More about 35" scale

drews said:
Well, the results are:
If measured according to a d'addario's pdf, that I've got when I had trouble with short strings for the Thumb, you get 35" (35"1/16 to be exact).
If measured according to Alexandre's instructions, there's 34" 7/16.
Alexandre has a point about the compensation, which clearly affects measure, so it would be more accurate to consider the theoretical mid scale.
Lessons learned: measuring a scale is more complicated than one might think, and different people think differently about the correct way to do it; a string designed to fit basses with scales up to 36"might be too short for a 34" (at least if we're talking about D'addario Chromes); operating a measuring tape is tricky (and here might be the porn star's issue mentioned by a colleague); a 34ish" B string might sound as good as a 35"; taking pictures of what you're doing helps people pointing your mistakes.
The thing is: I have a bass which officially has a 34"scale, but needs longer strings. i don't think I'll bother measuring the Thumb again.
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.
Click to expand...

Ok, I'll just re-explain it with pictures. There is nothing complicated about measuring scale length, as long as you've got a good grasp of how things work on your instrument. It might not seem easy at first, but it is once you get it.

So, here is a neck standing on my desk. I'd like to know the scale length.

I use a crappy wooden measurer (but still relatively ok) that I got for free as company Christmas gift from some supplier. it has to lay as illustrated against the nut, and perpendicular to it.

CIMG4449.jpg


I then direct my eyes toward the twelth fret. In the middle of the twelth fret, I read 432mm. I multiply it by 2, which gives me 864 mm. To convert it in inches, i divide it by 25.4, which gives 34,01 in :-)

CIMG4448.jpg

Doing the same with a 35 inches scale (889mm), it should then read 444,5 mm at the twelth fret, be careful to measure properly. Tape measurer are not the right tool for this job.

I think you might be mixing up the string length and your scale length. with some instruments (Warwick, or Strings-through-body ones), you might need longer strings (i.e. "extra long scale strings"), even though your scale length is a standard 34".

Are things a bit clearer?

;-)
 
I think it is impossible to get clearer on that, Alexandre, you clarified all the concepts!
 
I asked Hans Peter, and he said that we NEVER made any 35" NT Warwick
 
Seriously though, I realized the typo. I just was in a hurry to class.
 
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