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Budget short scale for Motown?

#64
George Mann said:
Here's the thing. None of your uneducated opinions will ever suffice to explain away the facts that I have presented.

There are no ready-made affordable short scales that I am aware of that are suitable for replicating the classic Motown sound. That's just the facts!

Now, she can either buy a bass and modify it (premature?), or just use the instrument as is in order to learn to play it.
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Who cares about the "facts" you have presented ? The thread is about someone wanting to buy a bass for a beginner friend who wants a short scale and loves the Motown sound, not about your over inflated ego.

Why does every thread on TB have to devolve into some kind of pissing match about minute details or semantics ?

A lot of good recommendations already in the thread so I won't pile on, but Jesus.
 
#65
BillyRay said:
Who cares about the "facts" you have presented ? The thread is about someone wanting to buy a bass for a beginner friend who wants a short scale and loves the Motown sound, not about your over inflated ego.

Why does every thread on TB have to devolve into some kind of pissing match about minute details or semantics ?
Click to expand...
De-evolution is real, that's why.

:D
 
#68
Hi

I'm 70 and played Motown when it was new , and old.And with some of the artist back then.I use a Fender Squier Short Scale bass with Fender Flates 9050 CL on my bass.I think it sounds just like my Fender P when I was just starting.Its a great bass for the money.It needs the right strings.I also use a Fender Rumble amp that helps with the Motown sound.I played when Motown started.I don't think many people now days really know the sound.Keep the horn out of the amp.You are looking for a low sound that you can hear and feel the thump.The bass guitar should help minic the bass drum.That's what we where trying to do in the 50 & 60.I was in a band of 9 people with a very good horn section.We backed up many recording artist .The band stayed together for 30 yrs.

Thanks

Davesound
 
#70
At rehearsal the other night I used my Squier VM Jaguar shortscale bass ($179 locally) for the first time. It has it's stock pickups and I had put Labella nylon tapewound strings on. I never use the bridge pickup and I usually pluck up by the neck to get a thumpier tone, but for some reason on "How Sweet It Is" I rested my thumb on the P pickup and played there. After the song was over the drummer remarked how much the bass "sounded like Motown" on that song...I have to agree with him...it did.
 
#71
Thanks Davesound and other, glad the herd was so knowlegeable.

Looks like we might shoot for the Jag SS now, if it really is that much nicer stock than the Bronce than either it is a steal or the Bronco is overpriced. Does the Jag SS have typical Fender bridge spacing or is it narrower like the Bronco?

Maybe if it were going to be mine I might choose a used Bronco with the intention of modding it.
 
#72
FourBanger said:
Thanks Davesound and other, glad the herd was so knowlegeable.

Looks like we might shoot for the Jag SS now, if it really is that much nicer stock than the Bronce than either it is a steal or the Bronco is overpriced. Does the Jag SS have typical Fender bridge spacing or is it narrower like the Bronco?

Maybe if it were going to be mine I might choose a used Bronco with the intention of modding it.
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The Jag SS has a typical 2 1/4" spacing. The neck feels much better to me than the Bronco's. The J pup is a little weak but you probably wouldn't use it that much for copping the Motown sound.
 
#74
::::BASSIST:::: said:
+1 The Squire Jag SS is alot of bass for the money. Looks great, solid player, nice neck.
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+2

But that's not to say I didn't play with it some...

I put on Labella nylon tapes and replaced the tuners with Gotoh Res-O-lite 350 tuners I had from another project. I also did my usual nut slot and fret dressing I do on all new production basses but it functioned perfectly well without those.

Since it has a black body, I stealthed it a bit with an old black bridge I had laying around doing nothing, black Sharpie on the pickguard edge and to darken the fingerboard dots and nut, black strap buttons (also found in my big cigar box of parts I might use someday), black tape over the control plate until I can find a black chrome control plate, and black screws for the pickguard and control plate.
 
#75
I agree with Davesound about everything except the "follow the bass drum" part. True, on some songs the bass drum and bass work with each other, but on most Motown songs, Jamerson plays all over the bass drum rather than with it.
 
#76
Hi

Sorry my minic the Bass drum meaning wasn't very clear.My meaning of minic the bass drum ,didn't mean follow,is to have a tight percussive sound like a good tight bass drum ,not a marching band boomy sound.Clearer?

Davesound
 

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