Tall player, short bass

[SteC]

And so began the quest to find the worlds tallest ukulele player...

 

[Evan J]

And so began the quest to find the worlds tallest ukulele player...

Woops. I do also frequent the ukulele

But I can’t be the tallest at 6’9. Surely some NBA a players play some uke in secret.

 

[DaveParker39]

While I think certain anatomical features might draw a certain person to a certain scale length/form factor, I don't think height is a major factor except in extreme situations.

I'm 5'9" and can palm a basketball.

 

[logdrum]

I'm not tall, but not short at 5'11.25". Normal sized hands.

I prefer 32" for fretted.

You know that is considered tall for Albuquerque

 

[logdrum]

I look up to you OP and I prefer 35 scale. It doesn't really matter. Just don't hurt yourself.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I'm 6'3" and my favorite scale length is 32". I often see players of similar height say that shorter than 34" is too small for them. Anyone else here on the taller side who prefers shorter scale basses?

I’m 6’0” and often play a 30”. Mathematically, it’s roughly about the same. Never ever considered about what anybody thought about it though. I just pay what I like.

 

[pingvuiini]

Not tall, but I play 23" scale uke basses to make me look big in photos.

 

[basslust]

6'1 here; I play ~30" scale basses. The argument I usually hear for longer scale basses is around sound preferences, but I really love the sound of my shorties. Therefore, I don't see the need to stretch further to play the same notes on a longer scale instrument. Short scales are definitely a lot easier for me to play.

 

[basslust]

A lot of people seem to focus on comparing hight/hand size with scale length… ‘shorter people find shorter scale easier’, ‘taller people find longer scale easier’…. But what I’ve found in practice is that string spacing is more important to the matching of hand size and comfort. Larger hands work well with wider spacing (traditional p bass, Rickenbacker) while smaller hands work well with narrow spacing (5 sting, Ibanez etc)…. Regardless of scale length. String spacing-to-hand size ratio seems to be the important factor… but honestly… everyone has differnt preferences and it comes down to what you’re used to playing.

I have big hands and prefer tight spacing, actually. I think it is more down to specific playing styles. I don't like to move my thumb anchor position very much when playing fingerstyle, so the tight spacing helps with that. I also play with a pick at times as well, and tight spacing is better for that as well, in my experience.

 

[goodformetal]

6’6” -27” scale

 

[TOOL460002]

I'm 6'3" and my favorite scale length is 32". I often see players of similar height say that shorter than 34" is too small for them. Anyone else here on the taller side who prefers shorter scale basses?

Buckethead is 6ft6 with hands bigger than Claypool and plays a Les Paul, which Google says is 24.75, so it can be done.

EDIT: Beat me to it!

View attachment 5459331
6’6” -27” scale

 

[cnltb]

some tall people even play violin...

bass of any moreor less common scale length is a total nonissue.

 

[bassrique]

Not tall, but I play 23" scale uke basses to make me look big in photos.
View attachment 5459314

Cool. What is that?

 

[GrooveTheory]

I have big hands and prefer tight spacing, actually. I think it is more down to specific playing styles. I don't like to move my thumb anchor position very much when playing fingerstyle, so the tight spacing helps with that. I also play with a pick at times as well, and tight spacing is better for that as well, in my experience.

Ahh yes… the pic factor! Tight spacing certainly would impact this. Basically… as mentioned .. there are no hard and set rules. It’s what ever anyone feels comfortable with at any given time. Figured out “best fit” by trying multiple basses is part of the fun!

 

[Shoreline Gold]

6’2”, and I not only prefer long scale basses, I prefer wider necks. As it turns out, if you have ginormous hands, cramming your fingers together on a smaller instrument slows you down. For me, a thin neck is a slow neck, a thick neck is a fast neck.

[Obligatory metric content follows. You've been warned.]

This. Although, I'm only 5'9" (175 cm). My hand span is 9.75" (24.75 cm) though, and thin necks are agony after a while. I prefer the vintage Precision Bass neck specs. Although, like anything, I could adjust to playing 30" (76 cm) or 32" (81 cm) scale basses, I find them really uncomfortable and I almost hunch over basses like that.

Which is weird, since I started on guitar. I prefer 25.5" (64 cm) scale necks as it is, though. Gibson necks feel like toys.

I return you to your normal imperial content now.

 

[2saddleslab]

6'4", large hands, Neanderthal length arms, 34" scale. Tried a uke bass once and it took me a few minutes to find it hidden between my index and ring fingers.

Play what YOU want, let the critiques wallow in their crapulence.

 

[Andy Marshman]

I'm 5'-11" and after decades of playing only full scale basses, I now prefer 30". Feels like a guitar and I rather like how it feels and looks, and less weight on my shoulder.

 

[grubdumpling]

I'm 6'4" and I prefer 30" scale. I have large hands with long slender fingers, and have no trouble anywhere on the neck with a 30", but I also play a 25.5" scale taylor bass, and that is about as short as I can be comfortable on.

 

[nonohmic]

You know that is considered tall for Albuquerque

Ha yep. I get my dose of reality when I go home to Aotearoa and get reminded how normal I am. Small even.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

I'm 6'3"/250. For me the body has to be big enough. This is why I wish someone would make a much larger Violin Bass.