My Gibson DC Junior Tribute was an absolute beast and sounded fuller and better in the mix than any bass I have ever owned. I adored it in every way but 1... the slab body was uncomfortable to play sitting. Standing up, it was perfect. I play more at home than gigging and couldn't stand the fact that it was just in it's case when I wasn't on stage, so I let it go. I still miss how it sounded and played. I will probably own another one at some point, it sounded that damn good.
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Short-scale basses are no substitute for long-scale basses?
- Thread starter wiscoaster
- Start date
I totally disagree with you. I don’t play a short scale bass personally; however, I have played in bands with bassists who did. And I have also gone to gigs to watch some of my former students who did.
In a live band situation, you cannot distinguish a short scale bass from a long scale bass.
Short scale is a requirement because of your thumb, so you have to stop comparing to basses you can't play anymore and make your short scale sound the way you want. That might mean you buy a new bass, or checkout other gauges of strings and/or replace the pickups. Consider the differences between passive and active electrics and outboard preamps.
I wonder how much an audience notices? I had the chance to play three gigs back to back at the same venue with the same rig. I used a long scale the first night, a short scale the second night, and a long scale the third night.
One of my band mates preferred the sound of the long scale, and it seemed like the long scale was more effortless to play as far as sustain and breadth of tone. The SS just felt tight like I had to fight it more to get tone out of it.
So I think musicians might notice the difference more, but that is only because we are better at listening for the differences. I also had a heavier gauge on the SS, and that might have contributed to the tightness I felt. I have since knocked the gauge back down to 45-100 on the SS.
One of my band mates preferred the sound of the long scale, and it seemed like the long scale was more effortless to play as far as sustain and breadth of tone. The SS just felt tight like I had to fight it more to get tone out of it.
So I think musicians might notice the difference more, but that is only because we are better at listening for the differences. I also had a heavier gauge on the SS, and that might have contributed to the tightness I felt. I have since knocked the gauge back down to 45-100 on the SS.
Believe it or not, last night I just bought an Epiphone Rumblekat on an ebay auction. Also the Ibanez TBM-30 is on my wanna list. I took a look at the Gretsch at my local Guitar Center and decided it wasn't for me.You should try:
1) Epiphone Woody Allen
B) Ibanez TMB-30 Talman
and thirdly, the $299 Gretsch
I would go into battle with any of them. Maybe not straight out of the box, but that's true of nearly all instruments.
I dunno ... is it a sickness of some kind?
Thanks ... that's a great observation. Something I didn't know and I think you're on target. At my age and after a career in a high-noise environment my hearing esp on the high end just isn't that great any more.
Hah!! Ya, I played an Ibanez Mikro (28 in scale) at my local GC and honestly I think it's a pretty cool bass and it sounded really good as well.
Good point. Except my entire audience consists of me.
I voted “no” because my feeling is that it is very rare for one bass to substitute for another, even one long scale for another.
But I am a cork sniffer. Each bass is like its own unique snowflake, and I mean that as a compliment and nothing else.
Can I make almost any bass work on a gig? You bet I can. If you need to play short scale basses for ergonomic and health reasons, and can’t get the sound you need for your band(s), I would look at your amp and cabinet(s), not the bass.
But I am a cork sniffer. Each bass is like its own unique snowflake, and I mean that as a compliment and nothing else.
Can I make almost any bass work on a gig? You bet I can. If you need to play short scale basses for ergonomic and health reasons, and can’t get the sound you need for your band(s), I would look at your amp and cabinet(s), not the bass.
Heavier weight strings are a definite no-go for someone with arthritis in their thumb. The lower tension on lightweight strings on a short-scale is what makes them more tolerable.
Hmm... with a 5-string you need never play below the 5th fret. Just an idea.
I have recordings of all my basses and have lost track of which are which in many cases. I can't tell which is my Mustang p/j, and there's no way anyone could tell which is the Mustang. I made them for comparison, so no effects, other instruments, etc. There's just no way you could pick it out of the bunch.
Due to arthritis in my left hand, I have an Ibanez Mikro 5 for flareup times. I modded it with EMG J pickups and a 3 band EQ. It is a fine bass now regardless of scale.
(The long thin rod in the X-ray was removed once the screw was in place.)
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All long-scale basses contain a short-scale bass within them.
If you fret a 34" bass at the 1st fret, you've converted it to a 32" medium scale. And if you fret at the 2nd fret, you've converted it to a 30" short scale.
To the extent that your bass sounds good when you fret it at the 1st or 2nd fret, medium and short scale basses are capable of sounding good.
If you fret a 34" bass at the 1st fret, you've converted it to a 32" medium scale. And if you fret at the 2nd fret, you've converted it to a 30" short scale.
To the extent that your bass sounds good when you fret it at the 1st or 2nd fret, medium and short scale basses are capable of sounding good.
Last year, I had a couple of shoulder surgeries and in the aftermath of those, I literally couldn't play a bass with a "normal" 34 or 35-inch scale.
I ended up buying a Sterling StingRay (because I couldn't find a G&L Fallout when I was buying). The bass feels good and is comfortable sitting or standing.
The sound? Although there have been a few times that I've liked it, I keep looking around for alternatives. Some of my disenchantment might be that I'm used to bases with two pickups (both active and passive) and the single pickup simply is too much of a compromise.
In the next few days, I'm going to dig a couple of my normal-scale basses out of the closet and see if I need to keep using the short scale.
I ended up buying a Sterling StingRay (because I couldn't find a G&L Fallout when I was buying). The bass feels good and is comfortable sitting or standing.
The sound? Although there have been a few times that I've liked it, I keep looking around for alternatives. Some of my disenchantment might be that I'm used to bases with two pickups (both active and passive) and the single pickup simply is too much of a compromise.
In the next few days, I'm going to dig a couple of my normal-scale basses out of the closet and see if I need to keep using the short scale.
I've played in jazz big bands in which I shared bass duties with a guy who played a Mustang. It sounded fine.
I think you're better off with the Sterling if you've had shoulder surgery. The G&L sounds and plays great, but it's one heavy beast.
It's really subjective. I have found some less than 34 scale basses to have a "tubby?" sound, which I don't like. But some do not, and in my experience it's not always a cost thing. I dislike the sound of every Mustang I've played, and I've owned a '66, a '69, and a couple new ones. The EBMM short scale sterlings I love though. I also was blown away by the new Squier short scale P basses. I played a friend's that had a SPB-2 pickup in it it and honestly I don't think most people could notice in a mix it is a short scale bass. This is super subjective, so obviously this is just my perception.
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