Hello, can anybody recommend a good short-scale bass to me? I know this sounds like a "What bass should I buy?" post, but I only want to know a few short-scale basses other than the fender mustang. Thanks for the help, Charlie
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
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.