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25" scale micro basses anyone?

@Avezzano another option that’s both somewhat similar to Meridian but also more flexible than most is the Uber Compact series from Maurizio Uber Basses: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I have a Miezo and it’s great, but it wouldn’t replace a full scale bass for me. You may want to take a look at the options with the X3M, as you can get swappable necks in a variety of scale lengths. Maurizio is a great guy to work with too. IIRC his pricing is still pretty reasonable for the product he and his team delivers.
 
@Avezzano another option that’s both somewhat similar to Meridian but also more flexible than most is the Uber Compact series from Maurizio Uber Basses: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I have a Miezo and it’s great, but it wouldn’t replace a full scale bass for me. You may want to take a look at the options with the X3M, as you can get swappable necks in a variety of scale lengths. Maurizio is a great guy to work with too. IIRC his pricing is still pretty reasonable for the product he and his team delivers.
"Five different scale length" oh, boys! :)
 
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It's a fact? NO - the manufacturers have the strings custom made to their specifications - to the length they want. For example you can order shorty strings from Ibanez for the miKro basses and from GoldTone for their uke basses that are properly made with tails for winding. They are not cut.
They come on the market with proper scale length. You cannot prove they come with a different tension than a 34" scale. But there's no point going on discussing something we have no real info about.
 
@Avezzano another option that’s both somewhat similar to Meridian but also more flexible than most is the Uber Compact series from Maurizio Uber Basses: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I have a Miezo and it’s great, but it wouldn’t replace a full scale bass for me. You may want to take a look at the options with the X3M, as you can get swappable necks in a variety of scale lengths. Maurizio is a great guy to work with too. IIRC his pricing is still pretty reasonable for the product he and his team delivers.

A Miezo 18 owner here :)
I've definitely looked at the swappable neck model. I kinda wish I had gone that route. I've got some hand mobility issues and the Miezo design wasn't as easy to adapt to as I hoped, but I think it would've been easier to adapt to prior to my injury and issues. Regardless, the build process was great (except that I ordered it during Covid lockdowns so things dragged on). I had a few minor issues with my build, but generally it was a nice quality finished product.
 
They come on the market with proper scale length. You cannot prove they come with a different tension than a 34" scale. But there's no point going on discussing something we have no real info about.

Well, I have talked with the makers of the strings, but you can go ahead and do what you want.
 
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Well, I have talked with the makers of the strings, but you can go ahead and do what you want.
But did you talk with all bass makers, to know which kind of strings they mount on their SS basses? It's not about me doing "what I want", it's more about them mounting strings only length correct (read "less expensive possible"); common sense, I suppose. Probably on hi end instruments (small builders, craftsmen) somebody mounts the more costly and tension correct strings. But we're talking of a very small portion of the market for both: basses and strings. On SS Squiers (just to say one) very possibly this does not happen. And also the strings you order for your cheap Mikro Ibanez surely have the nylon at the right length. ONLY. If you want to believe that ALL builders mount on their SS basses correct tension and scale strings, well... now it is your turn to feel free and believe what you want.
 
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Now this is an interesting and informed conversation.

From entry #25 on the thread
"Length and Tension relationship with the Scale."

This entry is by JRMK: "All those insights are valuable but I think the answer for OP problems is hidden in plain sight.

OP uses TIJFs which are the floppiest, softest wet noodle strings you might get :) if floppiness is the problem just change them to something regular like chromes, labellas, DRs, Fenders, GHS, Ernie Balls ... You name it"


Answer by S.F.Sorrow:

This problem sadly isn't unique to TIJFs. Lots of short scale sets from many manufacturers are RUBBISH. In fact, I would say most short scale sets from most manufacturers are rubbish. Typically far too low tension, far too floppy and also extremely unbalanced.

One notable exception is Pyramid Gold flatwounds. Unlike most short scale strings these were actually designed for a short scale bass (specifically Höfner). The Golds are perfectly balanced for short scale. Sadly their long scale sets are not nearly as good, very unbalanced and a completely "dead" E-string. This illustrates the importance of designing a set of strings that works with a specific scale. Most short scale strings don't seem to be designed specifically for short scale. They just feel like long scale strings made shorter and range from poor to utterly useless (with Rotosound's abysmal short scale sets at the bottom of the pile in the latter category).

At least we have the wonderful Pyramid Gold flats.

As for roundwound strings I like GHS Balanced Nickels. Ideally I would want them SLIGHTLY stiffer but that's just a matter of personal taste and I think this is more about the round core than about the actual tension.

I also like TIJRs (yes Jazz ROUNDS). With these strings TI didn't just use the same gauges as the long scale set. The result is a set that feels much tighter than the TIJFs (flats) on a short scale bass, although the TIJRs are even floppier than TIJFs on a long scale bass. The TIJRs are perhaps the only short scale roundwounds where I feel they've actually tweaked them to perfection for short scale. On paper the gauges looks WAY too light but they feel surprisingly "tight" and has an amazing tone. These are made for "short scale with tailpiece" though so the actual winding length is more like most manufacturer's medium scale strings.

So that's three short scale sets I like:

-Pyramid Golds
-GHS Balanced Nickels
-Thomastik Jazz Rounds

Then there are a couple of manufacturers who at least offer short scale gauges with decent gauges/tension, like Ernie Ball and Dunlop. The problem is, they usually end up feeling too stiff/lifeless at gauges that offer enough tension to avoid fret buzz. I suspect they're not really designed for short scale but just long scale strings cut shorter.

With short scale strings there seems to be a VERY narrow window between "too stiff/lifeless/weird overtones in higher frets" and "floppy/fret buzz". The three sets I've listed above are the only three I personally find to be in this Goldilocks zone.

I wish more manufacturers would take short scale strings more seriously. It can be done, as demonstrated by Pyramid, GHS and Thomastik (although all these three manufacturers unfortuntately also offer some rather poor short scale sets...).
 
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The Kay jazz special has possibly a 28" scale... could not find any info.

KAY_JAZZ_SPECIAL_02-590x1024.jpg
 
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