Author Topic: 6 string short scale (Read 224 times)

phylo · « **on:** February 28, 2008, 09:37:50 AM »

I see that you can order short scale 6 strings, but I don't think I have seen any in the archives/showcases. Does anyone know of such a beast (or a med scale) out there?

bsee · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2008, 11:12:34 AM »

There are certainly medium scale sixes out there and I know I have seen short fives. Not sure I've seen a short six.

room037 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2008, 02:44:36 PM »

Hi phylo,

hieronymous's double neck has 6 st. short scale.
It's called baritone guitar, but the scale is 30.

I own 6 st short scale fretless. (not Alembic)
The tuning are E to F. (additional high-C, high-F strings).
I have no plan for B string on it.

Eiji

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #3 on:** February 29, 2008, 06:56:36 AM »

Does a low B short scale bass have a decent sound?

Is it flabby?

keurosix · « **Reply #4 on:** February 29, 2008, 07:42:50 AM »

I think a low B needs 34 at the minimum, 35 scale is better IMO. My Europa 34 scale has a low B, and it sounds not nearly as defined as my 35 scale Modulus Graphite & Dean Edge 6 low Bs.
Kris

olieoliver · « **Reply #5 on:** February 29, 2008, 07:48:46 AM »

I'd have to agree with Kris. The low B on my 35 MK does sound better than my 34 MK or S-2.

Olie
(Short and Flabby?, there's a joke there somewhere LOL)

bsee · « **Reply #6 on:** February 29, 2008, 08:25:42 AM »

Flax has some recent 32 B string experience and it has been positive. The overall construction becomes critical as the scale gets shorter. Quality of wood and tight glue joints plus a lot of mass through ebony and brass become more important. Anyone can bolt on a neck to a body and make a decent 35, but you have to do everything right to get a shorter B to sound good.

I had an older Persuader five (32) and it was very usable. It wasn't world class, but it was still quite good.

flaxattack · « **Reply #7 on:** February 29, 2008, 08:50:07 AM »

this is true- i have b's on both my medium scales
tuning is very precise- thats my only comment
string tension is better with chromes as opposed to TI;s
i have used both and the sound is fine

i do not think alembic will make a short scale B string bass-
1- is gonna be waay floppy
2- you need to use a long scale string since no one i know makes a medium scale B so cutting the string makes it highly unlikely you will be able to use it.

bsee · « **Reply #8 on:** February 29, 2008, 10:15:53 AM »

I do remember seeing an SC five for sale a year or two ago, there may be a post or two in the archives about it. It was a standard with a maple neck with walnut pinstripes and the guy had real trouble moving it. If it had full stringers, I might have gone for it, and I suspect it would have sold more quickly, though I would have converted it to high C. It may even have changed hands a couple times in a short period.

mica · « **Reply #9 on:** February 29, 2008, 01:16:26 PM »

I preface this with the statement that all my comments are in regards to Alembic basses. Your experience with other maker's products may be different, and probably is.

We have made short scale 5 and 6 string basses with short scales. These were for customers who well knew what to expect. Sure, it's going to be looser feeling than a longer scale. Somewhere out there, lives a Stanley Clarke Deluxe 6-string short scale with a Purpleheart and Vermilion neck. This was in the days before I took thousands of pictures, so I don't have any photographic record of it.

When someone I don't really know well approaches us to get a short scale 5-string bass, I invite them to string up a 4-string short scale Alembic BEAD. Even without intonating the bridge or having the perfect setup, you'll be able to tell if the feel of the B string will bother you enough to interfere with the music.

What I don't think we'll make any more of is a Small Standard body with 5- or 6-strings. It just doesn't really work out for balance.

Scale length is not the sole determining factor for good tone from a B string. Shorter scale basses get a bit of prejudicial treatment since some of the medium and short scale basses of the 60's weren't particularly great sounding. I don't think these would magically transform into wonderful sounding instruments if you put a longer neck on them. Materials, quality of construction, strings and setup play a huge role. And then of course, there is the talent and skill of the player.

And while I can confidently say you will always feel a mechanical difference with different scale lengths, it's not always true you will hear a difference that you can attribute to the scale length on an Alembic bass, especially comparing 34 to 35 when listening only.

One of the best reasons to get a 34 scale 5-string is that you'll have the largest selection of available strings. Pickins aren't slim in the 35 aisle either, but you'll have more choice available to you in standard long scale. And in my experience, one of the single most powerful tone controls you've got on an Alembic bass is the choice of strings. Changing the strings can make it sounds like a whole new bass.

pace · « **Reply #10 on:** February 29, 2008, 02:06:56 PM »

I have a SC 30.75 6'er, but it's tuned E-E. Sorry I cant comment on the B.....

It does have some neck dive, but not bad. I was dead-set in my specs, and I assured Mica that the neck dive wouldn't be a problem (especially with a nice wide strap).
To be honest, it isn't a problem~ I cant put the thing down long enough for it to dive!!!! BTW, we used a guitar sized crown headstock template, and Gotoh tuners (which I guess are lighter than the Shallers).

room037 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 01, 2008, 02:08:48 AM »

I own small standard body with 5 strings. The bass has medium scale, but the balance is fine for me. Unfortunately It needs some repair work, and I will set up for high-C string. My all 5 strings basses have nice B strings sounds. (LSB fretted, MSB fretted & fretless, MSB Graphite) My plans are LSB for B string, MSB fretted for high-C as tenor bass, MSB Graphite for slap. By the way, standard body with short scale 5 strings was produced at 1979. The bass is converted 5 to 8 strings now.

Eiji (Message edited by room037 on March 01, 2008)

rami · « **Reply #12 on:** March 01, 2008, 12:33:24 PM »

That is just AWESOME!!!!!

I'd like to know how the conversion was done.... It's hard to believe it wasn't originally made as an 8 string. Was the conversion done by Alembic?

Just beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rami

811952 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 01, 2008, 02:41:20 PM »

That's gorgeous!

bsee · « **Reply #14 on:** March 01, 2008, 03:06:58 PM »

That might have been either a headstock replacement or full neck replacement. Although, I suppose one could remove the headstock veneers and fill in the original holes before relaminating and cutting new holes.

Either way, replace the bridge and nut to finish the job.