long scale - short scale problem

[Myasma]

Hello! I'm excited since this is my first post and all.
But, sadly it's not as great as it seems. I started playing bass around a year ago with a Bronco Squier Bass. After a while I started to bum around shops and such playing full scale basses and recently buying one myself from SX, a basic PJ model. The thing is, after around 2.5 months of playing it my hands simply won't get quite used to it. I should mention that I have small hands, not ridiculously small but quite small.In fact most bassists I know easily dwarf my hands, and sadly even some guitarists. Should I just stick with it and see if it'll work out or just pretty much sell it or trade it for short scale things? I figured all you crazy awesome bass superstars here could help me out.

 

[ysand]

Have u had any sort of lessons to have proper left hand technique?
If yes and the problem still persists, maybe you need another short scale bass.

If not, it's probable that it's your technique, because there are many small-handed bassists that play even 35"-scale basses.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

Alot of guys will tell you "just keep practicing with the 34" and it will come with time" Well, that may be true. However, I'm 6ft1 and have pretty big hands, but all I use it shortscales. They're lighter, less prone to cause injury, easier to play and IMO sound great.

I like them so much I bough a $2000 custom Stambaugh shortie. I also have an SX shortscale Jazz. Not as good as the Stammie, but with a few mods it can be a really nice bass. For a beginner a stock SX is fine.

Check out the shortscale club on TB and you'll see lots of guys use ss basses... and for good reason!

 

[Myasma]

Have u had any sort of lessons to have proper left hand technique?
If yes and the problem still persists, maybe you need another short scale bass.

If not, it's probable that it's your technique, because there are many small-handed bassists that play even 35"-scale basses.

I've watched some youtube video's and read some books, but I've not had any hands-on lessons.

Alot of guys will tell you "just keep practicing with the 34" and it will come with time" Well, that may be true. However, I'm 6ft1 and have pretty big hands, but all I use it shortscales. They're lighter, less prone to cause injury, easier to play and IMO sound great.

I like them so much I bough a $2000 custom Stambaugh shortie. I also have an SX shortscale Jazz. Not as good as the Stammie, but with a few mods it can be a really nice bass. For a beginner a stock SX is fine.

Check out the shortscale club on TB and you'll see lots of guys use ss basses... and for good reason!

You know, I totally froze up on the choice of either a short scale or full on the SX. I figured the full was more professional. I guess not, since there is a club and all.

 

[Share the Road]

I too have really small hands, even when i played guitar my hands were small. Playing different basses at guitar center solidified my want for a short scale bass. Unfortunately though there isn't too much out there, within my rather pitiful price range. I own a Squier VM P Bass, and i would much rather have a short scale. But, it is much wiser to try and play the 34" scale. Even if you "main" short scales, it is always good to be versatile in what you play. I am majorly gassing for a decent short scale, or one thats dirt cheap and spend some monayes on a rocking half stack.


Rock On!

 

[jackajesusfreak]

Here's my story. I have been playing 6 string guitars for 40+ years. The praise band leader needed a bass player and I said I'd give it a go. When I picked up my friend's 34" Ibanez, after playing 26 1/2" guitars, it felt like I was reaching across the room to get to the first fret! I decided to start with short scale basses. I played the short scale almost a year. One day I was in Guitar Center, killing time, I picked up a Fender Jazz bass just to see what all the fuss was about them being so awesome, and at first I thought I had picked up a medium scale bass (32"). I double checked and it was in fact a 34". I just concluded that because I had gotten used to going from the guitar neck to the 30" short scale, that going from the 30" to the 34" wasn't that big of a deal. Long story short I ended up buying and selling and now I play strictly 34".

You might want to give yourself more time with the short scales and then try the 34" like I did. Worse case scenario, just stick with the short scales. Nothing wrong with that and they certainly make them in a lot of makes now. There are some folk who only play short scale.

