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Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses

SBassman

SBassman

Jun 8, 2003
9,789
3,350
Northeast, US
#1
I'm having so much fun with my 24.7" Ibanez PNB14E Parlor bass that I have to keep singing the praises of this class of instrument. I thought I would set up a thread specifically for guitar scale / 23 to 25" scale acoustic basses. There are now a bunch on the market:

- Ibanez PNB14E
- Ibanez AVNB1E
- Guild Jumbo Junior
- Taylor GS Mini
- Goldtone

Let's talk about these basses and strings. I replaced the DAddario EXPPBB190 strings that came on my PNB14E - with La Bella CB40 Contrabass strings. It's so much fun to play.

Let's help grow this segment so that manufacturers consider other models of these ridiculously fun to play basses.
20180722_172450.jpg
 
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#3
Silver plated, soft strings with, I think, a nylon core.

Since they are "soft", they don't implode when they are cut. Therefore, they install properly on any scale. So, I am using them on my 24.7" Ibanez PNB14E with great results. None of the phosphor bronze tone that I don't like. It's nice mellow tone that is very comfortable and easy to play. They could use a slight increase in gauge, but even at the stock gauges, I use them very successfully on this bass. Intonation on this bass with these strings is absolutely perfect.
 
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#7
ORTEGA ODW-4
D-Walker custom made short scale bass strings are silver-plated wound on nylon silk. The strings and tension is special designed for the D-Walker basses and a scale of max. 630mm/24,80''. They produce an exelent tone and timbre and are perfectly balanced.
 
#11
There is a thread for sub-short scale bass. I'm a bass uke and mini bass player, all my basses are between 21 to 24 inch scale. I buy many from Rondomusic.com, and also modify junior guitars into a bass. I use Road Toad Pahoehoe poly bass uke strings, also LaBella 25" flat wounds made exclusively for the Gold Tone M-bass (I don't like round wound at all), they work well for any sub-short. Here's my current group of basses.

Bass Collection.jpg
 
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#13
tymbrewolf said:
I think there really is a niche for this thread as most of the other ones don't have acoustics with metal strings.
Click to expand...

I agree. BTW - I Started the Sub Short thread many years ago. But that also covers - and often focuses on - the synthetic string stuff. I wanted this thread to stay focused on Guitar Scale Basses - defined as 23 to 25" with metal strings - not uke scales with rubber strings.

This specific market segment is now growing, and I think it will be helpful to have a thread focused on it.
 
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#15
KohanMike said:
There is a thread for sub-short scale bass. I'm a bass uke and mini bass player, all my basses are between 21 to 24 inch scale. I buy many from Rondomusic.com, and also modify junior guitars into a bass. I use Road Toad Pahoehoe poly bass uke strings, also LaBella 25" flat wounds made exclusively for the Gold Tone M-bass (I don't like round wound at all), they work well for any sub-short. Here's my current group of basses.
Click to expand...

Rondo sold a 24" scale bass uke at some point? It's definitely 24" scale?
 
#16
SBassman said:
I wanted this thread to stay focused on Guitar Scale Basses - defined as 23 to 25" with metal strings - not uke scales with rubber strings.
Click to expand...
OK, I'll have to stay off this thread since all of my acoustic small basses have poly strings.

tymbrewolf said:
Savannah with labella s? Same bridge?fretted? Ok intonation?
Click to expand...
Same bridge, fretted, intonation is a little sharp at the 12th fret, but fine for me.

SBassman said:
Rondo sold a 24" scale bass uke at some point? It's definitely 24" scale?
Click to expand...
Yes, it listed with a 22-33 number. They tend to get out of stock quickly.
 
#17
Just picked up an Ibanex AVNB1E, got it from Guitar Factory via Reverb. Paid just over $300 for it due to a small nick on the front edge (barely noticeable). Waiting for a set of LaBella CB40 strings to arrive but so far very happy with the bass. I've had several UBUke basses (UBass, Gold Tone) and they didnt do it for me. This bass is a keeper.

One not-so-great photo below:


Ibanez.jpg
 
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#19
bherman said:
Just picked up an Ibanex AVNB1E, got it from Guitar Factory via Reverb. Paid just over $300 for it due to a small nick on the front edge (barely noticeable). Waiting for a set of LaBella CB40 strings to arrive but so far very happy with the bass. I've had several UBUke basses (UBass, Gold Tone) and they didnt do it for me. This bass is a keeper.

One not-so-great photo below:


View attachment 3120728
Click to expand...

Congrats. That's a great deal. A nick wouldn't bother me in the least - especially one that saved me 200 dollars. :) Enjoy. I hope you like the CB40s on it. Please let us know what you think.

If my new passion continues, that bass is in my future. :)
 
#20
SBassman said:
Congrats. That's a great deal. A nick wouldn't bother me in the least - especially one that saved me 200 dollars. :) Enjoy. I hope you like the CB40s on it. Please let us know what you think.

If my new passion continues, that bass is in my future. :)
Click to expand...

I agree the nick wasn't a big issue for me, and it was actually less noticeable than portrayed in the ad (kudos to the seller for honest representation). Hoping the strings will show up Monday - LaBella has shipped them out. Will post a review after I get them on. This is primarily meant as a travel practice bass for me when camping, but we'll see what the future holds. Havent even plugged it in yet - nice full sound acoustic, more than adequate for practice.
 
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