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Favorite short scale bass
- Thread starter BigN8bass
- Start date
My musicmasters have remained my workhorses. I've owned an Allen Woody, Hofner Ignition Club bass, Gretsch 220 and they all went down the road. But the Musicmasters will stay with me. Both of them were in bad shape when I got them and are now done just how I like them.
But many will never get past the "economy" status on them. That's ok, you do you and I'll do me.
But many will never get past the "economy" status on them. That's ok, you do you and I'll do me.
Would recommend and would buy it all over again. Would pay more than I spent. I love this bass.
This plays easily, sounds fantastic, is versatile for multiple music styles. Duesenberg Starplayer is 30.7" scale.
And it looks this cool:
This plays easily, sounds fantastic, is versatile for multiple music styles. Duesenberg Starplayer is 30.7" scale.
And it looks this cool:
I have a 30” Danelectro that sounds great, looks cool, and weighs nothing. I can only halfheartedly recommend it, though, because it is unusually sensitive to seasonal variations. It’s a crapshoot whether it will be playable at any given time.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
I have a few:
-Eastwood Vintage
-Nordstrand Cat Bass
-Supro Huntington II fretless
-G&L Legacy Fallout
-Kalamazoo KB-1 (1967, Gibson's cheap version of the EB-0)
My favorites at this point are the Nordstrand and the G&L for different reasons. The Nordy is super light, plays easy and the switches are intuitive. The G&L has some weight, plays easy and the tone knob doesn't do the usual treble roll off.
The Supro gets a nod as well, as it's a great fretless with the hidden piezos. I'm pretty sad these didn't take off; they're wicked.
-Eastwood Vintage
-Nordstrand Cat Bass
-Supro Huntington II fretless
-G&L Legacy Fallout
-Kalamazoo KB-1 (1967, Gibson's cheap version of the EB-0)
My favorites at this point are the Nordstrand and the G&L for different reasons. The Nordy is super light, plays easy and the switches are intuitive. The G&L has some weight, plays easy and the tone knob doesn't do the usual treble roll off.
The Supro gets a nod as well, as it's a great fretless with the hidden piezos. I'm pretty sad these didn't take off; they're wicked.
My JMJ has become my go to bass and always sounds great in the mix and is very comfortable to play. Love the feel of the neck though every now and then when it starts getting sticky I sand or steel wool a little and its fine.
I have 2, A Squier Jag ss, and a Gretsch 2120. Both are very nice instruments. I upgraded the Jag (a lot!) but not out of necessity, it is a great bass. Th Gretsch is stock, except for the strings and the bridge cover, because, you know, bridge cover! It needs nothing to be a great, not just great for the price, bass. I have a Fender Jazz, a Schecter C4 Custom, and a Godin full scale, but there is nothing cheap, toy-like, or beginnerish about either of my short scales.
My favorite short scale is a Kubicki Ex-Factor. It's 32" so it's probably referred to as a medium scale. I mostly play 34" but it doesn't take me long to adjust to 32". The medium is easier for me to play but there are other factors with the Kubicki that contribute to that, especially its neck profile and lack of neck dive whatsoever.
You might want to give medium scale a try but I don't think there are many basses made to that length for some unknown reason. Strings are no problem since long scale strings fit just fine. However, the Ex-Factor requires an extra long E string due to the clamp but that's a special case.
You might want to give medium scale a try but I don't think there are many basses made to that length for some unknown reason. Strings are no problem since long scale strings fit just fine. However, the Ex-Factor requires an extra long E string due to the clamp but that's a special case.
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Reverend Wattplower is my favorite. For perspective I've owned...
EBMM Stingray SS (my second choice)
SBMM Stingray SS
MIJ Mustang Bass
Squier CV Mustang Bass
Fender MIM Mustang Bass
Reverend Dub King
Gibson EB0 SG Bass (3rd place)
Epiphone EB0 SG Bass
Bacchus WJB Mini (my current backup and nightmare project)
Guild Jumbo Jr. AE Bass
EBMM Stingray SS (my second choice)
SBMM Stingray SS
MIJ Mustang Bass
Squier CV Mustang Bass
Fender MIM Mustang Bass
Reverend Dub King
Gibson EB0 SG Bass (3rd place)
Epiphone EB0 SG Bass
Bacchus WJB Mini (my current backup and nightmare project)
Guild Jumbo Jr. AE Bass
There are so many options! I prefer the Mustang in my avatar just because it rings like a bell. I don't know much about the Nordstrand. It seems very much to be its own thing. The Mustang and Wattplower are from different schools of short scale.
