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. For these reasons alone, I sometimes wonder if Leo Fender really did get it right? 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. Neck dive and excess weight add to repetitive stress issues, especially if you are like me and you log tons of playing hours over decades. I'll preface this by saying ,a few years ago,I contacted Fender USA ( which would not discuss 1984 Precision basses ,made in Japan . My medium scale Fender Basses do not have dead spots in the neck or exhibit the kind of neck dive the full scale models do. It's easy - just figure out what tension you are pulling on your long scale - and use that tension to determine the correct gauge for pulling equal tension on the short scale. To me, it is really what amounts to a left handed neck on a right handed bass. As was mentioned, you will often find a dead spot living around the fifth fret of the first string on a 34" scale electric bass, but they can happen anywhere in playing range. So this all sounds very promising to me, wow - I thought - a company is finally addressing this long overdue issue. Many luthiers, especially when they build extended range basses of 5-6-7 or more strings - balance the bass by making it a single cutaway. I pluck each note on the fret board individually, starting on the G string, and use a four count at a ballad tempo. Are Sales of Amps and Cabs Slowing Down? Not pictured below, Gibson has released a short scale version of the popular Thunderbird bass here - while Fender Japan has released - along with their full and medium scalers - a short scale version of their iconic 1962 Jazz Bass replica here. For $299. I have an E series P bass. I chuckle every time I see a player with one of these huge heavy basses - especially when he is actually sitting down on stage. Great seller with very good positive feedback and over 50 ratings. The only opinions that matter are from those who have used the products themselves. Believing that the short scale bass is inferior because of floppy strings is simply a myth - spoken loudest by the truly uneducated. The physical formula for differences in pitch in relation to string gauge and tension is amazingly simple - given equal string tension, there is a one octave drop in pitch when either the scale length or the string gauge (mass) is doubled. He works directly with a physical therapist in Germany to ensure that his bass designs hang on the body exactly in the perfect playing position. The easiest, best way to accomplish this is to use a slightly thinner string and reduce tension. Primary is reader-supported. There was also a Fender U.S. The easier neck reach can equal more playing comfort for many, which can easily translate to more stamina. There certainly seems to already be a number of dedicated fans out there who swear by these instruments. Carpal tunnel syndrome, severe back pain, and a spectrum of debilitating repetitive stress injuries have even forced a few friends to quit. I have seen extended range basses that tip the scale at well over 12 pounds and up. No sponsorships. In my view, your bass should be relatively light and hang from your strap in perfect playing position. Frets 4 and 7 were a little better but still didn't sustain for even a full second. If the intention is to make more lively a low string this may not be possible. Just firsthand experiences from fellow enthusiasts. SHORT VS. Further, shorter scale strings require lower string tension for proper intonation, which imparts not only a looser, "more floppy" feel to the strings, but also results in fatter sounding low notes. The standard P and J models from this series kick around pretty regularly in Japan, but this one is the first of it. After playing my medium scale PRS exclusively for over 20 years, the Roscoe basses did not disappoint and immediately felt like old friends. If all the notes hold at least a four count, I am good to go. All I can say is - if you can find one - play one! I really like some of the features of the Dragonetti basses, available in medium scale, made by luthier Les Godfrey. Forgive me if I have left any out and if you are a provider of short and/or medium scale models. Primary sifts through comments from reddit and forums to surface products that real people have used anddiscussed. Did I simply get lucky 16 times in a row? Beautiful stuff here. We all deserve better. Not pictured below, Gibson has released a short scale version of the popular Thunderbird bass. Curlee, Alembic, Birdsong, and others - have offered some short scale basses - and even the occasional medium scale model over the years. With some shorter scale production basses, choosing the right string type and gauge - and completing a proper set-up - will allow players to more than compete one-on-one with the tone of their long scale brethren. For me, medium scale is a perfect fit - it is like coming home, but if you don't have it custom built, or search diligently to find one - you may rarely see any popping