Searching for a Short Scale

[monsterthompson]

I’ve got a Mustang PJ, and I just picked up a Nordstrand Acinonyx. If you like tight string spacing the Acinonyx is worth a look. They aren’t easy to come by, but there’s a few in stock at Truetone Music, which is where I snagged mine.

It’s got some quirks with the push buttons, but overall it’s a very nice bass and won’t likely overlap with the P sound.

That said, I find the PJ Mustang to be a good option. The stock P pickup has more deep boom than my full scale P with a Steve Harris Duncan pickup in it. The J volume is a little low by comparison. I’d like blend instead of a switch. Still, a good bass overall.

 

[Joe Murray]

You may want to give the Gretsch Electromatic Junior Jet a look. A lot of Bass for not a lot of money. Those mini humbuckers are great!! They produce them in a bunch of different colors now as well.

G2220 Electromatic® Junior Jet™ Bass II Short-Scale, Black Walnut Fingerboard, Bristol Fog

 

[Groove Doctor]

Check out

Danelectro basses. Lightweight, comfy to play standing and sitting. Mine has dead roundwounds and a gorgeous woody tone. Flats & a pick gives a superb classic thumpy tone. Fresh rounds is like a J bass with depth.

MusucMan short scale. There’s a Thread here with many fanboys.

I’m kicking myself for not buying a 32” MusicMan a bass buddy of mine built locally.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Birdsong electric basses. 31" scale, light, incredibly easy to play. The cBass, in particular, gives an excellent Precision sound. There's a Cortobass in the classifieds right now, I believe. Check out the Birdsong website: BIRDSONGGUITARS.COM

 

[sabre79]

I have 2 Ibanez TMB30's which I love. 41mm nut and 19mm string spacing. The pickups aren't great so add your best PJ set.

 

[bmusic]

I love love LOVE my Mustang. Put La Bellas on it and rounds on your P, and they are distinctly different.

 

[Liam Wald]

My two favorites are my Lakland HB-30 and my Mustang Player PJ.

 

[Cowboy0071]

So I'm on the hunt for a short scale bass...the contenders are:
Mustang
Jaguar
Les Paul Junior Tribute
Reverend Wattplower II

Price not being a factor, opinions on the 4 I listed (FWIW I'm leaning more towards the Mustang or the LP) My concern with the Jag or Mustang is that they are not going to be distinctly different from my P Bass, while the LP and Wattplower will be.

I have a American performer Mustang which also has a jazz pickup at the bridge position. That gives me a few more tonal options.

 

[friedlbug]

I’ve owned a couple of nice Mustangs. The LP Jr DC is considerably better, at least to me.

 

[AngelCrusher]

The Wilcock Mullarkey is unreal. They have gone up in price since I bought one, but it's my main player now.

 

[bassrique]

LOL I guess that Gibson thing is subjective on which side of the fence you fall. The only issue with JMJ is that it's on back order which could mean a week or a year in todays climate

Zzounds has the black version in stock.

 

[TK4261]

Check out Marusczcyk also

 

[DDXdesign]

Oh man if you're open to ALLLL short scales... hell I'm the Shorties guy on our channel, LOL.

Best ones I've ever played: the Reverends (either one, but I've only played the first version of the Watt) are pretty perfect, the JMJ, the Stingray, the Acinonyx for sure, and the Gretsch 2220 I really loved when we recently shot it. Aso for under 200 bucks the TMB30 is pretty great (it beat out a vintage mustang for me). For Gibsons they can be hit or miss, but the LP DC seems to be solid every time.

@TK4261 is right as well if you want to spend custom money. Maruszczyk and Mensinger make PHENOMENAL instruments for lower-end custom dollars.

 

[El Diablo Rojo]

I think it's come down to the Gibson or either Wattplower II or a Dub King.

 

[bherman]

Funny you mentioned the Dub, I messaged back and forth with Any Irvine an he said between the Wattplower and the Dub he prefered the Dub. May have to give that a closer look

I think that there's a used one in the classifieds now

 

[iiipopes]

And now for something completely different: the Mitchell (GC store brand made by Schecter) short scale. $189. Occasionally on sale for less. Upgrade the pickups and it is a great bass. I have one for my travel bass that has made two trips to Mexico with no incidents. Yes, the QC of Schecter at the price of a Bronco, plus upgraded pickups.

The bridge pickup is a little farther away from the bridge than a typical J pickup proportionally, and the P pickup is reversed and the DG segment is also closer to the neck proportionally. This gives the bass a deeper, rounder tone. I don't think anybody will mistake it for a P-bass.

BTW: for short scale strings, GHS Balanced Pure Nickels are God's gift to short scale bass players: big round tone, even in tone from string-to-string and up the neck, good tension so they don't flop, they don't twang or thump, last a long time (my last set lasted two years before finally corroding in the sea air), reasonable in price.

 

[El Diablo Rojo]

I think that there's a used one in the classifieds now

I'll take a look thanks

 

[SAlcott]

Serek.

 

[five7]

The mezzo 5 is quite good for the money!

 

[DDXdesign]

The mezzo 5 is quite good for the money!

isn't the mezzo medium scale though rather than short?