Custom Short Scales - 32" and under - no factory guitars

I can understand a reaming, but how will you delete a post by someone else?

M. M.

 

Why did you edit out your intention to 'delete unwelcome posts' from your opening statement?

M. M.

 

32-scale Drake custom semi-hollowbody with two Bart jazz pickups and piezos in the four individual saddle/bridges. Awesome player and beautifully built by Andrew. Part his design, part mine and all his manufacture.

 

I don't own a short scale bass but this particular Birdsong model (31" scale) has always stirred my curiosity.



M. M.

 

Frankenbass 6 by Fat Steve posted Jan 28, 2015 at 10:53 AM

Frankenbass by Fat Steve posted Jan 28, 2015 at 10:53 AM

Frankenbass. Squier Jag SS neck, Hipshot Ultra light tuners, SX PJ JR body, EMG GZR pickups (not pictured, upgrade came after this shoot).

Yeah, I know, it's composed of factory parts. If that sticks in your craw, then go ahead and report it.

 

I noticed that you have Fender™ decals on two of the head stocks. Which bass were those necks taken from in order to have genuine authentic Fender™ decals?

 

I'm "All About that Bass, sub-short scale." I only play very short scale basses, all of mine are between 21-25 inches. I never played any longer because I started playing over a year ago when our ukulele group leader asked for volunteers to learn bass. I knew I didn't want to use a standard length bass, certainly not a standup. Looking at the Kala U-Bass, I didn't like the configuration, so I bought a Gold Tone GT MicroBass 23" and at the same time ordered a custom 21" fretless. Then I took off and now have 8 basses (as of next week when I receive the red violin style that took a year to modify, which will never happen again).

 

25 inch scale Picco Bass that I designed and marketed for about a year. Tuned to standard.

 

Ive had short scales since I started playing but most are 34 inch. I bought two Drakes prior to having a build done and they were both 33s. Small hands, unlike Donald, make the shorter scales easier to play and string-thru lets you use full scale strings

 

32" Drake custom PJ:

 

Those look fantastic! I also rail against the tyranny of the 34" scale, but I play mediums, not shorts, so I'll just enjoy this thread from the sideline.

 

So many nice basses on here, what a NICE thread. No long scales allowed.....I love it!

Blindrabbit, the thread is for 32" medium scalers and below so my instincts are that yours should be fine to post!

With sincere apologies to those who might be sick of seeing these, as they have most definitely made the rounds and have been posted here before.

Paul Reed Smith built medium scale serial #7 for me in 1976-7, but this medium scaler #11 ended up being my PRS keeper. It was the only bass I played and owned for over 19 years.



When my band got signed to a new deal in 1999, I had the PRS bass appraised and I realized it could never again leave the house. So, I had Keith Roscoe make me the first medium scaler he ever built. It has a birdseye maple top and an RMC midi system. It also has a drop D tuner and LED's on the side of the fretboard. Like the PRS before it, I needed two full octaves for utilitarian stage use and to duplicate the parts I had played on all the records. I went to Keith and picked out the wood with him and he measured the PRS neck exactly and duplicated it for me. The original bass had magnetic Barts on it - but I opted to have him eliminate them by making me a new body with no pickup routs:



After a while I realized I needed a stage back up so I had this medium scale 32" twin Roscoe built. This time Keith made the neck nice and wide at the nut - much more like a P bass, and again with all the same basic features. Again, I went to his shop and picked out the wood with him. Both feature a 13 Pin Roland jack right on the body:



In 2004 I had the good fortune of spending some time with Rob Allen when his shop was in Santa Barbara. Even though I am not much of a short scale guy - I fell head over heels in love with the way his "Mouse" models sounded and after he showed me a special slice of spalted and flamed maple - well - I realized I had to have him build it for me. Again, drop D tuner and LED's on the side of the fingerboard. I play hard with a pick so or me, fretted necks with ebony sound too "clacky". I opted for rosewood which Rob ebonized for me to look like ebony:



I designed and had my own Viola bass built. I never cared much for the Hofner's - I mean - they sounded great but short scales are too cramped in the upper registers for me, so I wanted a medium scaler. I also wanted one that was built more like a violin or a viola and didn't feel so plastic. Transplanted a Line 6 Variax electronics package into this one and Keith Roscoe did the finish for me:



I found "Wilma" - this medium scale semi-hollow body built by luthier Andrew Drake and I fell in love with it just from the photos on his website. The wenge set-neck is awesome and the mahogany binding on the fretboard is a work of art - as is all of the workmanship. I also love the naturally occurring pale streak down the center of her body.

 

These are a few of my favorite 32" scale conversion neck builds from the thread here:

For Sale - LOWE Custom USA Unfinished 32" Scale Conversion Necks

 

This is something I'm working on.