up. Sounds to me like they may want to hit that old drawing board again. The down side to this approach is that increasing gauge decreases string articulation. Dead spots are caused when a standing wave is created in the neck at a certain resonant frequency. Ships to: US, Unless you have large or extra large hands, the slightly shorter neck - in some cases - allows for faster passages to be played with more finesse, dexterity and aggression - and over time - can easily result in an increase in a player's overall "chops". Fuller low end? To be fair, many of today's players are in a similar situation. There was also a Fender U.S. Really? One of the most interesting features of these projects is that the old school necks have no fingerboards - and the frets are installed right into the neck. Getting more harmonics and overtones is a bit trickier. The medium scale Jazz is like putting a capo on the first fret of a long scale. Looks like they had a bunch of Jaguar body blanks leftover in the warehouse, flipped the body and relocated the electronics and made a bunch of left handed medium scale necks. I informed the seller and he promptly reimbursed me the $150 I spent to fix the crack. The Squier Silver Series heralded a return to Japanese manufacturing for the top end of Squier, they were made at the famed Fujigen Gakki plant that was making all the Fender Japan instruments at the time. One way is to increase string gauge which ups tension. When you buy through links on our app, we may earn an affiliatecommission. Hmmmmm, fatter sounding low notes? TalkBass utilizes technology from Skimlinks that may give us a small affiliate commission on purchases made via links on our site. 32" 3/4 scale. It's pretty screwy as below. For one thing, short scale basses sometimes, use a heavier string gauge than their long scale brothers, which imparts a thicker and more bass-heavy tone than lighter strings with more brightness and snap. I have picked up more than a few extended range basses and given them a spin. This situation involved a hairline crack in the neck for about two inches where the skunk stripe met the maple. Squier Japan Silver Series Medium Scale Precision Bass SPJ-39 Black 1994 | Topshelf Instruments Squier Silver Series SPJ-39, made in Japan 1994, black. Nosponsorships. Sometimes, you have to be creative when it comes to medium scale basses. As promised, the ABW does put the neck in a more natural playing position than on a standard bass. Many elements go into the execution of a bass that is properly balanced. As much as I find the long scales too long, I generally find the short scales too cramped in the upper registers. The lower string tension also produces a slightly fuller low end. The lower string tension means less attack, but more bloom on the end of the note. Eliminating a slouch won't ease the repetitive pincer-action delivered to the flexors and extensors running from the forearm, through the wrist and into the hand. Guitarists realized that the feel of a short-scale bass was more similar to that of a 6-string guitar, making it a viable tool for players who wanted a taste of the low end, but didnt like the idea of getting used to a longer neck. ", Some of the "off the rack" short scale production basses are shown from left to right below - Unfortunately, some of these are still referred to as "student models". Beginner's bass? For more on the building of this bass click here. Oddly, Fender reversed both the body and the head stock so that the tuning pegs and body point are on the opposite side - which makes the bass a little difficult to tune. There are a variety of reasons, but none more compelling than the fact that they rarely sacrifice tone - and at the same time they promote playability. Primary organizes products into collections based on the unique situations of the people who have actual experience usingthem. I want light, balanced and streamlined. Gibson's Epiphone division has an Allen Woody semi-hollow RumbleKat, an EB-0 and a Hofner type knock-off Viola Bass. there are no excuses for anyone not to check out what a dream this 32" medium scale neck is. The more wraps that are applied to a string and the thicker the core wire used to increase its gauge, the less free the string is to vibrate. Their torso and spine is tilted a tiny bit which wreaks havoc on the torso, shoulders and spine - and over many years of playing will only increase your exposure to repetitive stress injuries. Those extra strings can be a real distraction and temptation but all is good if you can continue to honor the foundation of the groove. Fifteen of the sixteen basses you see in the gallery on this site are medium scale. It's a shame there is such a small selection of medium scale basses available - but it is so great to see a glimmer of hope with these new Fender models. You can see that playing a Fender short scale bass resembles playing a long scale with a capo on the second fret. The low end is huge and expansive, aided by the necks short scale - which allows the