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Recommend me a short scale!

Evil Undead

Evil Undead

Oct 31, 2009
3,844
587
#1
Due to a wrist injury, I need to downscale to 30"-32" basses.

I am a bedroom player, and play all sorts from hard rock to disco. Mainly finger style but with a little pick and slap thrown in.

I'm a big Fender/Squier fan, but open to all other suggestions. Though I'd like to stay away from any neck divers.

I have around $800 and will buy new or used.
 
#3
I just finished rebuilding a Fender Musicmaster from the early 70s. The original electronics are what let these basses down, since they were originally installed with a 6-pole guitar pickup. I put new CTS pots, a Switchcraft jack, shielding, and an Aero musicmasterer pickup in it, and it sounds really great. Not super cheap, but mine came to a total of 400 bucks, cheaper than any other quality vintage bass on the market.
 
#6
The Jag is a P/J setup, with the J in the '70's position' It's actually a surprisingly nice bass for the price.
bassmeknik said:
I have recently looked into this and the Squier SS Jaguar seems to be the ticket in the "inexpensive 30" scale bass" category at about $180. Ibanez Mikro is 28.6" scale and also $180. Both use P style pickups (though the Mikro has a P/J setup).
Click to expand...
 
#7
Jag SS can be neck-divey, although there are plenty of suggestions in the Jag SS thread about how to counter this, including lighter tuning heads, thick leather straps, heavier bridge hardware and even tyre weights in a bridge ashtray. There seems to be a fair variation in weight, so some of the heavier ones don't dive.

Sounds sweet as though, and has a slim fast neck.
 
#8
Drake Custom. Website info here: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/drake-custom-marilyn-964760/ .

I play and endorse these basses. Andrew does an exceptional job with 32" and 33" scale basses, and they weigh in the 7.5 - 9 pound. range. Great quality of workmanship. Playability is the best I've ever experienced. The sound can be made to what you want, but is always big, bold and punchy. These basses cut a live mix exceptionally well.

I have a 34" for sale: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/drake-custom-marilyn-964760/ but it's likely not for you, since it is a 34" scale.

These basses might exceed your budget, but if one can help you recover from the injury and keeps you playing long term, it might be worth it.

I'd encourage you to visit the website and contact Andrew to check basses that may be available and to see what he can build for you.

Hope this helps.

Koog
 
#13
birdman14 said:
I just finished rebuilding a Fender Musicmaster from the early 70s. The original electronics are what let these basses down, since they were originally installed with a 6-pole guitar pickup. I put new CTS pots, a Switchcraft jack, shielding, and an Aero musicmasterer pickup in it, and it sounds really great. Not super cheap, but mine came to a total of 400 bucks, cheaper than any other quality vintage bass on the market.
Click to expand...

I have a 74' also. I put in a 78' P bass wiring harness and got rid of the 2 cap setup and it sounds great now. The Squier Vista Musicmaster's pop up here and there. I have one and its a great bass with a loud, growly pup in it.
 
#15
I can't help you with neck dive, I've played all kinds of basses that supposedly have it and never noticed any problems. I guess some of us just are not sensitive to it. You can probably find a SS Jag to try somewhere and form your own opinion, the only one that counts, about how well it is balanced. Fender/Squier also make various short scale Bronco and Mustang models. I like the looks of the Squier VM Telecaster basses which are 32 inch. The last three basses on the Eastwood Guitars website are short scales.

Now they are a different sort of beast but would a 30 inch bass VI or a 27-28 inch baritone guitar make an interesting choice for you? They can be played fingerstyle and picked but I think slapping is out of the question. Baritones are traditionally tuned higher but many guitarists tune them as low as a bass and some tune them down to D. Fender makes the new Pawn Shop Bass VI and a Blacktop Telecaster Baritone. On Eastwood's web page the last two guitars just above the basses are Sidejack Baritones and the first bass is a Sidejack Bass VI. Schecter has made some bass VI models recently, I don't know if they make any currently. Many guitar makers have a baritone or two sprinkled in their catalogs but they are often hard to find. Rondo/Douglas/Essex/Brice/Agile/etc/etc/etc makes short scale basses, an Argus bass VI, and several baritones.

Ken
 
#17
Alexlotl said:
Jag SS can be neck-divey, although there are plenty of suggestions in the Jag SS thread about how to counter this, including lighter tuning heads, thick leather straps, heavier bridge hardware and even tyre weights in a bridge ashtray. There seems to be a fair variation in weight, so some of the heavier ones don't dive.

Sounds sweet as though, and has a slim fast neck.
Click to expand...

Yup. Bought a used Jag SS from the classifieds here, and it had a very light body and noticeable neck dive. A set of Hipshot Ultralite tuners solved the problem.

Just bought a used Ibanez Mikro, which sounds great for the price. The neck is even smaller than the Jag.
 
#20
Since you are a big Fender/Squier fan I would suggest looking for a used made in Japan 32" Fender or Squier P bass. They popup the in the classifieds here sometimes and on Ebay. In my opinion they blow away the Mustangs.
If you can afford a little more look for a used Birdsong or Landing.
One bass I really want to check out is the short scale Warwick Rock bass

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