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Would Mike Tobias make a 34" scale bass?

#6
Michael Tobias will make whatever scale you'd like - with whatever wood combinations you'd like.

Other makers will make whatever you'd like as well. You speak the truth - it requires thinking - and research - and when that's done, it requires money to build it.

When you get a custom bass built to your specifications, remember that it's YOUR bass built to YOUR specifications. Even though you've paid a lot of $$$ for it, don't expect it to have a high resale value, since it's not what others would necessarily pick for THEIR bass.

34" scale 4 stringers are relatively easy to come by. When you get into the 5 and 6ers, the 34 scale becomes more scarce, since everyone seems to hate the "Floppy B" syndrome. Actually, a lot of that has to do with the types of strings you use and their tensility. I use SIT strings on my custom-made 34" scale Adler, and the low B is tighter on it than on any 35" scale I've played. I researched that purchase for a year, and saved $$$ for the project during that time. It'll take a while to make a custom as well, so during your 9 month wait, you'll have to opportunity to save more dollars to cover the other half of your purchase (since you usually have to put 50% down when you order your custom).

If all that's too much trouble, the wait's too long, and the cost is too much, then pick out anything you'd like at the local Guitar Center, or check out the classifieds here on Talk Bass.
 
#14
Played 5 of them, nothing like them if you are a 34" scale fan. Played the first 3 off the line - owned one.

Micheal is top-shelf for many reasons. one being the master builder-builder he is, another is his ethics. many other factors too as to why....

Cannot go wrong with Michael IMO.

33" Mike? : )
 
#15
Coelho said:
If not, why?

I had an MTD535 before, great bass, but 35" is a little uncomfortable for me...
Click to expand...

I owned one for a while, and sold it to one of my students. Amazing bass, but I couldn't switch from the 34" fretted, and go to the 35" fretless.

It was Darren James' old custom 634-24 with single coils. Magnificent bass. As is pretty much everything he touches.

Get one. Keep it and play it a LOT for at least 2 years. Then you'll understand why MTD threads are the longest.

Merry *.*,
Cameron
 
#17
Another alternative is the prototype US-built Saratoga -hand made un the USA by MT as a precursor to an outsourced line. There are only a few of these around. No frills as far as esthetics go, but they're made and signed by the Man himself, 34" and theperfectbass.com has one with a tag of just over 3K on it. My understanding is there were a handful of these made and given mainly to endorsers. If I wasn't waiting on a custom I'd have bought one.
 
#18
lomo said:
Another alternative is the prototype US-built Saratoga -hand made un the USA by MT as a precursor to an outsourced line. There are only a few of these around. No frills as far as esthetics go, but they're made and signed by the Man himself, 34" and theperfectbass.com has one with a tag of just over 3K on it. My understanding is there were a handful of these made and given mainly to endorsers. If I wasn't waiting on a custom I'd have bought one.
Click to expand...

These are actual production models now, officially dubbed "Saratoga USA" basses.
Bass Central has a few for sale, as do Austin Bass Traders.
 
#19
Mike will make whatever spec a player requires. As mentioned above, the negative thing about that is he's backed up and will require time for any special requests. Have you considered any Kingston basses? The four strings come in 34", are affordable, and sound great.
 

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