Unfortunately, there are few to no mediums in your local GC or mom and pop. Next to impossible to take one for a spin.
You will get over your hate really quick when body pain forces you to go shorter. As many of you know - there can be a point where it's go shorter or stop playing. Not a fun decision to make perhaps, but a serious one that many of us will face at some point. I have played nothing but medium since 1976 and I am remarkably pain free. Not surprising at all to me.
I say play what fits you and get over it. From my website:
"Like shirts, basses come in a variety of sizes - they come in small, medium, large, extra large and even extra small and extra extra large. They also come in various string configurations, from standard 4 string to custom 7 strings and beyond. By all means, play what feels most comfortable - play the size that fits you. Medium 4 strings are my size, they simply fit me.
What do Paul McCartney (Beatles), Jack Bruce (Cream), Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), Glenn Cornick (Jethro Tull), Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads), Jonas Hellborg, Stanley Clarke and countless other world class bassists have in common? They all played short scale (30") or medium scale (32") basses during the time period that was arguably the pinnacle of their careers - as opposed to the more conventional long scale (34"). Although played by many very gifted players since the beginning of the rock era, shorter scale basses have become much more in vogue in recent years - even though they sometimes get a bad "rap".
If you are truly interested in finding out more, there is a Primer on Shorter Scale Basses on my site here: Why Not Play the Bass That Fits You Perfectly?
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Although I prefer longer scales, I like short scale basses and have quite a few - fun to play. I just find the tone lacking on the lower strings; a short scale BEADG 5er just makes no sense to me - EADGC, sure.
Funny, I was just going to recommend it.I am currently living away from home for work, and I am sorely missing my basses.
I don't care about scale length or brand name or price. I'm happy to play anything that sounds good and feels good. Now, after a couple of weeks without a bass I would be happy to play an ice cream tub with rubber bands.
So, don't tell my wife, but I have just bought a lovely lightweight Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat shorty to play in my hotel room. Just enough acoustic volume to play without an amp.
I'm back to playing a Gibson SG Std. It plays, and sounds great. I'm using D'Addario ETB92M Nylon Tapewounds on it. Yes there is an issue about local stores stocking short scale strings. If they don't stock them in the local store, I go to the online. they loose the sale, and I have my strings. The Medium Scale strings do seem to fit better on my SG Std. than Short Scales do. With the Medium Scales, the silks are high enough from the nut, but not up into the windings.
Ric5
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Big Hoss
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I think too many people in general are looking for ways to be offended these days. There may be one or two (out of thousands here) who would berate you for choosing a shorty bass. But for the most part, I promise you, nobody cares one way or the other.
Using a title like that for this thread screams to me......
"Why to you guys all hate the kind of bass I want to buy?????? Boohoohoo!!!!"
....when, in actuality I can't recall reading a short scale "hate" comment on this forum.
Using a title like that for this thread screams to me......
"Why to you guys all hate the kind of bass I want to buy?????? Boohoohoo!!!!"
....when, in actuality I can't recall reading a short scale "hate" comment on this forum.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with playing whatever bass you want to.
I'm exclusively a short scale player. At this point have way more of them than I'll ever need. Doubt it'll stop me from acquiring others though.
I own and have owned basse from the sub scale Kala U-Bass up to Fender P & J basses. I just prefer the 30" scale length or shorter.
The only people who'd look down on you for owning and playing a short scale are wankers or snooty "I play this" and anybody who doesn't isn't really a bass player. And why would you, or anybody care what one of those people say or think? I'm using "think" as a generic term here.
