I may be in the minority here, but I prefer tighter spacing. Unfortunetly, there isn't a whole lot of 34" scale six string MTD's out there with 16.5mm string spacing. That would be my ultimate comfort zone. But, like always, I've adapted to what is available, and I am getting more comfortable on my 35" scale bass with 18mm spacing. It is taking a long time to get as fast and precise as I am on a tighter spacing, but it is coming along.
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spacing & scale important?
- Thread starter adrian garcia
- Start date
Yes and no. I have had many a bass player say, "Those Pedulla's sound great with that 35" scale." Surprise!!!! They are 34". Scale depends on the bass and most importantly the setup. My 34" Pedulla's blow away just about any 35" and are on par with Modulus and MTD (I have much experience with all 3 brands). Some of the short scale Alembics have amazing B strings at only 30 inches.
Spacing, however, makes a big difference, for me at least. I have to have 19mm (or 3/4") to feel comfortable. I had a 17mm for a little bit, but had to get rid of it because my hands kept stumbling over themselves. While I feel you can play faster on a 17mm, It's just not right for me. I have a friend, however, that's a great bass player and swears by 17mm. To each their own I guess.
The other thing is the spacing at the nut. Most guys don't look at that, but it can make a difference in a huge way, especially on a 4 string. I play a Jazz bass and feel cramped, but if I go to a Stingray It feels fine.
There is no right way to do it, but it does have a big effect on the feel from individual to individual.
My F bass AC5 is 19mm and 34.5" scale. Played a F bass BN5forever also. Then I got a 34" Fodera MG thinking no big deal, its the same as a fender jazz , wrong, promply ordered a 34.5.
My teacher was right. He told me.
Funny, but playing a fender jazz bass does not bug me, go figure.
My teacher was right. He told me.
Funny, but playing a fender jazz bass does not bug me, go figure.
- Apr 9, 2001
- 5,110
- 17
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Nordy Basses, Schroeder Cabs, Gallien Krueger Amps
after 30 plus years of playing, my right hand gets confused if it has to slap on anything other than a 19 mm- with the new 19mm spaced 6, there is no problem whatsoever.
34 in scale does not bother me. 35 or more does and 33 and less is too short- but I am still amazed at the difference between the feel of the basses, to my hands.
34 in scale does not bother me. 35 or more does and 33 and less is too short- but I am still amazed at the difference between the feel of the basses, to my hands.
I think, adrian, that slapping would be a more critical thing to spacing than fingerstyle. The reason is, that with slap, your hand is somewhat "disconnected" from the strings and hence you must rely on muscle memory to bring your thumb into the correct position. On fingerstyle, you can trust your fingers feeding back to your brain more. Either way, string spacing is a huge issue...
but I don't think the difference between 34, 35, and 33 scale can't be overcome in a relatively short period of time.
- Apr 9, 2001
- 5,110
- 17
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Nordy Basses, Schroeder Cabs, Gallien Krueger Amps
Agreed that spacing is more pertinent to slapping.
It JUST so happened that both basses I own have a 34.5 in scale and 19mm spacing, which is just fantastic for me! They are in the same sonic ballpark. These have the tone in my head. If I could get the F bass to have a hotter output ( i know, i get around it with my amp ) and a master vol/pan setup it would be about the only way to improve anything.
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It JUST so happened that both basses I own have a 34.5 in scale and 19mm spacing, which is just fantastic for me! They are in the same sonic ballpark. These have the tone in my head. If I could get the F bass to have a hotter output ( i know, i get around it with my amp ) and a master vol/pan setup it would be about the only way to improve anything.
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so i was just wondering if comfort is a matter of time or 1st impression? For example, if you had been playing 17mm all the time and forced yourself to play 19mm for a long while, would u adapt to the 19mm spacing and feel that it is more comfortable? Or is it just that moment when u pick up a bass and play it, and it just "feels right", not even knowing what string spacing it may be?
Adrian,
great topic. First of all, I'm not very good at slapping, I'm mainly a figerstyle player. But I imagine a wider string spacing would be more comfortable for most people who slap (?).
Quite a few years ago I was very sensitive to string spacing, especially when I started playing a 5-string. When I made the switch to a Roscoe 6-string there was an adjustment period, but it didn't take too long for me to get comfortable with it's string spacing. For almost two years, my main instrument has been a Mike Lull M5V. On every gig I play I switch between it and a Fender P-Bass. The only thing I notice is the string tension between the two.
