This is purely out of interest.

First 2 that come to mind have to be Stanley Clarke and Paul McCartney.

Who else?

The godfather Jack Bruce and his friend Felix Pappalardi.

Jack Casady also used a short-scale for a while.

Andy Fraser from Free!

Just about everyone in the 60s who didn't play a Fender.

lincoln goines and players using his fodera signature, matt garrison and players using his fodera signature like tony grey and janek gwizdala.

Almost forgot....the great Steve Swallow.

Just about everyone in the 60s who didn't play a Fender.

Wally Allen from the Pretty Things played a Fender Mustang bass.... haha

Jack Casady also used a short-scale for a while.

I thought about suggesting him, except he's stated in interviews that the main complaint he has about the Guild he played back in the early 70s was that it WAS a short scale. He was playing the bass *in spite* of the scale.

Still - he played it, so he counts.

My contribution - Allen Woody (he was all about the Gibsons and that means more than a few short scales when it wasn't a Thunderbird) and Mike Watt.

My contribution - Allen Woody (he was all about the Gibsons and that means more than a few short scales when it wasn't a Thunderbird) and Mike Watt.

I'm pretty sure the Epiphone Allen Woody signature bass was a short scale too!

I'm pretty sure the Epiphone Allen Woody signature bass was a short scale too!

Yep - sure is. I'm kind of including that with the Gibsons.

Bill Wyman
Colin Moulding (XTC)

Almost forgot....the great Steve Swallow.

I think his Citron has a 36" scale... you mean in the 60s?

I think his Citron has a 36" scale... you mean in the 60s?

I've seen pics of him with an EB-2 from back when he first switched from upright to electric.

The undeservedly overlooked, highly versatile and wonderful NRBQ, for over 30 years, Joey Spampinato's formula - Danelectro Longhorns, Silvertone/Dano shorthorns and now Jerry Jones basses, all short scale, strung with flats. A gifted composer, and uniquely great bass player.

Chas Chandler and Gene Simmons

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The undeservedly overlooked, highly versatile and wonderful NRBQ, for over 30 years, Joey Spampinato's formula - Danelectro Longhorns, Silvertone/Dano shorthorns and now Jerry Jones basses, all short scale, strung with flats. A gifted composer, and uniquely great bass player.

I opened for those guys a number of times back in the late 70's early 80's. Really a fun band.

Other short scles guys - the two guitarists from The Greyboy Allstar's share bass duties and use a Mustang bass - and those guys lay down a serious groove.

Les Claypool's main bass and 1st Carl Thompson is a short scale (32")

Oh, and I play short scale... does that count? :ninja:

mike watt

jack bruce

What bass did Colin Moulding play? I thought he played a fretless. Dont see many fretless short scale.

What bass did Colin Moulding play? I thought he played a fretless. Dont see many fretless short scale.

I've hardly seen him (in videos or live & studio photos) with the same bass twice. Often rather cheap things, Voxes, Epi's, even a Fender Musicmaster (one live shot & the "Nigel" video). Altho' he seems to prefer shorties, I've also seen him with a full scale Ric at least once.

Of course, it's possible he's played a fretless at some point in his career. Some stuff was likely recorded with a fretless.

*corrections & such* A little more Innernetz investigation reveals that the above applies to the early part of XTC, the part I'm more familiar with. Seems he switched primarily to playing a Wal, a reg'lar ol' P & fretlesseseses of unknown make in about the mid-eighties. Sorry.

Gary Tallent from the E Street band is currently playing a black short scale Spector.:)

Gary Tallent from the E Street band is currently playing a black short scale Spector.:)

He also was another Dano guy back in the Born To Run days.

Tina Weymouth from Talking Heads also played various short scale basses.

Mark King (his main Status signature is a 32"); Stu Hamm (also used mostly 32" scale signature basses).

My kind of thread, I am obsessed with short-scale players, particulary those who play with flats (Spampinato, McCartney, Wyman)`
Those so far not mentioned.....

