That might be an option down the road, but as a bass actually fills a real need for my career as a player right now, that's my priority.
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Short Scale Bass guidance please...
- Thread starter McThud
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- scale short short scale
If you are exploring other brands than those in the tgread's poll, I have experience with a couple of other models for you to consider:
-Daneletro Longhorn or SC 56 style (The Dolphin). Super light, cool retro looks and killer tone. I have gigged my Danos more than once and they deliver. Great on your body for the 4 hour bar gig!
-Ibanez Artcores- the 200 models are 30.5" scale and they are outstanding. I have the AGB200 semi hollow and the AFB200 hollow body. Made well, nice aesthetics and fantastic sound.
Both the Danos and the Artcores are priced nicely and you can find them second hand for $300 all day long. I believe all of these are available on GC used at the moment.
Good luck!
STILL think that this hits all your marks
Never heard of Chowny before. I'll check it out . Thanks!
I just realized Artcores were already on your list. My bad! Still they are great.
No...that's good to hear. There have been so many alternate choices discussed hear that it's nice to hear some good feedback about one of my original options.
I know this thread is all about opinions and not facts (really, what thread isn't), but just to clarify my earlier point and persuade you to come over to my side of the fence
, I've tried all the basses on your list, and IMO/IME the Hagstrom and the Gretsch are in an entirely different league than any of them in the poll. Especially the Gretsch. Truly man, if you can make a Gretsch happen, then your search is over. Just get one and be done.
Cool. I will say this one last thing, also from experience. It is really hard to go wrong with any short scale semi hollow at any price point.
The purpose of a 30" semi IMO is to get a certain howl in your tone that is associated with an older "lo-fi" sound. Just about ANY semi can give you that. So it is really a matter of honing in on the looks, feel and features you prefer (i.e. one pickup, 2 pickups, adjustable bridge, etc).
But it is one of those purchases where anything you end up getting should give you what you are looking for and make you happy.
Good luck!
There were some of these kicking around for a while at a shop here in NYC a few years ago and I agree with your assessment completely. I also thought they were awfully heavy for hollow basses and pretty expensive for what they were. Too bad, since the looks were absolutely boss.
Those Jack Cassidy's, while excellent basses - really, are also pretty heavy and sound, to my ear, more like a solid body bass than a hollow. They're not very thuddy, either. They're actually pretty bright and articulate, which is no surprise given it's Jack's signature bass.
Those Guild Starfire IIs are also not thuddy - at least not if they are true to the originals. Those basses actually had tons of treble! Kind of a moot point anyway as they're over budget.
A Dano short scale with LaBella flats and a little bit of foam under the strings near the bridge can deliver quite a thumpy sound. I'm a bit surprised you didn't have the same experience.
As far as I can tell, the Woody is everything you're looking for. Never owned one myself, but The ones I've played impressed the hell out of me. I don't see anyone doing much better in terms of bass for the money in the arena you're looking in. Both the Hofner and the Ibby are cool basses, but I think you'll get a bit more versatility out of the Woody, personally.
Lastly, to the TB community: Am I the only person left who still reads down the entire thread before responding to this sort of question? The OP (who has a fantastic screen name, BTW) very clearly stated - multiple times - a budget of under $800, a requirement that the suggestions be hollow or semi-hollow and a thumpy tone. He wasn't ambiguous about these points at all. I know everybody's just trying to help, and I don't mean for this to be a rant because I know everybody's responses have been in the spirit of helpfulness, which is what TB should always be about, but come on fellow TBers; we're better than this. Let's try to keep our help focussed on what the OP is asking for. Okay, I'm done venting now. You all may proceed.
There were some of these kicking around for a while at a shop here in NYC a few years ago and I agree with your assessment completely. I also thought they were awfully heavy for hollow basses and pretty expensive for what they were. Too bad, since the looks were absolutely boss.
Those Jack Cassidy's, while excellent basses - really, are also pretty heavy and sound, to my ear, more like a solid body bass than a hollow. They're not very thuddy, either. They're actually pretty bright and articulate, which is no surprise given it's Jack's signature bass.
Those Guild Starfire IIs are also not thuddy - at least not if they are true to the originals. Those basses actually had tons of treble! Kind of a moot point anyway as they're over budget.
A Dano short scale with LaBella flats and a little bit of foam under the strings near the bridge can deliver quite a thumpy sound. I'm a bit surprised you didn't have the same experience.
As far as I can tell, the Woody is everything you're looking for. Never owned one myself, but The ones I've played impressed the hell out of me. I don't see anyone doing much better in terms of bass for the money in the arena you're looking in. Both the Hofner and the Ibby are cool basses, but I think you'll get a bit more versatility out of the Woody, personally.
