String Scale

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by David Powell

Lately I have noticed a few other makers that make bass guitars with 35", 36", or even 38" strings. Currently on your specs page it looks like you have standardized to 34". That is a pretty strong statement in itself about what string scale you consider to perform the best. Have you ever built or would you consider building an EBG with a longer string scale? Can you elaborate a little on why or why not?

Well, with Double Basses, the longer the String length (aka scale in BG world), the looser the tension feels to me but, the low notes seem to have more fundamental and the upper notes are slightly smoother. The shorter the String length (aka scale in BG world), the tighter the tension and the brighter overall the Bass seems to sound to my ear.

I hear all the talk about this 1" miracle and I just don't buy it, period. Do the math, 35/34 or 34/35 comes to a whopping 3% in length. WOW.. STOP THE PRESSES.. Hey, if you are 3% off in tension and if you can even feel 3%, then maybe you need to make the Bass vibrate a bit more which I find adds to the overall resistance therefor creating more tension. Headstock angles and Bridge-to-tailpiece anchor can alter the tension a great deal.

When the KSD project was on the drawing board, the partners of 'Brooklyn Gear' (the producers and sellers of the product) asked if it could be a 35" Scale. I said, sure.. why not.. 19mm bridge.. sure, why not..

Now, we are getting calls for KSDs in 34" scale and 18mm spacing like our regular Smith Basses. Gee.. I wonder why that is?

Tendinitis anyone? Regular or Diet? Automatic or Standard? Straight or on the rocks?

Imagine you are a PROFESSIONAL Bass player and you have to actually play Bass lines and NOT Flute lines or Guitar riffs for a Living! You are playing most of the notes from the Nut up to the 5th or 7th Fret where the spacing is the widest. Imaging a 10 minute song, live on stage playing a line from the 1st to 3rd fret only? Memories anyone? Bucket of ice for hand after set or between tunes anyone? Advil? A few stiff ones?

I have owned and used Double Basses with String Lengths from 40" to 44 1/2" and let me tell you from personal experience, Longer is Looser, period.

Take a stick 1 foot, 2 feet and 3 feet long like a 1/4" dowel or better yet, using the same stick, test its flex and then start cutting it down in length. Tell me which is tighter, the shorter or longer piece.

Oh, and also.. "If it Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It"... I go by that a lot these days..