Help Quick! Short Scale Advice

[toz22]

I asked Jeannie's recently and got this back:

Here you go just ask for red tort when you pay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/white-pearl-...#ht_845wt_1017

Thank you so much! That was driving me crazy trying to find someone who carried it. Amazing how a pickguard can cost 1/3 of the price of the bass. Oh well, it will look pretty bad ass when its on.

 

[grisezd]

still confused over "short scale tone"....... i simply dont think there is such a thing.

This is what I was getting at. Taking a bass designed, constructed and equipped as a long scale and making it short doesn't really change the tone, in my opinion. I think that it's more common that basses that were designed as short scale typically have features that make them sound different from other basses.

That said, enjoy the new Jag. As others have mentioned, roll down the tone, solo the P, maybe stuff a foam mute under your strings, and you'll be in the ballpark of some classic short basses. If that's not close enough screw up the intonation, plenty of classic beginner shorties have terrible bridges!

 

[MakoMan]

You ordered the right bass. The Jag SS is absolutely fantastic for the price.
Black with the tort pickguard should look fabulous!

 

[fjadams]

By ordering the Jag SS you can't go wrong. Good bass, I have two. Prefer the red over the black, but then again I prefer any color over black.

The J pickup is a little weak, but use the P for most of the sound and roll in some highs & mid with the J. Like you'd do with a full size P&J. I have tapes on both of mine, D'Addario on one and LaBella on the other. From the JAG SS thread a lot of people seem to like flats on them too.

Jeannie's Pickguards makes replacements for it. You can buy their stock one or send in the original, which is what I did for one of mine, or a tracing. He recommends either of these two methods over buying a stock one as the guards and holes aren't all exactly the same.

From what I understand most of the other custom places will do the same thing.

 

[Old Fart]

I don't know if you're going to get the difference in sound that you want. From my own experience, the sound you're talking about comes from the humbucker in the neck position.

I'd agree. Short scale basses with the humbucker in the neck position.....you can't more 'thump' than that. 'Specially if it's up. closer to the neck. I've an old Japanese SG copy that out-thumps every bass I've heard. It's a sledgehammer. I'd agree the Squier is a good choice though, over the SX.

 

[grrg63]

The j pickup is a little weak its true, but it works just fine for adding a bit of flavor to the p-bass sound.

This is exactly how I use the J pup on my ss Jag, to me it adds mid presence and if you turn both pups all the way up it gives you that sweet J Bass grind. Its my favorite bass.

I also have 2 older SX ss P Basses which I love.

 

[timber22]

I played a Squire SS Mustang this morning. First SS I've ever played. I've just always played 34 inch scale basses. I was very impressed with the quality and the tone. Pleasantly surprised.

 

[godofthunder59]

Late to the party but the Squire in black is a great choice!

Just ordered the black Jag. Thanks for all the help, I'll make sure to post about it when it comes in on Tuesday!

 

[Alexlotl]

I have the black Squier Jag SS and I'm keen to stick a red-tort guard on it, so I'd love to see some pictures of the end result, and feedback on the fit from Jeannie's.

Great bass, but the all-black is a bit too teenager's bedroom for me.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

I have the Jag ss in black too. I've also owned about 5 SX basses over the years (3 shortscale) and can say without a doubt that the Squire Jags are far, far superior. The neck alone is an excellent reason to go for the Squire.

 

[mazareth]

In regards to strings, I'm using D'Addario XL Chromes (ECB81S). In fact the bass I still have round wound strings on is my Birdsong Skyrider. All my other basses have either flats or tapes on them.

 

[toz22]

I have the black Squier Jag SS and I'm keen to stick a red-tort guard on it, so I'd love to see some pictures of the end result, and feedback on the fit from Jeannie's.

I'll be sure to post pictures once its done. I feel you on the teenager's bedroom look. I just couldn't get myself to buy the red. Way too flashy for my liking. I think once the tortoise shell guard is on it it will look real classy. My band tends to go with a formal wear look, so I figured I couldn't go wrong with the black. Apparently it arrived today, but I'm away on business so I'm dying right now. Oh well, I'm in for a great week or two of playing when I get back.

 

[toz22]

Just thought I'd update. I am seriously in love with my Jag. It is by far the highest quality $180 instrument I have ever played. I agree that the J pickup is weak, but the tone that I am dialing in by having the p bass all the way up and adding flavor with the J is wonderful. I have to disagree with everyone saying that there isn't a distinctive tone difference with a short scale. Its the same argument when comparing a 22 fret guitar and a 24 fret guitar. The tone is rounder, and gives a nice deep, old school James Jamerson to spaghetti western vibe. I have been recording an EP with it running direct and I've found it to be surprisingly quiet. Eventually I can see myself changing the tuners, pups, and bridge but these are not immediate needs. Bottom line, this thing kicks some serious ass. It really has given me a new outlook on my instrument. Not that I can't handle a standard scale length bass (played the same Jazz for 8 years), but I find it to be much less strenuous on my hands and shoulder after long periods of playing. I'm finding myself experimenting a lot more with where I can go and what I see as being "safe" as the scale makes everything seem more manageable. Anyone who is curious but not quite ready to take the plunge, take it from me... you won't be disappointed... plus its only $180. Happy/Sad to say, but I haven't playing my jazz since the Jag came in. Thanks for everyone who suggested me picking this up, you guys were a big help!

 

[Alexlotl]

Any photos of how it looks with the new guard? Did you go red tort or conventional tort in the end?

 

[George Mann]

I have the Jag ss in black too. I've also owned about 5 SX basses over the years (3 shortscale) and can say without a doubt that the Squire Jags are far, far superior. The neck alone is an excellent reason to go for the Squire.

The neck on the Jag SS is swell. However, it has what is probably the worst body-wood ever used by a major manufacturer! It's too soft, and its tone is awful!

The SX on the other hand has a good, resonant Alder body, and a superior finish to boot.

 

[fjadams]

Couple of things on the Jag SS.

1: The body. I've had both of mine refinished. One of them the wood was good enough that I could have left it natural and it would have looked good. The second one the wood was composed of six different pieces glued together. Two of them are good hardwood, the other pieces are some unknown wood. And not good or high quality. And the weight difference is a lot.

2: The pickups. My second one is lightly modded. Just paint, pick guard, bridge cover, replaced pickup covers and knobs. But the best change was getting a tone pot from StellarTone. Not one of their current new offerings, but an older one they still have if you call them. It's called a DualTone. Works just like the new DuoTone, but is actually a normal stacked pot. You can order different ones and specify the caps with it. The cost is about $20. Makes the bass come alive and the tone out of the two stock pickups is worlds away from what it was. If interested I can look up which one I got and the caps too. Even better with a blend knob instead of two volumes.