Brooks Quad Bass

[Basvarken]

About the scale length.
I found this online.
A bass player called Kevin Macza sums it up pretty well

Compared with my original 30½" scale B12S, the 34" Chaparral has a tighter, more throaty sound to it. Overall, the longer scale length adds greater definition to the notes and makes harmonics stand out more. The tone in general seems more aggressive and piano-like than the B12S.

Overall, the mahogany body is quite acoustically resonant and adds a woody warmth to the tone when compared to the hard rock maple used in the B12S which sounded very bright. Surprisingly, I found that the B12S had more low lows and high highs while the B12L has more throaty mids, probably due somewhat to the difference in body woods. The B12S sounded more like a harpsichord while the B12L sounds more like a piano if that analogy helps.

[Dave W]

Nothing against the short scale, but there's no doubt that a 34" scale will have more note definition and higher harmonics. You can't escape the physics of scale length.

[morrow]

I find there’s nothing quite like a cheap short scale run through a good amp.
Overall string response seems more even across the neck.

[gearHed289]

Good news! The customer gave me the green light to go bulld the Quad Bass.
Looking forward to building this monster.

 

[ilan]

I find there’s nothing quite like a cheap short scale run through a good amp.
Overall string response seems more even across the neck.

I hope you are right. All I can play for now are my short scales. On Dec 30 I had a scooter accident and fractured my LH wrist badly, had an operation and now a titanium plate and eight screws are holding my distal radius bone together, resulting in limited ability to bend the wrist inwards and stretch the fingers enough to play long scales.

[Pilgrim]

I hope you are right. All I can play for now are my short scales. On Dec 30 I had a scooter accident and fractured my LH wrist badly, had an operation and now a titanium plate and eight screws are holding my distal radius bone together, resulting in limited ability to bend the wrist inwards and stretch the fingers enough to play long scales.

I'm sorry to hear that!  I hope it improves over time.

I can say that I've been happy with my short scale basses.  I think they offer a nice alternative.

[Basvarken]

Ouch! Hopefully it’ll heal well.
Speedy recovery!

[morrow]

I’m sorry to hear of this ilan , and hope your recovery will be complete.
My switch to short scales had nothing to do with any difficulties dealing with a 34 in scale.
I just found short scales more comfy to play.
I was once a diehard Pbass aficionado. 

[Dave W]

Very sorry to hear this Ilan. I hope you can get back to playing whatever scale you want to.

[ilan]

Thanks guys. I'm practicing cautious optimism.

[Basvarken]

The Brooks QB is finally ready!
The build was actually already done two months ago. But I had to wait for the effects to be built into the bass.

But now she's here.














- Mahogany body. Les Paul Junior Double Cut shape
- Flamed Maple top. Sun burst high gloss
- Body back, sides and neck: Mahogany gloss
- Pearloid Binding
- Glued neck, mahogany/maple five piece laminate.
- Two spoke wheel type double action truss rods. Plus one carbon stiffening rod.
- Ebony Fretboard. White side dot inlays
- Sintoms Jumbo frets. Nickel-silver
- 34” Scale
- Buffalo horn nut/ string guide
- Custom made 12 string bridge and tailpiece. Black
- 4 x Gotoh GB 350 bass tuners. Lightweight. Black
- 8 x Gotoh ST-31 Octave string tuners. Lightweight. Black
- D’Addario EXL 170-12 strings
- Gotoh large black strapnuts
- Pickup 1: Lace Alumitone. Black
- Pickup 2: 2x Nordstrand NM4
- 2 x Switchcraft output.
- 2 x Volume. On/off switch with led light for each effect
?- Weight: 4,5 kg

Electronics custom made by BQ Music:
?- Built-in effect 1: SansAmp type overdrive.
- Built-in effect 2: Aguilar TLC Compressor.

[Dave W]

Congratulations! Nice work as usual. 

[Chris P.]

Very cool Rob! And I mean this: I don't know many builders who would challenge this and you did! What a great job.

Coming back on the scale length: I find short scales easier to play. I don't like long scales with a wide neck, but if the shorty has a wide neck, it doesn't bother me that much. Recently I bought one of those vintage style (they have a non vintage style too) Hagstrom 8-strings. It's short scale, it sounds very good, but I still have to adjust to the extra strings. I think it being short scale makes it easier to adjust. It doesn't feel like an easy short scale but like hard work, haha! So 4 inches more would be an even bigger struggle.

[Basvarken]

If a customer asks me to build a short scale, I'll make it short scale.
Not my call.

[morrow]

Looks fascinating as hell ! Nice one , Rob.