strings to vibrate with less tension. I am hoping one day that we can work on an instrument together. Why Not Play the Bass That Fits You Perfectly? And it is called "Tech Talk" after all, so it is clear that it comes from the technical department. Once again, see my notes above about how to eliminate the "floppy" feel: "Is there a tonal difference? All of the necks from the 1980's Fender and Squier Japan medium scale basses are interchangeable between P and J models - to include the new Jazz bass which is still being manufactured by Fender Japan. If you are a good size person with large or extra large hands, the long scale will simply fit you better - you may even need to move to a 35" or 36" scale to feel comfortable in the upper registers. MSRP is $12,000.00. Others arent so lucky, though. To demonstrate this, detune a string one whole step on any bass and hear the tone thicken as the string tension is dropped.". 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. Here is the exact one that I purchased from Sweetwater: The workmanship is pretty darn good. They enjoyed a good reputation for quality both then and now, and rightly so: this is a terrific bass. 1986, Fender Squier Classic Vibe '50s Precision Bass, Maple Fingerboard, Sunburst, Squier by Fender Limited-Edition Classic Vibe '70s Precision Bass Surf Green, Fender Squier Classic Vibe '70s Precision Bass, Maple Fingerboard, Walnut, Squier 40th Anniversary Precision Bass Gold Edition Laurel - Black, Squier Affinity Series 4-string Precision Bass PJ - Black w/ Maple FB. Some of the "off the rack" short scale production basses are shown from left to right below - Unfortunately, some of these are still referred to as "student models". Here is a little insight - thanks to a great posting by Malak the Mad from TalkBass on the medical perspective: If you truly believe "repetitive stress", "muscular hypertension", "trigger points", "ischemia/poor blood-flow" and many other soft-tissue maladies are either non-existent or only from overplaying (a broad over-simplification, if I've ever heard one), I have to call shenanigans. One of my favorite stories along the way was when I arrived at Keith Roscoe's shop in September of 1999 to pick up the first medium scale bass he had ever built, pictured above. This is on Reverb right now. They all played short scale (30") or medium scale (32") basses during the time period that was arguably the pinnacle of their careers - as opposed to the more conventional long scale (34"). It seems to almost never happen on a short scale bass. Problem is - they very rarely speak from experience - as they don't have access to matching brand and model basses - in both medium and long scales - to run a proper A-B comparison test. Seller: gregzilla13 (555) 100%, I think they look silly: I say, abandon your bass if the dead spots are unsolvable, and find a bass that has none. All it takes is long-term use (not necessarily "overuse") in a repetitive fashion over the course of months or years to set up a serious dysfunction. The PX had a pretty nice deal, and as a GI you could buy Fender products just above cost. Those necks are approximately 2.25" wide at the pocket end of the neck. I mean, does anyone own a full scale 34 - 35 bass that doesnt dive at least to some degree when sitting or standing? I played a medium scaler he had in the shop and I think he was a little offended that I didnt spend much time with it. Leo Fender nailed it on the first go round with the Precision Bass in 1951 and certainly added to his legacy with his subsequent introduction of the Jazz Bass. The lower string tension provided by the short scale has several benefits - easy playability, sweet upper register tones and fat blooming low end, not to mention the added nuance that comes naturally when playing this type of bass. We tried everything under the sun. Looks like they had a bunch of Jaguar body blanks leftover in the warehouse, flipped the body and relocated the electronics and made a bunch of left handed medium scale necks. 2014, innertainment, all rights reserved. A good percentage of the tone lies within the windings of the strings - and I spend a lot of time deciphering and testing the subtle differences from brand to brand. Gold Supporters see zero ads! After spending considerable time at his shop, I realize that the current Ritter bass offerings are not for me. Another exception is a fairly new medium scale offering from Fender, called the Pawn Shop Modified Jaguar bass. It has one ding on the neck, other than that it is in pristine condition. In the sitting position it isnt as noticeablethe neck dove a bitbut on a strap, the ABW design comes into its own. Medium scale basses are around, but you really have to do your homework to find them. I began to wonder if Fender was sending the "seconds" to the GI's overseas, and maybe they were. It's kind of a hoot to approach the topic on any of the Bass Forums. As I read a review of the bass this jumped out at me: Anyone whos played a lot of bass has experienced the bizarre spectrum of pain, discomfort, and general physical weirdness thats an inescapable consequence of the repetitive motions our instrument demands. 