Jack

 

[Myasma]

Here's my story. I have been playing 6 string guitars for 40+ years. The praise band leader needed a bass player and I said I'd give it a go. When I picked up my friend's 34" Ibanez, after playing 26 1/2" guitars, it felt like I was reaching across the room to get to the first fret! I decided to start with short scale basses. I played the short scale almost a year. One day I was in Guitar Center, killing time, I picked up a Fender Jazz bass just to see what all the fuss was about them being so awesome, and at first I thought I had picked up a medium scale bass (32"). I double checked and it was in fact a 34". I just concluded that because I had gotten used to going from the guitar neck to the 30" short scale, that going from the 30" to the 34" wasn't that big of a deal. Long story short I ended up buying and selling and now I play strictly 34".

You might want to give yourself more time with the short scales and then try the 34" like I did. Worse case scenario, just stick with the short scales. Nothing wrong with that and they certainly make them in a lot of makes now. There are some folk who only play short scale.

Jack

I'll take your advice into consideration. I've been switching back and forth these days, seeing if I'll just get the hang of it one day.
Also, I does really suck that there aren't many short scale basses out there. Well, Affordable ones that is. I've been thinking about a Mustang, but I don't know about that too much.

 

[Share the Road]

I'll take your advice into consideration. I've been switching back and forth these days, seeing if I'll just get the hang of it one day.
Also, I does really suck that there aren't many short scale basses out there. Well, Affordable ones that is. I've been thinking about a Mustang, but I don't know about that too much.

IMHO, if you're not sure about it. Don't get one. Perhaps play a few thru guitar center or others you know and decide whether or not you like it. There is nothing wrong with something less than the Fender name. Ibanez makes several short scales for under $500. If you find you like one of them, there should always be room for upgrades and the like. Play what you are comfortable with but never be afraid, or a stranger, of the larger scale basses. Versatility is a big deal, but so is player comfort.

 

[Mike19]

In general, a short scale bass is easier to play for a person with a short reach (meaning short arms, not small hands).

A narrow neck bass is easier to play for a person with small hands. Your SX PJ does not have a narrow neck - I think its a standard width neck.

Yamaha, Dean, Peavey, Ibanez and a number of other brands have narrow neck series basses (from affordable to unaffordable).

 

[jackajesusfreak]

I'll take your advice into consideration. I've been switching back and forth these days, seeing if I'll just get the hang of it one day.
Also, I does really suck that there aren't many short scale basses out there. Well, Affordable ones that is. I've been thinking about a Mustang, but I don't know about that too much.

Here are a few:


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[becker4567]

If a short scale bass is your thing and it 'fits', then by all means stick with shortys. There is no law that says a full scale bass is a real bass and a short scale isn't. I play shortys and always have (since 1967), and the longest scale bass I have is 32". Comfort is the key, and if it isn't fun or comfortable to play, you'll find excuses not to. By the way, I have a SX shorty and am very impressed with it, and with a proper set up, they can match a Mustang or Bronco with ease.

 

[Share the Road]

If a short scale bass is your thing and it 'fits', then by all means stick with shortys. There is no law that says a full scale bass is a real bass and a short scale isn't. I play shortys and always have (since 1967), and the longest scale bass I have is 32". Comfort is the key, and if it isn't fun or comfortable to play, you'll find excuses not to. By the way, I have a SX shorty and am very impressed with it, and with a proper set up, they can match a Mustang or Bronco with ease.

+1

 

[Diogenes]

I have average sized hands for a guy slightly over 6'2"... I own full and shortscale basses but I prefer 30" scale. My muscle-memory just seems to be 'in tune' with that scale length. There's nothing wrong with it nor should you feel like noob for playing a short scale. This guy plays a very expensive signature shortscale and he sure as hell ain't no noob:

 

[Pilgrim]

I started on upright bass and play and own short, medium and long scale basses.

But you know what? The short scale ones are easier to play, and I LIKE that a lot. I find myself grabbing them more and more.

