What’s the deal with MEDIUM Scale Basses?

[@ericknighton5615]

The 32 inch scale makes a BIG difference in low end punchy tone. I've been a full size guy my whole life, and I have big hands too. A medium scale bass felt incredible in my hands. The reach to play is so much easier.

[@joeballs5669]

if your hand was sandpaper ...your di%k would be a tooth pick ....action can't get as low on shorter scale

[@chekerbored]

The reversed headstock doesn't change hardly anything in terms of string tension BUT it's a lot easier to put regular long scale strings on on the Med/Short scale basses. Having the extra distance between the nut and the tuning peg on the E string lets the string get to the tapered part of the wind before it begins bending around the peg. On a short scale with the "regular" headstock configuration a long scale E string typically breaks because you're bending around the peg at the thicker part of the wind, vs a G string which doesn't mind either way.

[@willshanks3964]

Great point! FWIW, the basses in this video are using long scale strings. Ernie Ball Slinky Roundwound and Flatwound, Fender Nylon Tapewound 58, Rotosound Steve Harris Flatwound.

[@monarch_music]

After buying a medium scale last year, I plan to replace most of my 34's. They just feel so right. My dream is to have the Fender custom shop make me a 32" P done up right.

[@zhartgraves]

I'd love to see medium scales get a bit more recognition! I built a medium scale P Bass with warmoth parts a couple years ago and it's my go to for 90% of things that I play. The only downside I've experienced is a shortage of medium scale string options.

[@samlelowitch]

Thanks for doing this video. It's a topic that needed to be covered because folks need to know about the existence of medium-scale basses and why they are really cool.

[@ricardodubatti657]

That Aerodyne sounds (and looks) so cool. Love the "snap-ness" of the short and medium basses, specially with a pick.

[@rickeybecker3495]

I’m a recent Bassist coming from years of guitar and banjo. My decent in tone started with a 27” baritone. I started looking into bass and started playing everything in the three closest shops. I took to the 32” scale and now have an Ibanez Artcore semi-hollow and Gibson Les Paul DC Jr.. They sound great and while I still pick up other scale basses when I find myself in a music store, I always end up liking the 32” scale.

[@SiddharthBasrurOfficial]

Thanks for helping my bank balance go lower. Medium scale, incoming. Great video and very informative. Keep ‘em coming!

[@coachgb]

I am also a medium size man. I’ve been lucky to find 2 MIJ Squier Precision basses that are medium scale. They bridge a gap between my CIJ Mustang and the standard Fenders that I started playing on. Now I’m drooling for one of those pawn shop beasties

[@shipsahoy1793]

A short scale can get a bit sloppy in the E string without a thicker string setup or a higher tension string on the bottom, even with a “softer” touch. You can make any scale from 29” to 35” “work,” but regardless, string choice and setup is important friends, irrespective of the electronics.

[@LeftyPem]

String choice on a 30” is super important. 45-95 is most common, and just terrible. Way too light for the length. Not enough tension. I do flat 105s on my short scale, and they have the tension to not slop out.

[@shipsahoy1793]

@@LeftyPem Exactly! The stupidity of putting light strings on a short scale is unbelievable to me, I think the only real reason why manufacturers do that is because they’re f****** cheap.

[@TeepleBass]

If you haven’t checked out Serek basses, you should. They make incredible, short, medium, and long scale basses. I have a 32” scale length Midwestern 2 5-string that also has a Trickfish IPA preamp and Nordstrand Zen Blade pickups that’s unreal!

[@bb_lz9790]

I had the good fortune of visiting the factory last year with a group of bassists. Beautiful instruments and Jake is a great guy (very patient with our endless barrage of questions)!

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

@@bb_lz9790Love them although Reverend makes one semi hollow one too.A signature model.

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

Fender Japan also made medium scale Aerodyne Strats. So it’s a Strat but with Gibson 24.75 scale length.

