You can't go really low with short scale. Thats why all of them are usually standard E A D G tuning. I have yet to play a short scale bass with the same definition as a longer instrument.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Any disadvantages to short scale basses?
- Thread starter RockNRollRanter
- Start date
The somewhat looser string tension does not require higher action if you play with touch rather than beating your strings to death. I find the tone and sustain on the d&g strings better on the short scale and the e&a require a bit more finesse. On the other hand, once you catch on to it the shortie will be faster and easier. Tone? Very nice. Shorts and longs both have advantages and I can see no reason to avoid either one if you have normal hands. Mine are a bit on the large side so a spread is no issue. But if I had small(ish) hands I'd probably hang with a shortie for sure.
Every scale length has strengths and weaknesses.
Go with what fits you first and foremost. You can work around most everything else.
Go with what fits you first and foremost. You can work around most everything else.
I'm a 5'6" male with small hands and I used to spend a heck of a lot of time on 35" scale 6 string basses. Good ergonomics on the bass and dang near perfect ergonomic technique with the hands is a must. Guitarists and bassists often balk at the idea of proper techique. It has become essential for me on bass due to my hand size. I was forced to learn good technique for a classical guitar class and it saved my hands.
I don't see any disadvantages that stand out. I play a short scale. An Ibanez Mikro. It can get some nice tones. Mine can be nice and warm, and also has a good slap tone. Try some short scales. See what you like.
The physics is not in question: the same string tuned to the same pitch on a shorter scale will be at lower tension.
Which you prefer, assuming you notice, is purely individual preference. For me, it depends on the instrument and the sound I want. I sometimes mimic that feel on the Wishbass by tuning down a whole step. Gives a looser feel and slightly less sustain, making it easier for me to catch the vibe, if not the sound, of an upright.
Otto
Which you prefer, assuming you notice, is purely individual preference. For me, it depends on the instrument and the sound I want. I sometimes mimic that feel on the Wishbass by tuning down a whole step. Gives a looser feel and slightly less sustain, making it easier for me to catch the vibe, if not the sound, of an upright.
Otto
I'm a girl (well was in the 80s) and I have hands like a docker. Played a Ric/Ric copy for years and never noticed an appreciable difference to a standard long scale (18mm is not a big difference, compared to 100mm between LS and SS).
There are plenty of SS basses around to look at. Eastwood guitars have a semihollow SS, Epiphone, Gretsch, Danelectro, the Italia Torino is SS (no I'm not an endorser but I'm open to offers). If you want to try slimmer neck profile, a through neck Epi Thunderbird is worth a look (and it has that Kim Gordon vibe).
There are plenty of SS basses around to look at. Eastwood guitars have a semihollow SS, Epiphone, Gretsch, Danelectro, the Italia Torino is SS (no I'm not an endorser but I'm open to offers). If you want to try slimmer neck profile, a through neck Epi Thunderbird is worth a look (and it has that Kim Gordon vibe).
Absolutely nothing wrong with short scale basses. That was the standard for some manufacturers in the 1960s, as they assumed most bass players were just guitar player converts.
I love Fender Mustangs and 1960s/70s Gibson EB-0 basses.
I love Fender Mustangs and 1960s/70s Gibson EB-0 basses.
This is what I have found too. I swapped out the machine heads on my Jag short scale to try and get better tuning and to minimise the neck dive. It helped both but only a little. Tuning is still more touchy than my 34" Godin. Putting on the half round strings helped up the tension a bit and now after playing flats on my Godin I'll be putting some flats on the Jag to get a bit more tension.
The Godin certainly has more sustain than the Jag. Some of this is undoubtedly due to the higher tension however some of it could also be the bass itself.
As someone said when I was researching my first bass purchases, the short scales appear to have a bit more "thump" while the long scale has more overtones and piano type sound to them. Each to his/her own tastes. I tend to play the long scale more these days but that is mainly due to it being a much better bass overall than anything to do with the scale.
Is there a downside to short scale basses? As others have mentioned, yes there is - depending on what you want to do with your bass. But, in general:
-Alternative tunings. Yes, it can be done - sometimes - but the results, judging from the posts here on TB, are, shall we say, less than stellar? The "heavy" strings necessary for this don't work well in the lengths required for a short scale bass. If you're willing to stick with EADG, though, you should be fine.
- 'Rubbery' feeling strings. Yeah, they can be, depending on the gauge and type. A step down in gauge from what you would put on a long scale bass can help with this. Most of my short scale basses have lighter strings than my long scale basses for this reason. One of my Danelectros has ridiculously light strings; but, that's what they came with originally, so... Some of them have "normal", or even heavier, gauge strings , and I think they work just fine, too.
- Finding strings. A lot of stores (here in Vegas, anyway) don't stock strings for short scale basses, so you'll most likely have to get them on-line. AND, depending on which bass you decide to buy, short scale strings won't necessarily fit. Mine run the gamut - short scale strings, medium scale strings, and even (Gretsch Broadkaster) long scale strings. if you wind up needing mediums, then the choices are - well, let's just say there are some strings you can't get in this length. But, it's a lot better than it used to be...
- Sustain. Personally, for the kind of stuff I like to play, IMO the less sustain the better. But, it's a big concern for some people; and yes, short scale basses probably do sustain (slightly) less than a long scale one will - all other things being equal. Most of my short scale basses aren't going to win any prizes for sustain, but that's more a function of what they are (hollow/semi-hollow body) than the scale length. My solid-bodied Kramer Duke (aluminum neck, headless) and my Warmoth Mini P-Bass will both sustain more than long enough to be annoying. Just depends on the bass.
