The difference between an average player and monster chops...

[joebar]

i played a 32 for 25 years still love that scale.
my luthier/set-up guy says that 34 inch scale is the major cause for dead spots...i dunno...
i have small hands and don't want to stretch more than i have to.
whatever makes it easier.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

That should say "I hear". Lol. I just woke up

Well the long scale is to slow you down, so you don't rush the beat or play a million notes at once.

Or if you like a clear,defined B string, with sustain up every fret of the neck.

I don't have enough experience with short scales but I would be curious to see some short B's since most 34" B's suck, heck even guitar B strings tend to suck and they are much thinner with a much shorter scale.

I started on 3/4 scale (A Korean made Regal) and found the transition to my first 34" strange, I had no idea my bass was short until I played another. Took me a weekend of woodshedding and it was fine. I think it is just a preference thing.

 

[SquierJazz72]

I have nothing against short or medium scale basses. My first was a short scale Fender Musicmaster, and I loved it. But I'm not sure scale has anything to do with "chops".

I play 34" because the basses I like happen to be that(classic Fender style), and they fit me well enough. I have no speed or reach issues, even though I am a small guy. I can get chops, when I need to. I like to call it....practice. Sound differences aside for a moment, if I want a faster feeling neck, I go to the Jazz. If I want it chunky and solid under my hand, the Precision.

Now I probably couldn't go much bigger than 34", even if I really liked the bass. There's a good chance I would actually run out of comfortable reach.

 

[OOZMAN]

Scale length means nothing as far as ability to play fast. You just like them better so you feel more free on them. Nothing wrong with that, but it's not a universal reaction.

I don't see much point in this discussion. The OP prefers short- and medium-scale basses. Most of the rest of us do not. So what? I think it's a fair assumption that we all play the scale length on which we feel most comfortable.

Amen fellas.

I dont play faster on a 32" neck, nor a 30" neck than I do on a 35, and I own a 30, 32, 34 and 35.

I prefer the clarity of the low B on the 35, so thats what I use and why.

 

[Mr. Ray]

To the OP I think we all get that you prefer 32" scale.

I do disagree with your comment " long scale dead spot 34" "standard" neck". Not all 34" scale necks have dead spots. In fact very few do.

Also the scale length has nothing to do with "chops" this is total bs. Ray Brown played a 42" scale upright and he has "chops"

Whatever works for the musician....there are are great players that play all scale lengths...sorry I am not buying the 10 - 20% improvement because of scale length.

 

[thiocyclist]

Grooving has zero to do with the scale length and grooving is why you'll be asked back.

Do long scales have more dead spots, generally, yes. But that's something only bass players really notice or care about.

 

[obimark]

IME, IMO- There is nothing, NOTHING worse than watching a WANKER bassist/guitarist running up and down the neck doing scale runs, and/or thumping/double thumping 32nd notes and popping like an epilectic off his meds...

 

[SRFSterling5]

You play what is comfortable. Scale length is only 1 aspect of a bass that enables the skill that you already have. There seems to be more concern over chops than musicality. Knowing what the song and the genre demands dictates what is necessary. Being a solid player that can groove and support the foundation means more than being the fastest player in the world. Again scale length can inhibit you assuming the bass is not comfortable. Make music, not chops.

 

[Davesound]

Hi

I'm 70 years old.I have trouble using my hands.Without the short scale I would not be able to play.With the short scale I'm fast.You play what you need. If it doesn't help you don't play it.We are not all the same.I think my Fender Squier Short Scale bass sounds as good as my Fender 1980 Jazz Bass!Anyhow ,good bass shouldn't be measured by the number of notes .

Davesound

 

[Joedog]

Firstly, I agree that scale doesn't have much to do speed. Lastly, IMHO, "chops" aren't all about speed (often not even close). So many posts basically say "this (fill in the blank) is what I like, so it's the best because...." ad nausium. Celebrate the diversity, and don't be so egocentric! Go plug in your long/medium/short/whatever and rock it! Different people have different needs, likes, and that is FINE!

Davesound......happy to hear you are still at it. Great inspiration to us wet behind the ears 60 year olds!!

 

[JMacBass65]

I'm average because I don't work hard enough at playing well. I still get gigs though......

 

[bmc]

There seems to be more concern over chops than musicality. Knowing what the song and the genre demands dictates what is necessary. Being a solid player that can groove and support the foundation means more than being the fastest player in the world. Again scale length can inhibit you assuming the bass is not comfortable. Make music, not chops.

