What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

Squier has a VM Mustang that is much better than the Bronco, thicker body, better parts. I have one and it stays in tune and as far as fit and finish I have no issues with it, your only problem might be the pup that comes with it but that can be solved, of course.

[BlueTalon]

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

If I were to get a short scale bass, it would either be a Warmoth build to get a quality instrument, or a spur-of-the-moment purchase of something cheap in a pawn shop. No in-between for me. If I start contemplating spending a couple hundred bucks on a short scale bass, I'm pretty sure the money would go to something else I'd been contemplating.

Speaking only for myself.

[Diminished Triad]

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

Slap oriented bassists often use a Jazz Bass but the funkiest electric bassist of them all used a Precision Bass with old flatwound strings, muted them and picked with one finger. James Jamerson.

My favorite continues to be Verdine White of Earth Wind and Fire. Was able to meet him backstage a while ago and learned he has tons of bass guitars and every few years rotates - so no real preference for Ibanez as I had earlier thought.......has used Fenders lots and Yamahas a little too. Verdine has not lost a step and jams like it's his last concert.

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

Slap oriented bassists often use a Jazz Bass but the funkiest electric bassist of them all used a Precision Bass with old flatwound strings, muted them and picked with one finger. James Jamerson.

[Diminished Triad]

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

Also consider fret radius and neck shape... those are as valid as scale when considering what bass to wear. (Yeah, we're like fashionistas shopping for shoes.)

Are you slapping some funk, or grinding some overdrive rock?

Is there a most preferred R&B/Funk bass?

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

If you can find one, the MIJ short scale Fender P bass goes for a few hundred bucks. It is excellent.

[ginormous]

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

Also consider fret radius and neck shape... those are as valid as scale when considering what bass to wear. (Yeah, we're like fashionistas shopping for shoes.)

Are you slapping some funk, or grinding some overdrive rock?

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

squier makes a shortscale jag

The Bronco is a much better bass for less money. I promise you.

[jtougas]

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

I use a Gretsch G2210 Jet Bass to compose bass lines with. It's around $200. Solid chunk of wood, actually heavier than you would expect. It sounds good, does P-Bass/Jazz kind of tones, plays in tune, intonation good. It's only drawback is it has some flappy, distorted snap to it if you pluck the strings too hard. I usually have to keep the tone dialed down to a really warm setting like 3-5 and watch my technique.

Have you tried flatwounds with it?

[PunkKitty]

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

I have a Gretsch Electromatic short scale that I love. You can pick them up used for less than $100

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

What is the urgency for short scale?

[astrozombie]

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

squier makes a shortscale jag

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

Squire Bronco. Very usable tones.

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

Glenn. Is this hypothetical short scale bass for you or for somebody else? Whatever happened to your Maya Ripper/Grabber style bass guitar? Is the price the single most important factor?

Cort.

[ehdwuld]

Re: What Short Scale Basses Can You Recommend?

I use a Gretsch G2210 Jet Bass to compose bass lines with. It's around $200. Solid chunk of wood, actually heavier than you would expect. It sounds good, does P-Bass/Jazz kind of tones, plays in tune, intonation good. It's only drawback is it has some flappy, distorted snap to it if you pluck the strings too hard. I usually have to keep the tone dialed down to a really warm setting like 3-5 and watch my technique.

I tried a Squire Bronco Bass, Epiphone EB-0, Ibanez Mikro when I was shopping. Squire wouldn't play in tune and sounded weak/weird. Epiphone was very comfortable, played like a small guitar, but the sound was absolutely vintage dead. One-trick pony. The Ibanez I tried had electrical problems and what worked didn't sound great. The tone controls weren't musical. Like listening to your bass from another room.

I had one of the Mikro basses
never could get it intonate