[@georgespencer3973]

I have to admit that during this whole video, I was hoping someone was going to hit a few keys on that Rhodes. I like basses and Rhodes probably equally. That Japanese blue Fender sounded amazing.

[@Folmerica]

I agree that 32' medium-scale are the best and hope more makers start making them. I have the same Fender MIJ Aerodyne Jazz 32" in the video and a Fender Jaguar PJ 32" that are my two primary basses. I have several 34" and 30" basses, but the 34"s are harder to play and the tone on the D and G strings are too thin. The opposite is true on the 30"s, with the E and A strings being too muddy. I think 32" is the perfect middle way and you get a very classic tone from them. In my book, the perfect bass (for me) is a 32" scale, thinner 1.5" jazz style neck, with either jazz or PJ pickups.

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

Great points

[@conorlarkin1111]

Man, I’m so glad you covered medium scale basses. As a small guy I’ve always been interested in them but there just aren’t many out there! I know Rivolta have one that I’ve been eying though.

[@jamesrodriquez2863]

It took me a few days for it to finally hit me, but you look like a young Kurt Russell. I've watched a few of your videos and kept thinking to myself that you looked like someone but I couldn't put my finger on it until just now. Your videos have been very informative. I am branching out into playing bass, and need to know some things about them before running out and buying one. You are helping me quite a bit. Thank you.

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks for watching! Glad to have you here.

[@neudels4896]

Love seeing videos on modded basses, always gems to be found in some cheaper gear.

[@lukibass29]

one of the best bass videos I've seen in a while, thanks!

[@Dude4311]

Funny thing is the reverse neck and body on the fender is well perfectly awesome for a lefty player, like me and I snagged one when they came out gosh 13 years ago. 😊

[@gilbertspader7974]

As a righty I like the reverse headstock when changing strings it puts the tuner in my right hand. Also level the pegs for more finger room.

[@admarhermans1]

I really love 32’’ basses! For me, the string tension is spot on, and it might be the best of both worlds (long scale/ short scale) for many styles of music. A few years ago I had a Japanese Fender Jazz that was 32’’. A bass friend of mine bought two of them in Japan. Great bass!! But, as usual, I was stupid enough to sell it. This time because I needed a 5 string bass for a project I was hoping to be a part of. That went great, but after that I never played that particular nice StingRay 5 anymore, and sometimes dream about that nice little sexy Japanese Jazz..., 😄. I would love a 32’’ P! 🖖

[@yeshuarocks]

I have a Kubicki ExFactor. It is a 32" and it feels like home. Try one!!

[@yanivyoseph9495]

As usual an informal & educational video. Thank you so much 🙏🏼

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@mikewithers299]

Awesome stuff right here. I've owned 1 short scale Gibson and all the rest were long scale. Good ideas on string and pickup choices

[@jamesmarkham7489]

My favorite flats are rotosounds. I have them on my 30” short scale and others. Highly recommend.

[@mcarp555]

I have a 32" acoustic bass made by Indie (which I think is now kaput). I like the scale length. It's comfortable and I don't have any problem adjusting. I also have a Hofner (30"), Two Jazzes and a P (all 34"). Plus a Hofner 187 'Shorty' bass from 1984 which is 26".

[@bb_lz9790]

Great video! The only 32 in. scale bass I have played is the original version of the Fender Stu Hamm. Still not sure why I let that one get away...

[@shipsahoy1793]

Depending on the results you get with your current strings when you’re tuned and setup where you want to be, that’ll basically dictate what you need to switch to. It doesn’t take a whole heck of a lot of experimenting to figure out what you need .. In other words, you’re typically not going to have to make a mistake on your string choice more than once, if that.

[@michaelbrohl1625]

I don't understand why there aren't more 32 scales out there. It's the goldilocks scale length, and there are so few of them out there.

