Should i get a shortscale

eupharies · #1 06-18-2011, 02:15 PM

Considering buying a LANDING shortscale bass probably 32 inches.

I have quite weird dimensions, im almost 6"2 yet my hands are stupidly small, my middle finger is only like 7.5cm long, therefore sometimes i struggle when im playing the upper frets, sometimes i cant stretch far enough....

Thing is i think a shortcale will look stupid because im pretty tall.... i think my hands would suit a 30" scale better, but id look like an idiot, so im consdering 32"....

ghostdog93 · #2 06-18-2011, 02:24 PM

In the world of non-standard scales, the 32" is my personal favorite. It allows me a little better reach than a 34", but isn't as guitar-like as a 30".

Don't get me wrong, I like a nice 30", too. They can be a lot of fun to play. I just had my hands on the new Squier Jag Special SS, and it was a neat little bass. It played very nicely, and fit me well. I'm going to have to buy one.

If I had things my way, there would be a lot more 32" scale basses in the world. But don't give up on a 30" if you think it will fit your hands better. Don't worry about how it will look.

dalkowski · #3 06-18-2011, 02:37 PM

Buy what feels and sounds right for YOU. Critics and doubters be damned.

Chris Murphy of Sloan is a tall fella who looks and sounds totally stud rocking a Fender Mustang. I'm 6-1 and I'm coveting a friend's Squier Vista Musicmaster.

lunarpollen · #4 06-18-2011, 02:37 PM

32" is medium scale... And I don't know why you think a shorter-scale instrument will make you look stupid... (a) there are plenty of long-scale basses that are shorter than many short-scale basses (scale length doesn't go hand in hand with total instrument size) and (b) there are tons of instruments smaller than basses... do you think only midgets play mandolins and ukuleles? What about regular guitars, only for short people??

lunarpollen · #5 06-18-2011, 02:41 PM

And those Landing basses are beautiful!

SBassman · #6 06-18-2011, 02:51 PM

1. Stanley Clarke plays short scales, and he's very tall.

2. Landings are beautiful.

Enjoy.

Pilgrim · #7 06-18-2011, 02:53 PM

Bizarre notion that the audience will notice anything.

BTW...my 32" scale Gretsch 5123 is longer overall than my 34" scale Casady. Don't make too many assumptions.

T Bassman · #8 06-18-2011, 02:54 PM

Dont rule out Danolectros as well, especially if you are kind of 'experimenting' with different scale legnths as they are generally very affordable and sound huge!Im 6'2 and use a Dano Longhorn regularly and only ever get compliments on the look of my bass and the tone!

::::BASSIST:::: · #9 06-18-2011, 03:00 PM

I'm 6'1 and weigh 210 and play ss exclusively. I had a Landing built and liked but not the DS pup... just not my fave tone.

I have a Stambaugh shortscale which is awesome but not cheap (not THAT much more than Landing though).

Also look into the new Squire Jags. Very cheap and really nice... I got a chance to check one out the other day.

Shortscales rule IMO.

Me and mine...

tbassist4 · #10 06-18-2011, 03:03 PM

6'2" guys don't look stupid with guitars, so why would you look stupid with a shortscale bass....which is larger than a guitar? Go for it. I'm 6'1" and play a Little Martin travel guitar when I'm out of town. If anything it makes me look beast.

If I don't look stupid with a shortscale guitar, you don't look stupid with a shortscale bass.

Oh yeah - also there's gonna be some guy coming along shortly who will make a fuss about tone and tell you that he has barbie hands but still toughs it out on a long scale. Tell that guy you'd still like the use of your hands in 20 years for more intricate tasks than just holding the instrument longingly...

mazareth · #11 06-18-2011, 03:35 PM

I'm 6'3" and play 99% short scale.

My main back up/dive bar bass is a Gretsch Electromatic. The neck joins the body at the 13th fret. It fits in a PRS SE gigbag, i.e. the same length as a guitar.

I've gotten complimented on the sound, but nobody as ever told me that a short scale bass looks small on me. Anyone who's not a musician pays no attention to that kind of stuff.

I would guess any random audience wouldn't even know the difference between a bass and a guitar, much less short scale vs. regular scale.

FWIW, I used to own a short scale Teisco violin style bass that was a couple inches longer than my regular scale Yamaha BB300.

Playability and tone first...

arsie · #12 06-18-2011, 06:17 PM

I perfectly understand that you do not wish to look like a guitarist. But if it brings out the best in your playing, go for it.

CpTCrunch · #13 06-18-2011, 06:46 PM

I'm 6' @ 205ish lbs and have long fingers for me 32" is just plain fun.

The bass I reach for most often is a BB615 34" scale strung eadgc. I've been trying to find a cheapish 32" scale small 5 string EADGC for ages.

eupharies · #14 06-18-2011, 07:25 PM

Awesome cheers guys, defo looks like ill be getting a beautiful landing bass then!! Yeh thats the thing, i dont wanna look like a guitarist, quite muscley and big in addition to my height so, i prefer a nice big instrument haha! on my MIA jazz if i have my 1st finger on the 1st i can reach to about halfway on the 3rd fret, so i reckon i need a SS!

arsie · #15 06-18-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupharies

on my MIA jazz if i have my 1st finger on the 1st i can reach to about halfway on the 3rd fret

That is pretty normal, really. It's ok to move your hand a little in the lower registers, I feel. I'd be worried if you can't do octaves comfortably, but that does not appear to be the case.

N.F.A. · #16 06-18-2011, 08:00 PM

Get the short scale. I love mine and gig with it more than any other bass. Also, Jimmy at Landing is building me a medium scale too.

eupharies · #17 06-19-2011, 07:36 AM

so youd pick 30 over 32 then!
Only problem with getting a landing is, well i have to choose wat i want in it, like pups etc.... and i can just never decide lol

rockscott · #18 06-19-2011, 07:46 AM

Im 5 ft 8 with short fingers, I have 1 short, 1 long and 1 acoustic. I dig playing all of them. The shorty (30" viola) is so easy and fun to play, and it has a very warm tone, but it cant produce the earth shaking tone of my thunderbird.

eupharies · #19 06-19-2011, 07:47 AM

Also can i just ask, im interested in the landing L32T L32T

Would anyone recommend another bass instead which may be better, as im loving the L32T

MusicBear · #20 06-19-2011, 07:59 AM

I'm 6'3" and I can palm a basketball. My two favorite basses are an Alembic Series-I short-scale and a Fender Musicmaster that I modded. Both basses deliver earth-shaking bottom end, and yet they are fantastically comfortable and easy to play.

Practicing on a P-Bass or Ric and then performing with the Alembic or Musicmaster is like training with weights and then taking them off.

Everyone comments on the bass lines I deliver; no one has ever remarked about the bass's smaller size.