Why 30.75"? Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Why 30.75"? « Previous Next »

Author Message
dnburgess
Advanced Member
Username: dnburgess

Post Number: 320
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 10:11 pm:   Edit Post

Is there a special reason why 30.75" was chosen as the scale length for short scale instruments, instead of a round number - 30" or 31"?
kungfusheriff
Intermediate Member
Username: kungfusheriff

Post Number: 154
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 2:32 am:   Edit Post

Guild Starfire basses, which Alembic started out customizing in San Fran, were 30.75".
poor_nigel
Advanced Member
Username: poor_nigel

Post Number: 217
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 2:59 am:   Edit Post

My old Les Paul is 30.75 and so is my 65 EBO (single humbucker, SG looking bass). I wonder if Leo Fender's string length tests were referenced when these companies decided on their short-scale length and is 30.75 the industry 'standard' for short-scale basses? I am actually quite curious about this subject now, though I doubt I will ever buy a length under 34 inches these days.
811952
Advanced Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 258
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 9:35 am:   Edit Post

I am inclined to suspect that a 30.75" scale can use the same fretting template as either a 34" bass or perhaps one of the guitar scales. Just a guess - I haven't actually taken the 3 minute to do the measurements.. :-)
John
somatic
Junior
Username: somatic

Post Number: 19
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 2:57 am:   Edit Post

Because it's 3/4 of the 41" scale a lot of uprights use?
dfung60
Junior
Username: dfung60

Post Number: 45
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 12:06 am:   Edit Post

811952's guess is correct, I believe. A medium scale bass is setup like a 34" scale with the nut moved to where the first fret would be; a short scale bass is set up where the nut is moved to where the second fret in 34" would be. By doing it this way, you can use the same fretline template (well, you do have to add one or two more frets at the high end).

These shorter scale length conventions predate Alembic - as cited above, Gibson was using 30.75" back in the 60's if not the 50's. Alembic in fact has always allowed you to select any scale length that you like - they're not afraid of calculating and cutting fret positions to your liking.

somatic
Junior
Username: somatic

Post Number: 20
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 12:30 am:   Edit Post

A medium scale bass is setup like a 34" scale with the nut moved to where the first fret would be; a short scale bass is set up where the nut is moved to where the second fret in 34" would be. By doing it this way, you can use the same fretline template (well, you do have to add one or two more frets at the high end).

That doesn't calc out <i>quite</i> the same on the calculator I have, and enough of a difference to make me reluctant to use that method myself without someone experienced at fretting and intonating accurately this way saying it works fine. The errors get worse the higher the fret. It does seem logical though.
Visit Fret Slot Spacing Calculator and plug in the numbers (BTW, 30.75 = 781.05mm). I only compared 34 and 30.75

Maybe someone from Alembic could comment on this.

(Message edited by somatic on October 01, 2004)
poor_nigel
Advanced Member
Username: poor_nigel

Post Number: 244
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 12:56 am:   Edit Post

Actually, I held up a 30.75" scale to a 34" scale, as noted and the higher frets do not match. They are a bit off. It is close though. At least we know where the 34" scale came from. Thanks Leo!
811952
Advanced Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 261
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 6:20 am:   Edit Post

...And I thought I was on a roll! C'est la vie...
John
son_of_magni
Intermediate Member
Username: son_of_magni

Post Number: 114
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 10:46 am:   Edit Post

I actually tried to check John's theory but then I looked at my basses and "doh, no frets"!
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 1967
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 11:04 am:   Edit Post

Our standard scale lengths are based on established standard scale lengths. Since basses and guitars were made for many years before we started, it makes sense to build them in sizes that players are familiar with. Of course, if you need something different, we do offer custom scale lengths as David mentioned.

The placement of the frets is calculated as the twelfth root of 2. Each scale length will have the frets in a different position. All the frets are closer together on shorter scale lengths and spread out on extended scales.
dnburgess
Advanced Member
Username: dnburgess

Post Number: 323
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 10:03 pm:   Edit Post

Using the "same fretting template theory" with 34 inches as the reference point, would imply a scale length of 32.09 inches by cutting off the first fret, which is pretty close to 32" medium scale. So far so good.

But taking off another fret gives 30.29 inches - a long way off standard short scale.

Going the other way and adding a fret to a 34" bass gives a scale length of 36.02 inches. Close enough to extra long scale.

David B.
bigredbass
Advanced Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 303
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Saturday, October 02, 2004 - 10:40 pm:   Edit Post

On Yamaha's BB basses from the 70s-80s, they quoted a 33 7/8" (!?!) scale. I've often wondered if this was their invention or some conversion from centimeters.

Any ideas?

J o e y
joram
Junior
Username: joram

Post Number: 17
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 3:41 pm:   Edit Post

33 7/8" is approx. 86 cm (1" is 2.54 cm. 33 7/8*2.54=86,0425. I'm pretty sure it's a conversion. Vigier uses the same, and quotes it as 33.8".

Joram
kungfusheriff
Intermediate Member
Username: kungfusheriff

Post Number: 164
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 5:09 pm:   Edit Post

Correctamundo, likely based on the Rickenbacker scale, but that's a question for another forum
bassicinstincts
Junior
Username: bassicinstincts

Post Number: 11
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 11:56 am:   Edit Post

Anyone here played one of those Ashbory basses?

Dinky little things with (wait for it!) an 18-inch scale. Sounds weird to me - double bass sounds, but shorter resonance times, much more like an electric bass. Balance is also something with these tiny guitars - some people have to play them balancing over their right shoulders.

Ben R
811952
Advanced Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 269
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 5:47 pm:   Edit Post

I fiddled with one in a music store a few years ago. Neato tone but I couldn't play the d*** thing in tune to save my life. Might be fun to have laying around the house or office though..
John

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration