shorter scale basses
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Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: shorter scale basses
My opinion, FWIW, there are no good basses at any price shorter than 34". You need that longer scale length to keep the strings from sounding like mud, and for a 5 or 6-string, even 34" isn't enough to make that low B sound right, which is why I want to try out some of Carvin's new 35-1/4" basses.
My opinion, FWIW, there are no good basses at any price shorter than 34". You need that longer scale length to keep the strings from sounding like mud, and for a 5 or 6-string, even 34" isn't enough to make that low B sound right, which is why I want to try out some of Carvin's new 35-1/4" basses.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: shorter scale basses
I used to like my old Supro Pocket Bass. I see 'em on Ebay from time to time.
Here's one: http://cgi.ebay.com/AIRLINE-SUPRO-R...oryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Mine was black though...
Lew
I used to like my old Supro Pocket Bass. I see 'em on Ebay from time to time.
Here's one: http://cgi.ebay.com/AIRLINE-SUPRO-R...oryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Mine was black though...
Lew
larry_emder
New member
Re: shorter scale basses
Hey, i've been using my old mans Emperador short scale for a few years now and it sounds good. Made in Japan i think, has an SG kind of body shape with a bolt on neck. He got it for really cheap.
Sure you will find something good!
Hey, i've been using my old mans Emperador short scale for a few years now and it sounds good. Made in Japan i think, has an SG kind of body shape with a bolt on neck. He got it for really cheap.
Sure you will find something good!
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: shorter scale basses
A short scale bass isn't the same as a full scale bass at 34" no matter what it is. It's just the way it works.
However theFender Mustang is always a good bet.
A short scale bass isn't the same as a full scale bass at 34" no matter what it is. It's just the way it works.
However theFender Mustang is always a good bet.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: shorter scale basses
Good call...I used to have one of those too, and it was quite a good sounding bass for what it was. Mine was mustard color with a racing stripe painted on it....Fender used to call it the Competition Mustang. :smack: :laugh2:
The Golden Boy said:A short scale bass isn't the same as a full scale bass at 34" no matter what it is. It's just the way it works.
However theFender Mustang is always a good bet.
Good call...I used to have one of those too, and it was quite a good sounding bass for what it was. Mine was mustard color with a racing stripe painted on it....Fender used to call it the Competition Mustang. :smack: :laugh2:
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: shorter scale basses
I very briefly had a 69 LPB Competition Mustang bass. It was so effortless to play, but it really lacked the "boom." Y'know?Lewguitar said:
St_Genesius
New member
Re: shorter scale basses
I played in a band with a guy who had a late 60s Mustang he had gotten from his father. It sounded HUGE in his hands. big and farty; being a bass player for many more years than I've been a guitar player, I was very curious about this medium scale (32" as I recall) oddity. He was playing through an Eden head and 2X10 cabinet, iirc, and it was possibly the best bass sound of any of the bass players I've ever worked with...who weren't me.
I played in a band with a guy who had a late 60s Mustang he had gotten from his father. It sounded HUGE in his hands. big and farty; being a bass player for many more years than I've been a guitar player, I was very curious about this medium scale (32" as I recall) oddity. He was playing through an Eden head and 2X10 cabinet, iirc, and it was possibly the best bass sound of any of the bass players I've ever worked with...who weren't me.
Re: shorter scale basses
I am a BIG fan of short scale basses. I have owned a lot of different ones over the years. It is true that they do not sound as good as a longer scale bass on average.
However, I have played on many long scale basses that just did not sound very good either. I have two SX basses , short scale, which I purchased from
http://www.rondomusic.net/ With the short scale P-bass I replaced the pup with a Basslines Ouarter Pounder. It plays + sounds great. The short scale Jazz bass I left stock because it sounds great all by itself. They both sell for
$ 109.99 each. If you want something vintage and American made, try e-bay.
I also own two 1973 Fender Musicmaster basses. You should be able to find them for under $500.00. They are less expensive then their sibling Mustang Bass. You also may be able to find a Gibson EBO bass under $600.00. Rogue makes a respectable Beatle bass copy thats a lot of fun to play. They costs about $ 200.00 and you can find them at musiciansfriend.com ......hope this helps, good luck
I am a BIG fan of short scale basses. I have owned a lot of different ones over the years. It is true that they do not sound as good as a longer scale bass on average.
However, I have played on many long scale basses that just did not sound very good either. I have two SX basses , short scale, which I purchased from
http://www.rondomusic.net/ With the short scale P-bass I replaced the pup with a Basslines Ouarter Pounder. It plays + sounds great. The short scale Jazz bass I left stock because it sounds great all by itself. They both sell for
$ 109.99 each. If you want something vintage and American made, try e-bay.
I also own two 1973 Fender Musicmaster basses. You should be able to find them for under $500.00. They are less expensive then their sibling Mustang Bass. You also may be able to find a Gibson EBO bass under $600.00. Rogue makes a respectable Beatle bass copy thats a lot of fun to play. They costs about $ 200.00 and you can find them at musiciansfriend.com ......hope this helps, good luck
tone4days
Heel Whacker
Re: shorter scale basses
+1 - i bought my wife a short scale rondo SX bass for her to learn on ... her hands are smaller than an average middle school student and she can play it fine ... needed a setup for intonation, etc when she got it, but other than that, its a fine little intstrument especially for such little scratch
+1 - i bought my wife a short scale rondo SX bass for her to learn on ... her hands are smaller than an average middle school student and she can play it fine ... needed a setup for intonation, etc when she got it, but other than that, its a fine little intstrument especially for such little scratch
danglybanger
ReelItInologist
Re: shorter scale basses
I had an Epiphone EB0. Definitely not a "normal" bass sound... just think cream. I have no clue how the Mustang Bass plays, but I think they look cool as ****
especially orange with the red stripe
slade
I had an Epiphone EB0. Definitely not a "normal" bass sound... just think cream. I have no clue how the Mustang Bass plays, but I think they look cool as ****
especially orange with the red stripeslade
XSSIVE
OCDologist
Re: shorter scale basses
very good call IMO. i love mustang basses! i used to play bass before switched to guitar and always lusted after a mustang bass but i used mostly P and J basses and quit playing bass before i ever got the stang.
