Difference between Thumb NT & Bolt On?

[Des]

I had a 4-string NT for about a year, but had to get rid of it because I started having some joint pain in my fretting hand due to the stretch (I'm not that tall). It was the best bass I've ever played, and have wanted to get another one ever since. I have a chance to pick up a bolt-on, and was wondering if there was any difference in the length to the 1st fret or in the way it "fit" with the strap (I noticed that the body shape made the reach feel farther than other basses).

Does anyone know? The specs say the scale is the same, but I wasn't sure if they were identical or not.

 

[Florin]

Not the scale is the problem, but the short upper horn.

You can fix this issue this way:


The thumb BO is the same, because of the shorter horn, it it moved to the left.
My trick will make the thumb stay like any other normal bass.

 

[Des]

Nice! That should work. I don't need a lot, just to move it a few inches to the right. I thought a 5 might do the trick as well (so I could just play in F and F# off the 5th string), but I wasn't ready to switch from a 4 yet.

Thanks.