Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Short Scale Basses!


janmaat
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi

I just started playing in this new formation, originally was asked to dep for the bass player. Now she's a newbee on bass, playing a strat style Squire short scale. Now it looks like it's going to become a two-bass project (yes seriously we like odd stuff down here), her playing the short scale and me the long scale (Yamaha with a DiMarzio passive P pickup and Rotos through Markbass). Sounds interesting already as the two instruments really sound words apart.

Now I start wondering about short scale basses. My suspicion is that where the A on the long scale is at 110Hz, the short scale centers around 220Hz? does the short scale actually relate to the long scale like a cello to a double bass?

I am posting this since I can't find much on short scale basses here (maybe I've been missing a thread)?. What do you play, how do you string them?

And then the question for us is of course how to make an interesting sound combination with a long scale and a short scale bass. We'll be trying some odd effect things out, like routing the short scale through an envelope filter while the long scale plays sub. Ideas? Experiences?

Cheers!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='janmaat' post='916129' date='Aug 5 2010, 04:03 PM']Hi

I just started playing in this new formation, originally was asked to dep for the bass player. Now she's a newbee on bass, playing a strat style Squire short scale. Now it looks like it's going to become a two-bass project (yes seriously we like odd stuff down here), her playing the short scale and me the long scale (Yamaha with a DiMarzio passive P pickup and Rotos through Markbass). Sounds interesting already as the two instruments really sound words apart.

Now I start wondering about short scale basses. My suspicion is that where the A on the long scale is at 110Hz, the short scale centers around 220Hz? does the short scale actually relate to the long scale like a cello to a double bass?

I am posting this since I can't find much on short scale basses here (maybe I've been missing a thread)?. What do you play, how do you string them?

And then the question for us is of course how to make an interesting sound combination with a long scale and a short scale bass. We'll be trying some odd effect things out, like routing the short scale through an envelope filter while the long scale plays sub. Ideas? Experiences?

Cheers![/quote]

A short scale bass is only around 4" difference in scale length to a standard scale bass. The pitch is the same, they are tuned the same, the strings are shorter, in my limited experience of them I have found that string tension seems a bit less, but I have got some nice sounds out of them (I have used a Squier Bronco and an Epiphone EB-0) with some changes in pickups/hardware (strat lipstick pickup in the Bronco, DiMarzio Model One in the EB-0) (modified 4 saddle bridge for Bronco, Hipshot Supertone for EB-0).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've made the move to short scale permanently after 20+ years of playing. The string length does make for a slightly less defined tone, but this nothing that can't be sorted out through good EQ, technique or indeed preamp. I find short scale really comfortable and thus enjoyable. I currently have an SX J-bass fretless, and a Tanglewood semi acoustic, and I can get all the tone I need from these basses just like I could on their long scale breathren. I'm currently on the look out for another fretted J-bass at 30" :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='janmaat' post='916129' date='Aug 5 2010, 04:03 PM']Now I start wondering about short scale basses. My suspicion is that where the A on the long scale is at 110Hz, the short scale centers around 220Hz? does the short scale actually relate to the long scale like a cello to a double bass?[/quote]

I'm confused....... Won't the A have to vibrate at the same frequency to reach the same pitch?

I've got a couple of short scale basses-a Tokai SG style and an old Fender Bullet. I prefer long scale instruments,but the short scale
gives a different 'tubbier' tone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='janmaat' post='916129' date='Aug 5 2010, 04:03 PM']Now I start wondering about short scale basses. My suspicion is that where the A on the long scale is at 110Hz, the short scale centers around 220Hz? does the short scale actually relate to the long scale like a cello to a double bass?[/quote]

The A on both long and short scale basses is 55 Hz, on a guitar it's 110 Hz.

A cello is tuned in 5ths, not 4ths, so it's C G D A instead of E A D G, but the D on a cello is the same as the D on a guitar.

A

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

The lowest note on a piano is A, at 27.5 Hz. The next A, on a piano, is 55Hz, and is the same frequency as the lowest A on a 4 string bass. This is the same as the lowest A on a double bass as well. The next A on a piano is 110 Hz, and is the lowest A on a guitar.

I started with a Framus star bass, 30" scale, same as Bill wyman, and now have a Hofner Club, same scale.

So, same notes, but with shorter strings, the 30" scale has the strings at a lower tension, so more mellow sounding.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...