Love my 2008 Gibson SG with the ETB92S D’addario tapewounds on it. Can get that old school thump from just the neck and still dial in some punch with the bridge.
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short scale bass recommendations
- Thread starter rylie
- Start date
Been Jonesing for a Jr. Jet for awhile. I’d really like a Korean made, but they seem scarce. Missed out on one for $50 a couple years ago. ):
Yeah, I've actually been looking for a 2nd one. I've found a couple of the "single pickup, 12th fret at the neck pocket" ones, got excited, but then flipped the headstock around and saw "MADE IN CHINA" on the back. Build-wise, they feel fine and having that 12th fret at the body, unlike the ones they're producing now, means for a more compact and well-balanced instrument but my understanding is the Chinese-made ones are from after Fender acquired Gretsch and use the non-TV Jones pickups.
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Huh?? You must be thinking of a different short scale bass other than the Mustang... -Because except for a shorter upper horn the body on my Mustang is the same size as the bodies on my full sized 34" GSR EX100 and fretless Rogue!
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Definitely the Mustang I'm thinking of. I've owned two of the MIJ reissues because I love the neck on them, but the body is definitely a bit narrower from treble side to bass side than on a typical Precision or Jazz type body. Maybe not as drastically as a Hofner, but the difference is noticeable. Some short scale solid bodies that have wider bodies (similar to P's and J's) are Gibson SG/EB basses, Newport basses, Serek Midwestern, etc.
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Tell me about it, I'm looking for the lefty version.
IMHO the Mustang P/J is the best SS you can find at a reasonable price. I stay away from the single pickup Mustangs because of the wider neck and their through-body stringing requires hard-to-find medium scale strings. My P/J is strung with T.I. Flats and sounds just like my MIA P. I want to get another one to use with rounds.
I also have a couple of the Squier VM Jaguar SS. What an amazing bargain at $189, but of course Fender had to discontinue them. GREAT basses, but the P/J is just a bit better.
Anxious to try the Sire U5. It is priced well and the Sire basses in general have a very good rep.
The Ibanez TMB30 is a fantastic bargain and sounds and plays great. Doesn't have the skinny neck of the Mustang P/J though.
I also have a couple of the Squier VM Jaguar SS. What an amazing bargain at $189, but of course Fender had to discontinue them. GREAT basses, but the P/J is just a bit better.
Anxious to try the Sire U5. It is priced well and the Sire basses in general have a very good rep.
The Ibanez TMB30 is a fantastic bargain and sounds and plays great. Doesn't have the skinny neck of the Mustang P/J though.
I'd Forget Fender and go with the G&L Fallout,
a short-scale bass that looks like a full-scale.
I prefer the USA models but you can get a maple fretboard with the Tributes.
a short-scale bass that looks like a full-scale.
I prefer the USA models but you can get a maple fretboard with the Tributes.
Is there a reason you're hesitating on it?
I'm happy with the one in my avatar, but there's other color body Mustang P/J's with maple necks too.
I had a Supro Huntington II for a couple months and never really jived with it. Flipped it for a Fender JMJ Mustang and much happier with that.
If I was shopping for a shorty today I'd be looking at the Nordstrand Acinonyx, no questions asked.
If I was shopping for a shorty today I'd be looking at the Nordstrand Acinonyx, no questions asked.
I've got a '74 Hagstrom HIIBN that is my go to short scale (at least until my Nordy Acinonyx comes in) and a '60s Kent hollow body that is great for more mellow music. They were both less than $800 and helped me discover my love for short scale basses. Gretch has some electromatic models that look really nice, but I've not played one in person though.
I normally play a '73 American Precision w/ maple neck ( my preference as well) a few years ago I purchased a Fender Mustang P/J although it's a rosewood fingerboard. I'm very pleased with it. I have some arthritis so the shorter scale smaller frets work very well for me - it is a little trebly for my tastes and I had a little trouble dialing in the sound I wanted without loosing clarity & sustain. so I put a DOD 7 band equalizer on it and roll off the highs a couple notches - I put it through my Peavey Minx 110 practice amp and quite frankly it sounds great - with the highs rolled off I can get a pretty good growl - then I put it through a GK250 Backline with a 15" JBL cabinet - I could see by the bands faces that they approved and I did as well - the best advice is, if you can. try one out. But seriously it's all they say it is and I think you'd be pleased with the purchase.
I own a short scale CV60s Squier Mustang. It's not a PJ but has the original style small p-bass split pup. It has the same body as all the Fender Mustangs, (this particular one weighs about 6.5 lbs), and I find it very comfortable to play, and with a great old-school sound... -The CV Squier also costs about $300 less than the Fender Player and I don't mind that one little bit!
All of the current Squier and Fender Mustangs however are fairly similar in body shape and weight, and they'll all give you that nice sturdy Fender feel and sound, with a lighter body and a shorter reach up the neck. -So what's not to like???
So take your pick of the 'Stangs, spend what you can afford, and I'm guessing you won't be disappointed!
‘Avoid the classic EB3, the one with the rotary dial. They play great, but getting a usable voice is a challenge with out modification.
