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Short Scale Bass with 7.25" Radius Options?

deejaid

deejaid

Supporting Member
Oct 29, 2007
40
132
Bay Area, CA
#1
I was playing my daughter's Squier Jaguar Bass, and while I like the short scale, I realized I like the more rounded fretboard radius compared to my bass with the 12" radius. My fretting hand felt better, but I really liked the more pronounced arching of the strings at the bridge. It makes plucking feel much more natural to me.

So what are the options for short scale basses with 7.25" fretboard radius other than Fender Mustangs and Musicmasters? Is there any boutique builders offering a more rounded fretboard on a short scale bass?
 
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#4
Maybe the Nordstrand Acinonyx? I say maybe because it just says compound radius. I know the 5 string ones are 7.5” to 14”. Cannot find the 4 string specs posted anywhere.

Vintera Mustang basses are excellent after a good setup and possibly string swap (depending on sound you want). Mine needed the fret ends cleaned up. Threw some Labella flat wounds on it and a Nordstrand pickup. Vintage P bass sound in a Mustang package (or at least as close as you could hope to get from a short scale).

If you can split the difference on radius, the G&L Fallout basses are 9.5” radius. They feel a little bigger than the Mustang basses due to the body size/bridge placement. More versatile thanks to the coil tap switch and MFD Pickup.

If you want higher end… Jones makes a Mustang-esque bass with 7.25” radius (Mach II Beige Mint - Jones Musical Instruments).
 
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#5
ahbass2500 said:
Maybe the Nordstrand Acinonyx? I say maybe because it just says compound radius. I know the 5 string ones are 7.5” to 14”. Cannot find the 4 string specs posted anywhere.

Vintera Mustang basses are excellent after a good setup and possibly string swap (depending on sound you want). Mine needed the fret ends cleaned up. Threw some Labella flat wounds on it and a Nordstrand pickup. Vintage P bass sound in a Mustang package (or at least as close as you could hope to get from a short scale).

If you can split the difference on radius, the G&L Fallout basses are 9.5” radius. They feel a little bigger than the Mustang basses due to the body size/bridge placement. More versatile thanks to the coil tap switch and MFD Pickup.

If you want higher end… Jones makes a Mustang-esque bass with 7.25” radius (Mach II Beige Mint - Jones Musical Instruments).
Click to expand...


Thanks ahadl2500. I am not averse to a 9.5" radius, I just remember my 1970 Mustang guitar (not bass) that I owned had the best feeling neck ever; 7.25" radius, 1 5/8" nut width, and a substantial feel front to back. I'd love to find the bass equivalent of that guitars neck, which maybe needs to be an early 70's Mustang bass, though I don't know if I want to shell out that much as the prices have skyrocketed.
 
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#13
The Vintera 2 Mustang, personally I liked that one way more than the regular Vintera and it’s got body contours! I would recommend shielding it, since Fender doesn’t. But besides that, great Mustang bass! I ultimately settled on the Squier Classic vibe orange competition, for the exact opposite reason of you but the Vintera 2 is an awesome bass. I also like the orange shade better on the Squier as the Vintera 2 is more washed out and lighter, but to each their own. If you’re looking for a shorty 7.25 radius bass, Vintera 2 all the way, exceptional value for money, like I said just consider shielding it since Fender doesn’t. It’s a little noisy otherwise.
 
#14
For Vintera/Vintera II Mustang spec differences…

Vintera/Vintera II
Pau Ferro/Rosewood
Vintage Frets/Vintage Tall Frets
Hipshot Lollipop Tuners/Fender Clover Tuners
No Belly Cut/Belly Cut
60s Pickup/70s Pickup

No idea how different the 60s/70s pickups sound. If someone does not like the stock pickup sound, there are several good replacement pickup options. There are some other obvious cosmetic differences (colors, competition stripe, tug bar).

There may be more spec differences, but those are the ones I am aware of. I opted for the Vintera. Do not miss the belly cut, prefer the Hipshot tuners and fretwork. Pau Ferro gets a ton of hate, but I have never had a problem with it. I think most of the hate is simply because it is not Rosewood.
 

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