Fred Smith of Television (Ampeg SSB)
Geezer Butler, Dan Armstrong Plexiglass on all of Sabbath 4
Holger Czukay of Can (Fender Mustang)
Brian Ritchie of Violent Femmes (Ernie Ball Earthwood)
Mani of Primal Scream (Rickenbacker Eldorado)
Gary Valentine of Blondie (Rickenbacker Eldorado)
Justin Meldal Johnson (Fender Coronado, Guild Starfire)
Glen Cornick of Jethro Tull (Gibson EBO and EB3)
Jared Followill of Kings of leon (Gibson EBO on all of Aha Sake Heartbreak)
Doug Yule of Velvet Underground (Gibson EB3)
Trevor Boulder of The Spiders from Mars (Fender Mustang)
Alan Lancaster of Status Quo (Fender Mustang)
George Porter of The Meters (Gibson EB2 on the first Album)
Richard Hell of the Voidoids and Television(Fender Mustang and Danelectro Shorthorn)
Phil Lesh of Grateful Dead (Guild Starfire)
Clive Griffiths of Patto (Fender Mustang with Jazz Pickups)
Tomethy Hurse of the Horrors (Danectro Longhorn and Fender Mustang)
Paul Duffy of the Coral (Fender Musicmaster and I think a Gibson EB1)

I've probably got all the Gibson models mixed up. My lunchbreaks over, I'll put some more up tomorrow.

Gary Tallent from the E Street band is currently playing a black short scale Spector.Garry also played an Ampeg AMB1 short scale (the wood reissue of the Dan Armstrong lucite bass).

The undeservedly overlooked, highly versatile and wonderful NRBQ, for over 30 years, Joey Spampinato's formula - Danelectro Longhorns, Silvertone/Dano shorthorns and now Jerry Jones basses, all short scale, strung with flats. A gifted composer, and uniquely great bass player.

One of my top 5 fave players and tones! He's such a great player and has such a cool vibe and sound. I got my first Dano 15 years ago, a 60's one, because of him. Now I use a Jerry Jones with flats and it sees as much playing time as any of my Fender-style basses.

Also, Bruce Thomas used a JJ 'horn for a while with Elvis Costello, as well as the great Jerry Scheff (used on many different albums as I understand it).

Another one----check out the guy from Brazilian Girls, Jesse Murphy, with his Mustang. Awesome and unusual player.

Joe Lally from Fugazi has been touring on his solo records with a Hofner bass. He recorded with both the Hofner and a short scale Gibson bass too.

justin meldal-johnsen uses a Starfire quite often.


Also, the bass on the Clash song London Calling is supposedly an EB-2.

I was just listening to "Bare Wires" a long forgotten, incredible, pioneering John Mayall album from 1968. This is one of the very first 'fusion' albums of any kind. Mayall hired some of the young English jazz players on the scene for the record. Those players went on to form Coliseum. Tony Reeves was the bassist on the album. He used, more than likely, a Gibson EB-3, which I have seen photos of him playing during that period. The tone is not muddy- but big, clear and fat, and his playing is just right. Check out his very imaginative, driving shuffle line on "Start Walkin" . Mick Taylor's guitar tone and solo on that track is just about as good as it gets, too. I love Reeves' playing on it, even a slight hesitation mistake he makes doesn't deter from the track. A great bassist, a long time ago.

I was just listening to "Bare Wires" a long forgotten, incredible, pioneering John Mayall album from 1968. This is one of the very first 'fusion' albums of any kind. Mayall hired some of the young English jazz players on the scene for the record. Those players went on to form Coliseum. Tony Reeves was the bassist on the album. He used, more than likely, a Gibson EB-3, which I have seen photos of him playing during that period. The tone is not muddy- but big, clear and fat, and his playing is just right. Check out his very imaginative, driving shuffle line on "Start Walkin" . Mick Taylor's guitar tone and solo on that track is just about as good as it gets, too. I love Reeves' playing on it, even a slight hesitation mistake he makes doesn't deter from the track. A great bassist, a long time ago.

I'm checking that album out now - thanks for the "suggestion." :D

Garry also played an Ampeg AMB1 short scale (the wood reissue of the Dan Armstrong lucite bass).

Gary also has played an old fretless Guild Starfire, which has a Bartolini humbucker in it I believe.


I play a fretless short scale too (Guild Starfire). :ninja:

Dominique Dipiazza

Tina Weymouth used to rock a Fender Mustang back in the day.

