LeftyBassist.com

I am mulling over specs for a new 5 string bass and I am having trouble deciding between a long scale 34" and medium scale 32". In terms of the design I think the 32" would be more comfortable but I am kind of worried about the sound/tension feel of the low B string. I already have a 32" scale 4 string and everything feels fine: none of the strings flop out and the sound output is consistent on all 4 strings all the way up to the 24th fret. But with a low B I am afraid of it getting 'noodly' because of the shorter scale. So I am just wondering if there is anyone out there with experience with a medium scale low B instrument who can provide some feedback. Thanks!

I suggest you contact Rod (Rodent) here about this. I have first hand experience with a medium scale bass of his with a low B that was tight and crisp and big sounding as any I've felt. He knows how to get you there, I'm sure he'd have some advice for you.

I spoke with Rod about this same subject a few months back, and his feeling is 33" scale is as low as he'd like to go. After doing extensive Google searches for 32" scale basses, there is really only one company down in Texas that makes them. Not a lot of builders out there at all using the 32" scale length.

+1000 to this. I have first hand experience playing Rod's basses. I don't play fivers, but if I did, I would buy one from him no questions asked. The B String on his basses was really tight. I was especially impressed with his split coil P-bass like designs. Played a fiver P-Bass (I think with active pickups, dont recall). The B String sounded tight, even on a split coil, which to me is NOT an easy thing to do, and the bass was medium scale. Also, got to play his Regenerator, and the tone pot on that turned the right way, and had an incredible amount of range.

I have played an Alembic 32" scale 5'er once and it was pretty decent. In talking to my buddy who owned that bass, the key was to use a hex core string and not too small of a gauge (maybe .130 or higher). That seemed to keep the tension up pretty good. Then again Alembic does a helluva medium/short scale as they have been known to do for decades.

Is the bass down in Texas from Scott at Birdsong ? Though I have not played his Hy5, I have heard excellent things about it. There is a double-string-thru design on that low B which is pretty cool looking. I imagine with the right string it would be great.

Let us know what you end up doing.

Birdsong basses get great reviews, and I've heard the Hy5 is an excellent instrument. I've never played one though:

Scroll down for specs on the Hy5:

http://www.birdsongguitars.com/instruments.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb8_cv2KJko

Joe Zon has built a few extended range 32" scale basses now for several high profile players with great success... this thread over at TalkBass might interest you.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f140/new-zon-tj6h-881122/

I like his enthusiasm for short scale basses, but his 32" 5-string body design doesn't appeal to me, and his video showing him playing the bass in his shop should never have been posted - it doesn't do the bass justice. He should put it in the hands of a competent bass player recorded in in a studio-quality environment. I prefer the look of the Cortobass, Feather Bass, and Wild Things over the Hy5.