Best short scale basses?

[Peeved T-40]

The Ibanez feels a little too much like a young learner’s instrument.

That's honestly what i always thought they where when I would see them in guitar center. A kids learner bass.

The Embassy might be the next “Long scale” bass on my wish list. I hear it is light, it has a standard 34” neck yet feels for some like a short scale bass.

We seem to have a lot in common. I've had my eye on the embassy for a long time. I love the over all vibe, especially the look of the pickups which are pretty similar to the Gretsch. almost guitar like

 

[GeorgesEric]

will try one of these Embassy at some point - would not buy online without trying first.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Agreed on both points, I had a Bronco a while back and moved it on in a matter of weeks, the stock tuners were junk and they rattled whenever I played a note and the pickup sounded dreadful, noisy, weak sounding, pretty much any other SS bass will be better than the Bronco, and they are overpriced for what they are.
Short scale strings for some reason tend to come in silly gauges like 90-40,95-40 etc, no idea why and that is why I use long scale strings on my SS bass

Broncos vary...i got a good one, no tuner issues and intonation is very close stock.

I did sand and Tru Oil the entire neck and dressed frets and a Bill Lawrence L250 (a hotter Strat pickup that sounds nothing like a Strat and dead quiet with a firm bottom end).

GHS flats....it is a serious bass and ive played many good ones....folks dig the necks on these...but some Broncos are not good.

 

[andare]

I can't stress 'nuff how I favor Longhorns...cheap, light, super confortable to play; and are capable of the tones I like the most on a bass: P with flats and 4001 with rounds...

Wow really nails that Rick vibe!

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I have a love/hate relationship with Pyramid Gold flats, I absolutely love the tone but they are just to stiff for me, they seem to be low tension but high stiffness, I used a set and I ended up taking them off because they made my plucking hand hurt

The Rotos I have heard that the weird overtones go once they break in but imo a set of strings should be useable from the moment they are on the bass, also with rounds I love the tone of brand new strings so the fact I would have to wait for them to break in before they sounded ok was just a big no no for me

Yeah, the Pyramid Golds can be very hit or miss. Personally I love them and the stiffness is exactly why I like them on short scale basses. Actually, I don't find the stiffness that bad compared to many long scale sets. They're stiff but with a nice "bounce". Not just ultra-stiff like say the Roto77 long scales. Still, the Golds wouldn't be my first choice if I had ONE bass that needed to be a good allrounder. I also don't like the Pyramid Golds nearly as much on long scale basses, that insane low E can get a bit muddy on long scale IMO.

I can assure you that the Roto 66 short scale set is RUBBISH and it has nothing to do with overtones or break in. The problem is they're so flimsy that they can't hold a steady pitch. They just go BOOOO--oooi--NNGG with the pitch going up and down, out of control. They're nearly impossible to tune properly, impossible to intonate and very hard to to get a steady pitch without making serious compromises to your playing technique. I will be truly SHOCKED if there's even a single bass player out there who likes the Roto 66 short scale set. It's way beyond "personal taste". They're RUBBISH! The long scale sets are great though, if you're looking for that kind of tone.

 

[WestyBassBob]

Yeah, the Pyramid Golds can be very hit or miss. Personally I love them and the stiffness is exactly why I like them on short scale basses. Actually, I don't find the stiffness that bad compared to many long scale sets. They're stiff but with a nice "bounce". Not just ultra-stiff like say the Roto77 long scales. Still, the Golds wouldn't be my first choice if I had ONE bass that needed to be a good allrounder. I also don't like the Pyramid Golds nearly as much on long scale basses, that insane low E can get a bit muddy on long scale IMO.

I can assure you that the Roto 66 short scale set is RUBBISH and it has nothing to do with overtones or break in. The problem is they're so flimsy that they can't hold a steady pitch. They just go BOOOO--oooi--NNGG with the pitch going up and down, out of control. They're nearly impossible to tune properly, impossible to intonate and very hard to to get a steady pitch without making serious compromises to your playing technique. I will be truly SHOCKED if there's even a single bass player out there who likes the Roto 66 short scale set. It's way beyond "personal taste". They're RUBBISH! The long scale sets are great though, if you're looking for that kind of tone.

The Roto66s are not good. I don’t know if your explanation is correct but the set that I tried would not tune the E string. It eventually just snapped.
Now the Roto77s? Those are some sweet strings for the Mikro IMO.

 

[msb]

I've in interested in these for a long time but I wanted the EB3. I assumed they where the same other than the EB3 having a second pickup. But the EB3 isn't a short scale like the EB0 which really bummed me out. I love the look of these basses but I really want the ability to use a bridge pickup.

Check out the Gibson SG Bass . Unlike the EB3 it has Tbird style pickups under the covers so they are balanced . Great little bass .

 

[lug]

I've in interested in these for a long time but I wanted the EB3. I assumed they where the same other than the EB3 having a second pickup. But the EB3 isn't a short scale like the EB0 which really bummed me out. I love the look of these basses but I really want the ability to use a bridge pickup.

The EB3 came in both short scale and long scale. The long scales are designated EB3L.

 

[Peeved T-40]

The EB3 came in both short scale and long scale. The long scales are designated EB3L.

interesting. I guess I didn't really look into it. Sweetwater just has the long scale and it's just called the EB3. I just assumed that's how it was

 

[EdO.]