[@AManCalledBiggles]

I play a 28" short scale $120 mini P bass w/flats over my full sized neck-thru Epiphone T-Bird or Stirling Stingray in the band because it feels good, sounds right in the mix and is less likely to injure others when in tight spaces ✌️🤣🤙

[@Anjohl]

They're great! Like going from a Stratocaster to a Mustang!

[@jamesmarkham7489]

It’s so funny to hear an audio expert talk about how the sound comes from pickups and strings. Rhett’s over there talking about mystical tonewood combinations that can shape tone. People who know, know where the real tone is made.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

I think maybe it's worth mentioning Leland Sklar's "Frankenstein" bass, whose body he chose from a bunch of apparently identical blanks by tapping each of them and finding one that rang more than the rest. It became his "go to" bass because of its tone and probably the most recorded bass ever.

[@jamesmarkham7489]

@@Kevin-mx1vi but that from what I’ve heard still wouldn’t be tone wood. That would be would quality. Tone wood by definition from what I’ve heard says certain species of wood produces on average a similar eq when the sound is amplified. Now what you’re describing to me sounds like the actually quality of how the wood vibrates. And even then that is only a resonance quality not a tone quality. I think a lot of folks confuse those two things.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

@@jamesmarkham7489 Well, _any_ wood, or in fact any material the instrument is made from will give it a tone, though not necessarily one you'd want it to have ! Different woods give different tones depending on factors such as their density, grain structure, etc, so it stands to reason that different combinations of wood will create subtle changes in tone because they resonate at different frequencies. It's not always very noticeable, of course. The poplar body of a Squier bass creates a tone almost indistinguishable from the alder body of a Fender, for example, but both are "tone wood".

[@mcarp555]

Wood has zero effect upon a metal string vibrating in a magnetic field. It's all down to the fingers, pickups and amp. Not the wood.

[@wraslin]

@@mcarp555 And the distance from the strings to the pickup. Not the wood.

[@michaelbrohl1625]

Another great mod platform is the Sterling by MM RAY4. I love mine.Thinking about getting an Affinity Jaguar for next mod platform.

[@johnplainsong9769]

No Cool-Z 32" jazz bass? Its an awesome bass and can be had for around $600 used.

[@voornaam3191]

Got a GIO guitar that has this inverted headstock. Asked what this is good for, in a music shop. The man told me, resonance is different, length of the strings above the nut is having an effect. I could try this inverted thing, when making a new bass headstock.

[@cliffthelightning]

Recently snagged a 1982 Aria CSB 300 32 inch bass, its glorious

[@BassClubKing]

great Video with great infos. thanks !!!

[@themosaito]

Hey Philip, A small suggestion. I have real trouble with names, so I often find it difficult to find your channel when I want to watch one of your videos. Have you ever thought of starting your videos with a line of introduction, like, " Hi, Philip Conrad here from ..." Is it time to give your channel a name? I know it goes against the grain for a quiet bassman holding it down at the back, but... Keep up the great work!

[@ManicMaximus]

I found D'Addario makes a medium scale roundwound string set which also fits great on string through Mustang basses.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

The reverse architecture of that Jaguar leads me to think that Fender was borrowing greatly from Gibson while designing it. Between the pickups, the body shape and the headstock, it kind of resembles a Thunderbird bass more than anything from Fender. It should become a standard model. I have a Deluxe Active J-bass, a custom-made Carvin fretless of a similar scale and a Squier Vintage Modified Bass Six. I dig the Six’s shorter scale, but I really got it for the 2 extra strings and its tone-shaping options. The interesting thing about playing the Six is approaching it like a regular bass with a “harmonic extension” when the most-common trend is to treat it like a guitar tuned down.

[@emersonsrandomvideos248]

I have a yamaha rbx super medium series. That, to me, is the goldilocks zone for bass scale length.

[@donaldmilne5352]

Just to say, I'm loving the video style your developing, both in the edit and visually. I can see the Rhett influence, but you've come up with your own, almost vintage take that is very cool.

