Short Scale Bass Player

jakusx · #1 04-08-2008, 08:41 AM

I just started playing with a short scale recently, I've had an Ibanez Mikro for about a month now and love it, even with all the guff I take for playing a shorty out.

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone could name some big songs with short scale bass - aside from Beatles stuff. And some big players.

I know Claypool recorded some stuff with a shortscale, and I've seen the guy from The Postmarks playing a Mustang live.

Who else?

Falkner · #2 04-08-2008, 09:54 AM

Bob Daisley recorded Ozzy's Blizzard Of Ozz album with a Gibson EB3

Orangeclawhamme · #3 04-08-2008, 10:08 AM

Weren't Jack Bruce's Gibson short scale? It seems like most of the British Invasion bands used hollow bodied Gibsons that had short scales. Bill Wyman always used short scale basses.

jakusx · #4 04-08-2008, 10:42 AM

Didn't Peter Hook play a 30-inch Six String?

acleex38 · #5 04-08-2008, 01:39 PM

Cream-era Jack Bruce - Fender IV, Gibson EB-(0 or 3), Danelectro Longhorn
Les Claypool - his main bass is 32" scale. Medium scale, but close enough.
Mike Watt's main basses right now are short scale EB-3s - as for "big songs" - most of Watt's better known pre-Stooges stuff was before the switch to the short scale.

Sorefinger · #6 04-08-2008, 01:47 PM

How about Stanley Clarke?

Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads) played a Mustang IIRC.

cnltb · #7 04-08-2008, 02:44 PM

steve bailey, and victor wooten are both quite short.

**j-raj** · #8 04-08-2008, 02:57 PM

Joey Spampinato from NRBQ used to play short scale basses from time to time.

acleex38 · #9 04-08-2008, 02:59 PM

I totally blanked on Stanley Clarke - that's the one I was trying to remember.

Actually - I first learned about Spampinato from a previous Short Scale play question thread. Good stuff.

rfclef · #10 04-08-2008, 03:10 PM

I am fine with thread continuing (not a thread nazi) but if you do a search, I seem to recall a quite lengthy thread about the same topic.... Big names on short scales...

'Nother short scaler here...

mellowgerman · #11 04-08-2008, 03:14 PM

jack casady (god) - any jefferson airplane stuff from 1968-1970

phil lesh - a lot of the early grateful dead stuff... probably well into the 70s

Eilif · #12 04-08-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorefinger

Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads) played a Mustang IIRC.

You're right. I'm not for sure what she recorded with, but all the pictures I've seen have her playing a Mustang.

I don't know individual tracks, but Justin Meldal Johnson uses some vintage semi-hollow basses (I think they are short scale) on alot of the stuff he does.

honestjohnny · #13 04-08-2008, 03:34 PM

Mark Sandman (2 string slide short)
Peter Hook (Gibson EB-O and a 6 string short)
Aston "Family Man" Barrett (Hofner Beatle-style)
Robbie Shakespeare (Hofner Beatle-style)
Felix Pappalardi (Gibson EB)

The Mikro looks really fun and sophisticated for a mainstream production short scale! What are you playing it through?

bassman mike · #14 04-08-2008, 06:56 PM

Mike Watt from the Minutemen now with the Stooges plays a short scale Gibson.

jakusx · #15 04-08-2008, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honestjohnny

The Mikro looks really fun and sophisticated for a mainstream production short scale! What are you playing it through?

I've got a 30W Crate I noodle with in my room, but in my studio I've got a GK 4X10. In my office I have a Line 6 30W Spider Guitar amp that I keep at super low volumes to just play with to break up the workday.

I played out with the 4X10 and kept the back fairly low and threw the mids way up and kind of dialed off the J-bass pickup to 3/4 and kept that weird EQ boost knob at about 1/4 and it is punchy as hell.

I was worried about high volumes, but even with it kranked all the way, or through a house PA, it sounds nice if you play it right.

jakusx · #16 04-08-2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman mike

Mike Watt from the Minutemen now with the Stooges plays a short scale Gibson.

That's awesome, I just got all my old CDs out of storage and have been listening to Minutemen nonstop lately. I had no idea he played a shortie. Awesome.

norbusser · #17 05-02-2008, 11:47 AM

Garry Tallent, E-Street band. Danelectro longhorn on "Born to Run"

burno70 · #18 05-02-2008, 11:53 AM

Hi jakusx,

forgive me for stealing your thread for a second, I'm just curious about short scale basses and may consider buying one in the future. Is there any kind of tonal difference between a standard and short scale bass, or more specifically, is there any low end loss on the shorty's?

Also, can you name a few currently manufactured short scale basses so I can check em out.

Thanks

Mushroo · #19 05-02-2008, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burno70

Hi jakusx,

forgive me for stealing your thread for a second, I'm just curious about short scale basses and may consider buying one in the future. Is there any kind of tonal difference between a standard and short scale bass, or more specifically, is there any low end loss on the shorty's?

Hi Burno, lots of short scales (like the EB-0's) have a huge humbucking pickup near the neck. This more than compensates for any possible low end loss. My Epiphone EB-0 is thunderous. Unplugged, it is on the bright side, but not through an amp.

acleex38 · #20 05-02-2008, 12:06 PM

THE SHORT SCALE BASS THREAD!

Yes, there is a tonal difference. I don't hear a low end loss (although I do hear a high end loss). It's just a different sound - I love (even prefer) it, but it doesn't suit everyone.

There are several threads regarding short scale bass makers in the Basses forum. Suggestions will vary based upon your price-point.