God, there are some classy bass players being mentioned in this thread. I'll add another: Chris Murphy of Sloan.

Fred Smith of Television (Ampeg SSB)

Any idea whether Fred actually used that Ampeg on any of their albums? He's pictured playing a Fender Precision on the inside sleeve of Marquee Moon

Joie Calio of Dada plays a single-cut Jerry Jones 4-string (30" scale).

He is a sharp songwriter, a stunning bass player, and -- in the manner of Moulding, McCartney, etc. -- a ridiculous lead singer whilst playing all those fantastic lines.

Joie Calio of Dada plays a single-cut Jerry Jones 4-string (30" scale).

He is a sharp songwriter, a stunning bass player, and -- in the manner of Moulding, McCartney, etc. -- a ridiculous lead singer whilst playing all those fantastic lines.
"I just flipped off President George... I'm going to Dizz Knee Land!"

Dada is good:) Ironically, they wrote that at the time of George I...

Any idea whether Fred actually used that Ampeg on any of their albums? He's pictured playing a Fender Precision on the inside sleeve of Marquee Moon

I've read in a number of places that he used the Ampeg for that whole album. It certainly doesn't sound Precision-like to my ears but who knows for sure.

I'm getting senile, I forgot the late, great Ronnie Lane!

I'll second Jesse murphy of Brazilian Girls. What an amazing player/ tone. He used his mustang with John Scofield at times as well.

What bass did Colin Moulding play? I thought he played a fretless. Dont see many fretless short scale.

I play a fretless short-scale:)

A Fender Mustang player while in Trapeze. Cool bass tone for a 3 pc band, too. He went on to play & sing for Deep Purple ( a sort of backwards move IMO :ninja: ) and I'm not sure if he stayed with the Mustang there or not.
I picked up a new Fender Squire Bronco bass for my daughter's 4th b-day and I play it more than she does, so far. So count us in too.

Geezer Butler, Dan Armstrong Plexiglass on all of Sabbath 4
.

Where did you find this out? I've often wondered what he used on the earky Sabbath stuff, other than the Precision.

Simon Gallup (The Cure). Used a Gibson of some sort.

Did anyone mention Stu Hamm yet?

Where did you find this out? I've often wondered what he used on the earky Sabbath stuff, other than the Precision.

Theres a picture of him playing one on the inside sleeve of Vol 4

Theres a picture of him playing one on the inside sleeve of Vol 4

I know that. Doesn't mean it's on the record though. the booklet to SBS shows him playing a John Birch 8 string, fingerstyle!

God, there are some classy bass players being mentioned in this thread. I'll add another: Chris Murphy of Sloan.

and bringing back the Canadian connection, Nick Sewell from the Illuminati played a shortscale Gibson... not sure of the model...

Sad that they're not a band anymore... sadder that they were something of a local phenomenon. They were amazing.

The guy playing bass in Heather Nova's live band uses Gibson shorties, too - Anyone know his name?

Any idea whether Fred actually used that Ampeg on any of their albums? He's pictured playing a Fender Precision on the inside sleeve of Marquee Moon

Fred played the SSB on Marquee Moon and the reunion album.
Seen some pics of him recently playing a hollow-body shortie, possibly a Harmony.

:cool:
Chris Wood

Were all Guild Starfires short-scale? If so, then I believe Mr. Phil Lesh would be included in this list. Unless when Alembic modified it, the scale was lengthened... I don't know the details.

Oh yea, and the guy who played bass in Tomahawk. I saw a vew videos of them performing and he was playing a Danny Longhorn :)

does anyone rock one 'o' these shorties?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ashbory-DeArmond.jpg

Just watched the 'Electric Ladyland' Classic Albums doc, and Noel Redding was playing an EB3 in the promo for 'Burning Of The Midnight Lamp' - don't know if he used it regularly otherwise, though.

Jonas Hellborg's signature Warwick is a 32" scale.

Just read an old interview with John Paul Jones in bassplayer and he says he used a Gibson EB1 on Zep III, anyone have any ideas which track(s)? He also said it was previously used in Little Richards and James Browns bands. I've seen old clips of Little Richard with that bass being used, who was Little Richards bassist for all those old Speciality records?