[@Kaisermb1]

I acquired a 32" scale Sandberg P bass recently and it's crazy good. I put some flats on it and there's very little difference in the sound than my long-scale P. It does fit my hands a lot better tho. The only drawback I noticed is that theres fewer choices in strings but thats not that big a deal.

[@dannyzwart6620]

Have sold my 2 medium scale fender jazz bass. The jbm and the aerodyne. Didnt work for me . Last year i bought a custom made maruszczyk p bass and another jazz maruszczyk is comming in soon. You should check the 32 bass guitars from maruszczyk they are awesome

[@crankjazz]

My 1981 Ibanez Destroyer II bass looks huge even though it's a 32" scale bass. As is the Retrovibe prototype that I have. I like 32" scale basses.

[@TheSullt]

I have the jaguar squier afinity 32 scale and i love it!

[@yojon1212]

I'm a medium size bass player and have a 32" scale 1983 Ibanez Destroyer bass. Very comfortable for me!

[@trikkke11]

I used to have one and it broke me. It's top heavy and that's a bummer.

[@paniccleo]

Neat how it's just weird squiers, an ehx magnum44 power amp, and the 2x10.

[@granz58th]

Ah, the "Lefties" explained! For those of us who can't splash out to experiment with string - pickup combinations, maybe do a video on how to get close to the tone you are looking for? Unless it really is all in the hands?

[@reversalstudio]

nice basses!!am i the only electro harmonix freak who noticed right away the octave multiplexer on the table!!!hehe!!

[@McDoinky]

I own 2 MIJ and 1 CIJ fender basses and they’re all phenomenal

[@HoosierRooster]

My first bass was a mustang I hated it compared to anything else...i bought a Guild Starfire 2 like Jack Casady's absolutely loved it...flat wounds through a acoustic 2/15's great sound

[@MordecaiSoup7]

Last year when I was really digging into wanting a new bass after playing my Mia jazz for over a decade I seriously considered an SS (medium scale) Jaguar pretty hard before building out a cheapo bronco. But …I still really want a Jaguar and JMJ mustang 😂

[@bongosock]

RE: reversed headstock / length of string beyond the nut... From a physics point of view, as a string is put under tension to bring it up to pitch it will stretch. How much stretch is in the string is calculated over the entire length from tuning peg to bridge. The nut does not effect this. The 'stretchiness' of the string will effect the way it feels to pluck and bend.

[@mightyV444]

I didn't know that 'Pawnshop' Jaguire bass _also_ was a medium scale! And cute lil' teardrop-shaped 8-string bass in the background at 13:30 ! 😁

[@Palindromeater]

That is a Croatian Prim. I also play bass in a Tamburitza folk band.

[@mightyV444]

@@Palindromeater - Oh, is it? Very interesting, thank you! 😀👍 I'd thought it was just a regular mandolin! 😀

[@armani077cc3]

Good job Phil. I like the Fender Aerodyne. Can gou get the info where i can get it from in Japan?

[@picksalot1]

If you can get a long string length, you don't need such a high string gauge to get a good tension for tbe scale length. I think the reverse headstock design is a must for short scale Basses, if you want clear tones.

[@ArchieOnEarth]

The Kubicki Ex-Factor is 32” scale. The Rickenbacker 4003 has a 33” scale. Both known for bright snappy tones.

[@philipconradmusic]

Nice!

[@bongosock]

RE: Medium (32") scale basses... I experimented quite a bit with these basses because I was a massive Les Claypool fan, and his main Carl Thompson 4 string bass is 32" scale. Just for me (personally), I much prefer the timbre and tension of the D and G strings at 32". At 34", the G string is especially bright and tight, making it sound thin and harder to bend. However, I prefer the timbre and tension of the E and A strings at 34", which would make me a natural candidate for a multi-scale bass except... I play fretless... sigh.

[@nancyvanrijn9732]

Loved the look of the Japanese bass 👌🏻

[@philipconradmusic]

Me too!

