Short Scale Bass guidance please...

[blue4]

Out of the 3 in the poll I'd take the Alan Woody.

My own semi hollow bass is an Epi Viola which I like a lot.

Waterstone has a sharp looking bass around this price range called the Cestus. It's worth a look.

Eastwood had a few as well.

 

[fjadams]

Hello all! Currently in the market for a short scale bass for some of my projects. After having researched as beast I could (as none are available locally to try out) I've narrowed my choice to the following three, which I've noticed have each been discussed to great length in many forums. So if these were your choices, based on your own personal playing experience, which would you choose?

I currently have a custom-made jazz bass, a "franken" p-bass, a nice 5-string, and a 4-string fretless. This short scale would help me round out my "arsenal" most especially for two projects where I'm playing more roots and classic r&b/soul/rock type of material. Thanks for any input you might offer!

UPDATE: I neglected to mention that I was narrowing my search to semi or fully-hollow basses. Sorry about that.

Do you have a price range you have or want to stay within? That's the determining factor on what you will ultimately settle on.

I have an Ignition and it's exactly what you'd expect it to sound and play like. Looked at the Ibanez and the Woody Allen but haven't played either as no store I've been in has ever had one.

If you want to or can spend more I'd look at the Guilds. The Starfire I or II or the M-85. Enormous upgrades from any of the ones you listed.
Two more that are on the more expensive side of the fence are the Gretsch Thunder Jet or the G5442BDC.
Then there's the Fender Starcaster or Coronado.
And you might also look at the Danelectro Longhorn. It definitely has its own unique sound.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Out of the 3 in the poll I'd take the Alan Woody.

My own semi hollow bass is an Epi Viola which I like a lot.

Waterstone has a sharp looking bass around this price range called the Cestus. It's worth a look.

Eastwood had a few as well.

That Cestus looks WELL worth a look.....Nice sound too

 

[Groove Doctor]

Love that Snarky Puppy song.

Headphones on, and listen here and Invalid Link Removed.

Second was a fretless Ric with tapes, plucked at end fretboard, tone rolled off. Sounded really good. A Nice Woody sound but not that signature hollowbody tone.
(Lesson: strings/technique/settings can do a lot to change the sound of most basses).

Having a resonant (almost acoustic) instrument against your body give a very unique response and is rather fulfilling.

 

[McThud]

Another option is the recent Hagström Viking basses. They have a special H-bar in the neck for long terms stability and better tone.
The rest of the bass seems to tick your boxes, too. I have tried the model and was pleasantly surprised by it.
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Someone on FB recommended the Viking as well.

 

[McThud]

Hagstrom make some lovely semiacoustics.

Have you looked at the Epiphone Jack Cassidy? They sound (and look, especially in Ebony) fantastic, I've only heard good things about them too. Starcasters are great too, but they're a bit more costly and I'm not convinced they're better.

You know I've seen the Casady Epiphones around but never thought about them. Ed Friedland did a video demo a while back and seemed to like it.

 

[McThud]

I am proudly sporting a Woody as we speak.It is a cool bass once you lose the stock strings and get some flats and the only awkwardness is the way the body digs into my arm a little on my right hand.Slight change of hand position and the problem is solved.It is thumpy and boomy yet a little fiddling with tone and it can growl and bite.

Thanks for the input. Sounds like it's still a contender.

 

[McThud]

The Epiphone JC is long scale (34"), not what the OP asks for.

Thanks for that clarification. Forgot about that one being full scale.

 

[McThud]

Not for now. But just tuck this in the back of your head: Rickenbacker.

Everybody thinks clank and Chris Squire. But dial down the treble and play them like a bass and you'll get a floomy thwump no other bass gets in quite the same manner.

Headphones on, and listen here and Invalid Link Removed.

BTW: is this the sort of woody thump you're looking for? If so - definitely a Höfner.

Someday a Rick. Funny, I think of McCartneys Rick tone and completely agree with you that it can be a thumptastic bass.

 

[McThud]

Yep, and he's using D'Addario nylon tapes. My Höfner Ignition Club bass with the same strings sounds a lot like that.

