A really short scale bass

[coolredmudball]

Hi, I am an amateur luthier making solid body electric ukuleles. I still have much to learn. I h@ve a notion of building an electric bass with a scale length of about 24”. What issues will I run into with such an instrument. I know it wouldn’t have the range of a regular short scale, having fewer frets. Will I have difficulty finding appropriate strings? Any suggestions are most welcome other than ‘don’t do it’ …
Thanks
coolredmudball

 

[Winslow]

You may find some interesting parallels in the DeArmond (later absorbed by Guild, even later, absorbed by Fender) Ashbory bass:

Ashbory bass - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It's a similar size, and used (or uses, for those who still have them) rubber strings which were later adapted to bass ukes.

One major point of difference is that to achieve correctly pitched notes at that scale, with strings of the size it uses, the Ashbory is, by necessity, fretless. You may find out, through your own experiments, why that is.

Searching the forums here for "DeArmond Ashbory" will net plenty of results, discussions, and experiences. There are also these sites that may be of interest:

Ashbory Internet Resource - Ashbory Bass

www.steamroller.com

Fender : Ashbory Bass

www.largesound.com

Good luck.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Look up wingbass for a different perspective. I think they have an 18 inch scale. They're like a bass from the 12th fret, no low notes.

 

[coolredmudball]

You may find some interesting parallels in the DeArmond (later absorbed by Guild, even later, absorbed by Fender) Ashbory bass:

Ashbory bass - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It's a similar size, and used (or uses, for those who still have them) rubber strings which were later adapted to bass ukes.

One major point of difference is that to achieve correctly pitched notes at that scale, with strings of the size it uses, the Ashbory is, by necessity, fretless. You may find out, through your own experiments, why that is.

Searching the forums here for "DeArmond Ashbory" will net plenty of results, discussions, and experiences. There are also these sites that may be of interest:

Ashbory Internet Resource - Ashbory Bass

www.steamroller.com

Fender : Ashbory Bass

www.largesound.com

Good luck.

Thanks Winslow, I’ll check it out …

 

[Rocket Queen]

If you're interested in flatwound strings, I've had success getting custom sets from Pyramid. Just send an email to Max Junger at [email protected].

If you're happy with roundwounds, just use the string tension calculator at String Tension Calculator to figure out your desired gauges and tensions, order the strings from Kalium (expect it to take a while), and cut the strings to the appropriate length.

 

[pingvuiini]

I've been playing solidbody uke basses exclusively for several years now and they are a total blast. All my current uke basses are in the 23" scale range and the availability of uke sized regular (i.e. not rubber silicon) strings has increased a lot in the last 1-2 years. As mentioned above, Pyramid strings was willing to make me some custom sets of tapes and rounds when nobody else would. With the new solidbody uke basses by Kala there will probably be more string manufacturers (hopefully) making regular strings for uke sized basses.

 

[Rocket Queen]

If your scale length were to be 23", you could use these:

MBLS MicroBass LaBella Flat Wound Strings

These LaBella Flat Wound Strings are designed for use with the Micro-Bass line. They provide a tone closer to that of a traditional electric bass while still keeping the M-Bass' signature portability and ease of playing. NOTE: Can be used on ME-Bass or fretless M-Bass (cannot be used on fretted...

goldtonemusicgroup.com

 

[monsterthompson]

You might want to check with Maurizio about which strings are used on the X3M. It’s a bass designed to swap necks that range from 18” scale to 30” scale and several lengths in between, which approximate the scale length in question.

The Travel MüB.

Your airline friendly, hand carry MüB.

www.mauriziouberbasses.com

 

[KohanMike]

If your scale length were to be 23", you could use these:

MBLS MicroBass LaBella Flat Wound Strings

These LaBella Flat Wound Strings are designed for use with the Micro-Bass line. They provide a tone closer to that of a traditional electric bass while still keeping the M-Bass' signature portability and ease of playing. NOTE: Can be used on ME-Bass or fretless M-Bass (cannot be used on fretted...

goldtonemusicgroup.com

I've used those flat strings on a number of my 24" scale solid body bass ukes, @coolredmudball, they will fit your build perfectly. I've also ordered custom flats from Max at Pyramid, but I haven't needed to since I now only play 21" scale Hadean violin/Hofner Chinese knockoffs that work well with Kala/Galli flatwound nylon core.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Hi, I am an amateur luthier making solid body electric ukuleles. I still have much to learn. I h@ve a notion of building an electric bass with a scale length of about 24”. What issues will I run into with such an instrument. I know it wouldn’t have the range of a regular short scale, having fewer frets. Will I have difficulty finding appropriate strings? Any suggestions are most welcome other than ‘don’t do it’ …
Thanks
coolredmudball

It can have as many frets as you want. Well, up to how many frets a mandolin can have, plus about 10.