Lastly, to the TB community: Am I the only person left who still reads down the entire thread before responding to this sort of question? The OP (who has a fantastic screen name, BTW) very clearly stated - multiple times - a budget of under $800, a requirement that the suggestions be hollow or semi-hollow and a thumpy tone. He wasn't ambiguous about these points at all. I know everybody's just trying to help, and I don't mean for this to be a rant because I know everybody's responses have been in the spirit of helpfulness, which is what TB should always be about, but come on fellow TBers; we're better than this. Let's try to keep our help focussed on what the OP is asking for. Okay, I'm done venting now. You all may proceed.
Yes. Some of us not only have read the entire thread, but have also been enjoying going back and forth with the OP on different suggestions throughout. I don't think it's doing the OP a favor by just working entirely off the original question. (And I already did btw - because I earlier said that of the three original choices he offered, to go with the Höfner. So there
!) Besides, what's the point of having some measure of experience if you don't try to share it and provide some additional alternatives the OP might not have thought about?(Minor point: I also think it would be for the OP to elect to rein in the discussion if Mssr. McThud felt it was drifting too far off course. It strikes me as being a bit presumptuous for somebody else to presume to speak on his behalf when it comes to to domething like that.)
Don't blame you, that's terrible service. If they're that bad selling the thing imagine what would happen with any problems.
OK, people, nothing to see here...move along quietly. I appreciate the detailed response. Whenever I post something up like this, I try to be as supportive of all the input I get as I understand everyone's go their own point of view. That said, it did get a little tiring responding to all the solid body suggestions but it is what it is. Thanks again (and for the screenname compliment - in many other places I've been listed as 'thunderbroom' ala Mike Watt, but decided to try something new - glad you liked it).There were some of these kicking around for a while at a shop here in NYC a few years ago and I agree with your assessment completely. I also thought they were awfully heavy for hollow basses and pretty expensive for what they were. Too bad, since the looks were absolutely boss.
Those Jack Cassidy's, while excellent basses - really, are also pretty heavy and sound, to my ear, more like a solid body bass than a hollow. They're not very thuddy, either. They're actually pretty bright and articulate, which is no surprise given it's Jack's signature bass.
Those Guild Starfire IIs are also not thuddy - at least not if they are true to the originals. Those basses actually had tons of treble! Kind of a moot point anyway as they're over budget.
A Dano short scale with LaBella flats and a little bit of foam under the strings near the bridge can deliver quite a thumpy sound. I'm a bit surprised you didn't have the same experience.
As far as I can tell, the Woody is everything you're looking for. Never owned one myself, but The ones I've played impressed the hell out of me. I don't see anyone doing much better in terms of bass for the money in the arena you're looking in. Both the Hofner and the Ibby are cool basses, but I think you'll get a bit more versatility out of the Woody, personally.
Lastly, to the TB community: Am I the only person left who still reads down the entire thread before responding to this sort of question? The OP (who has a fantastic screen name, BTW) very clearly stated - multiple times - a budget of under $800, a requirement that the suggestions be hollow or semi-hollow and a thumpy tone. He wasn't ambiguous about these points at all. I know everybody's just trying to help, and I don't mean for this to be a rant because I know everybody's responses have been in the spirit of helpfulness, which is what TB should always be about, but come on fellow TBers; we're better than this. Let's try to keep our help focussed on what the OP is asking for. Okay, I'm done venting now. You all may proceed.
Exactly my point - gotta say I am still really surprised, as I've had some really great experiences overall with most companies from which I've purchased gear from over the years. Again, the one I heard and saw in person was a really great piece of kit - but it does give me enough pause to do business with them.
Fair enough. On to research!They'd never heard of Fender before....Until there was one....
You know, it's funny. Initially I hadn't considered it as I was afraid it would be just another Fender style bass to add to my Fender style collection. Now that I've heard some sound clips, it's definitely a big contender. To quote my son, those pickups sound "beast". I just wish it wasn't as heavy as it is (around 10 lbs. I think).
There's a Starcaster going at 9 lbs 10 oz on Sweetwater at the minute
....Was VERY tempted to get one for myself.....The weight put me off.....
Agreed. The weight is the only real draw back. I have a bad shoulder and I am a little nervous of making it worse with a heavier instrument, but the neck was just too good to leave it.
I will say that we played two starcasters at the store and the one we bought was amazing, but the other one was much less good. If possible, I'd want to play it before I bought one.
