Any downsides to a shortscale P?

[Qlanq]

I've been playing short scale for about six months now. My fingers started to have problems in the lower frets.
Luckily DaDarrio had the same gauge Nickel wounds in short scale.
It sounds just like my long scale basses but easier for me to play.

 

[BassHappy]

Depending on how "short" you go, string selection can be a big issue.

I truly have no idea why anyone would suggest that string selection is a BIG issue - short scale strings are most certainly in abundance these days in most all common gauges and types. Although you may not find many choices at your local Guitar Center or Mom and Pop store - pretty much anything you can get in long scale is available if you shop around.

You may have to place an order and experience some wait time, but finding your brand and type is easier than it has ever been - and it gets better every day. Seems to me that this is another TB myth that gets passed along by not being informed. Just picking one well-known string supplier:

Which breaks down to this:

 

[guy n. cognito]

I truly have no idea why anyone would suggest that string selection is a BIG issue - short scale strings are most certainly in abundance these days in most all common gauges and types. Although you may not find many choices at your local Guitar Center or Mom and Pop store - pretty much anything you can get in long scale is available if you shop around.

You may have to place an order and experience some wait time, but finding your brand and type is easier than it has ever been - and it gets better every day. Seems to me that this is another TB myth that gets passed along by not being informed. Just picking one well-known string supplier:


View attachment 1086439

View attachment 1086440

Which breaks down to this:

View attachment 1086441
View attachment 1086442
View attachment 1086443

View attachment 1086444
View attachment 1086445

View attachment 1086446

View attachment 1086447

View attachment 1086448

View attachment 1086449

You seem wound about this....pun intended.

Selection is limited for SS strings relative to normal scales. Your screen shots don't demonstrate if any of those are in stock. Local selection, as you point out above, will be limited to non-existing in most markets. Even here in Music City, I would be lucky to find one set of SS strings.

He asked what issues may exist. I named one. It's fact, and I'm neither I'll informed nor inexperienced.

 

[BassHappy]

You seem wound about this....pun intended.

Selection is limited for SS strings relative to normal scales. Your screen shots don't demonstrate if any of those are in stock. Local selection, as you point out above, will be limited to non-existing in most markets. Even here in Music City, I would be lucky to find one set of SS strings.

He asked what issues may exist. I named one. It's fact, and I'm neither I'll informed nor inexperienced.

Not wound at all actually just hate the myth-spreading. A simple phone call or web order will place any of those strings - illustrated above - right at your doorstep. Didn't mean to offend.

Some may not be in stock, but the wait is quick for manufacture. Try it sometime, you'll like it.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Not wound at all actually just hate the myth-spreading. A simple phone call or web order will place any of those strings - illustrated above - right at your doorstep. Didn't mean to offend.

Some may not be in stock, but the wait is quick for manufacture. Try it sometime, you'll like it.

Based on a quick scan, BSO actually has NO medium scale tape-wounds in stock and no SS either. A quick call to the best music store in Nashville yielded that they had NONE in stock. Which is why I clearly stated that it may be an issue and something to consider in going short or medium scale.

No myths....just reality.

 

[BassHappy]

Based on a quick scan, BSO actually has NO medium scale tape-wounds in stock and no SS either. A quick call to the best music store in Nashville yielded that they had NONE in stock. Which is why I clearly stated that it may be an issue and something to consider in going short or medium scale.

No myths....just reality.

LOL.....

I guess I am not like you - I always buy several sets at once - so I never have an emergency and need strings OMG today - I visit my string library and when it needs replenishing, I replenish. I have had sets of strings made up for me, in medium scale and always found the wait to be pretty quick. So, while it's true that they aren't always in stock - which I clearly stated in my original post - they are readily available. So, as far as I am concerned and most would agree, it's a myth that they are unavailable, while true at the local music store.

No more quibbling about facts - over and out!

 

[guy n. cognito]

LOL.....

I guess I am not like you - I always buy several sets at once - so I never have an emergency and need strings OMG today - I visit my string library and when it needs replenishing, I replenish. I have had sets of strings made up for me, in medium scale and always found the wait to be pretty quick. So, while it's true that they aren't always in stock - which I clearly stated in my original post - they are readily available. So, as far as I am concerned and most would agree, it's a myth that they are unavailable, while true at the local music store.

No more quibbling about facts - over and out!

Based on this post, I'm not sure you are debating facts.

 

[40Hz]

If you can, go to a local store and try a Gretsch Junior Jet if they have one in stock. Ten minutes with that will tell you what you need to know about how a decent short scale feels and plays.

I've got short, long, and extended scales on my bass necks. None is superior to the others IMO.

I happen to really like what a short-scale bass brings to the party. It has a unique timbre and vibe all it's own that you won't get with a 34" scale. If you already have a decent long scale bass for general use, a shortie is a nice addition to your toolkit.

 

[grrg63]

My experience is that you get most of the benefit of short scale going to 32", without the almost-kind-of-too-smallness of a 30". Although I'm fine with 30". I was playing it today. But I'm a little finer with 32".

This has been my experience too. I used short scales for years and they are perfectly viable for any situation.
But after trying several mediums over the past few years I definitely prefer them. The G string has a stronger sound that is more balanced volume wise with the other strings. The E string is tighter and more focused on the lower frets on par with a 34". My favorite bass now is a ms 80s Japanese Squier P. I also have a ms fretless and a 33" 5 string J both of which I am very happy with.