Is your 24" bass going to be a 4- or 5-stringer? That has an impact on the number of options available.
Rounds or flats?

 

[Geepers]

Scott Beckwith of Birdsong bass fame has started making these 25 1/2” scale “pocket basses”.

Basses — ~S.

www.sbeckwith.com

 

[scuzzy]

I just got a Glarry GW101 for my daughter to learn on. it's a 24" scale, I believe. sounds great. do it!

also, it's 24 fret, but the upper get pretty tight.

 

[MrLenny1]

Taylor Baby bass, acoustic is 22 3/4" scale.
They have their own strings that sound really good.

 

[Killing Floor]

The strings will be all floopity-flippity but some people do it and are happy with the results.

 

[Williethump]

I just got a Glarry GW101 for my daughter to learn on. it's a 24" scale, I believe. sounds great. do it!

also, it's 24 fret, but the upper get pretty tight.

I got a new Glarry mini bass last month off Craigslist for $50, about half price. I don't know the model number but it's a 26 inch scale. The rear pickup was non-operational but soldering the wire back fixed it, probably why it was on CL.
I threw away the stock roundwounds and tried a few string sets I had lying around without much success.
The machine head slots were too small for normal bass strings though and I needed to pound the string ends flatish to make them fit, which can't help tone any.
I bought a $5 flea market set of Dean Markley Blue Steel guitar strings and used the EADG strings to make a piccolo bass out of it.
Better, but still not satisfactory so my next step is to spend $20 on a set of genuine D'Addario piccolo roundwound strings which I've put on another (not-quite-so) shortscale with good success.
The D'Addario E is 42p instead of the Blue Steel's 32p so I hope I don't need to pound the string ends flat. If that still leaves something lacking then I'll swap out the pickups for an aftermarket pair that cost more to manufacture than the $3.95 that Glarry spent.
I love the tiny size and overall form factor so now I'm chasing better tone. Why, I know because I'm an elderly hack with little talent or ability, with arthritis, elbow tendinitis (from playing bass!) and wartime artillary induced fierce tinnitus. So your daughter sounds lots better than me.
I made a thread here with some video samples but with the TB format change I think it got disappeared.

 

[Al1885]

Custom 23” scale by Lignum Art. Super fun to play I install Dogal strings set, man they are not cheap, This is the 3rd bass they have built for me.

 

[Al1885]

The strings will be all floopity-flippity but some people do it and are happy with the results.

A set of 23” scale Dogal would not only sound the same as the 34” scale but have the about the same tension as well.

 

[Al1885]

I've been playing solidbody uke basses exclusively for several years now and they are a total blast. All my current uke basses are in the 23" scale range and the availability of uke sized regular (i.e. not rubber silicon) strings has increased a lot in the last 1-2 years. As mentioned above, Pyramid strings was willing to make me some custom sets of tapes and rounds when nobody else would. With the new solidbody uke basses by Kala there will probably be more string manufacturers (hopefully) making regular strings for uke sized basses.

View attachment 6990405

That’s just an amazing collections. I assumed the 2 on each wing are neck through.

 

[hooky_marr]

Hi, I am an amateur luthier making solid body electric ukuleles. I still have much to learn. I h@ve a notion of building an electric bass with a scale length of about 24”. What issues will I run into with such an instrument. I know it wouldn’t have the range of a regular short scale, having fewer frets. Will I have difficulty finding appropriate strings? Any suggestions are most welcome other than ‘don’t do it’ …
Thanks
coolredmudball

They do exist, and you do need to order special strings for them. I had a Japanese History brand 24" mini J bass, and had Newtone Strings make up sets for it. I had a top-loading Kahler bridge on it, and they needed to know the length from the ball-end to the nut to get the order done. It was about £30 UKP plus about £4.50 shipping to the US.

If you're in the uke scene, you have probably seen Flight brand instruments, they have a solidbody bass with a 23" scale length. Flight Mini Bass (TBL) Solid Body Transparent Blue

 

[pingvuiini]

That’s just an amazing collections. I assumed the 2 on each wing are neck through.

The two on the right are neck through.