[@mafvosburgh]

What's the brand of those white Music Man style pickups on a few of those basses?

[@rikihartop2660]

I have 2 Fender Medium scale basses 32” scale. Japan did a few Jazz basses and Aerodyne jazz basses for non export,meaning they were only allowed to sell them in Japan. I got lucky and found the Aerodyne in UK where I am but had to import the JB62M from a dealer in Japan. I am selling the Jazz Bass 62 Medium scale if anyone is interested in U.K.

[@dashdrum-again]

Now I want to look for a 32 for myself

[@Gonzo.Noises]

I had an off-brand 32" P-bass for years. I still regret selling it.

[@charlescdt6509]

I love my Ibanez Mezzo, have a drop d tuner on it.

[@godsinbox]

what is he playing over and over. sounds like groove is in the heart

[@MrAlloy70]

Can you fit regular long scale strings for example Elixer bass strings,will they fit a medium scale bass?.do you have any recommendations of 40 gauge bass strings for a 32 scale bass

[@MarcNouvellot]

Hello, does 500k makes a difference compared to 250's?

[@PozerAdultRacingTeam]

I have a classic mid scale Harmony bass.

[@michaelblaney4461]

Why put fender decals on a squier? 😮

[@spazridley]

Fender has MIJ medium scales jazz and precision basses. The MIJ P basses are harder to find.

[@willshanks3964]

I wish they would start making those again. And like the Aerodyne in the vid, it would be awesome if they were sold worldwide rather just in Japan

[@foff4strings]

I have a Tokai EB-3 copy that is 32" for some reason. No idea why they copied everything else even that terrible bridge (I swapped that out for a Hipshot which is vastly superior), but decided to make it medium scale. It's a great 'lap' bass and I've never gigged it. I had the strap button professionally moved to the top horn, but it's still a little neck heavy. New bone nut as well. I bought it at a discount and then all the mods moved it back up over full retail..... 😀 it's a disease, isn't it?

[@angelodescartin4608]

i have a samick pj bass medium scale. perfect fit for me especially i am an asian guy(5'5 in height and smaller hands)

[@jonmatthews4254]

Love the Jaguars, are the Humbucker/Single coils switches a modification?

[@Palindromeater]

Yes they are. The unmodified Pawnshop Jag Reverse are humbucker only. But they have the wiring available to do the mods I did, without needing to change the pickups.

[@anttimikkonen3436]

I love my Ibanez "Mezzo" bass, just right fit. 34" are too long for me, 30" too short.

[@scromp]

if you didn't say it i was gonna. ibanez mezzo ftw

[@sparknado]

Did I miss it, what are the pickups you put in the pawn shop jag? They sound great!

[@Palindromeater]

It’s Donlis. Korean, I think. A little higher output than what was was on there. TBH, I bought them because they were cheap, and had white covers…

[@friedrich1957]

I have an SX Jazz copy. Nearly perfect out of the shipping box. Medium scale works much better for me at this point

[@xJuliaGrimesx]

as a lefthanded player who's been begging Fender to produce a Jaguar or even a Mustang for AGES, this pawn shop bass feels like a slap in the face :( However, I now might just try to do the same and reverse a righthanded Jaguar to play lefty

[@philipconradmusic]

I am realizing there are a lot of players like yourself feeling the same thing. I wish guitar makers made some more options available for left-handed players. I think that’s a cool idea! Thanks for watching ⚡️

[@ianchisholm9260]

I have a MIJ Fender Jazz that’s medium scale .

[@philipconradmusic]

Nice!

[@oregbeer]

The OOPEGG Stormbreaker bass is 31 inches long..

[@CamiloDiaz]

Why did you have to INCEPT this on my mind?? I crave a Pawn Shop now

[@danielreeves222]

What’s up with the different colored silks on the strings? Is that a stock set, or something out together individually? Never seen that before, thanks!

[@Palindromeater]

Stock set. It is the Rotosound Steve Harris flatwounds

[@destianpatrianagara1119]

The thing with 32 inch bass is it's difficult to find the string in my country.

