This is called 'long scale'. Go for it! To give some perspective, if you are a guitarist interested in playing bass, the scale length of a Fender Start is 25.5", and the scale length of a Gibson Les Paul is 24.75". 24.75in/628.65mm. Starting as early as the mid-1950s, various companies experimented with shorter scale lengths than the 34" favored by Fender. Like the Hofner 500/1, the 6073 has gotten its nickname"The Monkees' Bass"from another '60s pop band. Both, at least in their original designs, shared other similarities. One of the most recognizable short scale basses back in the day was the Hofner Violin bass. . Short scale bass guitars usually produce a sound that is not as loud as the long scale basses. Aaron takes you through the differences between long and short scale basses. Hfner Ignition Cavern SE. Similarly complex electronics with a lead and rhythm circuit. The same trem/bridge system. "Short" scales usually run 30 to 32 inches, but they vary -- some longer and some shorter. Tips for fitting bass guitar strings Warwick RB Corvette B 4 BK Short Scale. On a short-scale bass the strings are under less tension, so they have a looser, slightly "floppy" feel, which also impacts the instrument's attack, sustain, and dynamics. The scale of a guitar is defined by the distance between the bridge and the nut. Both have similar body styles. He describes things like neck profile, technique, playing styles and much more. What's the deal with short-scale bass guitars.and do they live up to the hype? Other basses are 'medium scale' - 30"-33" - and others are 'short scale' - 30" or less. For much of his career, Sir Paul can be seen with his trusty Hofner Violin Bass in hand whilst Jack Bruce of Cream also favoured Gibson's short scale EB-3 Bass. My own gear is a long scale custom p-bass and sometimes I use a 5 string short scale Ibanez. While these are not Gretsch's first entry into short-scale basses, they are a return to the dance in a big way for the legacy brand. Humorously, the first short-scale bass that Gretsch produced was back in the '60s with the 6073 model. Most people use 'rich' to mean large amounts of higher harmonics. Bass string scale length guide The best way to tell which strings you need is to measure from the nut to where the strings' ball ends anchor and compare this to the STRING LENGTH column below. 4y. These more finger-friendly basses are referred to as "short scale" because the scale length they have is 31 or less. Yup, short scale basses can definitely be a little easier to play, especially if you do a lot of stretching. Conclusion As you can see, there are many differences between both sets of bass guitars. Extra long scale is longer than 34". Typical "long" scale is about 34 inches, although 35's have gotten popular over the last several years, especially for five-string basses. The main difference between a Short Scale vs Medium Scale Bass is that a "medium scale" bass generally comes in at 32 inches, versus 30 inches for a short scale and 34 for a long scale. Since short-scale guitars have less string tension, they have a little more wiggle room and punch. For us, the Mustang is the reigning king of short-scale, and the new Player Series take on the late '60s classic, is one of the most versatile you can get. 1 The short scale bass guitar was made popular by guitar makers that wanted to offer a 30" option for players with smaller hands or arm length. However, to my hands, neck profile makes just as much difference. So, because of their reduced scale length, short-scale basses are inherently darker and, arguably, richer in tone than long-scale basses. A quick overview explaining the difference between long scale and short scale bass guitar strings. I was bass player once during my early stage being a string musician, but now I'm a lead guitarist by now. "short scale" on a bass is still inches longer than the 25-ish inch scale on fender guitars, so the term is relative. Short-scale strings on long-scale basses usually don't work, since the full diameter winding stops before the nut. Fender Mustang, Epiphone EB-O, and a bass I built from a ss Jaguar. They're usually popular among younger players or those who prefer smaller basses. It is really up to you to decide which of these suits your needs. But the scale can be even shorter than that, such as with the legendary Airline Pocket Bass, which has a 26.5 length (and is now being reissued by Eastwood Guitars . For larger numbers, starting with 10 9, the two systems differ. OPTIONS Candy Man Burnt Ends Vincent Blue Silver Shadow Plum Crazy Your Custom Options: Model: Color: Neck: Pickguard: Hardware: Build Code For identical names, the long scale proceeds by powers of one million, whereas the short scale proceeds by powers of one thousand. Nylon-string and classical guitars have different categories of long and short scale, most are longer than 25.5 inches. Long scales have a much more fundamentally strong, and much tighter feeling strings in general. Gretsch Guitars G2220 Short Scale Bass Playability: 10/10 Sound & Tone: 10/10 Build Quality: 10/10 Available in Black Metalflake, Copper and Vintage Cream finishes, the '59DC's chief features include that 29.75" scale length; a semi-hollow, double-cutaway . A scale length of 25.4 inches, 25.5 inches, or longer is considered long for steel-string acoustic guitars; anything less is considered short. Short scale: Rapid transition of notes is possible because of smaller fret spacing Favored by Fender. If you're unsure what 'scale length' means, it refers to the distance between a guitar's bridge and nut; often measured in inches. Fender Mustang Bass PJ Pau Ferro Fretboard Olympic White - http://tinyurl.com/y5h269hpFender American Performer Mustang Bass in Aubergine - http://tinyurl.co. Keep in mind bass necks are usually either 1.5" or 1.65" wide at the nut. A greater scale length means more tension in the strings, since they have to span a greater distance. For quick links to our website click "Show More"!Strings a. A short-scale bass generally has a scale length of 31" or less. Yes, definitely. But it's not just past masters who have succumbed to the short scale dark side. Commonly used short scales are 25, 24.9, 24.75, and 24.625 inches. The Jaguar Bass (Short Scale . What Length is a Short Scale Bass? Short scale basses are typically about 30 inches long, while long scale basses are around 34-36 inches long. Short-scale basses have usually a 30 scale length or a bit more, but always under 31. Short scales have a boomy, fat tone. If you are only going to have one