The Official Short Scale Bass Club -- Part 3

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

I've always wanted to do a Warmoth shortscale. What body do you have that on? Any full sized pics?

I'm in the process of reshaping the body - it is a custom, made from ribbon mahogany. It will look like this when done (please excuse crappy photoshop job on upper horn):



originally:



I've already taken a scroll saw to it, just need to finish shaping it and finish the horn. The body was finished with Tru-Oil and sprayed with a few light coats of Nitro, I'm hoping I can get away with just Tru-Oil .

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by howardcano

My current go-to axe is this Hamer Slammer SB4.

I finally added a nice used SB4F to my collection, looks like this:



I love it's playability and and sound but it can't be easily played sitting down . I have to rest it on my left leg like I would a classical guitar. When I received it, it was set up perfectly - a first for me .

[howardcano]

Originally Posted by Roadkill

I finally added a nice used SB4F to my collection, looks like this:



I love it's playability and and sound but it can't be easily played sitting down . I have to rest it on my left leg like I would a classical guitar. When I received it, it was set up perfectly - a first for me .

Those are gorgeous! I hate the black finish on the one I have, but it was all that was available when we were shopping for one. When Hamer came out with the flame top version, I lusted after it! But money needed to go to other things.

And, as you mentioned, they're not very comfy, sitting or standing.

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by howardcano

And, as you mentioned, they're not very comfy, sitting or standing.

Mine's not too bad standing - I have a leather strap for it so it doesn't neck dive although it does "pull" on my shoulder a bit. But it does remind me of the value of an extended top horn out to the twelfth fret. I also have an EB0 and Dean EVO-XM that don't balance as well as I'd like .

[Kinbass]

Here is one picked up on CL for $10. It's an old Japanese jazz bass copy. Big full size (maybe bigger) body and short scale neck. Sounds awesome. Just needed new tuners and a good cleaning/setup. Natural relic to boot!

[BGF]

Originally Posted by Kinbass

Here is one picked up on CL for $10. It's an old Japanese jazz bass copy. Big full size (maybe bigger) body and short scale neck. Sounds awesome. Just needed new tuners and a good cleaning/setup. Natural relic to boot!

Nice fixer upper SS for $10!

[melikecookies]

Originally Posted by TK4261

That is a nice family pic!!
Great collection you have there, even minus a couple

Thanks man! I'm really lusting something serious after that mustang you have for sale though. It would be the perfect addition to my little scale family, if only I had the funds *sigh*.

[tabdog]

Sold two of my SS basses. I'm down to one now.

It's Petey,





Tabdog

[TK4261]

Originally Posted by melikecookies

Thanks man! I'm really lusting something serious after that mustang you have for sale though. It would be the perfect addition to my little scale family, if only I had the funds *sigh*.

Thank you! It would make a nice addition to your SS family

[pudge]

Fender shorts scale fans.Ifound a gig bag the other day for these basses fender urban short scale bass gigbbag. FENDER part # 099-1521-106 $34.99 free ship. from sweetwater.It was out of stock, got an email saying they have them today.Ordered one and go the order confirmmation call from a sweetwater rep. this morning.Should be here on the 26th I'll post pics and details when it arrives.

[skruch]

Pudge, which SS Fenders does it fit?

[melikecookies]

I have this bag and use it mostly to transport my fender mustangs and it is a very nice fit for those basses, same goes for the squier model. I just tried it with my squier short scale jaguar and it was a good fit as well. My jag stays in my trunk (I know it's terrible, but has come in handy a few times) and I have a stagg guitar gig bag that does the trick, I actually prefer it for that particular bass. The fender one is of better quality, but I got that bag when I got the bass and I'm not much for change if you know what I mean. Overall you can't go wrong purchasing it for any of the fender/squier short scales.

[BGF]

I have that gig bag for my Jag SS and I like it. Good quality bag for $35.

[bassgod76]

Is there a sonic difference between short and regular 34" scale?

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

Is there a sonic difference between short and regular 34" scale?

All basses sound different, each with their own personality but there is no inherent "shortscale" or "longscale" sound.

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by mongo2

All basses sound different, each with their own personality but there is no inherent "shortscale" or "longscale" sound.

Okay thanks.

[fjadams]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

Is there a sonic difference between short and regular 34" scale?

No.

I have a Gretsch 32", a few different 30s, (Gibson, Hofner, Squier, Guild, Hagstrom, and others), and a Kala U-Bass.

The only thing they have in common is that they all thump. Scale length has nothing to do with sound.

[howardcano]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

Is there a sonic difference between short and regular 34" scale?

Yes, there is a difference in the overtone structure. It's not much different between, say, 32" and 34" scales, and may not be noticeable. The difference becomes more noticeable as the scale is reduced. It's quite obvious when playing a VERY short scale instrument (I've had a couple of 25.5" scale basses that sounded much different than a longer scale.) It's one reason that there aren't many 5 string basses having a low B with less than a 34" scale. (A short-scale B string requires a very large gauge string or very low tension, or some combination of the two, both of which affect the sound.)

This doesn't mean that a short scale instrument won't sound good! Many people actually PREFER the sound of the shorter scale.

You can experiment on a longer scale bass, using a capo and slacking the strings off to get back to standard tuning. Changing string gauges is also informative. All of this can be done without spending much money, to see if you might like the shorter scale. But it won't give you some of the biggest advantages of a short scale instrument: they're usually quite light and very comfortable to hold or wear.

As mentioned by others, there are plenty of things that affect the timbre of an instrument. Scale does make a difference, but it is only one of the contributing factors.

[fjadams]

I think some, many, most people might or will disagree with this.

I think a basses "sound" comes from:
1: The player and the way he or she uses the fingers, picks, or whatever else moves the strings. 40%
2: Electronics, including pickups, pots, passive or active, tone controls including caps, ToneStylers, etc. 30%
3: Strings, flats, tapes, rounds, drop tuning, fretted or fretless, solid or hollow body. 20%
4: The rest including body wood, neck type, (maple, rosewood, etc), scale length, nut material, bridge type, tuners, paint or natural finish. 10%

This is really just my opinion and may or may not have any basis in the real world. But in the words of another, I reject your reality and substitute my own.

[drummer5359]

My very first bass Was a short scale Telestar (Teisco) bought in the spring of 1972 at a Murphy's Mart.

I saw an identical one on ebay and couldn't help myself. I bought it.



This isn't just a short scale, it's flat out tiny. It's next to my Peavey Fury in this pic.