[@willshanks3964]

FWIW, All of the basses in this video are using long scale strings. Ernie Ball Slinky Roundwound and Flatwound, Fender Nylon Tapewound 58, Rotosound Steve Harris Flatwound.

[@destianpatrianagara1119]

@@willshanks3964 Oh that's great to hear! I don't have any experience with them have you had any problem by doing so?

[@invisAG]

That black Jaguar with the gold pick guard is absolutely beautiful

[@ArleyMcBlain]

I've had my medium scale fender acoustic bass guitar 20 years, only found out it wasn't standard scale recently when a guitar tech changed the strings and told me. I think this explains why my muscle memory on slides always fails me, but apart from that I honestly never noticed

[@OnTheOne.]

You've never changed your own strings in 20 years?

[@ArleyMcBlain]

@@OnTheOne. I did many times - but mostly electric round-wounds; I hated the eventual stink of acoustic strings. And yeah, I was putting on normal scale strings, just cutting more off I guess.

[@trikkke11]

Wha-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaat ?! The piece of string from the nut to the tuning key makes a difference ?! Isn't the nut there so it won't make a difference ?

[@soullessgemini7786]

Ibanez also makes a medium scale.

[@Scoots1994]

Gibson EB3 is 30.5" and is often forgotten

[@gamezharks]

Honestly this video has done more to turn me on to MM pickups with flats than medium scale basses.

[@OrestLubinets]

Dakha Brakha album on the Rhodes is so cool!

[@Palindromeater]

Good eye! Such a kick ass record.

[@OrestLubinets]

Agree! Love them @@Palindromeater

[@bobt5778]

Mediums and shorties are fun but I don't care for the ones that have scaled down bodies - they just feel too cramped. Also, as a larger guy, I feel they look too "guitarish" while playing standing up.

[@mrbr4587]

32 inches scale is the best for me.

[@tomdivision]

Do yuo play Suicidal Tendencies - No Fuck'n Problem at the bass?

[@DoctorIntrepid]

The Mustang didn't start it. The EB1 and 500/1 predate the Mustang.

[@geraldp494]

I❤Medium Scale

[@JDY517]

So did he really just put Fender badging on Squiers?? 🤨 But why… you like it, own it

[@sagittated]

I think he mentioned borrowing the necks of the squires, but in the end, they're still full fledged fenders at heart. Like if your dad's a fender and your mom's a Squier, you can identify however you want. Especially when you've got fancy pickups. ✌️

[@willshanks3964]

LOL! Yeah don't dead name my basses, they identify as Fenders now! And the carpet matches the drapes with the matching headstocks...

[@JDY517]

@@willshanks3964 😂😂😂 hey man… I get it, I’ve considered hobbling together a Bass VI like this because Squier still makes them and Fender decided to NOT 😕 and I don’t feel like dishing out $6k+ for a real one atm 🤷🏻‍♂️ just something about having that Fender badge though

[@willshanks3964]

The recent Squiers I've played are really good. Better than some Fenders. The Jag Affinity and Classic Vibe necks are awesome...and coincidentally, I just traded a synth for a Squier VI and shit its really cool.

[@JDY517]

@@willshanks3964 couldn’t agree more, Squier is one of the only company out there right now not shying away from innovation

[@olejason]

"String length" is irrelevant, the only thing that matters is the vibrating string length

[@jrpipik]

Those bodies with the cutaways on upside sure look like lefties.

[@rkharper]

Stringlenght behind the nut does NOT change the sound. At. All. Just no.

[@willshanks3964]

Nope. But it does feel different in tension, at least with the E

[@KirillAfonin]

Yep, that’s common misconception that keeps spreading. Only bridge to nut length matters for the string tension.

[@willshanks3964]

Must just be psychological then!

[@michaelweinman9051]

arrrrgh more playing less yapping. maybe next time.