I picked up a 2014 Indonesian Squier VM Jaguar Short Scale over the weekend at a pawn shop for $125 cash out the door (after some haggling). It has a couple dings on the back (but no missing paint) and a little nick on the painted headstock. I would like to fix the finish on the headstock at some point. Otherwise it it in great shape: no fret wear--literally, straight neck, working truss rod, etc., and all the electronics work fine. I cleaned it up, set it up, and just put on a fresh set of D'Addario half rounds. It plays and sounds great (to me), and it's super light! I am really liking it! I'm not sure if playing a SS will do me a dis-service as an aspiring bass player or not. I have small hands with sausage fingers, but I don't have any difficulty with my 34" at all. I wouldn't say the SS is easier to play, but it is lighter and just feels really comfortable. Thanks for reading! {} {}
Congrats on your new bass. May it serve you well. In my experience, it will not. I bought my first short scale bass in '83 and have been switching back and forth from SS to LS ever since. Obviously, YMMV.
Congrats. $125 is a fun, cost-effective experiment delving into the world of short-scale basses. And if it doesn't work out, well...you can always sell your fingers.
Thats a great deal, especially now that these are discontinued and all the sudden becoming a bit difficult to find. Don't overthink the SS thing and you have to play a 34" scale to be a REAL bass player because thats complete BS. If you like 30" scales because they are smaller, lighter and easier to play, then play a SS. Lots of great bass players have over the decades and plenty still do. Ive owned lots of both 30" and 34" basses and I prefer SS basses for some things but prefer a 34" scale for others, especially when I need to tune down. I would love a SS and a long scale Squier Jag and will probably get both at some point.