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Recommend me a short scale!
- Thread starter Evil Undead
- Start date
Wrist and finger restrictions
I’m going to be chiming in on this one a few times. I’ve been working in construction all my adult life and found myself with slightly crippled hands. My fingers don’t spread apart much and most of my joints and tendons are always sore. I went with short scales for a few years. My speed was noticeably better. Then I got ahold of a wider neck with a 15” radius and found this much more comfortable than the short scale necks I own. Spent a little time asking why and came to this conclusion that the short scale necks I own are 1.5” wide and only about 7” radius. This made my hands cramp up. I found that I had to roll my hands and fingers around the neck in place of just folding the palm over the neck with a full exposer of my fingers on the fret board. The challenge now is to find a short scale with a wider neck and larger radius that I can afford. Not knowing the restrictions you have on your wrist I would look into playing some of these short scales for a while to see how your hand and wrist feel before committing.
I’m going to be chiming in on this one a few times. I’ve been working in construction all my adult life and found myself with slightly crippled hands. My fingers don’t spread apart much and most of my joints and tendons are always sore. I went with short scales for a few years. My speed was noticeably better. Then I got ahold of a wider neck with a 15” radius and found this much more comfortable than the short scale necks I own. Spent a little time asking why and came to this conclusion that the short scale necks I own are 1.5” wide and only about 7” radius. This made my hands cramp up. I found that I had to roll my hands and fingers around the neck in place of just folding the palm over the neck with a full exposer of my fingers on the fret board. The challenge now is to find a short scale with a wider neck and larger radius that I can afford. Not knowing the restrictions you have on your wrist I would look into playing some of these short scales for a while to see how your hand and wrist feel before committing.
I'd probably go with a Fender Mustang. They sell new on MF for like $749 I think, or you can shop around for a cool vintage one.
There is Hofner as well, but not everybody is into that, but I think they're awesome.
There is Hofner as well, but not everybody is into that, but I think they're awesome.
Two of the short scales I have are Cort Jr and Squier Jag SS both 30" scale. Both are modified fretless but they were just fine fretted Im just a fretless kind of guy. The Jag is heavily modified. The Cort has a EMG40 waiting to be installed. I purched the Jag from GC for $100 and the Cort came from a TBer in Canada for $100.
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I'm not exactly sure of the specs but my Squier Vista MusicMaster neck is noticeably wider, thicker and has more radius than any of my other short scales. I believe it is 1-5/8 and 9* radius but I'm not 100% sure.
In any case it is a very comfortable neck. Not so wide that it feels clunky like a P-Bass, but certainly more roomy than a jazz.
I love my new Squier Mikey Way bass. Don't have any affinity for the gent whose name is on it, but it's a great bass. The passive humbucker has some grit on the low strings, it balances well (hangs perfectly horizontal if I let go) and has a nice satin finish on the neck. The Mustang-style racing stripe is inside the finish, so it's nice and smooth. It's a tad bit heavier than you would guess, but still a light bass with a very nice, playable neck.
Here's mine...last two photos are next to my Squier Bronco with a Gretsch 2202 pickup:
Here's mine...last two photos are next to my Squier Bronco with a Gretsch 2202 pickup:
Hm.... you are close in price to a used Corto bass with www.birdsongguitars.com
You might want to check it out if you want a professional grade hand-build short scale. Scott there has been making them one at a time for years. He plays short scale so thats his passion.
I have one I am thinking of selling, but its got a Hipshot drop D tuner and is killer so I couldnt let it go for 8. Not trying to sell you mine, just saying you are close to the price for used ones that pop up on the classified's here. Also I owned a Squire and trust me, that was a lot of bass for the little money. I put flats on it but ended up with two Birdsongs. I let the Squire go then but I really liked it.
You might want to check it out if you want a professional grade hand-build short scale. Scott there has been making them one at a time for years. He plays short scale so thats his passion.
I have one I am thinking of selling, but its got a Hipshot drop D tuner and is killer so I couldnt let it go for 8. Not trying to sell you mine, just saying you are close to the price for used ones that pop up on the classified's here. Also I owned a Squire and trust me, that was a lot of bass for the little money. I put flats on it but ended up with two Birdsongs. I let the Squire go then but I really liked it.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I like my Ibanez Mikro. I got it new on eBay for $125 and bought the padded case also. Although the sound is pretty good, I've thought about upgrading the pups.
Have you thought about a Rickenbacker 3000? Beautiful, cool and very rare (in my opinion) basses, and I'm sure that it would be a pleasure to own and play one of them.
I seem to recall from other threads that you play Fender Precisions. Is this right? If so, you might like the tone of the 3000 - it is often described as a punchy, growly Precision. They might be slightly outside your budget at the moment, but not by a huge amount, and it would be well worth saving a little bit more for such a rare and gorgeous bass.
Good luck with your search, and take good care of your wrist and your hands.
I seem to recall from other threads that you play Fender Precisions. Is this right? If so, you might like the tone of the 3000 - it is often described as a punchy, growly Precision. They might be slightly outside your budget at the moment, but not by a huge amount, and it would be well worth saving a little bit more for such a rare and gorgeous bass.
Good luck with your search, and take good care of your wrist and your hands.
Just noticed this thread - the short-scale bass club
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/official-short-scale-bass-club-part-3-a-837609/
You could try reading through that thread (and parts 1 and 2 which preceeded it), and I'm sure that you would pick up plenty of useful bits of information about different makes and models of short-scale basses, and you might see a few pictures which lead you to your perfect bass!
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/official-short-scale-bass-club-part-3-a-837609/
You could try reading through that thread (and parts 1 and 2 which preceeded it), and I'm sure that you would pick up plenty of useful bits of information about different makes and models of short-scale basses, and you might see a few pictures which lead you to your perfect bass!
See if you can find a Kramer 'TheDuke" on eBay or somewhere. Headless aluminum neck, short scale, very easy to play, and with the stock pickup, louder than the Trump of Doom.
I'ts also the only bass I've ever owned that was actually BUTT heavy! only reason I let it go was it was a righty, and a friend really, really wanted it for his wife.
I'ts also the only bass I've ever owned that was actually BUTT heavy! only reason I let it go was it was a righty, and a friend really, really wanted it for his wife.
The Birdsongs are fantastic though a bit pricy. My favorite short scale is Danelectro Longhorn or the Jerry Jones version. I got a used Longhorn for about 200.00 and its fantastic. Played Jerry Jones Longhorns for years until I foolishly sold them. Also recently playing a U-bass Which is an incredible instrument that has to be heard to believe! Very short 20" scale, but easy to play. My other bass is a long scale Epi Thunderbird Classic 4, so I have all my basses covered so to speak!
A Gibson SG bass is the only way to go for short scale. If your looking used try to find a Gibson EB0 or Gibson EB3. You will be getting Gibson Made in the US quality.
Just spoke with Scott at Birdsong and had a nice discussion. The necks on his Corto are between 1.6 and 1.7 width and a 12 radius. The link below is part of my search for a used lined fretless which I have given up and decided to go with a custom build. The neck sounds very close to what I have been looking for. Give Scott a call he loves to talk bass and tell him you are a member of TB.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f11/wanted-birdsong-cortobass-964731/#post14061064
Here's one for sale from a TBer
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-birdsong-cortobass-942982/
Ibanez mikro
I was thinking of this one but Im holding out for a couple of other basses. The price is right if you dont mind a couple of scuffs.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ibanez-GSRM...8-/261187688658?pt=Guitar&hash=item3ccfffd8d2
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