-Mike
The Golden Boy said:A short scale bass isn't the same as a full scale bass at 34" no matter what it is. It's just the way it works.
However theFender Mustang is always a good bet.
very good call IMO. i love mustang basses! i used to play bass before switched to guitar and always lusted after a mustang bass but i used mostly P and J basses and quit playing bass before i ever got the stang.
-Mike
Jeroen
New member
Re: shorter scale basses
If you like the Mustang, do check out on secondhand Musicmaster basses. Those aren't produced anymore for quite some time now but show up once in a while at reasonable prices.
Try a Kubicki X-factor. 32", and when you release the clamp on the E-string you detune it to drop D with two additional frets on the E-string behind the nut (!), effectively stretching the scale of the E to 36" if I'm correct. Those basses ROCK. I really badly want one.
If you like the Mustang, do check out on secondhand Musicmaster basses. Those aren't produced anymore for quite some time now but show up once in a while at reasonable prices.
Zhangliqun said:
Try a Kubicki X-factor. 32", and when you release the clamp on the E-string you detune it to drop D with two additional frets on the E-string behind the nut (!), effectively stretching the scale of the E to 36" if I'm correct. Those basses ROCK. I really badly want one.
cvansickle
New member
Re: shorter scale basses
I mess around with an Epiphone EB-0. I replaced the stock pickup with a Dimarzio, and it's punchier, less muddy than the original. Still has that Jack Bruce and Andy Fraser tone, but doesn't fart out at high volumes.
Since I'm a guitar player primarily, the short scale bass is easier for me to handle. I wish I had bought one of those Danelectro Longhorn basses when they reissued them in the late 90s, but I missed my chance.
I mess around with an Epiphone EB-0. I replaced the stock pickup with a Dimarzio, and it's punchier, less muddy than the original. Still has that Jack Bruce and Andy Fraser tone, but doesn't fart out at high volumes.
Since I'm a guitar player primarily, the short scale bass is easier for me to handle. I wish I had bought one of those Danelectro Longhorn basses when they reissued them in the late 90s, but I missed my chance.
bloodswords
New member
Re: shorter scale basses
as i am too used to a guitar scale length, the above 32" Ibanez GAXB bass was a perfect compliment to my needs. there isn't a mud-out experience whatsoever.
as i am too used to a guitar scale length, the above 32" Ibanez GAXB bass was a perfect compliment to my needs. there isn't a mud-out experience whatsoever.
Bass_Medic_05
Purveyor of Low End
Re: shorter scale basses
I'll agree with Golden Boy, and short scale basses have faster action but are limited on their sound (Fender Mustang, Musicmaster, Epiphone SG EBO and maybe a Gibson EBO used if your lucky on eBay) It really depends on what sound you want. Good luck either way, and remember there are no bad basses just bad bass players!
I'll agree with Golden Boy, and short scale basses have faster action but are limited on their sound (Fender Mustang, Musicmaster, Epiphone SG EBO and maybe a Gibson EBO used if your lucky on eBay) It really depends on what sound you want. Good luck either way, and remember there are no bad basses just bad bass players!
Johnny Sapient
New member
Re: shorter scale basses
I could never get the definition I wanted out of short-scale. Having said that, I once knew a guy who liked total mud. Whatever suits you.
Another thought: Too many short-scale basses feature horrible nose dive problems. Gibson/Epiphone EB's and Thunderbirds are THE nose dive instruments, so if this is an issue, stay away. Nose-dive has always been a peeve of mine.... give me a good, balanced Fender any day of the week.
I could never get the definition I wanted out of short-scale. Having said that, I once knew a guy who liked total mud. Whatever suits you.
Another thought: Too many short-scale basses feature horrible nose dive problems. Gibson/Epiphone EB's and Thunderbirds are THE nose dive instruments, so if this is an issue, stay away. Nose-dive has always been a peeve of mine.... give me a good, balanced Fender any day of the week.
Re: shorter scale basses
It is a generalization to say that no short scale bass is as good as a 34" bass - it just isn't true. A top example of a Fender Mustang Bass is easily better sounding than your average American P bass. Even a good old Musicmaster with a pup upgrade is better than some newer MIM Fender P or J. And Hofner basses are 30 inch scale length and on a good rig have middle register punch like nothing else (listen to the BeeGee's "You Should Be Dancin" for example). I think it's EASIER to build a 34 inch scale length that sounds good, but there a plenty of short scale guitars that are just as fat with great tone. You have to look a little harder for them though.
It is a generalization to say that no short scale bass is as good as a 34" bass - it just isn't true. A top example of a Fender Mustang Bass is easily better sounding than your average American P bass. Even a good old Musicmaster with a pup upgrade is better than some newer MIM Fender P or J. And Hofner basses are 30 inch scale length and on a good rig have middle register punch like nothing else (listen to the BeeGee's "You Should Be Dancin" for example). I think it's EASIER to build a 34 inch scale length that sounds good, but there a plenty of short scale guitars that are just as fat with great tone. You have to look a little harder for them though.
