Ever tried a 3/4 size bass?

[constant mesh]

I've been looking for a bass now and then, just browsing around and see if something interesting might come up. I spotted two 3/4 P-bass copies for about $100 both. I'd like a bass to lay down some basic stuff when you're riffing around and recording ideas. Nothing fancy, just to make a simple arrangement.

The reason why I'm interested into these is whenever I play a bass my left hand gets exhausted really quickly. I have long fingers but a bit stubborn and short pinky and the scale lenght on a bass is just killing me.
I was wondering how do these perform? I know the strings feel floppier, fortunately the two that I am looking at are 4-string, but I guess it would be easy and soft to play. Where's this compromise leaning towars - bad sound and floppiness or more on the ease of play side?

Any experience? I could easily just pass it and look for another full-scale bass as I have done until now, but my friend who is a bit short and has small hands is in need of a practice bass too and as we split the price it's literally a bargain for each piece as long as it is not a fiberboard or laminated body. The logo on the headstock is written in Fender-esque fonts, but starts with E______. The pics provided are low-resolution and the seller is only responding to phone calls. Anyone knows what it is?

Thanks.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Ever tried a 3/4 size bass?

What is your budget? If it's healthy, I'd get an old '70's Musicmaster for $400 to $600. They're totally worth the money just in terms of musical value, and they will only go up in monetary value, should you care to consider resale. If your budget is poor, get a used Squier Bronco or Squier Jaguar SS.

I play a '76 Musicmaster for most of my gigs, but I actually bought a Bronco and a Jaguar SS recently just because they were so good for so little money. I also have two other short scale basses. I love short necks, obviously. But I always use 110 gauge strings at the very least on short-necked basses. Two of them have Steve Harris Rotosound 110's on them, one has LaBella 111's, and the other is tuned to D standard using the bottom four strings from a light-gauge 5-string set (120 gauge Dunlop roundwounds).

I was gonna convert that Bronco into a Bass VI, but I am thinking about selling it now just because of space crisis. They are really good for what they cost, though. I don't feel a pressing need to change anything on it, except maybe the tuners (one day). I'd definitely recommend one, even if buying new.

 

[Vengeance]

Re: Ever tried a 3/4 size bass?

My girlfriend has a 3/4 Warlock. I goof off on it now and then and it's cool. More like playing a larger 4 string guitar. It is a lot easier to move around the fret board. I wouldn't even know where to begin to compare tone or anything. It's just a neat guitar she really enjoys playing more because of the scale.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Ever tried a 3/4 size bass?

I had one of the Ibanez Mikro basses
About the size of an electric in fact it fits in an electric case
Sounded ok but if you raised the strings so as not to rattle
You couldn't intonate it and the action made it unplayable
Love the concept tho and I got it for the same reasons you describe

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Ever tried a 3/4 size bass?

I can really only get into long scale basses. I even prefer longer scale guitars. ~24.75" is the absolute shortest scale I'll play.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Ever tried a 3/4 size bass?

What is your budget? If it's healthy, I'd get an old '70's Musicmaster for $400 to $600. They're totally worth the money just in terms of musical value, and they will only go up in monetary value, should you care to consider resale. If your budget is poor, get a used Squier Bronco or Squier Jaguar SS.

I've also heard that a Musicmaster (Bronco would also work) sounds great with an EMG-SA if you think you'd prefer an active bass.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Ever tried a 3/4 size bass?

I started out bass on a short scale POS cruise brand bass, it was awesome, I had a blast with it.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Ever tried a 3/4 size bass?

My Corsair mini here is smaller than 3/4 size (I think); it's only 26.1"...

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Ever tried a 3/4 size bass?

I've also heard that a Musicmaster (Bronco would also work) sounds great with an EMG-SA.

+1

The EMG-FT Telecaster neck position pickup on my Chapman Stick gives off some profound low end to A below bottom B and beyond.

Any hum cancelling replacement pickup for Stratocaster should work just fine. One with rails or a bar polepiece would avoid any string alignment issues. (The old Fender student models employed a regular six pole guitar pickup.)

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Ever tried a 3/4 size bass?

Used to own a Supro "Pocket Bass" as a kid and a Fender Mustang Bass too.

Here's what I bought a few years and still love - an Ibanez Mikro Bass! Very lively tone and it plays great. I got mine from Robb's Music in Boulder and got it for about $125.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/ibanez-gsrm20-mikro-short-scale-bass-guitar

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Ever tried a 3/4 size bass?

As a guitar player that has occasionally doubled on bass, I have had regular and short scale basses. The short scales work just fine, and as an infrequent player, make life easier. If I ever get another bass, it will be a short scale.

Lew, just checked out your link, that could well be the ticket!