 

[Myasma]

Thank you very much. I think I'll keep the 34 scale bass and modify my bronco with Mustang pups after taking it to a luthier to get the internal cavity fixed and ready. one more off topic question, do luthiers do pick up setting and all the like? it'd be mighty helpful if they did.

 

[Pilgrim]

Thank you very much. I think I'll keep the 34 scale bass and modify my bronco with Mustang pups after taking it to a luthier to get the internal cavity fixed and ready. one more off topic question, do luthiers do pick up setting and all the like? it'd be mighty helpful if they did.

If you write the check, they'll do the work. I like the Broncos a lot - the pickup recess is actually pretty big under that PG. You will of course need a new PG, probably custom made, to accommodate the different pickup design.

 

[bassman10096]

In general, a short scale bass is easier to play for a person with a short reach (meaning short arms, not small hands).
A narrow neck bass is easier to play for a person with small hands.

These seem to me to be the critical physics of scale and neck size. I have smaller hands. When I first began playing seriously, I was very sensitive about having a narrow (no more than Jazz width) neck. That turned out to be a long term preference. My reach is about average. Initially, I liked short scale basses largely because most of them (I owned a Musicmaster and a Mustang - physically similar to your Bronco) were "easy on the reach". As I got more experienced, I did adopt 34" basses because it turned out my fingers are on the fat side and most Fender-style 34s didn't require too great a left hand reach. 34" scales are definitely less prone to feeling like my fat fingers are crowded together and the reach isn't bad. I still own short scales (and Alembic and a Guild M-85), but I play my long scales (Zon 4 string and Status-necked P bass) more.
All this took years of trial, error, experimentation, trying things a second time... Don't worry too much about how long it takes. The best I can recommend is that you spend a little extra to try out more basses. Don't overlook neck width and depth as big influences for short fingered guys. If you see a Modulus 4 string Quantum, play it. It's a 35" scale, but most of them have such slim necks you'd never believe it.

 

[peledog]

Great question though. I've never asked myself that. I have smaller hands, but longer fingers. I'm only 5'9" and depending on what I'm playing, sometimes it's tough holding down a groove in F.

I've played 30", 32" and 34". Sometimes it just depends on what kind of bass you get, then the length might no be an issue.

I'd like to know more about short scale basses and who makes them. I see some links in this thread, and I think I'll check out the short scale thread and see what those dudes/gals are playing.

 

[GregDunn]

I started on upright bass and play and own short, medium and long scale basses.

But you know what? The short scale ones are easier to play, and I LIKE that a lot. I find myself grabbing them more and more.

+1000.

I own both long and short scales, but I end up gigging and recording with the short scales, simply because it's easier for me to get the performance I want on the shorter, thinner neck. And the light weight lets me keep my energy up through a long gig.

Don't let people try to convince you that you "need" to play a long scale if your hands and body tell you otherwise. I can do it, sure - I played nothing else for years; but as a musician I want to play the instrument that lets me express myself with the least difficulty.

 

[DeanT]

I had the same problem as the OP. I play short scales 90% of the time because they are smaller, lighter and more fun to play. I do play long scales on occasion though. I thought I would never get used to playing a long scale, but stuck with it and now it's a piece of cake to go back and forth.

But there is no shame in playing short scales exclusively. If you never get the hang of a long scale, don't sweat it. That's why short scales exist.

Just keep at the long scale and make sure you are using correct technique. Don't get yourself to a point where you tell yourself "I'll never get the hang of a long scale," because then you'll end up with lots of trouble playing. Just take it slow and easy.

If a long scale doesn't feel comfortable to you, don't push it. Keep trying different ones until you find "the one." I went through a lot of long scales before I found one that was nearly as comfortable as my short scale for me to play (my 2010 Dean Hillsboro Jazz).

You may never find it. But don't stress about it. Just go with a short scale if that's the case.