0% negative feedback. I always have to chuckle - nothing could be farther from the truth - as any experienced medium or short scaler would be happy to tell you. They call themselves Jersey Girl Guitars, and it looks to me like they offer guitars and basses and even double necks and specialty instruments in whatever scale you prefer. Additionally, how many players do you see who are leaning ever so slightly - in order to balance the bass and put it into proper playing position when standing. Fender Squier Precision Bass, 32" Medium Scale MIJ Made in Japan. And then you have to marvel at the medium scale work of Teye. Do yourself a favor, take your strap off and see if the bass dives when sitting down. I do hear of long scale Fender players who claim they don't have any serious dead spots. I am a big MIJ Squier and Fender lover. A great example is the fretting hand. I think bass players deserve better than neck dive. Obviously Leo Fender didn't get ALL the details quite right. 32" 3/4 scale. What do I know? He started with a medium scale bass and decided later to add a long scale - you gotta love it. I prefer the older model below it myself - with no mags - but only a piezo pickup. Short and medium scale basses are no longer restricted to "student" or beginner models. Here is a Ritter medium scaler: In my view, if you have to use a waist strap or other custom strap invention to be able to cope with instrument weight or lack of balance, you should be shopping around for a new bass. Condition: Used, Size: 3/4, Model: Fender Precision Bass, Country/Region of Manufacture: Japan, Style: Precision Bass, Right-/ Left-Handed: Right-Handed, Brand: Squier Like shirts, basses come in a variety of sizes - they come in small, medium, large, extra large and even extra small and extra extra large. So here we go. I have a mid 90s MM Sterling USA that I'm not particularly in love with, so I'm thinking about doing a trade or partial trade for it. Precision Bass Junior - with an extra short 28.5" scale - but it has been discontinued. Item: 283125408166 None of my sixteen basses are standard 34" long scale and guess what - no discernable dead spots anywhere. Fender has recently released short scale Squier versions of it's Jaguar, Bronco and Mustang models to go along with the Fender Mustang, Bronco and Music Master models. Its about creating balance. I see denials all the time, but I still wonder. After cutting my teeth on a number of short scalers, I decided to purchase a brand new 1972 Fender Jazz bass when I was in the Army, stationed overseas in Germany. No need to use a special suede backed or funky waist-band strap, or some silly jury-rigged extended strap button or other invention in order to achieve this simple goal. The bass you spend thousands of hours playing should be properly balanced if you intend to preserve your health over the long run. You are the salt of the earthYou are the light of the world Fender Squier Precision Bass, 32" Medium Scale MIJ Made in Japan, Fender Squier Precision Bass, 32" Medium Scale MIJ Made in Japan 2, Fender Squier Precision Bass, 32" Medium Scale MIJ Made in Japan 3, Fender Squier Precision Bass, 32" Medium Scale MIJ Made in Japan. Just a toy? I can't imagine strapping on some of these behemoths and playing them standing up for a full 3 or 4 hour set. To me, it is really what amounts to a left handed neck on a right handed bass. An amazing team of Japanese Luthiers are cranking out a number of really nice looking instruments as below. MEDIUM VS. LONG SCALE ILLUSTRATED. Now that the Princess Isabella bass is a reality - if he would make one for me in medium scale and make it double cutaway - we might have a deal. No ads. I don't think so, in all my years on the bass forums I have yet to find a medium scale bass owner who has found a dead spot. Frets 5 and 6 were horrible with immediate drop offs when you plucked the notes. Made in Japan. Unfortunately, many of the Fender medium scale basses come from Japan. Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by Persona87, Mar 11, 2015. In this case, you don't have the luxury of examining or playing the instrument in advance of purchase. Super high amount watching. We should never settle for an instrument that isnt light and perfectly balanced. I find that most Japanese dealers go out of the way to provide an incredible amount of photos. I was immediately more comfortable. Hey great info and site. One persons jewel is another persons yawn. Please click on any of the photos directly above to proceed to those pages. Yes, definitely. 