Getting old

[iiipopes]

But do you guys think I am crazy for trading for a short scale the Mitchell is a nice bass plays very well sounds very nice.

I have a Mitchell short-scale that I use for a travel bass. In my opinion, it is the best value-for-money short scale bass out there, with a retail price of @$150; I got mine on sale for $100. Mitchell is the Schecter store brand, kind of like Squier to Fender or Epiphone to Gibson. Great overall QC and feels and plays very well indeed, good frets, good neck contour, balanced body.

Being that inexpensive, DON'T trade: you will get the short end of the deal. If you can no longer play your full scale bass, sell it privately for fair market value, which should be much more than the price of a new Mitchell short scale.

Also, if you do go the short scale direction, I highly recommend the GHS Balanced Pure Nickel strings. They have a big, round tone; they don't flop, twang or go thump; they are, as the name suggests, balanced in feel and tone string-to-string and up the neck. They have good longetivity and are reasonably priced. I put on a set last autumn in preparation for my band's annual Mexico trip last February, and after rehearsals and gigs, I still don't need to change the strings.

 

[Ignatius]

Lakland makes a short-scale, the HB 30. It looks like an Italian make from the '60s, but it is definitely a Lakland.
View attachment 4318833

I got one of these, but in brown sunburst, in December. One of the best gear decisions I have ever made! At a hair over 7lbs it is less than half the weight of my Lakland 44-60 which was my main gigging bass for a few years. The 44-60 plays beautifully, records like a dream and sits elegently in a live mix...but the weight... ugh the weight, plus my comparatively small hands.

My HB30 is much more comfortable to play. I found that I can get a wide range of tones out of it by mixing pickup levels and picking hand placement.

 

[texasbassman51]

I played a P bass for many years and had some shoulder issues and neck muscle movement. Being a right handed player caused my left shoulder muscles to move differently than my right shoulder muscles. I had to correct this with therapy years ago. what I really found important was a balanced bass with no neck dive and adjusted my p bass rear strap button. Switching to 5 string and even a dingwall 37" was fine as long as the guitar was balanced. Warning to potential Explorer bass players...make sure you have a good chiropractor and/or guitar tech...worst neck dive on the planet. I prefer the jazz style narrow nut now thought and I don't hold my bass neck above my shoulders as in my bio pic. I try to have my bass just below my solar plexus for balance and less wrist strain compared to positioning your bass too low.

 

[Thorsoundcore]

Late here as usual, but would I personally think you're crazy? Not at all. Just got my first short scale earlier this year and I'm only turning 31. I work entirely with my hands and have pretty stubby fingers, and I've already delved into the awesome world of medium scales. Can still play longs just fine for now, but I have a feeling my shorter scale buddies will come in handy if I'm still around in another 40 yrs.

 

[BHaev]

Lots of great feedback on this thread. In addition to all the technique and proper positioning I'll give a strong endorsement of the Ibanez EHB1005SMS. It's one of the best ergonomic bass choices available right now. Very light, incredibly well balanced (headless), is a shorter scale, has adjustable string spacing, sounds great and has what is now my favorite neck.

 

[soundsupport1]

In your shoes, I'd see if I could try out one of these: Lakland Skyline Hollowbody-30 Bass Guitar - Tobacco Sunburst | Sweetwater
30" scale length, hollowbody (so hardly any weight), extremely well made and a good partner to your existing Lakland.

If you can, try one in a store. They are a popular model, shouldn't be totally impossible to find one.

Peace,
SoundSupport

 

[Splash7]

Mbrace is temporarily out of production according to their website.

I will be surprised if we see the Mbrace back in production. In my email correspondence with the owner, he said that he has lost the ability to manufacture the Mbrace in the US, with some odd reasoning. He said he is looking at selling the molds and hardware to someone else to produce them, but wasn't firm on that happening. I got the impression he just doesn't want to make them anymore.

 

[chris_b]

I understand. For over 10 years, I loaded in the staging, lighting, PA and my bass gear, performed, often 4 hr sets, then loaded out, usually on my own, and many times 3 nights a week for our band. A few years ago I had just rented the PA out including my bass cab, and was carrying that upstairs into my place when my L shoulder let go. The cab fell on the step above my feet, hit me in the shins, knocked me backwards down a long flight of stairs bouncing on my legs and chest until I hit the landing, where it was still on my chest. I decided it was time to give up after that. The L shoulder had a full reconstruction and I couldn't play for a year. The PA was sold off.

