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Looking for a new short-scale bass - advice needed!

#41
Slabs look small. The hagstrom semi has mixed reviews. Ibanez semi and hollow fair better in the review realm. I have a Beatle clone which is okay, it's Beatle-ish and that's the tone I was going for. I have an Ibanez AFB200 which I like but it can be a howler... I block the F-holes with handlebar foam tubing and that works. For loud work I just drag out the P-FSO and play with discomfort (hand impaired but still works). I never tried a 32" but I have heard they should not be counted out. With the 30'" the string selection for flats is good for my purposes.

The Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat is a 30" SS chambered body single cut. I have/had thought about that model. But the AFB Ibanez presented itself when I was in the market and wooden arch top bridges don't put me off as I've hung around the viol family since I was in elementary school.

When all else fails, standing in front of a mirror and determining how it fits (good or bad) should not be discounted.

Best of luck
 
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#46
There are a couple of Atelier Baby Z Jazz basses on Reverb right now, one for 1000 USD (and the seller is taking offers). They're made by the same team who made the Tokyo Sadowsky basses. They feel substantial and seamless in your hands and are as good as any Fender. They're active but can be played passively IIRC.
Here's the cheapest. Ichibashi is AMAZING to do biz with.
ATELIER Z babyZ-4J [SN 050419] [12/21] | Reverb

EDIT: Oh wait that neck is twisted. But there's also another one for the same price. And another for a hundered or two more. Probably a couple on ebay too. People like those Fender Junior Jazz basses, too!
 
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#48
TeaTime said:
A bit higher in budget, but I recently got to test out a Maruszczyk Cazpar 32". It comes in a 30". Remarkable instrument, very playable and a great tonal range.
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Maruszczyk makes several models in short and medium scale including traditional J and P bodies. You can have one built with any pickup and electronics you like as well as custom configure everything else. You could have a very nice SS passive Jazz for under $2K.
 
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#49
Luther said:
Sire U5.
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This is also the alternate recco I was going to make. I have half a dozen short scales - none being actively used at the moment - but if I had to pick and keep one, this is the one. I see it's got a number of supporters already in this thread. IMO just skip the Fender Mustang. I have one of those, too, and if I had to get rid of one, that would be the first to go.
 
#50
FYI the Gretsch Jr Jet pups are single-coil not HBs.
I have a Mustang Player PJ and I love it, but it sounds like you’ve ruled it out. There’s the JMJ, but I haven’t played one. They seem to get a lot of love here on TB though.
 
#51
Thanks for all the replies!

I think the main thing I can take from all of this is that for now, I need to stick with my J Bass, as there's something will all of the short-scale basses in my price range that puts me off, or at least would be a much bigger issue or compromise than the occasional difficulty/strain I have with certain riffs on a 34" bass.

I'll keep an eye out for the goldilocks short-scale that might fit all my needs, but for now I'll lock up my wallet and spend that money on bills and stuff.
 
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#52
Although it's not on your list, I'd recommend you check out the Squier Paranormal Rascal, especially considering you like your current Squier. The only mods I did to mine were strap locks and switching to flats. This bass has no business being this good for $400+/-. It is now my co-number one alongside my Fender Urge I. They both come to a gig in a dual-bass bag and it just depends on if I want rounds or flats as to which one I pull out. It's worth a look.

B
 
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#53
Audiomicrowave said:
Although it's not on your list, I'd recommend you check out the Squier Paranormal Rascal, especially considering you like your current Squier. The only mods I did to mine were strap locks and switching to flats. This bass has no business being this good for $400+/-. It is now my co-number one alongside my Fender Urge I. They both come to a gig in a dual-bass bag and it just depends on if I want rounds or flats as to which one I pull out. It's worth a look.

B
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I have the rounds on the Squier Paranormal and flats on my Rumblecat (3x more expensive) but 2 Paranormals would be fine, I like the neck better. I find I'm often using just the bridge pu because it has all the lows you need, but flats with the neck pu would be like going back in time to an EB1. Plus if you are in a shoegaze band with other ofset guitars, you all match.
 
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#54
I play a Jr Jet as my primary bass, 2202 single pup (very rare) Same bass that Mike Kerr of Royal Blood used at the beginning before the Fender endorsement. Well balanced but heavy. Put a Hipshot Kickass 5 bridge on it, no modifications needed. Understand that the pup on this model (MIK) was designed by TV Jones, which since the pic was replaced with a Thunderblade and the original pup used on another bass. If you ever see one listed, grab it before I do. The Chinese 2220s are not the same bass, neck doesn't feel the same but they're cheap and decent quality. No hand size issue but play a shortie because 1) learned on an EB-0 and 2) played in a Beatles tribute show and much of McCartney's lead-bass playing is difficult on a long scale if you have to get it note-and-sound exact.
 
#55
Ibanez Mikro?

Mikro.png
 
#56
Audiomicrowave said:
Although it's not on your list, I'd recommend you check out the Squier Paranormal Rascal, especially considering you like your current Squier. The only mods I did to mine were strap locks and switching to flats. This bass has no business being this good for $400+/-. It is now my co-number one alongside my Fender Urge I. They both come to a gig in a dual-bass bag and it just depends on if I want rounds or flats as to which one I pull out. It's worth a look.

B
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From OP's original ask, in post #1:
" I'm not a fan of humbuckers at all"
 
#58
Karl_in_Chicago said:
From OP's original ask, in post #1:
" I'm not a fan of humbuckers at all"
Click to expand...

This is true, but it's still worth a try in my opinion. You never know what might change your mind. Heck, it could be argued that the first bass on the list has a humbucker in it with the split coil p-bass pickup.

Personally, I don't pay attention to what pickups are in it...good sound is good sound.

B
 
#60
BassBrass said:
How can that be? Some things don't register because they are beyond the pale of reason.
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I dunno, man, I just know what somebody asked for and how I'd answer it. Like if somebody asked me about a car and said "I don't drive stick" I wouldn't recommend a manual transmission to them even though *I* far prefer them because it's not going to be *my* car/truck. FWIW I own a Rascal (shell pink) and *I* like it but understand that doesn't mean anyone else has to. You keep doing you and I'll keep doing me, the world's cool that way IMO.
 
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