555+ items sold. Precision Bass Junior - with an extra short 28.5" scale - but it has been discontinued. Their reputation on Ebay means everything to them - and I find that they will go out of their way to make certain you are happy. But that's where the stretches pick up that slack. It has been suggested - in order to somehow question it's relevance - that this "propaganda" actually originated in the Fender marketing department. I have purchased many basses in this way, sometimes they have provided in excess of 100 photos. Super clean! One of the most interesting things that he told me was how much time he actually spends making sure his basses are perfectly balanced. Student model? I find it interesting that many of the long scalers with dead spots have a very common attitude, and love to perpetuate the myth: "All stringed instruments have dead spots to some extent." I love Jens, he is a genius, a craftsman, a true artiste and one amazing gentleman. Basses, S.D. As pictured below, Gretsch has their short scale Electrotone and ThunderJet models - along with a JuniorJet and a Billy-Bo Thunderbird bass. There is a reason for this ) I also contacted many in Japan,Fujigen in particular . They make the body bigger and heavier to compensate for the heavier 5-6-7 string neck and the next thing you know the bass simply becomes far too heavy to be a practical instrument - at least for me. Is that really what it has come to? While size has a profound affect on the sound of a bass, bigger is not necessarily always better - particularly where string gauge is concerned. Burns builds his basses to withstand the rigors of touring. And since we all have our respective pain thresholds, most of us interpret the sensations (or lack thereof) as not being a big deal, not realizing the level of discomfort has almost built up to the point of overwhelming said threshold. Sometimes we have attitudes about it and don't appreciate the inference that anything less than long scale is inferior - especially when there are so many quality options in all scale lengths. It's pretty screwy as below. Made in Japan. In a blind test, I haven't found anyone yet who could listen to a new bass track by an accomplished player - and call out the scale length. It depends on the resonant frequency of the neck.". Another exception is a fairly new medium scale offering from Fender, called the Pawn Shop Modified Jaguar bass. You can see that even with a double cutaway they often have to extend the upper horn to a pretty severe degree to get them close to balanced: No offense intended to our extended range brethren but how many times have you seen them or photos of them at a gig where they literally have to sit down - or they look at least a little ridiculous with those massive basses strapped on. They might sound fine, and I admire them for their adventurous spirit and their desire to be the trail blazers - but it is still a work in progress. Reality is a bit different. It took about two months to get the bass and when I did I realized that there were a number of dead notes on the neck, on the G string from frets 4 to 7 and the same on the D string. Not a traditional P with a pickguard, but I like it. The interesting thing to me - is that dead spots- at least to some degree - appear to be a by-product of scale length. I looked at the Fender catalog at the PX and picked out a natural swamp ash Jazz Bass with black blocks. The neck width at the top of the pocket is close to 2 3/8" (62mm) or only 1/8" narrower than the standard Fender full scale neck. All and I mean everything,with the possible exception of the pots,are as I am about to state. Jens told me that he routinely works with physical therapists and chiropractors in Germany to be sure his basses hang on you in the perfect playing position. I don't use medium scale strings on my medium scale basses. The lower you tune the more important free string vibration becomes as any sound your instrument produces has more tonic content than just the fundamental notes being played. But as I read along, I bump into this: "With a bass like this, its all about the playability. Those necks are profiled proportionately like the full scales - with the J neck narrower (39mm) at the nut than the P necks (42mm) - and the P necks have a little more meat on them accordingly. For Sale: Bass Guitar Strings and Accessories, The TB Bazaar: Gear For Sale from our Sponsors, For Sale: Double Bass Amps, Strings & Accessories, Wanted: Bass Guitars, Amps, and Accessories, Wanted: Double Basses, Amps & Accessories, Kent Lakes, New York via Fort Wayne, Indiana. When Brian May of Queen decided to announce the latest and lowest addition to the world renowned Brian May Guitars product line, he also went with a medium scale instrument, made in the same spirit as Brians Old Lady 6 string guitar, pictured above. It's a shame there is such a small selection of medium scale basses available - but it is so great to see a glimmer of hope with these new Fender models. What do Paul McCartney (Beatles), Jack Bruce (Cream), Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), Glenn Cornick (Jethro Tull), Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads), Jonas Hellborg, Stanley Clarke and countless other world class bassists have in common?
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