Bass Guitar | Correct Scale Length

Understanding the scale length of your bass guitar is important when it comes to choosing a replacement set of strings. There are a few traps you could fall in to, so let's try and avoid that with this very simple guide.

Scale length, usually measured in inches even though we should be metric, is the distance from the bridge saddles to the inside of the nut

Example list of typical bass scale lengths

Short Scale – 30-32” Scale length
Medium Scale – 32-34” Scale Length
Long Scale (standard) – 34-36” Scale Length
Extra Long Scale – 36” plus

It is of course important to be aware of your scale length (short, medium, long etc… ), however to know how long the strings need to be, which will be a slightly longer measurement than basic scale length, it is useful to determine the Speaking Length of the instrument.

To find this out, rather than simply measuring from the bridge to the nut, measure the current set of strings (if your bass has a set on there) from the ball end of the string to where it crosses the nut.

If you have a bass where you cannot see the ball end i.e. a through-body bass, you will have to do this exercise once the string has been removed. If you do need to do this, before removing the string be sure to make a mark on the string with a permanent marker just behind the nut so you know where to measure up to. Knowing this measurement will always stand you in good stead for getting the right length of bass strings.

Well this distance will be the minimum length your strings need to be before any silk wrap or tapering should start. You’re aiming for the string to be long enough to pass through your bridge or body (depending on how you restring your bass) and for the wound portion of the string to then pass over the nut before the silk winding starts or the string starts to taper down.

The silk should not start before or worse, on the nut, as if this happens the string simply won’t sound as it should, and they may not even reach the machinehead posts to be wound properly.