How often are you using your short scale?

[ItsmeSantiago]

This question is geared towards people who use them as a secondary instrument.

I had a JMJ and an EB-0 and really liked the sound but I had issues with both of them easily going out of tune and the JMJ I couldn't adjust the saddles on them, so I sold both. Maybe a skill issue, but that's been my experience.

Anyway, I'm a bedroom player at this point and I want to get a cheap one for goofing around. How often are you picking up your short scale over your long scale?

 

[JumboJett35]

I just bought a gretsch g2220 as my first short scale. Its number seven overall but my first 30' scale. I bought it to play on my breaks at work and leave it in my truck primarily.

For the first two weeks I didn't play any of my other instruments and after going back to full scale it did feel weird at first but after a few days of playing both its really nothing now to go back and forth.

For what it's worth I only paid $200 and with that I didn't expect much. Well let me say I've been more than satisfied with my g2220. It arrived set up well out of the box and sounds pretty good. Like I said it stays in my truck most days and nights so the temperature currently ranges from 60° during the day down to 20° at night. Other than a slight turn here or there, it has stayed in tune rather well considering the conditions.

I definitely consider myself a full scale player overall but I'm very happy to add a short scale to my collection and it won't be my last.

 

[nonohmic]

This question is geared towards people who use them as a secondary instrument.

I had a JMJ and an EB-0 and really liked the sound but I had issues with both of them easily going out of tune and the JMJ I couldn't adjust the saddles on them, so I sold both. Maybe a skill issue, but that's been my experience.

Anyway, I'm a bedroom player at this point and I want to get a cheap one for goofing around. How often are you picking up your short scale over your long scale?

Have you tried 32"?

 

[GIBrat51]

This question is geared towards people who use them as a secondary instrument.

I had a JMJ and an EB-0 and really liked the sound but I had issues with both of them easily going out of tune and the JMJ I couldn't adjust the saddles on them, so I sold both. Maybe a skill issue, but that's been my experience.

Anyway, I'm a bedroom player at this point and I want to get a cheap one for goofing around. How often are you picking up your short scale over your long scale?

Well...
Which short scale? Out of the 27 basses I own currently, 9 of them are "short" scales (31" or less). Only one of them is in more or less "permanent" use - as in, I can just pick it up; plug it in; and play it any time I want. It's an older, '90s MIK Rogue VB-100 violin bass, strung with Roto 88 Tapes. Like a certain other left handed player's Hofner violin bass... It sits out next to a long scale bass that I play a lot, too; a '73 Rick 4001...
As for the others? With that many basses - all of which get played -, I rotate 2 or 3 of them out of their cases each month; set them up in the living room; and play the snot out of them all that month. Then, they get cleaned and put away 'till their turn comes 'round again. And, 2 or 3 more take their place... So, all my other shorties get played when it's their turn in the rotation.
So, I guess my answer would be - I don't use a short scale bass as a "secondary" instrument. I have no problem switching between scales, and if I know that a song I like to play was played on a short scale bass originally? That's what I play it with...
Finally; when they are finally finished being built, in the next few months, I will have 2 more short scale basses. A Serek Sacramento Bass, and a Birdsong Fusion lined fretless bass. So...
To me? No, I don't think of short scale basses as secondary instruments. But, that's just me...

 

[Phreaky Phriday]

If i am having an "old man back" day, i exclusively play short scales as mine are all much lighter than my 34" basses.

 

[TDR1138]

I have 2 shorties out of 10 basses. For reference, they’re a Gibson SG bass and a Gibson Les Paul Jr DC.

I’m mostly a home player. I do some church gigs occasionally and do rotate both shorties equally with my other basses, so they leave the house 2-3 times per year each.

At home, I rotate about half of my basses on two stands - one upstairs, one downstairs. Those basses get more playtime just based on the nature of being able to grab them easily. The LP Jr is one of these 5, and I do play it quite a bit. The SG is one of the ones that stays in the case. I actually prefer playing the SG, but don’t want to leave the nitro finish on the rubber pads from the stands. That said, my favorite 34-inch basses also are the ones that stay in the cases, because I’d be more upset if something were to happen to them.

 

[cdef]

I've been a confirmed 34"-scaler since way back, but lately the Sire U5 has been proving its worth on gigs. It was my backup bass, but more and more I'm reaching for it first. The 30" scale strung with flats delivers a solid, unambiguous punch that is the delight of both FOH and studio engineers.

 

[nostatic]

I have one band where I play short-scale fretless (have two Rob Allen Mouse unlined). All my other bass gigs I use 34" scale (fretted/fretless). No issue going back and forth but I did spend time woodshedding each. Fwiw I have not found a fretted short scale that I like, part of what keeps me at 34" for those gigs, though the other part is I have two amazing 34" scale instruments so I play them.

 

[Cicis Dad]

My only shortie is a Squier Musicmaster that I had bought with the intention of flipping but it was such a fine instrument I decided to keep it. It's now my travel bass (we travel quite a bit as we're both semi-retired). Other times I reach for one of the 34" regular basses. Also no problems switching back and forth between 30" and 34".

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I did some recording with my Stingray Short Scale not too long ago. That bass sounds garret with flats , pick style. All of my 6 basses are in heavy rotation. If I no longer use a bass, it gets sold.

 

[KenD]

Long scale is too long. Short scale is too short. Medium scale (32") is just right - for my hands, my music and my ears.

I use my short scale primarily for working out chords, intricate fingerings, alternate patterns, etc. It's a Kinal Kompact acoustic-electric so it's light and handy, and has reasonable tone.

 

[mapleglo]

When I play at home, which is most of the time these days, I almost never pick up the short scale. When I was gigging, I almost always played the short scale for the last 2 sets.

 

[Pings Bass]

Just yesterday I was thinking about how I used to Jones for a shorty, and missed buying 70s mustang to match my 70s P several years back. But then I realized if I'd bought it back then, I probably would have just had it hanging on my wall all this time. They're cute as heck, but not practical for me.

 

[Trailertrash74]

I use a short scale when I'm feeling Lazy! Easy to navigate with very little effort!!

 

[B String]

If I don't need a B string or all slap, I'll bring the Nordstrand "Cat" bass. Probably the most fun bass I have. Plays like butter, sounds great, and records well.

 

[C Stone]

I use a short scale when I'm feeling Lazy! Easy to navigate with very little effort!!

Yep or in a very confined space, it does feels a little like I’m cheating though.

 

[pingvuiini]

All the time. My longest is the 28.6" Mikro on the right side of the rack. Everything else 23". Tons of fun!

 

[-Stingray]

My short and medium scale bases just sit in their cases. Wish I hadn’t bothered.

 

[micguy]

My shorty was a 32” with a J width nut. It was secondary enough that I donated it - big hands, it felt like a toy and having my fingers crammed together slowed my playing too much.

 

[grubdumpling]

I guess I don't count because I am now a full time short scale player. I have a couple 30" and a 25" acoustic. I decided to post because you asked specifically about a cheap short scale to throw around... and I wanted to suggest another eb0. The Epiphone kind, of course. I bought one for that very reason, but then fell in love with the silly thing and now pretty much just play that.