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Am I "wrong" for wanting a short-scale bass?
- Thread starter mike1123
- Start date
Well, if all you want to do is go around embracing them, then... yeah, I'd say that's wrong; kinda weird, too, IMO. If you want to play one? Then, by all means- get one you like, and play the snot out of it. Out of the 24 basses I own, at least 8 of them are shorties. Playing them doesn't seem "wrong" at all, to me...
I have to agree with this. I totally get some folks have medical issues and they absolutely should play short scales if it helps them play and helps avoid further injury. And short scales are cool for variety. But If you’re a young healthy player that wants to participate in the drastically bigger market of 34”+ basses it’s likely that improving a technique issue will help. I mean I started playing 34” scale bass at 13. I was much smaller back then and 24 years later I’ve still never had an injury from playing. I have noticed a lot of people who go from Guitar to bass have a serious bent wrist issue. Lot of Guitar players get used to playing like that in order to play bar chords and stuff and then when they try to play bass they don’t change their technique. Here’s what I mean
Because Guitar is a much smaller instrument with smaller strings guitar players can get away with that a lot more. But it even gets to them sometimes also. For example I know Mike from Incubus pictured above had to have wrist surgery and it was probably because of Wrist being bent so much when he plays. Not saying you absolutely can’t ever bend your wrist. It’s pretty hard to avoid on some parts of the neck. But particularly if you're in 1st position your wrist should be straight. Also the height you wear the bass and the angle of the neck in relation to the floor makes a big difference.
Here’s a comparison of me with different scale basses
34” (warwick & musicman)
35” (esp)
What on earth do all those pictures have to do with the OP?
"the longer the scale length the lower I tend to wear the bass and the shorter the scale length the neck is more parallel to the floor."
Huh?
"the longer the scale length the lower I tend to wear the bass and the shorter the scale length the neck is more parallel to the floor."
Huh?
Mine got me back into playing. Just never bonded with other basses i tried. Play my epi eb0 almost daily. Like the feel of the gretsch 2022. Dont like mustang. Never seen a jag yet. Im just very neck feel picky. Still try out regular scales at music stores. Like the sub4 out of all in my price scale.
Try every bass you can. Pick the one that keeps you playing. Wish i knew i loved shorties or had the local selection i have now way back then.
Try every bass you can. Pick the one that keeps you playing. Wish i knew i loved shorties or had the local selection i have now way back then.
Because if I play a bass jacked up to my chest I have problems with longer scale also.
Yup too high sux, I agree. As a personal preference, I set my strap to just hang loose when seated, that way, seated or standing, my hands stay pretty much the same.
Are people "wrong" for wearing boat shoes? Are they "wrong" for wearing slashed or bleach-stained jeans?
Well - I wouldn't do either of those things, but if they're right for you, then go right ahead.
So it is with short-scale basses. I'm not going to buy one, but if that's what you want, then so be it.
Well - I wouldn't do either of those things, but if they're right for you, then go right ahead.
So it is with short-scale basses. I'm not going to buy one, but if that's what you want, then so be it.
" If you’re a guitarist why not try a Squier/Fender Bass VI? It’ll be more familiar to play. I just bought one on back order from guitar center, can’t wait for it get here."
I can only speak for myself (another former guitar player) but a Bass VI, with its short scale, light strings and tight string spacing, would probably make it harder for me to not "play bass as if it was just a bigger guitar". The fundamental role of bass in an ensemble setting is far different from that of guitar. Any instrument whose features might distract a former guitar player from focusing on that fact might constitute a hindrance to his performing a bass players role to his band mates' satisfaction. I had an Ibanez SRC6 (six- string shorty) for awhile and found I almost reflexively start riffing like a wanker every time I picked it up. I also found it almost impossible to play finger-style, so always played it with a flat pick, which seemed to compound the above-mentioned tendency. I already had my hands full learning to be a "proper" bass player, so I stopped using it.
Again: just my opinion based on individual experience. Your results may differ.
I can only speak for myself (another former guitar player) but a Bass VI, with its short scale, light strings and tight string spacing, would probably make it harder for me to not "play bass as if it was just a bigger guitar". The fundamental role of bass in an ensemble setting is far different from that of guitar. Any instrument whose features might distract a former guitar player from focusing on that fact might constitute a hindrance to his performing a bass players role to his band mates' satisfaction. I had an Ibanez SRC6 (six- string shorty) for awhile and found I almost reflexively start riffing like a wanker every time I picked it up. I also found it almost impossible to play finger-style, so always played it with a flat pick, which seemed to compound the above-mentioned tendency. I already had my hands full learning to be a "proper" bass player, so I stopped using it.
Again: just my opinion based on individual experience. Your results may differ.
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in the current collection of low-frequency things:
2-30s
4-34s
2-35s
1-40 (the double bass)
I have a collection problem, but clearly have no problem playing any such scale I choose.
2-30s
4-34s
2-35s
1-40 (the double bass)
I have a collection problem, but clearly have no problem playing any such scale I choose.
Was Tom Scholz "wrong" for using a Gibson short scale bass on the first couple of Boston albums? Last time I checked, his bank balance kick's my bank balance's derriere!
My main bass is a Hadean ukulele bass with a 20 inch scale. Talk about a short scale! It doesn't get any shorter than this. The strings are giant and they feel like rubber bands since they are plastic. But I love playing it even more than I love playing my Hofner. I really love the sound. Sounds like an upright.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QFV1RGE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QFV1RGE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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