Help me understand....why use micro and short scale basses?

[ZenG]

For me:- seriously:-

(1) I like the way that most shortcales I've encountered play. Far and away more comfortable (for me) to play than longscales. So I enjoy the shortscale more.

(2) I have been into the music store countless times and played and compared basses that they have through all sorts of amps that they have.
I've even taken my own shorties in there and played through their amps.
I've grabbed P's off the wall, Jazzes and quite a few other revered brands and models and compared tone to mine.
Admittedly they don't stock every bass ever made but :-

Quite frankly, so far, out of everything I've played there (including a few models that are TB legends) I haven't found anything that sounded better than what I have.

 

[blue4]

Great! You own the new version there? The active one? Sound good? Also, how long does the neck feel? I hate short scales that feel and play like 34" basses. I like the feel of a Mustang as opposed to an EB-0

It's both active and passive. There's a switch where you can toggle back and forth.

The neck is thick. It's not a thin jazz neck, but the frets and the reach are definitely a short scale feel. I have a thread here somewhere where I put pictures of the neck width compared to my SX SS jazz.

 

[rallen]

Ditto on what mbell75 posted earlier: I have several basses, both 34" standard and 30" short scales. A few weeks ago I got the new Fender PJ mustang and I love it! I converted one of the Ibanez Talman ss basses to an active bass (18 volts) and it will cut through the mix just as well as my $1400 34"! More importantly, I only have $400 in it. I have a Lakland 30" Skyline ss bass and it sounds great but honestly, not any better than any of my short scales that I've done slight modifications to such as pu upgrades, pots, etc. I'm a big guy (6"4" and 225 lbs). I've heard so many say that they feel "cramped" on a ss bass. Not me..... I also play electric 6 string guitars; they're even shorter! Cramped for a big guy like me, I don't think so. I play three times per week at a large church in a 2,000 seat contemporary worship center. Some of the music we do, really rocks! I've never had anyone, including the sound techs, that they can't hear my bass, much less that my short scales have any less "Bottom end" than my standards! When I play for two hours at a time, I much prefer the weight of my 7 pound short scale to that of my 10 pound Fender Jazz. I could go on and on. Look, I don't dislike standard basses. I just find that I can do everything I need with a short scale that is smaller, lighter, easier to fret, carry, and put into my vehicle. If that's not enough, my brother plays full time in Nashville and half of what he does is on a short scale! If they're good enough for a paid professional....

The bottom line is find what works for YOU! It doesn't matter what others say or think! As my brother says, "it's not the NAME on the headstock, nor the SIZE of the bass that matters.....it's the BASS PLAYER playing the instrument that makes the magic!" Give a decent quality shorty a try again!

 

[mbell75]

It's both active and passive. There's a switch where you can toggle back and forth.

The neck is thick. It's not a thin jazz neck, but the frets and the reach are definitely a short scale feel. I have a thread here somewhere where I put pictures of the neck width compared to my SX SS jazz.

Ah ok. Didn't know they could switch to passive, that's cool. I thought that was a pickup selector switch. Found your thread and I might pass, that neck is huge, looks even thicker than a P bass. Yuck.

 

[PaulReside]

I play an old Guild Starfire and soundpersons constantly tell me how well it sits in the mix. No boom thump at all with great mids and a ton of clear low end, and it's wearing TI flats. Of course I do play with a pick.

 

[fjadams]

I love the tone and playability of my short scale Rascal bass. Honestly no other bass I have ever played souds like it. I installed a heavy guage set of Deep Talkin Flats and the string tension is perfect and it holds a low D like a champion.

It is physically as big as a J bass, so it doesn't feel or look dinky. Some short scales can feel like toys, but they are all valid instruments. It's more of a tone thing for me.

I like that if you're looking for something other than a standard P or J tone the Rascal works perfectly.

 

[fjadams]

I've only seen one person on this forum who consistently holds that opinion,
and inserts it into most short scale threads,

and it's not davy4575.

You mean the mister "I've never played a short scale bass but here are the reasons you shouldn't either." that seems to turn up in every SS thread.

 

[blue4]

Ah ok. Didn't know they could switch to passive, that's cool. I thought that was a pickup selector switch. Found your thread and I might pass, that neck is huge, looks even thicker than a P bass. Yuck.

