Yea, isn’t bashing the wee people and their wee basses against the rules?
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Is something wrong with me?
- Thread starter Woodchuck
- Start date
My first bass was a shorty. I didn't like it, not because of the feel but because it was muddy and it had a floppy E string. I've played 34" scale basses ever since.
Musical instruments are tools that we use to make music. I just ordered a short scale bass because I'm getting up there in years and I'm not as fast as I used to be. Being female, my hands are small and it's more work for me to cover the territory needed to play certain licks that I need to play and do it fast enough to play cleanly. So I figure maybe it's time to revisit short scale basses in the modern era. I have nothing against them, per se. Just have had no reason to want one until recently. Hopefully it works out.
Musical instruments are tools that we use to make music. I just ordered a short scale bass because I'm getting up there in years and I'm not as fast as I used to be. Being female, my hands are small and it's more work for me to cover the territory needed to play certain licks that I need to play and do it fast enough to play cleanly. So I figure maybe it's time to revisit short scale basses in the modern era. I have nothing against them, per se. Just have had no reason to want one until recently. Hopefully it works out.
It's OK as long as you don't call either of them ugly.
Is something wrong with you? You're on Talkbass - asked and answered.
That said, nothing wrong with not liking short scales. I have huge hands, and at one point, decided to try a medium scale (not really sure at this point why). It was dinky, it had a skinny (j width) neck. My fingers were on top of each other any time I tried to play that thing - I did gig it a couple times when I thought the stage would be cramped (it wasn't). I had to play it the whole week before the gig so I could adapt and not make a mess of things. So I play 34's; only 34's.
I donated it to a place that places instruments with kids. They loved it.
That said, nothing wrong with not liking short scales. I have huge hands, and at one point, decided to try a medium scale (not really sure at this point why). It was dinky, it had a skinny (j width) neck. My fingers were on top of each other any time I tried to play that thing - I did gig it a couple times when I thought the stage would be cramped (it wasn't). I had to play it the whole week before the gig so I could adapt and not make a mess of things. So I play 34's; only 34's.
I donated it to a place that places instruments with kids. They loved it.
Of course you’re not the only one. Fortunately there’s no law yet that says you have to buy one, and no law saying others can’t.
Why are people constantly so concerned about what others like or prefer? I play what I like/prefer, and so should everyone else! I don't feel threatened in the least if you like what gear I play or not. I do realize, however, that there would be less threads posted here if everyone shared my attitude......LOL.
I was about to ask for a picture but someone beat me to it! Thanks for posting; those are tidy-looking and cool.
Scale length aside, I like the clean look of the mostly-uninterrupted pickguard with the little Strat-type pickup.
I'd like to try a ss EBMM StingRay this weekend--was hoping to try one last weekend, but plans changed.
However, my daughter has a Mikro and and SR. I have an EBMM 'Ray 5.
I prefer the 'Ray over all of them, with the SR coming in second. Between the Mikro and the SR, the Mikro feels rather cheap--a little too light, floppy E string, tuners that have quite a bit of play in them before actually moving the string, very thin sounding pickups--and the short scale feels rather cramped for me. I'm guessing the cramped feeling is from 20 odd years of playing 34" scale basses more than anything.
I'm not on the ss bandwagon exactly, but I am curious to hear if the ss 'Ray really does sound like a shorter version of a 'Ray.
However, my daughter has a Mikro and and SR. I have an EBMM 'Ray 5.
I prefer the 'Ray over all of them, with the SR coming in second. Between the Mikro and the SR, the Mikro feels rather cheap--a little too light, floppy E string, tuners that have quite a bit of play in them before actually moving the string, very thin sounding pickups--and the short scale feels rather cramped for me. I'm guessing the cramped feeling is from 20 odd years of playing 34" scale basses more than anything.
I'm not on the ss bandwagon exactly, but I am curious to hear if the ss 'Ray really does sound like a shorter version of a 'Ray.
I was also wondering if the SS 'Ray would sound different than a long scale 'Ray. My SWAG is it all depends on the pickup position relative to the position of the nodes of the shorter strings. Personally I think I'd prefer a HH version.
I really want to like them, but I can't get inti them. I just got a 35" Peavey Grind, so it looks like I'm going the other way.
- Sep 21, 2011
- 149
- 169
- Disclosures
- I'm just a user/customer that plays gigs. I am not professionally affiliated with any vendor, etc.
Sup, you guys!
Like anything... anything, and EVERYTHING is 'to each their own'... 'each serves a purpose', etc... but if I'm being honest, I LOVE the tension/feel of the strings on a short-scale bass... I'd played a short scale bass a few times, and was also blown away the sound... WHAT a thump!
Like anything... anything, and EVERYTHING is 'to each their own'... 'each serves a purpose', etc... but if I'm being honest, I LOVE the tension/feel of the strings on a short-scale bass... I'd played a short scale bass a few times, and was also blown away the sound... WHAT a thump!
Yes, there is something wrong with the OP. All bassists like short scale basses, therefore the OP is not really a bassist, and should be driven out of the village by sundown.
I didn't really care for short scales until I found the one that I really, really like and it has largely killed my GAS.
I feel that short scale basses have gotten a bad rap over the years because of string issues.
1. String makers were not putting the effort into engineering great sounding strings.
2. Players were (and still are) using long-scale strings and cutting them down, so they never reach the proper design tension and sound muddy and have poor feel.
Things are different these days. Short and even sub-short scale basses are becoming more popular and the strings are a lot better! I would bet no one could tell the difference between the sound of my MIA P and my Mustang P/J on a gig. Both have flats. I have 2 Ibanez miKros, and they sound amazing and play even better, even the B on the 5-er. I have a new Ibanez TMB30 that sounds and plays fantastic both with the stock strings and with the GHS Pressurewounds, Times are a-changin' for shortys.
1. String makers were not putting the effort into engineering great sounding strings.
2. Players were (and still are) using long-scale strings and cutting them down, so they never reach the proper design tension and sound muddy and have poor feel.
Things are different these days. Short and even sub-short scale basses are becoming more popular and the strings are a lot better! I would bet no one could tell the difference between the sound of my MIA P and my Mustang P/J on a gig. Both have flats. I have 2 Ibanez miKros, and they sound amazing and play even better, even the B on the 5-er. I have a new Ibanez TMB30 that sounds and plays fantastic both with the stock strings and with the GHS Pressurewounds, Times are a-changin' for shortys.
I’d bet you could make a pretty good guess whether someone will like a short scale bass according to whether they prefer the sound of a given line being played lower down on the skinny strings or higher up on the fat strings.
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