Best sounding short scale bass?

[goodformetal]

Nordy Acinonyx hands down

 

[Joe Low]

Sandberg VT Lionel

 

[west al]

My best sound is from my Epi EB-0, strung with D'Addario ETB92S Nylons.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Nordy Acinonyx hands down

Cuz I like posting vids ...

Got to do a Leslie West tribute show w/ Corky Laing last month. I think its a good representation of what the Acinonyx can do. And I played the entire show with the bridge pickup only. I own no other bass that I would ever do that with.

FWIW--- this video really is a "wait for it," video. Corky did something none of us expected...

 

[zyxwfish]

I am not trying to kick the hornets nest here, and I realize this is subjective. I enjoy playing short scale basses. But I can never get the tone I am looking for. At rehearsal last week I picked up a Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling bass. I plugged it in and I was surprised by how much different it sounded than my Reverend Wattplower short scale. I have tried about six different short scales and the Wattplower blew everything else away.

I know that short scales and full size basses are structurally different, and I realize there are a ton of other factors like pick-ups and amps etc that can change the sound.

What I am looking for is the short scale that sounds closest to a full size, or my specifically, closest to the Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling bass that I played or even a P-bass. Or maybe I am looking for a unicorn... who knows.

Thanks in advance.

This one I made here is 28 5/8 scale and takes medium scale strings. Sounds like a full scale with the modern electronics and ebony fretboard and what not.

 

[MartyBerg]

I'm a "talkbass" rookie. It looks like there's a ton of good info., experience, and expertise in this forum.

I play an MTD five-string (35"). It's a great bass; depth and clarity abound. My favourite bass sound is a rich low-end (think decadent milk chocolate), with a touch of growl as needed, nice mid's and upper register, again with a hint of grit as required. Clarity is important to me. I play it through a Markbass MINI CMD 121P. Together they're a great sounding duo that cut through the mix in just the right way.

Recently I saw this; , and was blown away. Mr. Lefebvre is a Master player and his "new" signature short scale (30") stopped me in my tracks. I don't have big hands, and the ones I have are showing their age (a bit of arthritis, etc.).

I'm wondering if it's possible to get a "big", rich sound out of a short scale bass (five-string please). Mr Lefebvre's excellent video made me think you can.

How would a guy access one of these to give it a spin before committing, is my question.

I'd appreciate thoughts from those who have short scale five-string knowledge/experience.

Cheers!!