Last week, I posted a thread (https://www.talkbass.com/threads/looking-for-a-new-short-scale-bass-advice-needed.1633738/) asking for advice on which of three short-scale basses to buy: Ibanez Talman, Danelectro Longhorn/'59, or Hagstrom Viking. Or for any other suggestions that I may have missed. My main criteria were that I prefer volume blend to pick-up switches, tone controls for each pickup, and single-coils.
Thanks for all the advice, I did read every reply even if I didn't respond! After going through them all, looking at more demo videos, and reading reviews, I decided to go for... the Squier Rascal.
So yes, after all that, I went for a bass with humbuckers, one tone control, and a pick-up switch... But it got suggested a lot, and obviously it's been getting a lot of buzz in the bass world. I wasn't able to find one to try out, but watching all of the demo videos confirmed that even if it might not be quite as versatile in terms of tone selection as my Paranormal Jazz '54, it still had a pretty great range of tones, and great high-end compared with other humbucking shorties in the same price bracket, like the Epiphone Newport. And let's face it, the Rascal looks absolutely spectacular. So I ordered it direct from Fender, as they seem to be the only people in the UK with any in stock in Sherwood Green, and it was 5% off my first purchase and free shipping, so as cheap as anywhere else.
It arrived today, and it looks even better up close. The finish is incredible, and the colour is close enough to British Racing Green to make a British racing nerd like me very happy. And the offset dot inlays (towards the upper side of the neck up to the 9th, then towards the lower side from the 15th up) overcome an issue I had with the Fender Player Mustang, with the white side markers being a little hard to see halfway into the maple back of the neck. The offset inlays low down the neck are much easier to see than if they were in the middle of the neck. Does badly need a proper set-up out of the box, which is my only gripe, but for a Squier that's not unexpected. And the ergonomics of it, with the bridge so far up the Bass VI body, will take a little getting used to - to have my picking hand between the pick-ups, I'll need to tilt the neck up more than usual.
Initial impression of the tones is that it really does have a great range. Even on the neck pick-up with the tone down, it has some nice treble to it so I feel like it'll cut through really well even when I'm playing something mellow, and the bridge pick-up is easily the best I've encountered. So many are just thin and weedy, especially played with a pick as I do, but this one has so much low-end beef to it. I hardly ever use bridge on its own, but I think I will quite a lot with the Rascal. I haven't had a chance to play it in a band practice yet, so that's the final test. Sounds like it'll more than hold its own though.
Overall, the Rascal isn't quite as versatile as my Paranormal Jazz, so it probably won't replace it... and that's a good thing. It offers plenty of crossover, but some different tones as well, while being easier on my tiny hands. It might become my main gigging bass, it might not, but I'm pretty sure it'll be a keeper. Between those two, I've got pretty much all tones covered, with my Hofner to satisfy my Beatles fan-boy urges.
So thanks again for the advice everyone, and if you get a chance to try out a Squier Rascal (or anything else in the Squier Paranormal range, they're really killing it), give it a go. It's an amazing bass for under 400 quid.
Thanks for all the advice, I did read every reply even if I didn't respond! After going through them all, looking at more demo videos, and reading reviews, I decided to go for... the Squier Rascal.
So yes, after all that, I went for a bass with humbuckers, one tone control, and a pick-up switch... But it got suggested a lot, and obviously it's been getting a lot of buzz in the bass world. I wasn't able to find one to try out, but watching all of the demo videos confirmed that even if it might not be quite as versatile in terms of tone selection as my Paranormal Jazz '54, it still had a pretty great range of tones, and great high-end compared with other humbucking shorties in the same price bracket, like the Epiphone Newport. And let's face it, the Rascal looks absolutely spectacular. So I ordered it direct from Fender, as they seem to be the only people in the UK with any in stock in Sherwood Green, and it was 5% off my first purchase and free shipping, so as cheap as anywhere else.
It arrived today, and it looks even better up close. The finish is incredible, and the colour is close enough to British Racing Green to make a British racing nerd like me very happy. And the offset dot inlays (towards the upper side of the neck up to the 9th, then towards the lower side from the 15th up) overcome an issue I had with the Fender Player Mustang, with the white side markers being a little hard to see halfway into the maple back of the neck. The offset inlays low down the neck are much easier to see than if they were in the middle of the neck. Does badly need a proper set-up out of the box, which is my only gripe, but for a Squier that's not unexpected. And the ergonomics of it, with the bridge so far up the Bass VI body, will take a little getting used to - to have my picking hand between the pick-ups, I'll need to tilt the neck up more than usual.
Initial impression of the tones is that it really does have a great range. Even on the neck pick-up with the tone down, it has some nice treble to it so I feel like it'll cut through really well even when I'm playing something mellow, and the bridge pick-up is easily the best I've encountered. So many are just thin and weedy, especially played with a pick as I do, but this one has so much low-end beef to it. I hardly ever use bridge on its own, but I think I will quite a lot with the Rascal. I haven't had a chance to play it in a band practice yet, so that's the final test. Sounds like it'll more than hold its own though.
Overall, the Rascal isn't quite as versatile as my Paranormal Jazz, so it probably won't replace it... and that's a good thing. It offers plenty of crossover, but some different tones as well, while being easier on my tiny hands. It might become my main gigging bass, it might not, but I'm pretty sure it'll be a keeper. Between those two, I've got pretty much all tones covered, with my Hofner to satisfy my Beatles fan-boy urges.
So thanks again for the advice everyone, and if you get a chance to try out a Squier Rascal (or anything else in the Squier Paranormal range, they're really killing it), give it a go. It's an amazing bass for under 400 quid.
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