My impression is that the Ibanez seems faster to play than the Gretsch, the sound is common to my ear of a P/J style pickups style. Nothing special sonically speaking, ok though.

I haven’t played the Gretsch but I agree about the Mikro. Very fast narrow neck and very low action.

Just picked up a Micro this week (making it #12 or 13 basses in my stable now, starting to lose count...) and I have to say that I'm fairly impressed, it's definitely a legit player and not just a "beginners" instrument. Needed a slight neck adjustment and intonation and string height setup but got it playing like a champ pretty quickly. Nice straight neck, low action, definitely a player. Kinda sharp fret ends but that's easily enough fixed.

Interesting story. I find stuff on an auction site available here locally from time to time, all kinds of stuff mostly nothing interesting (mostly Amazon and Target etc customer returns) but occasionally something musical will pop up. I've gotten 4 - 5 Chauvet par 64 LED stage lights there, brand new in the box and haven't given over $40 for any of them, a couple around $20, work perfectly. Anyway two weeks ago a Micro popped up but someone wanted it more than I did and I got out bid on it at $100. To my surprise another one popped up this week, checked the photos they post to see what the box/packaging looked like and it appeared to be like new so I put in a reserve bid of $90 on it and ended up winning it at $82, with fees and taxes it came to $103 out the door. Has one somewhat noticeable scratch on the upper bout but otherwise absolutely brand new condition. My thought was I'll pick it up hoping some day my 6 year old grandson who likes to watch me rehearse sometimes might get the bug, this'll make a good starter instrument for him. But I'm thinking at some point I'll gig it for a set or two just to see what kind of reaction I get from my band mates.

 

[nFinnyD]

My shorty is an Ibanez TMB35, it’d looked cool and was on sale for ~200 at the time. It was the only short scale 5 string I could find at the time. I put an $80 pickup in it and now it will be my main gig bass(if the live music industry ever returns). I would like to get a hollow body shorty too, like a Hofner Club, Dano(the shornhorn though), or similar(have a lead on someone with a semi hollow 5 string Ibanez ABG.

SOMEDAY I will get a 30” Mensinger Cazpar 5(or maybe 6) semi hollow fretless.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

I've been playing my Danelectro live and in the studio for about 20 years. I only have a soft case for it. (have never found a hard case) and have never had a problem.

I’ve used several Dano and Jerry Jones Longhorns over the last 30 or so years and never even heard of anyone breaking a horn. It’ll a non-issue.

 

[WestyBassBob]

I’ve used several Dano and Jerry Jones Longhorns over the last 30 or so years and never even heard of anyone breaking a horn. It’ll a non-issue.

Assuming the horns are made out of hardwood like ash or maple and cut with straight grain they are deceptively strong.

 

[groove pump]

Searching for a decent Jazz that's light enough to be useful for me going forward, but also want one with a comfortably wide neck. I seem to be partial to a width of about 41mm at the nut.

Recently I spotted a short scale (30") Maruszczyk Elwood at a shop that's about an hour and a half away. I've never really considered a short scale, but I absolutely WILL make the hike to that shop with enough cash to make a deal if a love connection happens. That thing looks nothing but right!!

 

[DavidEdenAria]

That's honestly what i always thought they where when I would see them in guitar center. A kids learner bass.



We seem to have a lot in common. I've had my eye on the embassy for a long time. I love the over all vibe, especially the look of the pickups which are pretty similar to the Gretsch. almost guitar like

My bud has a real 60's Embassy, real nice great sounding bass but my 65 Epiphone Newport that i got from same dude 'buries' the Embassy IF you have a powerful clean amp with some shelving EQ like my Eden Metro.

 

[Lowendchamp]

I got my son a Squier mini (avatar) and I upgraded it for him with a hi mass bridge and a 50s Fender pickup. I couldn't find flats for it so I left the rounds that came with it on. I needed it when I went to Virginia on a business trip lately and all I have to say is Wow! I am super impressed with this cheap mini. The sound is almost exactly like a Player series P. Of coarse it still feels cheap because of the cheap fretboard but the finish was still good and no sharp frets. It's not a replacement for my MIA P by any means, but it definitely made my time away from home more bearable. I also have a MIA Fender Mustang I absolutely love, but you want loose strings without sacrificing sound I recommend the 28.6" scale Squier mini.

 

[REV]

Assuming the horns are made out of hardwood like ash or maple and cut with straight grain they are deceptively strong.

Actually, I believe the body of a Danelectro bass is a kind of "frame" made of poplar with a top and back made of masonite.

 

[msb]

Danos might be feather light , but they’re tough as nails .

 

[PotsdamBass8]

Searching for a decent Jazz that's light enough to be useful for me going forward, but also want one with a comfortably wide neck. I seem to be partial to a width of about 41mm at the nut.

Recently I spotted a short scale (30") Maruszczyk Elwood at a shop that's about an hour and a half away. I've never really considered a short scale, but I absolutely WILL make the hike to that shop with enough cash to make a deal if a love connection happens. That thing looks nothing but right!!

I have a 5 string Elwood shorty, it’s a great bass. Not sure what your budget is, but if you like the one they have their but the neck isn’t wide enough, I’d consider having one built with a wider neck. They’re a great value.

 

[WestyBassBob]

Actually, I believe the body of a Danelectro bass is a kind of "frame" made of poplar with a top and back made of masonite.

Poplar is plenty strong too. It’s just ugly.