Switching between long scale and short scale basses

[MrLenny1]

It can be done with some practice and time.
I was on the Nashville showboat a few years ago
and the bassist played a 5 string bass then swapped over to a violin
and sang lead & harmonies. Yikes!

 

[micguy]

For some folks, it's a no brainer. For some of us, it occupies enough of the brain that we start thinking on stage. That's a horrible thing.

I had a medium scale for a while. I have huge hands. I could play it, but when I wanted to play in on a gig, I would practice with it the week before, so I was relatively automatic - I don't like to have to look at the instrument much during a gig if at all possible. if I tried to switch during a performance, I'd end up staring at the neck to avoid small errors, which would kill the vibe.

I donated that bass. I also realized from that experience that I should pick one scale for both 5's and 4's. I'm a 34 all the time, regardless of the number of strings, or the presence or absense of frets. I think the biggest dividend that that pays is when I play fretless, I'm much more accurate because I'm always going for the same place.

 

[el murdoque]

No worries, as long as you are familiar with both.

This.
You need to commit both basses to muscle memory. When one of them is new and you've had the other for a while, it might help to play the new one exclusively for a while. Long enough that playing it feels like second nature. When both basses are baked in to your system, you can swap at will.

 

[iiipopes]

I play gigs on my U-Bass, 21-inch scale; Mitchell 30-inch scale; and my Ibby BTB845V 33-inch scale interchangeably. It never takes more than a sound check to settle in. I can see if gigging is seldom, that it might take a little more time for the muscle memory to kick in.

 

[SLO Surfer]

The more you do it, the easier it gets!

 

[Williethump]

I'm a student bedroom bassist of three years and don't gig. But switching from my P-bass to a short scale Harmony to a minature Hadean uke bass is not a problem. Within about a few seconds your fingers adjust and find the needed fret almost automatically. No problem. But, again, I don't gig so YMMV in that situation. Good luck.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Switching between 30" and 34" mid gig = no problem whatsoever as long as you are used to playing both scales regularly.

Switching between the sound of an EB/SG and pretty much any other bass mid gig = the FOH engineer will most likely murder you (especially if you haven't told him in advance) and you really need to make sure you know what you're trying to achieve artistically and whether an EB/SG really is a good choice rather than just a "fun" thing for yourself and nobody else (including the audience).

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Gibson EBs/SGs for SOME stuff. But for most songs/genres they're not the best choice and if I was going to play an EB/SG live I would want to ONLY play an EB/SG for that gig and optimize the rest of my gear and my playing around it.

Just my personal opinion of course.

Btw, the current Gibson SGs are a lot more versatile than the EBs. The SGs are not quite as extreme and boomy. But I guess you could also say that the SGs are missing a little bit of what makes the original EBs unique...

 

[BarfanyShart]

I would say not a big deal at all. I mean, I spent a fair bit of my gigging life switching between Double Bass, Bass Guitar, and guitar - that really does pose some challenges, and honestly probably contributed to some long term injury for me. I like short scale BG a lot now, and I ultimately also want to get a 1/4 scale (~35") Double Bass, but I feel like the difference between 34" and 30" BG is negligible.

Interestingly, the biggest problem for me with switching to a different scale on BG or DB is grabbing harmonics, those little guys are pure muscle memory to find.

 

[chadds]

I switch live between 35” scale and 18” scale Ashbory. Not an issue.
If the focus is fingers it could be. If the focus is music coming from inside you not even stopping at the bass but spreading into the performance space, then it won’t matter.

 

[fdeck]

I've recently been switching between 32" Fender Mustang, a 34" Ibanez, both fretless, plus upright bass, and cello. It hasn't been a problem.

 

[Killing Floor]

I routinely switch between a 34" and a 30". I also routinely switch between a 30" fretted and a 34" fretless (unlined). Once you get used to an instrument your brain works just fine. Even switching from a 25.5" scale guitar to a 34" fretless or a 30" fretted, it's all the same. Some call it muscle memory. Your noodle can handle it.

 

[dangevans]

I never had a problem. I guess maybe it just takes getting used to playing both a lot at home before trying it.

 

[user362432]

No problem for me. I equally suck on both

 

[knumbskull]

I bought my first short scale on my lunch break, it sat in its case all afternoon, then i gigged it that evening.

... if that helps answer your question!

I now switch between 30, 34 and 36 inch scale pretty regularly.

 

[Dave TB Killer]

I purchased an Epiphone Viola a few years ago and like it. It was sort of an experimental trial for a future Hofner. The only issue I have found so far is the floating bridge which has nothing to do with the shortened scale length.

 

[svlilioukalani]

When I go from a 34 inch scale to a 30 inch on a gig, I feel like superman. Moving down to the 30 inch make me feel like I am driving a Ferrari. When I go back to the 34 inch scale it's like coming back home.

I have more issues going from a 5 string to a 4 string.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

There's not much to get used to, really. Maybe there's a couple seconds of adjustment, but it's pretty quick.

IDK,IMHO my muscle memory is so intuned with my 34" scale, It threw off my fill when my singer proudly brought out his his Gibson EB-3, for me to try out & give him my feed back. I t was cool but felt small like a guitar, kinda confused my fingers trying to play my usual licks! but probably be okay if i had more time to noodle with it! and get used to the spacing!

 

[msb]

Just spend some time on the short scale , get used to it , and it won’t be hard switching . And take a look at the Gibson Les Paul Jr DC bass ... it’s a beauty !

 

[CalgAaron]

I switch between upright bass, a 4 string p bass or a 5 string on multiple gigs. I find that if you are used to them it’s not much of a problem. Though I have brought a Fretless and an upright on a gig and the scale length was a little awkward. Might have been a bit pitchy on each instrument for the first few measures until I got my intonation set. Just practice the set and the switches and you’ll eventually get used to the switches.

 

[PWRL]

IDK,IMHO my muscle memory is so intuned with my 34" scale, It threw off my fill when my singer proudly brought out his his Gibson EB-3, for me to try out & give him my feed back. I t was cool but felt small like a guitar, kinda confused my fingers trying to play my usual licks! but probably be okay if i had more time to noodle with it! and get used to the spacing!

Well we're all different, but I bet it wouldn't take you too long to get used to it. After you did, the adjustment time between scales would probably come pretty automatically. I used to switch between the two pretty frequently.