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

[fjadams]

I just dont get the appeal. They are dinky and feel really cramped as well as really dificult to get to the upper frets on. Ive played on them before, just dont get it. I know a lot of people seem to like them, cant figure out why.

I don't understand the appeal of long scales. They're awkward and clumsy. It's an ill design to start with and hasn't been improved in the last 50 years. They weigh too much. Not built for real bass players, but great for music store heroes showing their slap skills with no sense of rhythm or actual skill. The necks are so long they very much tend to neck drive, not to mention they need special longer strings.

It's been suggested many times that people play those long monstrosities to make up for a dinky digit.

 

[PauFerro]

I think this discussion is funny. I had a similar one in a different thread regarding upright basses....

Essentially, 25 years ago I found I simply played longer, and better with a 30" Fender Mustang than I did with a Jazz or other full scale instrument. There were some "hits" in terms of tone (Low E not as bright and defined as on a full scale instrument), but it made the difference between hating the instrument and loving it. It's a personal decision and for me, has a lot to do with hand size and my body size overall. I credit the short scale instrument for propelling me into a very busy and rewarding journey with multiple jazz groups locally.

The funny part -- when I made the decision 25 years ago to go almost exclusively short scale, I got MAJOR flak from luthiers, music store personnel and other bass players. Other musicians in my band didn't care, but the people in the previous sentence swore I'd never be much of a bass player on a short scale instrument -- it was for kids == a "student model". Now, fast forward 25 years, and 150 semi-pro gigs later, there are a significant number of people here on talk bass who defend them...I gig a lot with my short instruments, and it's a non-issue with the many good players I perform with. One sound man I work with keeps telling me how great it sounds through his system.

I have made a decision to go short scale on upright bass, and so far, have no regrets. I had a minor bit of regret when I couldn't get the upright to amplify all the way across a retention pond recently with my jazz group. But I have since learned it's a combination of technique and the fact that I don't have the right kind of amplification technology for crazy volume situations. Something I'm working at fixing, like most newbie upright players.

The other thing -- I do own a few longer scale instruments for emotional reasons. One is a Cort Curbow. I find I can play it easily now. All these years of practice have made it much easier to play that long scale instrument. I expect the same will happen on upright eventually. Already the muscle pain has subsided, and I think I will eventually upgrade to a larger instrument eventually -- where the sonic benefits are far more pronounced on regular scale uprights.

 

[Sid the Kid]

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.

 

[honeyiscool]

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.

 

[Nev375]

This is a concept that is lost on most these days. Have you noticed that over the past ten years or so, if you don't agree with someone, they get bent out of shape, start finger pointing and name calling, and then, to add insult to injury, they think less of you because you don't agree with their stupid, moronic, dumb, uninformed, narrow minded, immature opinion?

We are in the age of the ego. It is a byproduct of lax education standards, participation trophies and overvaluing the concept of self esteem.
The way the internet is being used now with social media just exacerbates the phenomenon.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Because not only do they sound good I look cool playing one

 

[Fat Freddy]

View attachment 1033929 Because not only do they sound good I look cool playing one

Errrrm....ok.....

 

[mbell75]

I love the tone and playability of my short scale Rascal bass. It is physically as big as a J bass

Thats exactly why I sent mine back after 10 minutes playing it. It feels and plays just like a 34" scale bass which completely defeats the purpose of a short scale bass IMO. Like Ive said, if it doesn't fit into an electric guitar gig bag, not interested

 

[lfmn16]

Sorry, but you are seriously misinformed.

This is TAlkBass, no need for actual facts, knowledge or experience in order to post an opinion.

 

[davy4575]

hmmmmm, the " help me understand" post. Badly disguised as a query but actually just a way to have a go at others.

Not at all, notice, im not in the argument of weather they sound better or different. I can totally understand ergonomics and the gentleman who is missing a digit. Thats different than just backing ones self into a corner with a pompous lofty hipster type attitude of being terminally unique by playing a shortscale or micro. How do you know a bassist is playing a short scale or micro....dont worry, he will tell you.

 

[macmanlou]

Sound better? ha ha ha Yeah, if you like no articulation of notes and just want a dubby boomy mess.

I guess that's what Stanley Clarke had in mind when he asked Alembic to build his short scale?

 

[davy4575]

"Help me understand" = passive-aggressive trolling.

oddly enough, the ones who find it trolling are the ones that dont seem to offer much in the way of advice. Ive actually already learned a good bit. I could really see for travel and theres been several posts about sitting down. This makes sense to me, I have to engineer a lot of the time, I have a recording studio, I do get tired of hitting the headstock on my monitors, studio monitors, keyboard, etc. Especially for getting ideas recorded, it would be pretty handy, enough that Im contemplating getting one. Also, theres been some examples of ones that have pretty easy access to the upper frets, I write a lot of melodic lines up high. Enough so that it might be a motivating factor for me to purchase.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

They are lighter by virtue and require a smaller range of mobility. It makes it easier for the impaired player due to back, shoulder or arm problems.

+1 I've had R.A. for 40 years. Used to could reach the top frets when I was a kid. Still can but with bum shoulders it is quite a stretch for me know. Or one could just chalk it up to personal preference.
We still love you OP, even though you don't get us.

 

[MakoMan]

I just dont get the appeal. They are dinky and feel really cramped as well as really dificult to get to the upper frets on. Ive played on them before, just dont get it. I know a lot of people seem to like them, cant figure out why.

In my case as a lead singer, it's a heck of a lot easier to play a short scale while singing. In fact it's easier to play a short scale while not singing... at least for me

 

[davy4575]

Again, thanks to those that inform and discuss their reasons with logic. I may be considering one for writing and studio work, probably not my main. I have had a stigma about certain qualities. The info helps.

 

[BassmanMetzger56]

How do you know a bassist is playing a short scale or micro....dont worry, he will tell you.

And how do you know a bassist thinks short scales or mikro's are inferior? Don't worry, he'll tell you.

 

[Felken]

How can you play a long scale bass?

I just don't get the appeal. They are huge and heavy and make my fingers stretch to unnatural positions as well as really difficult to get to the lower frets on. I played one for a few weeks while my short scale was in the shop, just don't get it. My left arm/fingers developed aches & pains, and my right shoulder got out of whack from rolling forward to accommodate the much larger body. I know a lot of people seem to like them, can't figure out why. ;-)

Because I like to say to the guitarist: "Mine is bigger than yours"( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

 

[madbass6]

I just dont get the appeal. They are dinky and feel really cramped as well as really dificult to get to the upper frets on. Ive played on them before, just dont get it. I know a lot of people seem to like them, cant figure out why.

 

[madbass6]

I just dont get the appeal. They are dinky and feel really cramped as well as really dificult to get to the upper frets on. Ive played on them before, just dont get it. I know a lot of people seem to like them, cant figure out why.

Real Bass VS anything else!

Let's just say, The big dog represents real Bass!!

 

[felis]

And how do you know a bassist thinks short scales or mikro's are inferior? Don't worry, he'll tell you.

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.