Best sounding short scale bass?

The regular non PJ or Mikey Way Mustang.

 

I am really happy with the sound I get from my Gibson SG with Labella flats. That said -- it's beyond deep and if you are into treble or slapping, you'll hate it. But for a basic pure deep tone, it's great.

 

Yes, definitely subjective. For me it's the Fender Mustang LE P/J available through Guitar Center and Musician's Friend. I tried a couple of the Reverend Wattplower basses but the didn't have the P bass style oomph (technical term) I like from my Mustang LE.

 

I've owned a few Japanese ones and never had a problem. There's a high end Mexican one and new American ones and I think there's a Squier now too. To me they sound like ballsier precisions.

 

Birdsong.

 

Here is a video made using my Maruszczyk Jake. The playing starts at 1:55.

Maybe not what you are looking for, but I think it sounds pretty darn good.

 

Chowny SWB-1 would be my choice if I had to buy a bass that wasn’t custom.

 

Since the mid '90s I've had 7 Mustang basses. I currently have three (MIJ, PJ/LE and CV) and never had any problem with the necks.

 

Fender Mustang Performer with P/J pickups.

 

I only play short scales now. I have a MIM Mustang PJ (strung with TI flats), a Chowny SWB-1, a Landing (defretted and strung with tapewounds) and my brand new baby (as of last weekend), the MusicMan Stingray Short Scale (just launched by EBMM at NAMM this year).

FWIW... the Mustang pretty much nails the sound of a P with flats with the P pickup only (I’m not so keen on the middle toggle switch setting with both P and J pups engaged). I upgraded the pups in mine to Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders and I reckon the Mustang PJ (as a P only) could hold its own anywhere.

The Chowny is an excellent bass (mine is an active model) with a wide range of sounds. It won’t nail a P sound for the purists IME but in a mix or on stage it can do most of anything you’d ask of it. I’m not sure about the Landing, I didn’t warm to it when fretted and I haven’t really bonded it with it fretless either. A bit too clinical and characterless for me.

The Stingray Short Scale is an absolute killer bass, already by far my favourite ever... huge tone and a joy to play. If you want the sound of a Ray, that’s the one to go for (although it ain’t cheap!).

Two others to add to the pot: the Gretsch Junior Jet is a lot of bass for the money and may get you close to P territory from the neck pickup, also Sire have just announced a new PJ short scale which (if it’s as good as other Sires I’ve played) is certainly worth a look. Finally... have a look at the Ibanez short scale PJs (Mikro, Talman) - I thought they were pretty good for the money and sounded decent enough.

 

So Anyway:
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But they're kinda heavy.

 

I have a short scale Danelectro Hodad coming any day. People say very good things here about them and the longhorns. I will report my findings.

 

If you want a Precision sound, Scott Beckwith can supply it. I have a cBass, (31" scale) from the original run of 20. It is just as Scott says: Set the tone where you want, back you volume off from 10 to 9, and there it is. Fat, juicy Precisioness. And it weighs less than 8 lbs.

 

If I were going to buy a short scale to cover a wide range of tones, including the classic Precision sound, it would be an Alien Audio Constellation with the P/Reverse-P pickup configuration. Alien Audio basses aren’t cheap, but they are amazing! And the owner, Chopper Anderson, is as nice a guy as you could hope to work with!

 

this here muckelroy 30” sounds glorious to me

 

Serek basses sure do appear to be sweet.

 

A 70's era Hagstrom Swede is hard to beat for quality and looks. With dual humbuckers that can be set for series or parallel it's also pretty versatile.

 

I put Bartolinis in my mim PJ 'Stang and I love it. Mustangs are great modding platforms...