32 scale vs 34 scale series 1s

[Mlazarus]

Ok everyone, I am reviving a very old topic from 2002 pertaining to the series 1 scale lengths. I'm 5'10" with (I guess) "normal length arms. I own a 34 scale Series 1. What a difference this length makes. I did not realize my reach to play at the 1st position (F) is quite a physical workout. Not to mention the fret positions have shifted compared to a 32 scale. Which also means when I place my had over D and E on the A string, I'm a half step off making me play D# and F! LOL. So, standing of course shifts the bass body towards the left, causing the peg to extend farther away from me. To my surprise and consolation, a player in the 2002 post mentioned this situation and discovered as I did recently to physically move the body to the right, thus moving the peg head back to the Right. This simulates the -sitting position- of playing which places the arc of the bass on the right lap. Much easier to play, BUT we typically perform standing on-stage RIGHT?  So, shifting the body to the right is important when standing. I can get accustomed to this in time. I am disciplining myself to stand more when I practice, or at least when sitting, ware my strap and keep the body off my right leg by sitting upright. I know the 32 scale would be ideal for me, but I like my 34 scale. The sound to me has more sustain. It still has PLENTY of bottom. I just need to get accustomed to the 34 that's all. What are your experiences?

[BeenDown139]

ive nvever owned a medium-scale bass that i fully bonded with.  i do happen to currently own  1 medium-scale bass (and 3 long-scales) that is my only 4-string instrument. it's an '83 exploiter with distallate electronics.  i've had it for a year and finally reached the point where i've decided to keep it. i think.
it's an on-the-fly mental adjustment finding the notes without looking at my left hand, especially after switching out with a long scale.  the stings are too bendy like a guit@r for my liking.  ive tried differend guages and rotosound mediums are the only ones that i can deal with on that bass.  it's been a really difficult journey with this bass compounded by the fact that the electronics were a wreck that required electronic skilled surgery to finally fix once and for all. the thread about it is here:
https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=26235.0#msg265966

but - it's the only bass i own that hangs on me without neck-diving, it's even better than my balance-k body MK deluxe (my series II is the worst, btw.  i let go of the neck and the headstock heads right for the floor).  probably the most comfortable bass to play standing up.  my left shoulder likes that.  plus i don't have to fully extend my arm to reach the first position. my left hand fingers like not having to fully extend to play an F octave on 1st and 3rd frets.  if i had it to do over, i'd probably pass. i've owned a spyder 8-string - this body style with a 34" neck puts the A & D tuners out of reach for me, i can barely reach these.  i've owned a 32" scale series I that i just couldn't bond with and it quickly became trade bait.

i know there's a few other guys on this board that really love their medium-scale.  i don't know if i ever will, though.

HTH

[edwardofhuncote]

Put a guitar capo on the first fret and retune. It ain't exact, but you'll at least get part of the answer you seek.


Every Alembic I have, or have ever had is a 32" scale. I find them very comfortable.

[Songdog]

The very first bass I owned was an old Gibson EB-3, which I think was short scale (maybe medium, definitely not long). I never really bonded with it - the first bass I ever played, a Japanese Jazz bass clone belonging to my college roommate, was long scale and many hours of learning bass had accustomed me to that. I've been playing long scale ever since.

Still, my long scale Epic/Essence/Rogue pushes the limits. I haven't taken any measurements, but that first fret does feel waaay out there. And I too have the experience of overshooting when I go higher up the neck. It feels to me like that's just because there is so much more neck clear of the body. And yes, that 1st/3rd fret F octave is hard (especially with some arthritis in my wrist). But it is so comfortable, balances so well, and sounds so good, I'll deal with the reach.

I've played a very nice short scale bass recently - a Mike Lull P430. An example of short scale done well! So I'll be saving up my nickels and dimes and watching for a Stanley Clarke Signature or short scale Series I... as you all know, Alembics kind of spoil you for anything else.

[gtrguy]

My first bass I owned was a vintage BC Rich and it seemed normal. I played one a while back though and it felt that the neck hung out there a mile away! I love the SS bass but they can be a little off for balance. I have both long scale and short scale instruments and am right now setting up a Yamaha BX1. That puppy is extremely small and feels odd but is nice and light (it was a nice wood copy of a vintage Steinberger sp?). For me what I am used to and what weight I want to carry live at my age are more and more important, through of course sound comes first..

[hammer]

My first bass was a Gibson EB-3 all of which were 30.5 scale unless one had an EB-3L which was a 34. My fiesta Alembic was a long scale Distillate. I now own 2 short scale Alembics (a Series 1 and Signature), 2 Medium scale (a Series 1 and custom Signature Deluxe), a 2 long scales (Series 1 and 6 string Europa). I’m not a large guy 5’8” but Ive never really hard any trouble going back and forth with scale differences. What has taken a lot more time to get used to is they different neck configurations. My Signature custom has the modern comfort neck which is not as wide nor has the greater depth of some of my older Series basses. This, more than anything is what I have found myself needing to adjust to when going back and forth between basses.

[Mlazarus]

gtrguy, can you send pictures of all your 6 Alembics? I SHOULD have two, but I sold my 80s Distillate back in 97-98. Always regretted that.

[StephenR]

My first two Alembics were both medium scale, a 1982 Distillate and a 1978 Series 1 five-string. I no longer have the Distillate, I traded it for the Series I in 1984 or 85. In 1988 I went from playing the Series I bass to playing a neck-through Modulus Quantum Five-string with a 35" scale. All the five-string basses I bought after the Modulus were 35" scale with progressively wider necks. I did not play my Series I bass on stage for years since it is not very comfortable ergonomically. About 10 years ago I decided to give the Series I another shot and it took me close to 2 years before I adjusted to the 32" scale. Even so I still find the upper registers really cramped, the other thing with my 78 Series bass is that back then they basically made five-strings using the same neck dimensions as a four-string so the string spacing is really tight. I would never buy another medium scale bass even with  a wider neck, I have large hands and am much more comfortable playing a 34" scale like my 2016 Series II has or a 35" scale. I tolerate the Series I because I like the bass and it has sentimental value to me but ergonomically it just isn't my thing.

[tkotmk42]

I gave up on standard body and went for the Europa.  Never looking back.
I'm 181cm (about 6ft) but my reach is not long at all.  Being Mark King fan, I really really REALLY want to play the standard point body, but it just doesn't work for me and Europa's more conventional body shape just fits me.

Good luck! 

Takeo

[gearhed289]

I owned a long scale Distillate for 8 years, briefly had a medium scale Spoiler, and now own a long scale 5 string Elan. The Distillate was surprisingly well balanced, and I didn't feel like the first fret was way out there. I really wanted a medium scale, so I tried the Spoiler. I liked it, but it didn't sound quite as good as the Distillate, so I sold it to Chicago Music Exchange. About a year ago, I bought a medium scale Warwick 5 string. I tune it EADGC and it's a really fun little bass to play. (I also ditched the bass/treble preamp and installed a low pass filter) I've been searching for an Alembic to take the Warwick's place, but a medium scale Alembic 5 is tough to find. I settled on a really nice long scale (the sunburst Elan), and while there is so much that I like about that bass, it's not really working great for my intended purpose. I may just stick with the Warwick, sell the Elan, and go back to a 4 string Alembic.

I've owned a few short scales (Kramer 8-string, '73 Guild JS-II, Epiphone RumbleKat) too. I've strangely found it easier to go from long to short than long to medium. Not by much. Maybe just because I've played more shorties. And to add to the fun, my favorite long scales (Rickenbacker) are actually a little under at 33-1/4''.