As far as scale length is concerned, I prefer a 35" scale bass. Before I started playing my Roscoe, a Modulus Q4 was my main bass. Switching from my 34" scale basses to my Q4's 35" scale was a little weird at first, but over time I got used to it.
great topic. First of all, I'm not very good at slapping, I'm mainly a figerstyle player. But I imagine a wider string spacing would be more comfortable for most people who slap (?).
Quite a few years ago I was very sensitive to string spacing, especially when I started playing a 5-string. When I made the switch to a Roscoe 6-string there was an adjustment period, but it didn't take too long for me to get comfortable with it's string spacing. For almost two years, my main instrument has been a Mike Lull M5V. On every gig I play I switch between it and a Fender P-Bass. The only thing I notice is the string tension between the two.
As far as scale length is concerned, I prefer a 35" scale bass. Before I started playing my Roscoe, a Modulus Q4 was my main bass. Switching from my 34" scale basses to my Q4's 35" scale was a little weird at first, but over time I got used to it.
Adrian, does the F-bass have a gain trim pot inside that you can boost it a bit with? I'm not familiar with them, but I know a lot of preamps do have this feature.
Your white Jazz is just KILLER!!! those nordies, the J-retro, the colour, the neck...EVERYTHING! just perfect
Your white Jazz is just KILLER!!! those nordies, the J-retro, the colour, the neck...EVERYTHING! just perfect
- Apr 9, 2001
- 5,110
- 17
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Nordy Basses, Schroeder Cabs, Gallien Krueger Amps
No trim pot or everyone would have it pinned all the way up!
Thanks for the kind words on the Nordy- it is an amazing bass. By the way, that is a prototype Audere ( first one ) with the 3 band and pasive tone rolloff, which is just too sweet and I love having the rolloff on the Nordy AND the F bass. Kudos and thanks to Dave Meadows of Audere. REALLY happening preamps!
One important factor on the the overall appeal of an istrument is the spacing at the nut. The left hand should feel as comfortable as the right hand. I prefer tighter spacing at the nut and 18mm at the brigde.As far as scale goes, I am hooked on Prima's and Z's (Dingwalls). It gives me an even feel and responce across the strings and across the board (both in terms of feel as well as sound). I am a 5str player mostly, so the B string really benefits (along witht the other strings). Ocassionally I do play the 4's ("Hey!!! This thing is one string short!!!"), and the 7str too (F#-C and B-F).
For me, string spacing is a HUGE deal. If I play a 5+ it had better have spacing as close to a typical 4-string jazz neck as possible. I don't mind the really wide board as long as there's some room between the strings. Tight spacing makes me sick to my stomach.
Scale length has never been a huge deal for me. That said I've only ever been between 34" and 35". The only time I notice it being different at all is when I'm playing a lot on the 1st and 2nd fret of a 35".
Scale length has never been a huge deal for me. That said I've only ever been between 34" and 35". The only time I notice it being different at all is when I'm playing a lot on the 1st and 2nd fret of a 35".
I'm getting to where I pretty much have to have a 30" scale and super-tight spacing. Which pretty severely limits my choices.
I generally feel most at home at the 17.5mm width on the standard-sized Pedullas. Some of the 19mm basses out there feel really huge, especially when the neck has a lot of heft on the outside of the B and G strings.
Scale length wasn't that big of a deal compared to, quite simply, the way the strings FEEL on a 35" - tighter and requiring a different touch. For a guy who plays fairly lightly with low action, I felt my hand and wrist cramp up from having to dig in more! That's what I couldn't get used to when switching between a 34 and 35 - the strings just feel totally different under your fingertips.
Lonnybass
Scale length wasn't that big of a deal compared to, quite simply, the way the strings FEEL on a 35" - tighter and requiring a different touch. For a guy who plays fairly lightly with low action, I felt my hand and wrist cramp up from having to dig in more! That's what I couldn't get used to when switching between a 34 and 35 - the strings just feel totally different under your fingertips.
Lonnybass
I wouldn't have guessed that a few mm and one inch would have made a difference but I was wrong. After two years I regretfully sold my 55-02 that I absolutely loved because I couldn't get comfortable with the 35" scale and 19mm spacing.
My SR5 feels much better to me, and in the 7 months I've been playing one I've also learned to appreciate them for their tonal versatility.
My SR5 feels much better to me, and in the 7 months I've been playing one I've also learned to appreciate them for their tonal versatility.