 

[mbell75]

Thanks for the reply. If there's a low-mid boost with short scales, would a short scale jazz be closer in tone to a normal precision in terms of punch? I heard a demo for a passive shortie jazz that sounded a bit more ballsy and focussed than a normal jazz. Not necessarily a precision tone as such, but it had a similar 'weight' to the notes as a P, it seemed to occupy a similar sonic space as a P, I was quite surprised by it.

It's also definitely the increased playability that i'm interested in. I'm 5 foot 6 and I've played normal basses for years, but I find myself staying away from the lower registers for fast sections / solos because that area is much more of a stretch, and regardless of the popular notion that it just takes more practice, I think if we want to get to a certain point in our playing ability, we have to take our physical limitations into consideration at some stage.

The only things that put me off shortscales up till now were that I was worried that I may give myself a handicap by losing the ability to play normal scale basses, and that by playing shortscales only you are very limited in terms of what basses are available. But then as someone who plays a p-bass 99.9% of the time this may not be a big issue..

Ive owned 3 short scale Jazz basses now and none really come close to a P bass. You can get similar tones but a single coil Jazz pick is obviously never going to reproduce a P pickup tone. I thought the same thing too about going short scale, that it would hinder my ability to play a "real" bass. Its been almost 2 years now and I dont miss 34" scale basses a single bit. Every time I pick one up at a music store now, they just feel so heavy and awkward and I wondered how I ever played such a ridiculous thing. I also play guitar too, so going from playing guitar parts and then going straight to one of my basses to put a bass line to it is a much easier transition. Doent feel like Im going from a compact car to a big rig. An added bonus of going short scale is you aren't tempted to buy 5 different basses every time you walk into a music store here is a great article to check out as well

Why Not Play the Bass That Fits You Perfectly?

 

[Groove Doctor]

Look into a chambered body & light tuners for whichever bass you go with. My three 30"s are hollow, semi-hollow, & chambered and I love those combinations.

30" basses require a different setup & different playing approach. You'll need to try a few types of strings to see which perfectly suits that bass and your playing. You never can tell until you try them. I ended up with Chromes on one - I'm not a fan of them but they suit that bass perfectly.

 

[mbell75]

You seem wound about this....pun intended.

Selection is limited for SS strings relative to normal scales. Your screen shots don't demonstrate if any of those are in stock. Local selection, as you point out above, will be limited to non-existing in most markets. Even here in Music City, I would be lucky to find one set of SS strings.

He asked what issues may exist. I named one. It's fact, and I'm neither I'll informed nor inexperienced.

In store yes, will be hard to find but who buys anything in stores anymore? I can get anything I need, including any short scale strings I want, delivered to my door within 24-48 hours. Not an issue.

 

[guy n. cognito]

In store yes, will be hard to find but who buys anything in stores anymore? I can get anything I need, including any short scale strings I want, delivered to my door within 24-48 hours. Not an issue.

Keep reading.....

 

[Mushroo]

Do you currently have access to a 34" P bass? If so, you can try this experiment:

Detune to EbAbDbGb and put a capo at the 1st fret. This will give you a rough idea of what it's like to play a 32" P bass.

Now detune an additional half step to DGCF and put a capo at the 2nd fret. This will give you a rough idea of what it's like to play a 30" P Bass.

Did you like it? If so, great! You might be a good candidate for a short scale P bass.

 

[NoBlackTShirts]

A medium scale instrument with a string through the body setup usually allows you to use regular long scale strings - the extra length is used up going through the body. I have one and it works well.

Another option is a reversed Fender style headstock - the E and D strings are the problematic ones on a short scale, and with a reversed headstock, the string narrows down before it hits the tuner, allowing you to use long scale strings on a short scale.

Actually I was thinking about just drilling through the body behind the bridge and pulling the strings up through there. That'll probably eat up two inches and open up the whole world of 34" strings.

But the reverse headstock is a very intriguing idea too....
.

 

[mrufino1]

The biggest disadvantage to NOT playing a shortscale is that you're uncomfortable with long scale and therefore you avoid notes down there, and you'd continue that staying with the same bass you have. I have psoriatic arthritis that is now making my hands very stiff and a long reach with my fretting arm was causing a ton of pain as well. Now I play a marleaux consat sopran 23" scale bass that is tuned standard with the BEAD set of Dunlop flats that I cut down and I've done every gig on it with no issues. In fact, for the first time in my life I'm getting compliments on my sound.

If you want to play short scale, do it, because not playing at all is much bigger change in sound than any change in sound you might or night not experience (and you may really like the change)

 

[selowitch]

Short-scale basses are great if you like their sound and feel. Many people do.
(I'm personally more of a medium-scale guy.)

 

[davorZG]

If needed a good medium-scale bass, I have one Matsumoku 1981˙s beauty for sale, TSB-400, in pristine condition. Price negotiable. Great sound.

Aria Pro II TSB-400 bass guitar (Matsumoku 1981), great condition | eBay

​

 

[Mustang Surly]

 

[friedlbug]

Like Surly, I also have a short scale SX P bass. I know you're thinking of going custom, but I took a stock SX Ursa 1 JR, swapped in an older American Fender pickup, and put flats on it. It's light and sounds great, and you could try that before spending as lot more, at least to just see how it feels to play.