Short-scale bass

Darrin Huff (DHuff Guitars) and Mike Browne (Browne Basses) both build AMAZING 32" scale basses. If you're looking to go shorter than that, you could get a Gibson EB series bass. I suppose a Fender Bass VI might also be of interest.

 

Short scale? How about one of these? (30, 32 or 34" scale lengths available on some of these models)

Alembic Signature Standard
Alembic Signature Deluxe
Alembic Series I
Alembic Series II

OK, that's the good news.
Here's the bad news.

Code:

Model              4-string        5-string        6-string
-----------------------------------------------------------
Excel              2600            3100            3600
Epic               3200            3700            4200

Orion              3200            3700            4200
Essence            3800            4300            4800

Signature Standard 4900            5400            --
Rogue              5100            5600            6100

Europa             5500            6000            6500
Signature Deluxe   6300            6800            --

Series I           9700           10200           10700
Series II         13000           13500           14000

 

Dan Electro makes some decent short scale reissues and the price is okay too.

http://www.danelectro.com/faq.htm

http://www.danelectro.com/Longhorn.htm

http://www.danelectro.com/Hodadbass.htm

http://www.danelectro.com/Dcbass.htm

Squire Bronco, is another.
http://www.kellyindustries.com/guitars/squier_bronco_bass.html

Hope this helps!


Treena

 

Ok, what you get depends on the price you are willing to pay. Check eBay, some short scale basses appear there from time to time. Most common are the Fender Musicmasters.

If you are looking to go custom, then you have a bunch of options. I currently have Karl Hoyt building a 32" 6-string for me. Mine will be strung E A D G C F (a 4-string bass with the 2 higher strings added). I plan to use mine to toy around with solo bass pieces. Although I may even play it with my band if I can keep them from laughing at me for bringing a 6-string to practice.

 

32"?? When someone says "short scale", I rather think of basses having guitar size, like Hofner's "Beatles" bass or Fender's "Bullet" one!?!

 

I've built a couple 32" 5 string BEADG basses: the trick is to have a really rigid neck to keep the B from feeling too floppy. Bob's bass is going to LOOK great and be pretty wacky electronicly

I am pretty sure that the Hofner beatle bass was a 30" scale as was any short-scale Fenders.


have a great weekend, Go Patriots!!!!!

 

Hofners and short scale Fenders are 30" scale basses, not guitar scale. 32" is usually called medium scale.

The Danelectro guitars and basses seem to be unavailable, even though they are still shown on their website. MF and others are not carrying them. Evets Corp. (the people who claimed the old Danelectro name) lost a trademark infringement suit against Jerry Jones Guitars, and the instruments disappeared shortly after.

Jerry Jones makes makes short scale basses.

Rob Allen makes the Mouse.

Bruce Johnson makes one: http://www.xstrange.com/ssbmain.html

All Warwick bolt-ons can be ordereed in 30" or 32" scale.

 

While these are no longer being made, the Ampeg Crystal Cut series were excellent. When they show up on ebay, they usually don't go for a whole lot, so try and find one of these.

Steve

 

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=104643&highlight=short+scale+bass


Treena

 

I believe the Epiphone Allan Woody sig bass is shortscale, too.

What kind of sound are you going for? Most shortscales are aimed at a sort of old-style sound, like the Starfire, EB3, etc.