Hello all. I've played bass off and on for 50 years (more off than on, and I haven't played in 13 years). One of the basses I owned during that time was a Gibson EB3, short scale. It was purchased in 1972 or 1973. It was not the best year for quality and I sold it in 1980. I loved the short scale. I have smaller hands, and the short scale and very narrow neck made the bass almost play itself. What would you suggest for a new short scale that isn't outlandish in price? I like a deep, mellow sound and use flatwounds. Thank you.
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Looking to buy a short scale bass
- Thread starter The Old One
- Start date
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I think the Verythins are cool too, and obviously thinner.
I have an Epiphone Allen Woody. It's a great bass. HH pups, LP shape body, smaller headstock than the EB models.
Also have a Mustang PJ, EB-0, Gretsch Jr Jet, and a Gretsch 5142 hollow-body, all shorties. They all have different tones and features. I'm gonna say that all around, for the price and features, the Jr Jet with flats is the winner.
Also have a Mustang PJ, EB-0, Gretsch Jr Jet, and a Gretsch 5142 hollow-body, all shorties. They all have different tones and features. I'm gonna say that all around, for the price and features, the Jr Jet with flats is the winner.
Fender Japan make them. But they don't distribute them out of Japan, unless you use something like Ishibashi music and buy from Japan and pay export. With the exchange rate, you can definitely get used ones cheaper than that, but new ones are probably somewhere around there.
They do P bass and J bass for students basically, but they are high quality and gigable. Almost bought one last time I was in Japan.
And from left field we have this. I own one and it's pretty cool and versatile sounds available. I never tried mine with flats but it would be great IMO because it has a woody undertone built in… must be the chambered body. It sounds more like a Jack Casady but the pups can be much brighter than a JC when you want that. Narrow neck too. Flawless fit and finish by a Canadian family owned company. No longer in production and quite rare, used market only.
Hmmm, now I'm thinking I should put flats on it… chromes would likely play well with it. https://reverb.com/ca/item/90738286-godin-dorchester-4-cherry-burst-2019-electric-bass
Hmmm, now I'm thinking I should put flats on it… chromes would likely play well with it. https://reverb.com/ca/item/90738286-godin-dorchester-4-cherry-burst-2019-electric-bass
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I would recommend checking put the Epiphone Allen Woody. Sounds great with flats or rounds and is nicely built.
As an owner of a Starfire I (with the Bisonic pickup, not the current model with the P pickup) I have to say - for "deep and mellow" the OP should definitely look at the Starfire II. The pickup position of the Starfire I is almost the same as that of a Stingray, so it is very much "in-your-face", the opposite of mellow, and even with flatwounds, "deep" is not what I would call it
If I ever come across a BiSonic neck pickup at a reasonable price, I will definitely mod my Starfire I into a II... I'd love to be able to get the "deep and mellow" tones of my Club from that Guild, as it has a super comfortable narrow neck.
I can't believe none of us mentioned the Epiphone Newport bass. As long as OP finds a good example of one, it's probably the closest version to what he had.
Though I'd probably rewire at a minimum, and likely swap pickups for Novak pickups if they fit.
Though I'd probably rewire at a minimum, and likely swap pickups for Novak pickups if they fit.
Try a Sire U5. It had the closet pbass/flats sound to my 73 precision. Bought it to try a short scale, sold it because short scale is not for me.
Great suggestion, especially if trying to stay on a modest budget. I recommended the Gibson SG bass for a similar reason (familiarity with his former EB-3). I think either option would be exactly what OP is looking for tone-wise, albeit at different price points.
Used SG Bass as mentioned. Well within the price range. Epiphone made a nicer upscale set neck version of their EB bolt on bass. But one or the other may have been longer scale.
A SG Bass with the correct Hipshot replacement bridge solves a number of issues regarding intonation travel and wrap lock wire issues hanging over the saddles break point. Not all short scale string sets play nice with the original Gibson style bridge because the wrap is to long.
Plenty of choices for short scales in todays market.
A SG Bass with the correct Hipshot replacement bridge solves a number of issues regarding intonation travel and wrap lock wire issues hanging over the saddles break point. Not all short scale string sets play nice with the original Gibson style bridge because the wrap is to long.
Plenty of choices for short scales in todays market.
Yeah the current Epiphone EB-3 is long scale 34". They produced a Japanese made "Elitist" model some years ago that was short scale, set neck, and well regarded here on Talk Bass. A Hipshot Supertone or Babicz Full Contact bridge is a popular upgrade on these basses for sure.
I suspect it was an elitist I was looking for in alpine white a decade ago. All seemed to be in Japan so I never bought one.
Both the SG and my Thunderbird got those bridges. I'm not sure Babicz was on the radar in 2008. I sold the SG and bought a 'Bird but the SG was really quite nice. I know I saw a used one online recently for 1k or maybe 1500. But that's half the OP's budget and if he liked the EB he once owned and deep sounding bass tones that might be a good option leaving plenty of cash for an amp or other guitar.
Hello all. I started this thread and want to say thanks to all of you for the helpful information.
77stingray
Supporting Member
The Musiman Stingray short scale is a very well made, nice looking and ergonomic instrument. It is 41" long and it fits in a guitar case.
The import version is the Sterling shorty @ one-fifth of the price and it is also a solidly built bass.
I got one of each, the Sterling for modding. The Sterling has new musicman tuners and it's getting a J. East three-band preamp. With contoured heel and a great neck the bass holds its own against my much more expensive basses.
I agree that the Sterlings especially are an outstanding value in the affordable bass category. A updated take on the classic bolt on bass.