Mustangs are kind of like more reserved versions of a P-Bass. That sounds like a bad thing, but in a mix it sounds amazing. Out of every bass I've tried, my Mustang loses the least, and projects best, when the loud band comes in. To me, the classic Mustang sound uses flats a la the JMJ. My favorite are Dunlop flats 45-105 for their size and projection.
The Wattplower is based on Gibson EB-0, although with the pickup placement moved toward the bridge. I've only played a Wattplower in a store, but my old band had an EB-0, which I played quite a bit over a number of years. EB-0s are dark sounding and very powerful with a lot of low-mids, and sound best to me with roundwound strings. They can sound tubby if you're not careful. The pickup placement in a Wattplower tames this but does not eradicate it. It's a powerful dark voice. The Wattplower is more versatile than an EB-0, but it certainly encourages a more forceful, Watt-like approach.
Don't sleep on the various hollowbodies. To me, Hofner and Guild hollow and semi-hollow basses (also with flats) have some of the ultimate classic short-scale sounds.
Mustangs are kind of like more reserved versions of a P-Bass. That sounds like a bad thing, but in a mix it sounds amazing. Out of every bass I've tried, my Mustang loses the least, and projects best, when the loud band comes in. To me, the classic Mustang sound uses flats a la the JMJ. My favorite are Dunlop flats 45-105 for their size and projection.
The Wattplower is based on Gibson EB-0, although with the pickup placement moved toward the bridge. I've only played a Wattplower in a store, but my old band had an EB-0, which I played quite a bit over a number of years. EB-0s are dark sounding and very powerful with a lot of low-mids, and sound best to me with roundwound strings. They can sound tubby if you're not careful. The pickup placement in a Wattplower tames this but does not eradicate it. It's a powerful dark voice. The Wattplower is more versatile than an EB-0, but it certainly encourages a more forceful, Watt-like approach.
Don't sleep on the various hollowbodies. To me, Hofner and Guild hollow and semi-hollow basses (also with flats) have some of the ultimate classic short-scale sounds.
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Rifht on the Wattplower EB0. Looks like a P, but is darker overall. With bright steel strings and some EQ it cranks nicely. I tracked an album with mine before COVID lockdown last year and will take it right back to the studio in August for another album.
It sits well in the mix, despite being darker.
Most short scales sit pretty well in the mix, for whatever reason.
Basvarken
Commercial User
- Dec 3, 2010
- 1,743
- 10,606
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- Hobby Luthier / Gibson Bass Book
My no1 bass is my 1969 Gibson Les Paul Bass. It is short scale (30 1/2 inch)
The lo-z- humbuckers are incredible.
Best tone I have ever heard. Deep tight lows, chrystal clear highs. And everything in between.
The sound of the two humbuckers enhanced, with the Tone selector on 3, and pickups In-Phase, is incredibly tight. You get a natural compression that is awesome.
The neck is a bit narrow but rather thick. Very comfortable to play.
The bass is a bit heavy. But because of the excellent balance you don't really notice.
The lo-z- humbuckers are incredible.
Best tone I have ever heard. Deep tight lows, chrystal clear highs. And everything in between.
The sound of the two humbuckers enhanced, with the Tone selector on 3, and pickups In-Phase, is incredibly tight. You get a natural compression that is awesome.
The neck is a bit narrow but rather thick. Very comfortable to play.
The bass is a bit heavy. But because of the excellent balance you don't really notice.
I forgot to mention the Club Bass. Those things sound huge. Every time I see a band with one of them, the bass sounds great.
For several years, I played a ‘75 or ‘76 Musicmaster Bass as my primary bass with my main band. It had been my dad’s since new in ‘76. I love that bass. Rotosound .110 77 flats. Does all I need tonally, and well. Well built. Not too precious. Comfortable neck.
That said, the new Guild Starfire II that I just got a few weeks ago is simply one of the best sounding basses I have ever played. Every switch position just sounds great. Beefy but not muddy. Present but not twangy. Truly great sounding instrument…and well built too, for an outsourced bass.
That said, the new Guild Starfire II that I just got a few weeks ago is simply one of the best sounding basses I have ever played. Every switch position just sounds great. Beefy but not muddy. Present but not twangy. Truly great sounding instrument…and well built too, for an outsourced bass.
my jay turser beatle bass, with beatle bass flats and a quality set up (full fret grind/level, chalk fitting the bridge) will destroy any other short scale bass i've ever heard.
it's a $200 or so bass. the sound is outrageous.
it's a $200 or so bass. the sound is outrageous.
