Why aren't medium scale basses (32") more popular?

[Aussie Player]

Or, medium scales fall into the uncanny valley. They are neither here, nor there.

But they are.........
There is a decent population of members here commenting on moving to a short scale as their long scale basses are taxing both in their weight and finger stretching. I believe there is an untapped market for 32" basses and it is caused by not having samples to try at the music stores.

 

[BTL]

Exactly...there is a small but growing segment of the market who feel that 32" scale is "just right".

 

[Aussie Player]

Exactly...there is a small but growing segment of the market who feel that 32" scale is "just right".

I played a couple of 32" scale Alembics throughout the 80's and miss them terribly compared to what is common today. They were an easy transition from the short scales I played in the 70's and will be equally welcomed now I'd like to transition down from the 34" scale.

 

[chris_b]

Short scale basses? Give it it time. As one of the Boomers I can tell you we're getting there.

 

[B-Mac]

I'd like to have some choice when it comes to medium scale. There isn't any. And it does make a difference: half a step down in string tension (approximately) is a good middle way between long scale (taut, rings out clearly) and short scale (thumpy, full-sounding treble strings), and the slightly shorter neck, while not as noticeable as on a short scale, still makes it more comfortable to play. (I say this after having done some experiments with a capo on the 1st fret of a long scale bass). There was only one offering (that I know of) on the market, the Eastwood Black Widow, a bass that was also really poorly marketed (just a one-minute video of somebody playing a palm muted part).

Below is taken from innertainment.net which is @BassHappy website

SHORT VS. MEDIUM VS. LONG SCALE ILLUSTRATED

On the technical side - the scale length on a bass guitar is measured as the vibrating portion of the string - from the nut to the bridge - although scale length can also be measured - perhaps more accurately - as the distance from the nut to the twelfth fret and then doubled. Here is an example of three different scale lengths, using actual photographs of the 1962 Jazz Bass replicas sold by Fender Japan. There is a short scale (30") bass - which is superimposed over a medium scale (32") bass - which is superimposed over a full scale (34") bass. You can see that playing a Fender short scale bass resembles playing a long scale with a capo on the second fret. The medium scale Jazz is like putting a capo on the first fret of a long scale. Remember. the bodies are slightly smaller - so that on the shorter scales, the bridges are also moved closer to the neck - which makes the fingerboard only about one inch shorter in each case. Many folks erroneously believe that a medium scale bass neck at 32" scale is a full two inches shorter than a 34" scale neck - and as you can clearly see this isn't the case.

Why Not Play the Bass That Fits You Perfectly?

 

[etoncrow]

I bought my first Birdsong (31") over 20 years ago and fell in love with the ergonomics and the tone. Presently have three: Cortobass (mahogany), Mesquito (mesquite) and HY5 (walnut); all fretless & passive. The Corto & HY5 have a rotary switch with multiple caps.

 

[bassclef112]

I got my first taste of 32" when I got my 2000 Alembic Mark King Sig. Ordered it new without ever trying one so it was an eye opener for me when I played it. I had an EB3 for a while so I was familiar with 30".
I find 32" suits me quite well. During the Covid break I picked up a Yamaha Motion B-II and it's a blast.
I should get some more 32's.....

 

[sleddogn]

I have a fender reverse jaguar pawn shop bass. its 32

 

[Treeviper]

What I don't get, is releasing a 32 inch scale bass as a budget bass but having nothing in a higher range with the same scale.

Looking at you, Ibanez and Fender. What if I want to upgrade from my Mezzo or Squier Affinity Jag within your brand? Maybe something with some nicer pickups or higher grade hardware, MIM or in the Premium range. But nothing.

MTD Kingston Lynn Kelly model.

 

[WG Plum]

The reason why 32” basses haven’t become more popular is that the 34” instruments and the 30” instruments have unique & desirable tones to them.

Where as the 32” sounds like a mix of both worlds; which is not a good thing.

A 32” bass sounds like a weak 34” or a tighter 30”.

A person sitting at a bar having a beer will be able to hear the difference between a 34” and a 30” bass.

If one wants a tight tone that swells a bit they’re going to play a 34”.

If one wants a darker tone that hits instantly, that person will play a 30” instrument.

A 32” bass does neither

While I'm not sure how you came to this conclusion, I can definitely say that 33" scale is perfect for my hands.

 

[Marko 1]

My hands don't work that great anymore, and if I played 4-string (up and down the first few frets with lots of open string notes) I'd absolutely go for a 32".

As it is I play 5ers, the fifth fret is effectively my nut, and it's like playing a VERY short scale (of course I often dip to the lower frets as well, but rarely below the third fret, and no open string notes).

 

[Bobby13]

I have a fender reverse jaguar pawn shop bass. its 32

Do you have any problems with weird tones? My reverse jaguar have weird notes on the E-string. I think it might be the neckpickup pulling it out of tune but even when its lowered to the max its still undefined and a bit out of tune.

