Hey all: I'm new around here and am considered a fairly adept 6 stringer in the classic rock (oldies-ugh,) jazz, genres. I have short stubby older fingers but theyre pretty reliable and I want to venture forth into the realm of base. I bought a 100 Rumble and a full scale Ibanez 5 string SR655E from GC. It's a lovely instrument but I think my eyes were bigger than my finger reach when I got it. I'm going to return it (I love GC) and pursue a short scale. I presently have an OLD single magnetic-pickup 29 3/4" Kingston which I'm using for practice- not a playing-out solution. There are a crap ton of "reviews" on short scales but I'd like to get the forum's unvarnished input on great values for quality short scales. Incidently, learning to play "pickless" and not able to slap yet. Be gentle guys. As has been my rule in pursuing 6 strings, cars and boats.....I want to be the weak link and grow my capabilies into the acquisition. Thanks.
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6 stringer going over to the dark side
- Thread starter guitarbouy54
- Start date
Welcome to TB.
I personally wouldn't return your Ibanez. I bet you had the same problem with your "small fingers" the first time your played a guitar, it's just a question of taking the time to get used to it. I have 25.5" and 24.75" scale guitars, 4-string and 5-string basses and I can switch from one another without problem. It took me some time though.
Since you already know how to use a pick, learn to play with your right hand fingers now. Have fun and enjoy the ride.
I personally wouldn't return your Ibanez. I bet you had the same problem with your "small fingers" the first time your played a guitar, it's just a question of taking the time to get used to it. I have 25.5" and 24.75" scale guitars, 4-string and 5-string basses and I can switch from one another without problem. It took me some time though.
Since you already know how to use a pick, learn to play with your right hand fingers now. Have fun and enjoy the ride.
I honestly thought you were talking about going from playing 6-string bass to the "dark side" of only 4 or 5 strings...
I'd just go play as many basses as you can get your mitts on. Short scales can be awesome for different reasons--some folks like them because of the size which for some means "easier" to play (not always the case though depending on the bass design--some feel pretty weird ergonomically) but for many of us it's a different sound in the toolbox, the size is not the determining factor. They sound different from a full scale bass, especially apparent when recording. Many bassists have small hands and play all manner of scale sizes.
I'd also question, does it need to be a five string? Fivers are cool, but you might pick up a regular 'ol 4 string Jazz bass or P bass and the clouds will open up for you (you simply can not go wrong with either one of those as your only bass). Anyhow, just my 2 cents. Also, playing bass with a pick is absolutely a required skill in much rock and pop music along with fingerstyle. Worry about slap later--solid fingerstyle and pickstyle is way more important in most genres (except for Youtube and Instagram showing off
.
I'd also question, does it need to be a five string? Fivers are cool, but you might pick up a regular 'ol 4 string Jazz bass or P bass and the clouds will open up for you (you simply can not go wrong with either one of those as your only bass). Anyhow, just my 2 cents. Also, playing bass with a pick is absolutely a required skill in much rock and pop music along with fingerstyle. Worry about slap later--solid fingerstyle and pickstyle is way more important in most genres (except for Youtube and Instagram showing off
.
The Mikro is a fun bass but shorter scale than the 30" standard short scale. I enjoy mine but consider the Epiphone EBO & Sterling Short Scale Stingray as well . I enjoying playing these 3 in addition to my 34" models.
Fiver - 6 stringer, what happened to fourver? I need to change from Five or Six to: Fiver and 6 Stringer.
Cheap But Good 5-string Short Scales:
Ibanez Mikro GSRM25. Fun, but at 28.6" may be too small for many a man's fingers.
Ibanez TMB35: Excellent value 30" scale. Neck dive bothers some. If so, see the thread in these forums for lightweight drop in replacement tuners.
Medium-Priced and My Favourite 5-string Short Scale Bass:
Ibanez EHB1005SMS. Ergonomic Headless Bass with fan frets at 30-32" scale.
