So, I just got my SBMM Short Scale from AMS (light blue w/maple neck, you've seen them) and out of the box it needed help.
Immediately, I had to shim the neck with an old credit card, the saddles were all the way down to the base of the bridge and the action was still too high. I had my tech lower the nut string slots which made a huge improvement on the overall feel of the bass.
Then, I had to buff the finish on the neck and fret board with a green 3M Scotch Brite pad and that did the trick, it really smoothed it out and it makes it feel great. I finished it off with a coat of carnauba wax. I'll say that the fret work is excellent, the neck is straight and the truss rod works fine.
Next, I switched out the tone cap with a .022 which just rolls off the top end a little and doesn't make the bass sound like its got a sock in its mouth like the stock .100 does.
Eventually, I will replace the output jack with a Pure Tone. The stock jack is plastic and looks pretty delicate.
I added some shielding tape to the edge of the cavity so the control plate could make contact with the shielding paint within the cavity and that actually helped a lot with single coil hum.
But, I can't believe the crappy tuners they put on this instrument, they go out of tune just looking at them! I've ordered a set of Hipshot HB1's with non tapered posts so I can get the strings as close as I can to the face of the headstock to get better downward pressure behind the nut.
I've restrung the bass with DR High Beams and the good part is that the bass sounds great!
No dead spots at all and excellent sustain across the neck.
The pickup is excellent and it really nails the Stingray sound, I really don't miss it being active, like I thought I would.
Overall the bones of this bass and construction are very good. I'm pleased with the way it has turned out with needed finishing and mods that I did but those fifty cent tuners have got to go. Even if they went up to the next level of that cheap tuner with the adjustable tension, it would be an improvement.
This completes my short scale collection along with my Hofner Club and modified Bronco.