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Is something wrong with me?

Woodchuck

Woodchuck

Apr 21, 2000
10,465
866
60
Atlanta (Grant Park!)
www.elpus.com
Disclosures
Gallien Krueger for the last 12 years!
#1
Keep in mind: This is NOT thread to bash short scale basses, or those that play them! I'm just wondering if I'm the only one that's not a big fan of short scale basses. If I am, so be it. I've seen some nice ones, but they're just not for me. If a thread like this already exists, my apologies.
 
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#3
I’ve found over the years that some are more playable than others. The ones I don’t enjoy are the ones that shift enough to the left in a strap that you may as well play long scale. So far the one I liked best was an SG bass but not much else has done it for me.
 
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#6
Warpeg said:
While I find that short scale basses certainly have value and some look pretty nice, they’re just not for me. I’ve tried many of them over the years and just can’t get used to them. My career has been spent playing 34” and DB; short scale basses feel like toys in my hands.
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Yeah, the feel is what kills it for me.
 
#8
I used to play Short scale a lot back when I played 4 strings. I loved them not only because of the certain tone but also because they allowed me to reach things I could not on a long scale. But that said, I haven't played short scale for many years because in my opinion on a short scale the E string is right at the limit of how short you can make it and still have it sounding reasonable. Now add a B string and the whole thing falls apart. So yeah, I still would like to play a short scale 5 string, but quite frankly I've never found one with an acceptable B string that didn't cost more than i can afford.
 
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#12
Over the last 50+ years I've regularly switched between instruments with scales ranging from a full size upright to the 18" Guild Ashbory. Over the last 15 years I've been moving more to 30-ish inch scale, lighter weight basses because I'm older, wiser and I don't see the need to be less than what I consider comfortable while playing.

Unfortunately, due to a mild stroke about 18 months ago that messed a bit with my right side I had to put aside the longer and shorter scales anyway so I've settled on 28.6" to 30" scale lightweight basses because I can play them while seated with less discomfort. My current most used basses are now my Hofner Ignition Club, Hofner HCT Galaxie and Fender/Squier Mustang or my DIY combination of a Bronco body with an Ibanez Mikro neck depending on how I feel at the moment.
 
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#13
"Is something wrong with me?"
Yes. But there's something wrong with each and every one of us. OK. Kidding aside, to each player his/her own. That's why there are so many basses out there with all sorts of construction, pickups, scale length, etc. A friend of mine who plays bass prefers short scale; I prefer Rickenbacker scale; another friend prefers Ibby BTB 35 scale, and so it goes. Rock on!
 
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#14
2.jpg
 
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#15
eastcoasteddie said:
No, I’m with you. I’m not a fan or short scales either. I’ve played a few and had a lot of fun playing the Epiphone Violin bass, mostly because it’s different and has a certain tone. But a short-scale P or J? Meh...
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Well, the original P and J basses were not ss, so I’m not surprised. But the original EB0 sound is ss, along with Hofner and Rick and others, so that’s where the tone comes from. If you like a classic P sound, of course don’t get a ss P bass. That makes no sense. But if you like a classic McCartney Hofner sound, don’t get a P bass.

in my stable I have a J, PJ, EB0, Hofner, and Jack Casady. Some are ss, some are not. All totally different sounds. That’s why I have them. Variety. If I was a studio player and could only have one bass, it would be a P.

so, no, nothing wrong with you. And nothing wrong with those who prefer ss.
 
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#16
mongo2 said:
Over the last 50+ years I've regularly switched between instruments with scales ranging from a full size upright to the 18" Guild Ashbory. Over the last 15 years I've been moving more to 30-ish inch scale, lighter weight basses because I'm older, wiser and I don't see the need to be less than what I consider comfortable while playing.

Unfortunately, due to a mild stroke about 18 months ago that messed a bit with my right side I had to put aside the longer and shorter scales anyway so I've settled on 28.6" to 30" scale lightweight basses because I can play them while seated with less discomfort. My current most used basses are now my Hofner Ignition Club, Hofner HCT Galaxie and Fender/Squier Mustang or my DIY combination of a Bronco body with an Ibanez Mikro neck depending on how I feel at the moment.
Click to expand...

you should show a picture of you can! I was thinking about doing something similar
 
#20
Woodchuck said:
Keep in mind: This is NOT thread to bash short scale basses, or those that play them! I'm just wondering if I'm the only one that's not a big fan of short scale basses. If I am, so be it. I've seen some nice ones, but they're just not for me. If a thread like this already exists, my apologies.
Click to expand...
Why are you bashing short scale basses, and those that play them?
 
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