Ibanez EHB1505S. As above, without the fan frets, with more exotic woods, and brighter pickups.
As above with different exotic timbers and fant frets.
There are more expensive 5-string short scale basses (e.g. Kiesel, smaller custom manufacturers) but being as happy as I am with my EHBs - I have both short and standard scale - I cannot make any kind of case for stumping up for what would be a totally unnecessary purchase.
Ibanez Mikro GSRM25. Fun, but at 28.6" may be too small for many a man's fingers.
Ibanez TMB35: Excellent value 30" scale. Neck dive bothers some. If so, see the thread in these forums for lightweight drop in replacement tuners.
Medium-Priced and My Favourite 5-string Short Scale Bass:
Ibanez EHB1005SMS. Ergonomic Headless Bass with fan frets at 30-32" scale.
Ibanez EHB1505S. As above, without the fan frets, with more exotic woods, and brighter pickups.
As above with different exotic timbers and fant frets.
There are more expensive 5-string short scale basses (e.g. Kiesel, smaller custom manufacturers) but being as happy as I am with my EHBs - I have both short and standard scale - I cannot make any kind of case for stumping up for what would be a totally unnecessary purchase.
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A guitarist playing bass will find the reach between frets a bit uncomfortable at first, but it's something you'll get used to.
Switching to a short scale before you learn to play the instrument you already have is kind of counter-productive, IMO. Particularly if you develop the idea that you can't play a regular 34" scale because your fingers are too short.
Switching to a short scale before you learn to play the instrument you already have is kind of counter-productive, IMO. Particularly if you develop the idea that you can't play a regular 34" scale because your fingers are too short.
Don't return the bass. I moved from 6 string (25+ years of guitar) to bass like you. The 34" scale will be a challenge, but you will adapt.
Don't return it, adapt. I'm not all that tall, have shortish fingers and play full scale 6 string basses, so you can do it. Oh, and the SR65E is an excellent bass - I have one and like it so much, I'd like the 6 string version.
Please don't do that...
Thanks all for your input. I visited a GC over the weekend and I think it may just be "time on the stick"...... getting used to the fiver. Actually I'm not sure it's the scale that's my issue rather than my stubbies finding the correct string given the necessity of cramming more string into a narrower width. That said, I did play an awesome fullscale Stringray HH and an Epiphone (usually an Ugh) Hofner Beatle base copy both 4 string and both full scale which I really liked. So many choices!
Short scales are just as great instruments as regular 34" scale basses, if you feel most comfortable on short scale, buy a short scale bass.
If that was not the case I doubt Stanley Clarke would play a short scale bass as his main bass (and he is also an accomplished upright player, and is a tall man with huge hands, so that is not why).
I don't know why people still insist of short scales somewhat being inferior, or lesser real instruments, it is simply not true, and if you feel more comfortable playing a short scale, then do that, no reason putting unnecessary obstacles up for your playing, just to earn credit from judgmental people who are stuck in the past.
If that was not the case I doubt Stanley Clarke would play a short scale bass as his main bass (and he is also an accomplished upright player, and is a tall man with huge hands, so that is not why).
I don't know why people still insist of short scales somewhat being inferior, or lesser real instruments, it is simply not true, and if you feel more comfortable playing a short scale, then do that, no reason putting unnecessary obstacles up for your playing, just to earn credit from judgmental people who are stuck in the past.
No reason to feel bad about that. I've been playing since I was in junior high in the late 1960s (when it wasn't even a "thing"), and I don't / can't. If I'd been a young and pliable kid 20 years later, things might have been different, but oh well. In recent years I'm coming to find it outright annoying to listen to (maybe because I'm jealous because I can't do it?).
Still, my favorite quote from the legendary Lee Sklar (look him up, I'm sure as a "6-stringer" you probably haven't heard of him) when studio producers ask him to slap, "I don't do that, but I can recommend some people that do."
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
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