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What scale bass do you play and why? A Poll
- Thread starter Baird6869
- Start date
I only play sub-short scale; 21, 22, 23, 24 partly because I play with a large ukulele group, and because I have nerve damage in my neck and shoulders, and because I really like them.
Just tested mine, its an equal tempered chromatic scale. Boom! Sorry, resist was futile....
Me, I play 34s most of the time, but also 30s. Been meaning to buy a uke bass. And double bass, I prefer 3/4 size although that varies, 7/8 and 4/4s are too big and 5/8ths don't quite project enough.
Don't care for 35s or 32s.
Me, I play 34s most of the time, but also 30s. Been meaning to buy a uke bass. And double bass, I prefer 3/4 size although that varies, 7/8 and 4/4s are too big and 5/8ths don't quite project enough.
Don't care for 35s or 32s.
I play a Dingwall NG-2 that goes from 34" on the G to a 37" on the low B. I use it because my current band (death metal) tunes down to drop A and it just intonates and sounds super punchy on the low notes. I do miss playing a 34" P bass or jazz bass though and would love one of those new Ibanez BTB33's for pretty chord and solo stuff.
I voted 34 as it is the longest scale length that I can play comfortably.
35 is just a little too far!
35 is just a little too far!
The poll would be more valid if I were able to list both scale lengths that I play. I split my time between 34" and 35" scales because I go between 4 and 5 strings depending on what is needed/wanted for a particular song.
That said, I voted 35" because my favorite bass in my collection is that scale length.
That said, I voted 35" because my favorite bass in my collection is that scale length.
I play a 4 string 34,5" and a 5 string 34" fretless.
And I have 4 30" fretted short scales.
The fretless basses get more play than the fretted ones, but I enjoy the short scales equally.
And I have 4 30" fretted short scales.
The fretless basses get more play than the fretted ones, but I enjoy the short scales equally.
34" but didn't have a lot of trouble adjusting when coming from Ibanez BTB's 35". Reason? No reason at all. I buy basses based on gut feeling and I don't really care what anyone else thinks about that.
I play more than one scale but my favorite is 32. It feels perfect for me. 6/8 basses are 34 though.
I entered 34", but I also own a few 30" basses and formerly owned a 35" and a 25" 
Supro. I don't have problems moving from one to the other.
Supro. I don't have problems moving from one to the other.
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
- 6,669
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- I privately own and operate a local musical instument repair shop.
Doesn't matter to me, I play on all different scales all the way to my upright which is +/- 42". My favorite if I had to pick one...I'd have to say a 32" medium-scale, but it probably has more to do with the bass it happens to be on.
I switched from the traditional 34" basses to 35"s about 15 years ago, mainly because the nicest 5 strings out seemed to all be 35"s. I always enjoyed playing 4 strings more, but switching between 34" and 35" really messed with my intonation on fretless; After several years, I just couldn't take the limited selection and went back to 34" basses - And I'm quite happy. There are plenty of great 34" five strings out there (I have a few) and tons and tons of 34" four strings... so that's really why I went back to 34" basses. Selection.
I play 34" scale but would happily play the right 30" shorty. 35" doesn't really matter to me on a 4 string, but I find 35" scale 5's uncomfortable.
I have basses with 34", 32" and 30" scale. In band situations I almost always play 34", but when I practice at home I play 30" most of the time, and that sums up to maybe 70% of my total playing time. I find it hard to pick one answer.
My preference for comfort is usually 32", the 74 Hagstrom I picked up has this scale and a nice slim, sturdy neck. I find I can get around on that scale length better than most 34" s.
I played Peter Malinoski's 5 string Saga bass (still for sale on his website, shockingly) which is a 32" and the B string was absolutely rock solid. I even tuned it down to G and it never got unplayable or unlistenable.
Anything below 32" I prefer to have flats (for electric bass). I put high tension flats on a mustang with a darkstar pickup in it way back when and it was my go to hip-hop, dance bass.
And I played a Carl Thompson 5er with a 38" scale. It was comfortable and well balanced, still a bit of a stretch for the lower registers,but my god did it sound absolutely incredible. "Piano like" doesn't even begin to describe. 'You can go and have a bite, you'll still be hearing that one!'
I played Peter Malinoski's 5 string Saga bass (still for sale on his website, shockingly) which is a 32" and the B string was absolutely rock solid. I even tuned it down to G and it never got unplayable or unlistenable.
Anything below 32" I prefer to have flats (for electric bass). I put high tension flats on a mustang with a darkstar pickup in it way back when and it was my go to hip-hop, dance bass.
And I played a Carl Thompson 5er with a 38" scale. It was comfortable and well balanced, still a bit of a stretch for the lower registers,but my god did it sound absolutely incredible. "Piano like" doesn't even begin to describe. 'You can go and have a bite, you'll still be hearing that one!'
34". That's simply what I've always known and what I'm comfortable with. I've occasionally tried shorter scales, but they feel silly to me. I have larger hands, so that's probably part of it; but I think the main thing is that I've played close to 30 years and logged in countless hours playing on 34" basses.