My only irregular gig now is accompanying 2 girls on acoustics in small gigs and I most often use my little practice amp for that as it's loud enough and small and light.

Wow. Glad you've recovered. That could have been much worse. I know a guy who died tumbling down the stairs!!

 

[OregonMike]

I don't know how much you'd get but a Short scale or med scale (32") are in fact easier to play . Not sure if that will be easier for you but yeah it's a little better reach . Mainly it's easier on the fingerboard as you don't need to stretch out as much . So perhaps keep that for now , pick up a new bass

Might have been mentioned already, but have you considered a hip strap? Slinger seems to make a popular one.

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

This solution has stood the test of time:

 

[A9X]

This solution has stood the test of time:

Playing left handed? Doesn't help me at all.

 

[A9X]

Wow. Glad you've recovered. That could have been much worse. I know a guy who died tumbling down the stairs!!

Thanks. I was badly bruised for a week, but the thing that upset me was that one of my neighbours complained about the noise (apartment building) I made going down the stairs, yet didn't bother to come and see what it was.

 

[fishdreams]

Dano Longhorns are awesome. Sound great and a true American classic, design wise. But to me they are best suited ergonomically speaking, to playing with a pick. Being of the tall&burly variety, i find playing fingertstyle on it not the most comfortable.

 

[funkmaster p]

As a 58 year old dude that has had 3 shoulder surgeries I can tell you that a shorter scale instrument can make a huge difference. Just be sure to type in the instrument model of the bass you are interested in and the search words "neck dive" and look at the results. You won't be doing yourself any favors by acquiring a short scale instrument that is not well-balanced.

 

[darwin-bass]

BE CAREFUL

Some short scale instruments (Fallout, I'm looking at you) move the bridge in toward the center of the body and have the same long reach to the nut as a full scale instrument.

If the shorter reach is what you're after tune it down a full step and capo at the 2nd fret. The dot markers will be off but you'll now be playing 30" scale in length and string tension. I've done this with my 34" scale and it really works. But unlike a true shorty, you are still dealing with all the length & weight of the full neck and the neck-dive that may cause.

I play Warmoth medium scale (32") basses. They are standard fender-shaped-objects with the bridge right up against the end of the body. The reach to the nut is shorter than 34" scale and the closer spacing makes them less work to play.

 

[darwin-bass]

... You won't be doing yourself any favors by acquiring a short scale instrument that is not well-balanced.

I'd expand this to say nobody ever does themselves a favor by having a bass of any scale length that is not well balanced.

 

[darwin-bass]

I'm 71 (!). 5'7'' Small to medium hands. Sorry, I've tried 32" scale, and I only find satisfaction with 34" scale. Better to adapt than to sacrifice performance.

I'm curious. What performance aspects were sacrificed with 32" scale?

 

[A9X]

I'm still of the view, having 30 and 34" basses, that the easiest reach involves a standard 34" 5 string, with the neck as vertical as possible.

 

[darwin-bass]

I'm still of the view, having 30 and 34" basses, that the easiest reach involves a standard 34" 5 string, with the neck as vertical as possible.

So, reaching low E at the 5th fret on the B string? That makes the scale about 26". Clearly the reach is significantly reduced.

Along with this benefit the 5 string has some potential issues. Muting is more challenging. Narrow string spacing could be an issue. The neck will be wider. The headstock will be heavier shifting the weight balance in the wrong direction.

Whether these potential issues are actual issues depends on the player.

 

[TomB]

So, reaching low E at the 5th fret on the B string? That makes the scale about 26". Clearly the reach is significantly reduced.

Along with this benefit the 5 string has some potential issues. Muting is more challenging. Narrow string spacing could be an issue. The neck will be wider. The headstock will be heavier shifting the weight balance in the wrong direction.

Whether these potential issues are actual issues depends on the player.

It also depends on the bass design. An 8lb well-balanced short-scale 5-string with 18-19 mm spacing is possible. I know, I have one. There are many things to learn for a 4-stringer moving to a short-scale 5, and ergonomics may be the least of them. But it also maybe a solution for (aging) challenged shoulders!