Help Munjibunga prove his point about short scales!!!

[GassieBall]

Don't worry, answers coming tomorrow afternoon. After the string change for Bass C, all the basses are using DR Sunbeams (either long or short scale) of approximately the same age, give or take a couple of weeks.

 

[Coelho]

Thanks GassieBall, having the same sort of strings is fundamental for such type of experiment.

 

[GassieBall]

Thanks GassieBall, having the same sort of strings is fundamental for such type of experiment.

Thanks, I didn't want to skew it too much, but as I said in my first post...

Now please, everyone, don't go all scientific on me about input levels, whether I use a gold plated power cord, etc. I can say they all have DR Sunbeams that are pretty new. And no, I'm not a professional bass player

I do these posts to try to make people think about conventional wisdom and to listen with their own ears. I guess I could make it more "scientific" but who wants to play like Mr. Spock? I could take the same bass with the same settings and play closer to the neck or to the bridge and use a different touch or a pick and everyone would say it's a totally different bass.

But really what I wanted to do in this thread is show that its not that easy to tell a well setup short scale from a long scale and to stop the short scale negativism.

 

[wvbass]

A = short
B = long, jazz bass
C = short, Ibanez Mikro
D = long
E = short, mustang

You proved your point, I think. It is difficult to tell - depending on the riff. Short scales behave differently when you hold a note, bend a note, etc. Not inferior, but different.

 

[AQUANOVA]

I can't stand the suspense.

 

[your idol]

I can't stand the suspense.

+10000


i woke up to this thread...i dont wanna go to bed to it with no answer

 

[GassieBall]

Go to sleep, my friend. As I am, too...

 

[colorblindbass]

1- some sort of Precision-y type bass
2- some sort of bass with two pickups, maybe two single coils?
3- sounds alot like a mustang.
4- im almost certain its a jazz
5- one pickup bass with humbucker, MM mayyyybe?

 

[Jeff K]

Are you Pontios Pilot?

Who is "Pontios Pilot"??!! Kinda' weird to have a name that sounds so similar to Pontius Pilate...

 

[mongo2]

I'll say A, C, and E are shorties because it spells "ACE". And C is the Mustang because it's in the middle.

 

[Jonathan1990]

I'll say A, C, and E are shorties because it spells "ACE". And C is the Mustang because it's in the middle.

I think A is a '51 P, because it's the first.

 

[Bocete]

A, C, E short; B D long. I have no idea which is the mustang.

 

[Man Cave Brewer]

My prediction,

what some thought are full scale will be short scale.

Interesting thread.

PS

I'm actually learning alot since I found this site in October.

 

[JEDI BASS]

My prediction,

what some thought are full scale will be short scale.

Interesting thread.

PS

I'm actually learning alot since I found this site in October.

Holy cow, we have a psychic here guys , just messing w/ you.

As for learning... TB has changed my bass-playing life! I can go to the GC and start talking about builders, pups, preamps, etc etc etc.... and the guys who don't do Talkbass are totally lost !

This kind of thread REALLY is eye opening and informative. Can't wait to see the results!!

 

[Crockettnj]

Who is "Pontios Pilot"??!! Kinda' weird to have a name that sounds so similar to Pontius Pilate...

That's almost sig-able!

 

[GassieBall]

AND THE ANSWER IS:

A: Long scale: Lakland Skyline DJ4, Lakland pickups, neck pickup only on full

B: Short scale: SX SJB62 3/4, Nordstrand NJ4 pickups, both pickups on full

C: Short Scale: Mustang bass

D: Long scale: Same bass as A, but both pickups on full

E: Short scale: Same bass as B, but neck pickup only on full.

I'll wait 'til you tell us what they are. I will be blown away if B is a short-scale, though.

Can you honestly sit there and tell us that you are not able to discern the tonal differences between long-scale and short-scale basses?

Munji, I love you man! Don't take this personally You really took this thread in stride and played along and I very much respect that, but I just wanted to gently call you out on something, not with mere words, but sound clips to put meat into the matter.

Now I'm thinking some of you are gonna cry foul with me recording a jazz bass with only a neck pickup. Some people thought that the jazzes played with the neck pickup were P-basses or short scales. Some people thought that the jazz tone meant long scale and the neck only tone meant short scale. Very interesting what the brain wants to make your ears hear!!!

Thanks for all the participation, guys. All comments welcome. Hopefully, it's not gonna get too "scientific", as I said, this was for fun and perhaps a little learning, not to start a war. In my mind, if a bass sounds good and plays good, use it. I don't care if it's $100 or $10000.

 

[emor]

Thanks for the demo.

 

[joebingo]

interesting outcome!

 

[Tusec]

Wow, very interesting!

Everyone seemed to really like the B tone. It would interesting to hear it A/B'd against a Fender Jazz with both pickups up.

BTW, here is the ultimate short scale bass in action with Dread Zeppelin:

 

[mongo2]

B: Short scale: SX SJB62 3/4, Nordstrand NJ4 pickups, both pickups on full

Everyone seemed to really like the B tone. It would interesting to hear it A/B'd against a Fender Jazz with both pickups up.

My SX shorty J with Barts sounds great too, and not really all that different from my longscale Fender J with Barts and well within the expected tones for a J bass.

Can we finally call this myth busted?