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A difficult decision, help needed.

T

Tank15801

Dec 4, 2025
30
30
#1
Evening all,

I have a difficult decision to make and I could do with your help.

I am in the market for a new short scale, budget around £900. I already have a Sire U5 so I’ve got the PJ side of things covered.

My plan is a good quality bass with rounds, then I’ll put flats on the sire.

My choices at the moment are:

Warwick RB short scale
Fender MIJ junior jazz
Sterling Stingray SS
Chowny SWB-1
Retrovibe Lil Richard SS

Does anyone have any opinions or other recommendations? I’m looking at a J style bass or stingray arrangement.

Thanks in advance.

Oh, I should add I play mostly finger style/slap funk and some soul.
 
#5
JonathanPDX said:
Have you slapped on a short scale bass before? You may find it reacts differently than your Sire in ways that don't get as much of the typical slap feel/sound as a full-scale bass.
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I slap the s**t out of my sire on a regular basis 😁. Having seen Lobsters review of the Stingray SS, and having quite literally just parted ways with my full scale Stinger, a short scale version my just be the ticket.
 
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#6
Out of the basses on your list, I've only had hands on a new Sterling shorty and a used Warwick RB.

The Sterling is a really nice bass and a smooth player. Feels good in hand. Passive, with a bunch of different options with the volume boost and 3 way rotary switch. Not really the full active Stingray noises, but still sounds solid. There is a new green colorway coming out this year that looks pretty awesome.

I liked the feel of the Warwick, but that particular bass had come into the LMS used and on consignment, and wasn't set up terribly well. Still, even with the action sky high and the intonation out of whack, it felt pretty good. I liked the neck and the 24 frets. Active with 2 band, so there's a bunch of tone shaping on board. Not a huge fan of the body shape aesthetically, but it felt comfortable overall and fine on a strap.

Can't really comment on the rest of them except the Retrovibe Lil Richard is such a cool looking bass. And the Fender Junior Jazz is classic.

IMG_2599-scaled.jpeg
 
#8
ghostdog93 said:
Out of the basses on your list, I've only had hands on a new Sterling shorty and a used Warwick RB.

The Sterling is a really nice bass and a smooth player. Feels good in hand. Passive, with a bunch of different options with the volume boost and 3 way rotary switch. Not really the full active Stingray noises, but still sounds solid. There is a new green colorway coming out this year that looks pretty awesome.

I liked the feel of the Warwick, but that particular bass had come into the LMS used and on consignment, and wasn't set up terribly well. Still, even with the action sky high and the intonation out of whack, it felt pretty good. I liked the neck and the 24 frets. Active with 2 band, so there's a bunch of tone shaping on board. Not a huge fan of the body shape aesthetically, but it felt comfortable overall and fine on a strap.

Can't really comment on the rest of them except the Retrovibe Lil Richard is such a cool looking bass. And the Fender Junior Jazz is classic.

View attachment 7437071
Click to expand...
Thanks mate. The only thing that puts me off the Warwick is the colour I.e you have a choice of black, black or erm, black.

The Retrovibe bass does look cool doesn’t it? It’s also got the ‘77 stinger pre amp, so there’s lots of potential with it.

From what I’ve heard David’s basses are great and the necks and fret work is always first class.
 
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#11
I have have a Sterling SS Stingray and just got the Cort GB a couple weeks ago. They are both good basses for their price point. The Cort is active while the Sterling is passive. My Cort is right at 7 pounds, while the Stingray is almost 9, if that matters to you.

Another option is the Nordstrand Acinonyx, another very nice two pickup (but not J style) shortie. They are out of production, but if you can find one used, it's a winner.
 
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#14
Tank15801 said:
Evening all,

I have a difficult decision to make and I could do with your help.

I am in the market for a new short scale, budget around £900. I already have a Sire U5 so I’ve got the PJ side of things covered.

My plan is a good quality bass with rounds, then I’ll put flats on the sire.

My choices at the moment are:

Warwick RB short scale
Fender MIJ junior jazz
Sterling Stingray SS
Chowny SWB-1
Retrovibe Lil Richard SS

Does anyone have any opinions or other recommendations? I’m looking at a J style bass or stingray arrangement.

Thanks in advance.

Oh, I should add I play mostly finger style/slap funk and some soul.
Click to expand...

I think tonewise the Stingray will add the most difference to your PJ. Or maybe the Warwick.

I had the Chowny for a week or so. It’s a good bass but it didn’t stick. I missed a bit of character. But I bought it because there are very little short scales with 24 frets besides Alembic. At least not that I know of.
 
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#15
I have tried a cat bass, funnily enough the lady who I bought my sire from has one, along with a Sandberg Florence.

The cat bass is really nice but I don’t think it’s what I’m after for the music I play.

Oh, forgot to say, I’m UK based which makes trying things like Reverend basses challenging, as there’s only one dealer all the way up in Scotland.
 
#16
Les Fret said:
I had the Chowny for a week or so. It’s a good bass but it didn’t stick. I missed a bit of character. But I bought it because there are very little short scales with 24 frets besides Alembic. At least not that I know of.
Click to expand...
I tried to buy a new Chowny a couple years back and I got completely blown off. Kept checking in and getting promising updates but then just nothing. I was really disappointed because I also really wanted a short scale with 24 frets. I ended up spending at lot more on a Birdsong and it was worth every penny. Wonderful instrument with plenty of character.
 
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#17
I have a Sterling shortie and it’s damn good. My daughter has pretty much taken it over.

Have a Reverend WattPlower II, it’s a beast and fun to play. Not much of a slapper, the humbucker eats up some real estate. I’ve loved every Reverend shortie I’ve played, they may be out of your budget though.

Have you looked at Ashdown?
https://reverb.com/item/89792955-as...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=89792955

I’ve heard good things and I like how they look and seem to have good features. Nice price too.
 
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#18
Looks like it’s going to be the SS stingray in Toluca lake blue. I can’t get a natural finish Warwick corvette SS and definitely don’t want a black bass.

Had been considering a Maika chilli beans bass on eBay but not confident/comfortable parting with a considerable amount of cash and distance buying.
 

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