Have you ever tried LaBella flats on your club?

 

[McThud]

Out of the 3 in the poll I'd take the Alan Woody.

My own semi hollow bass is an Epi Viola which I like a lot.

Waterstone has a sharp looking bass around this price range called the Cestus. It's worth a look.

Eastwood had a few as well.

I tried contacting Waterstone about a bass on their site several times but never got responses to emails or voice mails so I gave up.

 

[McThud]

Do you have a price range you have or want to stay within? That's the determining factor on what you will ultimately settle on.

I have an Ignition and it's exactly what you'd expect it to sound and play like. Looked at the Ibanez and the Woody Allen but haven't played either as no store I've been in has ever had one.

If you want to or can spend more I'd look at the Guilds. The Starfire I or II or the M-85. Enormous upgrades from any of the ones you listed.
Two more that are on the more expensive side of the fence are the Gretsch Thunder Jet or the G5442BDC.
Then there's the Fender Starcaster or Coronado.
And you might also look at the Danelectro Longhorn. It definitely has its own unique sound.

Right now I didn't want to spend more than $800 as I've got other purchases I need to make as well.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Keep your eye out locally for any vintage 'lesser-known brand' Hollowbodies. Real bargains on some amazing basses to be had with a bit of patience. eg Aria, etc.

Plenty come up on e(vil)Bay or Craigslist. Try saving searchwords "hollowbody bass" or "hollow bass" & set it to notify you when new listings appear.

 

[troy mcclure]

I owned an Allen Woody and found it to be heavy for a short scale (9 lbs) and it did not sound as aggressive as I hoped. I started out on a short scale, my first real bass was a 1967 Coronado II, that they have just reissued. It was very cool. I currently own a Music Master with a Bartolini pick up. I have owned 5 short scales (1 med scale) the best was the Stanley Clarke Alembic . There are a tone to chose from I would not limit myself to the 3 on your list.

 

[blindrabbit]

Right now I didn't want to spend more than $800 as I've got other purchases I need to make as well.

So did you buy one of those Gretsches yet?

Those Hagstroms are nice basses too, I forgot about them. I've played them before, and they are *really* nice. Maybe not quite as nice as the Gretsches, but definitely in an entirely different league than any of the other basses in your poll IMO/IME.

 

[blue4]

I tried contacting Waterstone about a bass on their site several times but never got responses to emails or voice mails so I gave up.

That's an odd way to make money.

I've been so tempted by that bass (which I don't need) that I've actually had my PayPal info out and ready several times. If my daughter hadn't needed braces I'd have been able to give you a review.

 

[mongo2]

Have you ever tried LaBella flats on your club?

Yes, I have them on my other Hofner Ignition Club. To me they sound thuddier.

 

[40Hz]

Here's a possible long shot…have you considered a baritone guitar?

That would be a definite "something different" but "culturally compatible" addition to your collection.

You'd need to chart your own course with a 'bari' since it's still somewhat exotic. But it might be something to consider if you're up for blazing your own musical trails.

 

[McThud]

So did you buy one of those Gretsches yet?

Those Hagstroms are nice basses too, I forgot about them. I've played them before, and they are *really* nice. Maybe not quite as nice as the Gretsches, but definitely in an entirely different league than any of the other basses in your poll IMO/IME.

No purchases yet...but did listen to some demos of Gretsches on YouTube.

 

[McThud]

That's an odd way to make money.

I've been so tempted by that bass (which I don't need) that I've actually had my PayPal info out and ready several times. If my daughter hadn't needed braces I'd have been able to give you a review.

I played a show in February where another bassist was playing a 4 string version of the Tom Peterssen bass. Really cool looking and sounded great. After that, found their website and sebd a few emails, none of which ever received a response. Then left a voice mail, with also no reply. About a week ago I stumbled onto their FB page, saw a photo of the bass I originally inquired about (Meaten I think?). The response I got the next day was, "I think we have a couple of those left, sold as is. Not sure." So as cool as they are, I decided the utter fruatration was overboard and not worth pursuing.