I know it looks big and unwieldy but it's not as bad as it looks. It's too bad there's no way for you to try one in a store. It stays in tune like a champ and the intonation is better than any other bass I've ever owned. Balances well on the strap and sitting down. Other than playing fast metal on the B string there is no compromise with it, it's as bright and articulate as any full scale. If I ever decide to go 6 string or bass VI, I'd buy it again for sure.

 

[mbell75]

I know it looks big and unwieldy but it's not as bad as it looks. It's too bad there's no way for you to try one in a store. It stays in tune like a champ and the intonation is better than any other bass I've ever owned. Balances well on the strap and sitting down. Other than playing fast metal on the B string there is no compromise with it, it's as bright and articulate as any full scale. If I ever decide to go 6 string or bass VI, I'd buy it again for sure.

I will have to call or email and see if they can give me an idea. What bass neck would you say it's closest to? Ever played the Mikro 5?

 

[blue4]

I will have to call or email and see if they can give me an idea. What bass neck would you say it's closest to? Ever played the Mikro 5?

Never tried the Mikro. The best comparison I can think of is a P bass with jazz bass string spacing.

 

[mbell75]

Never tried the Mikro. The best comparison I can think of is a P bass with jazz bass string spacing.

Well if it's only as thick as a P bass, that's not too bad. I like the string spacing, 16mm. Around the same as my Mikro 5 which is 16.5mm and a 1.77" nut width. I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

In the early 70's I started out on a Kay hollowbody. Shortscale. Loved it. Then I sold it for a Fender Jazz. I played that for years. I also bought a Fender P bass I loved.
Unfortunately, I paid too much attention to playing and not enough to college. My parents suggested I join the army to get away from that 'silly music thing.' While playing bass at the local Recreation Club on base, an off duty Personnel sergeant heard me play. Offered me a job in a band. Within a week a Mercedes Benz bus pulled up to our barracks and two MP's entered the building looking for me. They had special orders to reassign me to a USO tour. They helped me pack up and on the way to Frankfurt we stopped by a German music store and bought me a Fender Mustang bass. Ivory colored. Tort pickguard! Played like butter! I used that bass for a year and a half all over Europe on tour. God I loved it. When I mustered out of the Army, I got to buy the bass. I kept it for a while in the States then sold it to buy another Fender P bass. I look online now and a version of that bass goes for around $2,500 or more. It's not so much the money but that bass was magical. American made and well aged. I miss that bass 40 years later.

Here's Ringo's All Star Band and the bass player is using a Mustang sunburst with white pickguard. The bass player (unidentified to me) is outstanding journeyman level player. He's confident and right on the money. Real men and real women can play short scale basses with confidence and class, and play it with great tone and authority!

 

[Pops OB]

I have 4s and 5s in scales:

1) 35"+
2) 34"
3) 30"

I'm soon to be 64, 5'6" tall, but I rarely play anything but my thin necked 4s, and I'm playing my mid to short scales these days. It's not a matter of preference, it's an aging thing. Arthritis hurts; it doesn't just hurt, it can deform your fingers. You become physically unable to do the things that were second nature while you were playing when you were younger. I hope nobody gets it (or any of the other problems that can affect your playing), but if and when you do, you'll understand.

That out of the way, play what YOU like, play what makes YOU comfortable. We've all got limits, play to the best of your ability within those limits. That's not the reason? It travels easier? It's great to play on the couch? There can be all kinds of reasons, and they are EACH good reasons.

It looks like a toy on you? Who cares? Are you playing for the looks or for the music? You get looks from other bassists who wouldn't be seen dead playing a short scale? Well, then they shouldn't pick up one. Always have the confidence to know that it is their problem, not yours. There are plenty of great players that can pick up a "beginner's bass" and sound sweeter than some show off with his $4500 beast master (that he can't play for beans) will ever sound.

Play. Play to the best of your ability whatever kind of bass you have. Play because you love music.

And THAT's why you play a micro or a short scale: because it suits you for whatever reason.

 

[blue4]

Well if it's only as thick as a P bass, that's not too bad. I like the string spacing, 16mm. Around the same as my Mikro 5 which is 16.5mm and a 1.77" nut width. I'll check it out. Thanks.

