very tall guy... short scale

[tuBass]

I'm having a strange thought that I cant put in the past

I'm really really tall, like 6' 8", and I've got a short scale bass here I bought and modded for my son. The bass sounds great, and the nicest thing is I can move around the neck so easy, almost effortless

I was considering using it on a gig, but I keep getting this mental image of a guy my size holding a bass this tiny, and it looks almost comical. I guess I need to play what ever I think I play the best without considering such issues, but I wanted to throw it out there to see what you all thought

Here's a picture of me holding it,


here's some closeups of it.

[ghostdog93]

If it plays well and sounds good, I'd say rock it, appearances be damned.

BTW, did you change the bridge to one with standard (.75") spacing to get that J pup lined up properly? And is that a humbucker of some sort in the mid position? Cool shorty; I'm guessing modded Bronco.

[DogBone]

Bah, tall guys rock Les Pauls and Strats. What's the difference between them and a shortscale?

Just play and rock with the attitude that you and your bass are the greatest thing since sliced pizza and it's all good.

And yeah, what all did you do to that bass?

[tuBass]

yes, I changed the bridge and added a J I think I used a neck position J to get the poles to line up right for the bridge.

here's the link to the original build thread... it's ancient... LOL

Project completed!!!

[electracoyote]

You have it worse than me (6'4"). I love Bronco-style basses, but it's definitely a case of "bear on a bicycle" syndrome.

The only short-scale basses I will play are semi-hollows (see avatar) or those with long necks like Danelectros and such.

I hate to break it to you, but I agree, though it probably sounds great and you surely rock it righteously, it looks kinda silly.

[tuBass]

thanks for the feedback... I know it looks odd, that's why I'm struggling with it

by the way, in the midddle of the link I posted that it's a willpower pickup in the neck position. It came off a sheehan yamaha bass

[tuBass]

ok, I need full discloser here... another reason I'm thinking of using it is it's a good 5 pounds lighter than my t-40, and my band is starting to do longer gigs (4 hours) and I've got back problems.

[SolarMan]

quartersawn neck?

[tuBass]

doubt it... it's a squire....

[SolarMan]

still, looks like a nice plank!

I hear you about the back problems...and I'm only 6'2"
Tall people tend to have more back problems.

Keep Rockin' that shorty!

ps: now what is your son going to play? and how tall is he?

[tuBass]

15 years old
6'5"

He turned into a drummer, with my blessing LOL

[HillBillyWannaB]

Reminded me of this part of Tommy Boy...

fat guy little coat edited - YouTube

If it sounds good and you like it, go for it.

[mazareth]

I'm 6'3 and 204 lbs. I play short scale basses better than 90% of the time - including 2-3 gigs a month.

The Gretsch G2202 is the roughly same length as a Les Paul. The neck joins the body at the 13th fret, so it's still a full 30" short scale bass.

I realize that I'm 5" shorter than you, but nobody has ever commented on the bass looking too small on me.

Keep this in mind: Most non-musician in the audience won't know the difference. Also, you're 6'8". Who's going to call you on it?!? Play the instrument that's most comfortable to you.

Regarding non-musicians - More than once on a set break I've had somebody at the bar ask me which instrument I play. This after having watched me and the band for a full set or two?

Picture of me playing the Gretsch:



Opinions differ, but I think the bass looks fine on me...

[Zooberwerx]

Ooohh...for a second I thought it was just a decal on your tee shirt.

6'4" here and I'd rock it in a heartbeat. Try not to snap it in half.

Riis

[LB75Player]

Looks like a 5' 10" guy holding a gitard :-p

[mazareth]

Originally Posted by LB75Player

Looks like a 5' 10" guy holding a gitard :-p

You are not helping...

[IotaNet]

Originally Posted by DogBone

Bah, tall guys rock Les Pauls and Strats. What's the difference between them and a shortscale?

This ^

Originally Posted by DogBone

Just play and rock with the attitude that you and your bass are the greatest thing since sliced pizza and it's all good.

Especially this! ^

[fuzzy beard]

Just play it! Not like anyone will LOOK DOWN on you for it.

[giacomini]

The only downside is that it looks like you're playing a guitar, not bass... ha

Go for it, gig the shortscale!

[neptoon]

peter steele played an alembic spoiler until the day he died...he used other basses live, but the one he recorded ewith xclusively and didn't retire from his live show had a short scale...