- One nice thing about them, though; several of mine will fit in a guitar case...
So, if you think you need one (or just want one), by all means, get one. I'm not going to tell you which one to get (as a lefty, my choices in this area have been very limited). Play as many of them as you can get your hands on; the one for you is out there somewhere...
-Alternative tunings. Yes, it can be done - sometimes - but the results, judging from the posts here on TB, are, shall we say, less than stellar? The "heavy" strings necessary for this don't work well in the lengths required for a short scale bass. If you're willing to stick with EADG, though, you should be fine.
- 'Rubbery' feeling strings. Yeah, they can be, depending on the gauge and type. A step down in gauge from what you would put on a long scale bass can help with this. Most of my short scale basses have lighter strings than my long scale basses for this reason. One of my Danelectros has ridiculously light strings; but, that's what they came with originally, so... Some of them have "normal", or even heavier, gauge strings , and I think they work just fine, too.
- Finding strings. A lot of stores (here in Vegas, anyway) don't stock strings for short scale basses, so you'll most likely have to get them on-line. AND, depending on which bass you decide to buy, short scale strings won't necessarily fit. Mine run the gamut - short scale strings, medium scale strings, and even (Gretsch Broadkaster) long scale strings. if you wind up needing mediums, then the choices are - well, let's just say there are some strings you can't get in this length. But, it's a lot better than it used to be...
- Sustain. Personally, for the kind of stuff I like to play, IMO the less sustain the better. But, it's a big concern for some people; and yes, short scale basses probably do sustain (slightly) less than a long scale one will - all other things being equal. Most of my short scale basses aren't going to win any prizes for sustain, but that's more a function of what they are (hollow/semi-hollow body) than the scale length. My solid-bodied Kramer Duke (aluminum neck, headless) and my Warmoth Mini P-Bass will both sustain more than long enough to be annoying. Just depends on the bass.
- One nice thing about them, though; several of mine will fit in a guitar case...
So, if you think you need one (or just want one), by all means, get one. I'm not going to tell you which one to get (as a lefty, my choices in this area have been very limited). Play as many of them as you can get your hands on; the one for you is out there somewhere...
Better quality 30" basses have plenty of clarity, but you need to get string choice, setup and technique right. (I used to be the main guitar tech at a store years ago).
Most people who've only played 34"+ just don't understand this and walk away with the opinion that it's the bass that's at fault.
Downsides?
- most stores have cheaper model shorties, nicer models often have wrong strings/poor setup.
A great Mustang with bad factory strings sat for ages at a local store, despite my offer to do a free setup.
- There's fewer great shorties that come up for sale used as People hold onto them. So GAS takes longer to satisfy.
- detuning EADG shorty, strings/setup/technique even more fussy. Tapewounds perform the most consistently when detuning.
- your 34"'s will collect dust, or you'll sell them.
- Strings: few in stock at stores so I buy them online, & keep spares handy in the cases/gigbags.
Most people who've only played 34"+ just don't understand this and walk away with the opinion that it's the bass that's at fault.
Downsides?
- most stores have cheaper model shorties, nicer models often have wrong strings/poor setup.
A great Mustang with bad factory strings sat for ages at a local store, despite my offer to do a free setup.
- There's fewer great shorties that come up for sale used as People hold onto them. So GAS takes longer to satisfy.
- detuning EADG shorty, strings/setup/technique even more fussy. Tapewounds perform the most consistently when detuning.
- your 34"'s will collect dust, or you'll sell them.
- Strings: few in stock at stores so I buy them online, & keep spares handy in the cases/gigbags.
Best short scale ever. Aria Pro II CSB B&G. A little over 32 inches with a narrow bridge so the string fanning is lessened. It still gives a deep resonant tone.
Talking Heads Bassist, Tina Weymouth played a Fender Mustang all the way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
That having been said, a long scale Bass will do you little good if it's not comfortable for you to play.
My brother rounded out his collection of long scale Basses, with a Birdsong, which he happens to like, quite a bit.
That having been said, a long scale Bass will do you little good if it's not comfortable for you to play.
My brother rounded out his collection of long scale Basses, with a Birdsong, which he happens to like, quite a bit.
I know this is meant to be a disadvantages thread but everyone is saying finding the strings, lack of sustain and down-tuning are issues obviously hasn't tried the warwick corvette rockbass.
I use full scale strings. I've never put a short scale set on it, and always have it downtuned. Honestly I wouldn't own full scales if they made more short scale options. I did have a Mikro which I would never buy again because of those problems... I think it's really dependent on the instrument.
I use full scale strings. I've never put a short scale set on it, and always have it downtuned. Honestly I wouldn't own full scales if they made more short scale options. I did have a Mikro which I would never buy again because of those problems... I think it's really dependent on the instrument.
Rollingstones didn't do too bad with Bill Wyman's short scales for 30 years. Neither did Jack Bruce, Stanley Clarke, and many others.
While I have 34" & 35" P & J basses, 95% of the time my 28.6" Ibanez Mikro or 30" Ibanez AGB205 (BEADG) are in my hands. Good setup and the right strings are the key. Mikro has LaBella DTB black tapes and AGB has LaBella DTB flats.
While I have 34" & 35" P & J basses, 95% of the time my 28.6" Ibanez Mikro or 30" Ibanez AGB205 (BEADG) are in my hands. Good setup and the right strings are the key. Mikro has LaBella DTB black tapes and AGB has LaBella DTB flats.
Latest posts
-
Software drums recommendation for practice Latin, Cumbia styles preferred
- Latest: bass player 53
-
-
-