I've never had the two side by side, but I remember the first time I played the Brice it reminded me instantly of a P bass I had owned before.
You mentioned earlier about preferring a Mustang feel over the EB. My other main bass is a Epiphone Viola which plays similar to the EB, and the Brice definitely has a shorter reach.
That's about all I can think of to describe how it is. If there's one downside to SS basses is that mostly you have to rely on word of mouth.

 

[mbell75]

I've never had the two side by side, but I remember the first time I played the Brice it reminded me instantly of a P bass I had owned before.
You mentioned earlier about preferring a Mustang feel over the EB. My other main bass is a Epiphone Viola which plays similar to the EB, and the Brice definitely has a shorter reach.
That's about all I can think of to describe how it is. If there's one downside to SS basses is that mostly you have to rely on word of mouth.

Awesome thanks. Yea, the EB and Viola feel like 34" scales to me when I have to reach way out to grab the first few frets. Glad to hear the Brice has a shorter reach.

 

[eban3]

An Ashbory bass will mimic an upright better than any abg ive ever heard

 

[davy4575]

I've only seen one person on this forum who consistently holds that opinion,
and inserts it into most short scale threads,

and it's not davy4575.

Thank you, I by no means think they are inferior or superior. Im still wrestling with my interior prejudices, but I know the way I roll, sooner or later I might get one just based on some of the points ive read on here.

 

[rockscott]

Shortscales are becoming more popular, no doubt about it. Manufactures know it and are providing more models to choose from! Back in the day when i started playing, you could go mustang,sg ,ebo, or hofner, that was pretty much it. Now the skys the limit, you can even have a short custom built. Some of the lower end shorts still suffer from loose string tension and intonation problems, but those issues dont exist on the high end shortscales! My birdsond tone is so pure & the feel of the neck is so sweet, its hard to put down. When i take off for a few days with the wife, its no big deal to bring the bird or my sg, packing the thunderbird or the jazz was such a pia that i wouldnt bring a bass at all. I sold most of my longscales, hated to do it, but i wanted someone to play and enjoy them. Its seemed wrong to let them just hang on the wall! I did however hold on to my ibanez artcore 140, i love that bass and the neck is almost as easy to play as a short? If you love longs, good for you, if you hate all shorts simply because they are smaller, you have a closed mind & im willing to bet you have never played a high end alembic or birdsong!

 

[Shardik]

I play 5-string mostly but when it comes to standard EADG tuning on a regular 4-string, I don't see why we need 34" scale. It seems like 30" works just fine.

Yep. With the right strings that's no problem. I tune DGCF on my 30". It was only an experiment to begin with, but I was thrilled to find that it worked very well. Slapping is the only thing I find difficult to get right on the short scale, but then again I'm not a slappadabass kind of guy.

 

[12BitSlab]

I have 4s and 5s in scales:

1) 35"+
2) 34"
3) 30"

I'm soon to be 64, 5'6" tall, but I rarely play anything but my thin necked 4s, and I'm playing my mid to short scales these days. It's not a matter of preference, it's an aging thing. Arthritis hurts; it doesn't just hurt, it can deform your fingers. You become physically unable to do the things that were second nature while you were playing when you were younger. I hope nobody gets it (or any of the other problems that can affect your playing), but if and when you do, you'll understand.

That out of the way, play what YOU like, play what makes YOU comfortable. We've all got limits, play to the best of your ability within those limits. That's not the reason? It travels easier? It's great to play on the couch? There can be all kinds of reasons, and they are EACH good reasons.

It looks like a toy on you? Who cares? Are you playing for the looks or for the music? You get looks from other bassists who wouldn't be seen dead playing a short scale? Well, then they shouldn't pick up one. Always have the confidence to know that it is their problem, not yours. There are plenty of great players that can pick up a "beginner's bass" and sound sweeter than some show off with his $4500 beast master (that he can't play for beans) will ever sound.

Play. Play to the best of your ability whatever kind of bass you have. Play because you love music.

And THAT's why you play a micro or a short scale: because it suits you for whatever reason.

I also have arthritis. My meds cost close to $3,000 per month. My knees are still a wreck, but my hands are much better with the meds I am currently taking. The arthritis is what is causing me to retire on 3/31.

BTW, I have a '64 Vintage Hofner 500/1 and really like playing it. I also have 3 long scale basses and like them as well.