This is my favorite post.

The key to being a good bass is having the discipline to play in the context of the song. Scale length has as much significance as the colour of the bass.

 

[BassHappy]

Wow, I can't believe I just found this. For those curious to jump on the medium scale band wagon - this is a honey - rare and cheap and someone should pick it up right now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Japa...d-/111085308327?pt=Guitar&hash=item19dd3349a7

Pluck away....

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net

PS I have to smile at some of the posts....my band Happy the Man have been called the grandfathers of american progressive rock and we were going to be Peter Gabriel's band when he left Genesis. Instead we signed to Arista and did a couple of records with Ken Scott. My bass playing is nothing but ensemble oriented odd-time groovin' baby. No frustrated guitar players here and nary a bass solo - but if you listen to some tracks you will see that the virtuosity of the players in HTM calls for a "chops" approach in many cases, just to keep up with the wacky and whimsical compositional aspect of the band. Some tunes are here if you would like a listen: http://www.everythinghappytheman.com/music.html I apologize in advance for the shameless self promotion. Moderators, feel free to remove this post if I have stepped over the line.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Yeah, I agree.

The best players I know have exquisite timing and note placement with just the right dynamics for the song. To me, THAT is "monster chops." Probably not your definition?

30 or 32-inch scale basses are like, what 10% less space between each of the frets than a 34? No big deal.


You know how to tell when someone really CAN turn straw into gold? They don't walk around doing it all day, all the time.

Lately I;ve been switching off between a 31" scale (Birdsong) and a 34" Fender Tele. It's a big deal.

 

[Immigrant]

I'm preferential to medium scale basses because they seem to fit me better. Every time I get GAS pains and buy a "conventional" scale bass, I either re-sell it or give it to my son. He has more basses than me now.

I convinced myself to buy a Fender Classic '50s P a couple of weeks ago. I'm really torn because the amount of time I've spent here has hypnotized me into thinking I need a P (no flats on it yet) and I'm having trouble falling in love with it.

Yes, medium scale sometimes leads to slightly looser tension, but I likey. The more stout the instrument materials and construction, the better the bass, the better the sound. Don't discount all medium scale basses because the SX you played once wasn't up to snuff.

 

[SquierJazz72]

Scale length has as much significance as the colour of the bass.

Not true. We all know red basses play faster.

 

[Jazzdogg]

My contention is that so-called monster chops have much more to do with a musician's ability to play what he hears in his or her head than the instrument being played. Granted, what they hear in their heads cannot be crapola; crapola in, crapola out.

The best don't "play an instrument," they play music.




Any questions?

 

[lowphatbass]

I while back I got a wild hair and decided to crank it up and go off a bit on a soul/funk gig. On the first break a couple of dudes came-up and complimented me on my "monster chops", and I gotta say it felt pretty good. Not long into the conversation I realized that they were talking about my sideburns.

 

[Malak the Mad]

You play what is comfortable. Scale length is only 1 aspect of a bass that enables the skill that you already have. There seems to be more concern over chops than musicality. Knowing what the song and the genre demands dictates what is necessary. Being a solid player that can groove and support the foundation means more than being the fastest player in the world. Again scale length can inhibit you assuming the bass is not comfortable. Make music, not chops.

I heartily agree!

On the subject of "chops";

It reminds me of a story I heard about a drumming workshop featuring Stewart Copeland. (If you don't know who he is then run to your nearest internet, ye young'uns…this is a man with chops with a capital "C") He tells the class that he'll show them something that most drummers cannot do. He then proceeds to play this beat…

H: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
S: --X---X---X---X---X--
B: X---X---X---X---X---X
[H: Hi-Hat, S: Snare, B: Bass Drum]

…for an entire minute with no fills or frippery.

The point is, chops and fills are nice, sometimes downright awesome, but the underlying tools and techniques are what's really important.

On the topic of "scale length";

Maybe it would be nice if there were more medium and short scale basses. That we each and every player/practitioner could find which size best suits their needs, physically and musically.

Hey, here's a thought! Imagine a bass body system that allows you to attach different sized necks. It'd have to have a position-adjustable bridge and pickup, moving forwards and back. That way they can be positioned wherever they need to go to accommodate 30", 32" and 34" scales.

Just a flash-in-the-pan brainstorm…nothin' more.

 

[nostatic]

Hey maybe you work in projects like blues or country that don't require any serious chops. God bless you. My band, requires a ridiculous amount of chops just to keep up.

um, ok...