players who use short scales

[EddieN]

What bass did Colin Moulding play? I thought he played a fretless. Dont see many fretless short scale.

I've hardly seen him (in videos or live & studio photos) with the same bass twice. Often rather cheap things, Voxes, Epi's, even a Fender Musicmaster (one live shot & the "Nigel" video). Altho' he seems to prefer shorties, I've also seen him with a full scale Ric at least once.

Of course, it's possible he's played a fretless at some point in his career. Some stuff was likely recorded with a fretless.

*corrections & such* A little more Innernetz investigation reveals that the above applies to the early part of XTC, the part I'm more familiar with. Seems he switched primarily to playing a Wal, a reg'lar ol' P & fretlesseseses of unknown make in about the mid-eighties. Sorry.

 

[IB3K]

Gary Tallent from the E Street band is currently playing a black short scale Spector.

 

[jerry]

Gary Tallent from the E Street band is currently playing a black short scale Spector.

He also was another Dano guy back in the Born To Run days.

Tina Weymouth from Talking Heads also played various short scale basses.

 

[Hughsie]

Mark King (his main Status signature is a 32"); Stu Hamm (also used mostly 32" scale signature basses).

 

[jel]

My kind of thread, I am obsessed with short-scale players, particulary those who play with flats (Spampinato, McCartney, Wyman)`
Those so far not mentioned.....

Fred Smith of Television (Ampeg SSB)
Geezer Butler, Dan Armstrong Plexiglass on all of Sabbath 4
Holger Czukay of Can (Fender Mustang)
Brian Ritchie of Violent Femmes (Ernie Ball Earthwood)
Mani of Primal Scream (Rickenbacker Eldorado)
Gary Valentine of Blondie (Rickenbacker Eldorado)
Justin Meldal Johnson (Fender Coronado, Guild Starfire)
Glen Cornick of Jethro Tull (Gibson EBO and EB3)
Jared Followill of Kings of leon (Gibson EBO on all of Aha Sake Heartbreak)
Doug Yule of Velvet Underground (Gibson EB3)
Trevor Boulder of The Spiders from Mars (Fender Mustang)
Alan Lancaster of Status Quo (Fender Mustang)
George Porter of The Meters (Gibson EB2 on the first Album)
Richard Hell of the Voidoids and Television(Fender Mustang and Danelectro Shorthorn)
Phil Lesh of Grateful Dead (Guild Starfire)
Clive Griffiths of Patto (Fender Mustang with Jazz Pickups)
Tomethy Hurse of the Horrors (Danectro Longhorn and Fender Mustang)
Paul Duffy of the Coral (Fender Musicmaster and I think a Gibson EB1)

I've probably got all the Gibson models mixed up. My lunchbreaks over, I'll put some more up tomorrow.

 

[bassman10096]

Gary Tallent from the E Street band is currently playing a black short scale Spector.

Garry also played an Ampeg AMB1 short scale (the wood reissue of the Dan Armstrong lucite bass).

 

[pbass2]

The undeservedly overlooked, highly versatile and wonderful NRBQ, for over 30 years, Joey Spampinato's formula - Danelectro Longhorns, Silvertone/Dano shorthorns and now Jerry Jones basses, all short scale, strung with flats. A gifted composer, and uniquely great bass player.

One of my top 5 fave players and tones! He's such a great player and has such a cool vibe and sound. I got my first Dano 15 years ago, a 60's one, because of him. Now I use a Jerry Jones with flats and it sees as much playing time as any of my Fender-style basses.

Also, Bruce Thomas used a JJ 'horn for a while with Elvis Costello, as well as the great Jerry Scheff (used on many different albums as I understand it).

 

[pbass2]

Another one----check out the guy from Brazilian Girls, Jesse Murphy, with his Mustang. Awesome and unusual player.

 

[andrew]

Joe Lally from Fugazi has been touring on his solo records with a Hofner bass. He recorded with both the Hofner and a short scale Gibson bass too.

 

[The Lurker]

justin meldal-johnsen uses a Starfire quite often.


Also, the bass on the Clash song London Calling is supposedly an EB-2.

 

[LHbassist]

I was just listening to "Bare Wires" a long forgotten, incredible, pioneering John Mayall album from 1968. This is one of the very first 'fusion' albums of any kind. Mayall hired some of the young English jazz players on the scene for the record. Those players went on to form Coliseum. Tony Reeves was the bassist on the album. He used, more than likely, a Gibson EB-3, which I have seen photos of him playing during that period. The tone is not muddy- but big, clear and fat, and his playing is just right. Check out his very imaginative, driving shuffle line on "Start Walkin" . Mick Taylor's guitar tone and solo on that track is just about as good as it gets, too. I love Reeves' playing on it, even a slight hesitation mistake he makes doesn't deter from the track. A great bassist, a long time ago.

 

[acleex38]

I was just listening to "Bare Wires" a long forgotten, incredible, pioneering John Mayall album from 1968. This is one of the very first 'fusion' albums of any kind. Mayall hired some of the young English jazz players on the scene for the record. Those players went on to form Coliseum. Tony Reeves was the bassist on the album. He used, more than likely, a Gibson EB-3, which I have seen photos of him playing during that period. The tone is not muddy- but big, clear and fat, and his playing is just right. Check out his very imaginative, driving shuffle line on "Start Walkin" . Mick Taylor's guitar tone and solo on that track is just about as good as it gets, too. I love Reeves' playing on it, even a slight hesitation mistake he makes doesn't deter from the track. A great bassist, a long time ago.

I'm checking that album out now - thanks for the "suggestion."

 

[BassManPatsFan]

Garry also played an Ampeg AMB1 short scale (the wood reissue of the Dan Armstrong lucite bass).

Gary also has played an old fretless Guild Starfire, which has a Bartolini humbucker in it I believe.


I play a fretless short scale too (Guild Starfire).

 

[steverosati]

Dominique Dipiazza

 

[sarcastro83]

Tina Weymouth used to rock a Fender Mustang back in the day.

 

[corinpills]

God, there are some classy bass players being mentioned in this thread. I'll add another: Chris Murphy of Sloan.

 

[Hoover]

Fred Smith of Television (Ampeg SSB)

Any idea whether Fred actually used that Ampeg on any of their albums? He's pictured playing a Fender Precision on the inside sleeve of Marquee Moon

 

[rockstarsmd]

Joie Calio of Dada plays a single-cut Jerry Jones 4-string (30" scale).

He is a sharp songwriter, a stunning bass player, and -- in the manner of Moulding, McCartney, etc. -- a ridiculous lead singer whilst playing all those fantastic lines.

 

[The Lurker]

Joie Calio of Dada plays a single-cut Jerry Jones 4-string (30" scale).

He is a sharp songwriter, a stunning bass player, and -- in the manner of Moulding, McCartney, etc. -- a ridiculous lead singer whilst playing all those fantastic lines.

"I just flipped off President George... I'm going to Dizz Knee Land!"

Dada is good Ironically, they wrote that at the time of George I...

 

[EddieN]

Any idea whether Fred actually used that Ampeg on any of their albums? He's pictured playing a Fender Precision on the inside sleeve of Marquee Moon

I've read in a number of places that he used the Ampeg for that whole album. It certainly doesn't sound Precision-like to my ears but who knows for sure.