Its setup with flatwounds.. maybe thats a problem..

 

[Mike Panc]

It's a myth that 32" basses aren't popular!

 

[frankie5string]

Do you have any problems with weird tones? My reverse jaguar have weird notes on the E-string. I think it might be the neckpickup pulling it out of tune but even when its lowered to the max its still undefined and a bit out of tune.

Its setup with flatwounds.. maybe thats a problem..

I would check the witness point - where string climbs up and over the E-String saddle. Do you press them down on the neck side when installing them, or do you let them just ride over the saddles. Letting them ride over without a bit of downward stretch at install can cause them to do odd things.

I doubt it's the pickup - that pickup doesn't have that strong a magnetic pull to do that kind of damage.

 

[Standalone]

The reason why 32” basses haven’t become more popular is that the 34” instruments and the 30” instruments have unique & desirable tones to them.

Where as the 32” sounds like a mix of both worlds; which is not a good thing.

A 32” bass sounds like a weak 34” or a tighter 30”.

A person sitting at a bar having a beer will be able to hear the difference between a 34” and a 30” bass.

If one wants a tight tone that swells a bit they’re going to play a 34”.

If one wants a darker tone that hits instantly, that person will play a 30” instrument.

A 32” bass does neither

I have a 32" double reverse P pointy Aria and the passive slap tone is really excellent. I don't think we can generalize THAT much about 32 scale.

 

[Woodman1962]

The reason why 32” basses haven’t become more popular is that the 34” instruments and the 30” instruments have unique & desirable tones to them.

Where as the 32” sounds like a mix of both worlds; which is not a good thing.

A 32” bass sounds like a weak 34” or a tighter 30”.

A person sitting at a bar having a beer will be able to hear the difference between a 34” and a 30” bass.

If one wants a tight tone that swells a bit they’re going to play a 34”.

If one wants a darker tone that hits instantly, that person will play a 30” instrument.

A 32” bass does neither

The reason why 32” basses haven’t become more popular is that the 34” instruments and the 30” instruments have unique & desirable tones to them.

Where as the 32” sounds like a mix of both worlds; which is not a good thing.

A 32” bass sounds like a weak 34” or a tighter 30”.

A person sitting at a bar having a beer will be able to hear the difference between a 34” and a 30” bass.

If one wants a tight tone that swells a bit they’re going to play a 34”.

If one wants a darker tone that hits instantly, that person will play a 30” instrument.

A 32” bass does neither

Chances are that the guy at the bar won't even be able to hear the bass. Strings and I've built basses of all 3 scale lengths and the biggest difference between them is likely due to the strings and electronics With an East tone preamp an TI flats I can make any bass sound like any bass.

 

[Luther]

I laughed out loud when I read this. I’m sorry (not sorry) for that. I’ll put money down against this - honestly. I’ve got $100 Canadian dollars that I’m willing to lose if there’s a way that we can test this theory and you can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that some rando at a club can tell the sonic difference between a 30” or 34” scale one, blindfolded and without prodding or some other kind of assistance.

I just read Jame's Arness's (AKA MartialDylan) post and I'm still laughing. I think he's being facetious because everyone knows you can't hear bass when drinking beer, only tequila gives you special powers. LMAO.

 

[Nolan Tremblay]

I’d love to get a 6 string at 32 or 33” scale, but they’re hard to come by. Custom/boutique may be my only choice.
I have played a couple of high end 33” scale basses and in both cases (Fodera and Elrick) I found them to be very comfortable and the B responsiveness and tone were great. It makes me curious to try 32” scale as they were super comfortable to play. I’m a medium sized man, so maybe medium scale works better for my proportions. I’m surprised they aren’t more popular than they seem to be.

 

[B-Mac]

Not 32"scale,but the D'Angelico basses,are 32.25"scale. Have a nice Cherry Burst chambered body,for sale but not listed here on TBView attachment 4697602 View attachment 4697603 View attachment 4697604 View attachment 4697605 View attachment 4697606 View attachment 4697607

Sadly, they no longer make any basses.

 

[B-Mac]

I'd like to have some choice when it comes to medium scale. There isn't any. And it does make a difference: half a step down in string tension (approximately) is a good middle way between long scale (taut, rings out clearly) and short scale (thumpy, full-sounding treble strings), and the slightly shorter neck, while not as noticeable as on a short scale, still makes it more comfortable to play. (I say this after having done some experiments with a capo on the 1st fret of a long scale bass). There was only one offering (that I know of) on the market, the Eastwood Black Widow, a bass that was also really poorly marketed (just a one-minute video of somebody playing a palm muted part).

Lots O’Peeps here like ‘em
The Official Medium Scale Bass Club