short-scale bass guitar, you'd want it to be the Fender Player Mustang. Designed by Walter Hofner in 1955, had a 30" scale length and a signature violin shape. I just don't hear much difference in long vs short scale bass. We apply each string's silk by hand so please expect a tolerance of +/- 10mm. For one thing, short-scale bass guitars sometimes use a slightly heavier string gauge than their long-scale brothers, which imparts a thicker tone. YMMV Tone wise a short scale will be slightly "less tight" than a long scale. Basses with long upper bout help put the bass with the nut closer to your body. There's a decreased string tension and a shorter distance between the frets. Typical long scale versions have a neck length between the nut and bridge of 34", which is still the standard for electric bass guitars. With better build quality, electronics and superior tone and playability, these are ideal for performing bassists or players looking to start gigging and recording music. D'Addario's best-selling bass collection, the EXL170S, is available in a short scale edition. Typically speaking, short scale basses have a string length of 30", and long scale basses have a string length of 34" inches. Short-scale basses are those with a scale length of 30 inches or less. Equipment list navigation: Fender AM Perf Mustang Bass RW 3TSB. The longer, the more snug the strings feel and the more rich the note is overall. Danelectro has revealed details of its new short-scale bass guitar model, the '59DC - the company reckons it's a "halfway house" between an electric guitar and a full-scale bass. Furthermore, shorter strings require lower string tension for proper intonation, which gives both a looser, more "floppy" feel to the strings as well as fatter-sounding low notes. These are our favourite short scale basses costing between $250 and $999. There is no place where the long scale vs short scale difference stands out more clearly that when one compared a Jazzmaster with a Jaguar. Some basses, especially 5-strings, are 35" scale. If a short scale is too far on the intonation spectrum, consider a medium scale bass as a compromise between the two. Historically, short-scale basses were strung with the same string sets as long-scale basses. Best short-scale bass: Our top picks. It fits basses with a string scale duration of up to 32 inches on short scale basses. If you're squeezing 24 frets into a 30-inch neck, the frets are going to be pretty close together. With its precision split single-coil and Vintage-inspired Jazz Single Coil pickups, this bass can go from bright and crisp to warm and mellow with the flick of a switch. . Subscribe for bass gear videos and more:. 7 It is the most flexible and widely appealing package for all playing styles, offering the perfect combination of distinctive vivid, booming tone and relaxed feel. When Bill Wyman was still bassist for the Stones, he often used Fender short scale basses. I'm on my long scale basses ( jazz basses, Dano 64, Dimension, Peavey, Ibanez) probably 70% of the time, but I dig the shorts too. The most famous player to wield a shorter scale bass is probably Sir Paul McCartney. These low key bass heroes are popular for a number of reasons, and Jake scou. As pointed out, Paul McCartney's iconic Hofner is a short-scale, as was the bass played by Jack Bruce in most his Cream days. I just found jumping back and forth between guitar and bass a lot quicker when using the 30" scale bass. As the scale length increases, the notes are spread further apart along each string. We have created for you a rating of the Best 30 Short Scale Basses. With a short scale length and slinky strings, this bass is a breeze to play for long periods. 34" is an excellent all-around scale, but it can seem a little large for smaller players and guitarists moonlighting on bass. 5y. 3. But even with a bass like many Ibanez etc with that long upper bout, the spacing fret 1-5 or so is just too wide for my . However, while it is lacking in volume, it has a denser and thicker tone! Note that there are no differences in composition or gauge here; it's all about the length of the wound string. Some of the more common scale lengths for 6-string electric guitars are: 25.5in/647.7mm. When people talk about a short scale, it's typically 24 3/4 inches, while long scale is over 25 inches. Listen to some isolated tracks of Rinus from Golden Earing, to get an idea of what that's like. There are differences in how they feel and sound compared to full-sized basses. However, i guess you are using the word 'rich' to mean something else. Favored by PRS The most common scale lengths for 4-string electric bass guitars are: 34in/864mm Standard/long scale 30in/762mm Short scale I briefly had a 32" scale bass and greatly preferred the short scale to it. Long favored not only by students and younger players but also by adults with smaller hands, short scale bass models usually have a 30" scale as opposed to the standard 34" bass scale length; the shorter distances between frets means less finger stretching, and this makes short scale models much easier to play. The stretch is a bit much at my age too. For whole numbers smaller than 1,000,000,000 (10 9 ), such as one thousand or one million, the two scales are identical. 2 level 1 ChuckEye 3 years ago I think my two 80's era Kramers are 30.5" scale, but the other 3 basses I currently have are all 34". Fender Vintera 60s Mustang Bass 3-SB. Because of this, it's important to consider fret spacing if you have larger or smaller hands. Best Electric Basses. Think about the math of it again. That's another consideration. Top 30+ Short Scale Basses 2022. But, as you said, this is all irrelevant if your basic technique is not up to scratch. The most common scale for an electric bass is 34". Combining the thunderous low end of the P-Bass . A darker tone, less higher harmonics, is less rich by definition. I used both of that short and long scaled basses mentioned here. This can make a big difference if you are looking for a comfortable bass to play. It may be just as common to see a short-scale bass with 22 or 24 frets as it is to see a long-scale bass with 20 frets. The strings on a short scale bass are also typically thicker than those on a vast scale bass, resulting in a different tone. Favored by Gibson 25in/635mm. Like its big brother, the Stingray Special, the short scale bass comes standard with a modern classic bridge, 22 stainless steel frets, and new lightweight Music Man tuning machines with a finer gear ratio. 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