Short scale basses legitimate basses?

[M-rek]

Wondering what the general consensus is on short scale basses. I have met many bassists that disregard short scale basses and say they are not "real" basses. I personally have no problem with them, I just prefer the longer scale. Not to say that I wouldn't play one if a cool bass came along.

I'll answer you question by referring to your user name:
yup!
They are legitimate

 

[Wisebass]

Hi Yup

Wondering what the general consensus is on short scale basses.

Short scales are not legitimate!

There should be a law against them!

They make you do all kind of weird and strange things!

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I am not a big guy. Short fingers and small hands. I picked up a couple short scale fenders (don’t recall what models) and it just seemed uncomfortably weird to me. It felt like a toy. That’s not to say they are. I understand there are many bass players that like them and there are many fine shortscale basses to be had. I just couldn’t get my head around that “toyish” feel. To each their own.

 

[JimmyM]

Wondering what the general consensus is on short scale basses. I have met many bassists that disregard short scale basses and say they are not "real" basses. I personally have no problem with them, I just prefer the longer scale. Not to say that I wouldn't play one if a cool bass came along.

This might surprise you, but there are idiots out there. Tell Stanley Clarke that his basses aren't "real basses," and he'll smoke you on his "fake basses" then drop you with his gargantuan hands

 

[BlacknWhite]

This might surprise you, but there are idiots out there. Tell Stanley Clarke that his basses aren't "real basses," and he'll smoke you on his "fake basses" then drop you with his gargantuan hands

When I was researching to buy my first short scale I came across Stan's bass's.... Heavily considering selling the wife's car to fund

 

[nanymoa]

My main gigging bass is short scale, 30 inch

 

[cnltb]

'I have met many bassists that disregard short scale basses and say they are not "real" basses.'

I don't tend to argue with such people.

 

[Marty Forrer]

I have spent 50 years playing 34" scale basses, but a current left shoulder injury led me to try short scale. My current one is getting a lot of great comments from the musos I play with and also from audience members. I don't give a rat's **** what other bassplayers think about it, I love it, my audiences love it, and it's so much less pain to deal with after a 3 hour gig.

 

[mr zee]

I don't think scale length matters, as long as you can do what you wanna do.

 

[BlacknWhite]

I have spent 50 years playing 34" scale basses, but a current left shoulder injury led me to try short scale. My current one is getting a lot of great comments from the musos I play with and also from audience members. I don't give a rat's **** what other bassplayers think about it, I love it, my audiences love it, and it's so much less pain to deal with after a 3 hour gig.

What one did you end up with?

 

[mikewalker]

I started out on 30.5... gigged a 30.0 for a decade or so (Rickenbacker 3000).... went through all kinds of 33s and 34s, and even a couple 35s (super briefly, 35 strongly disagrees with me)... kinda settled on 32s about seven years ago... (five of them) - but now I find I am even shunning the 32s and playing my 30.75 basses (Kramer short-scale) about 90 percent of the time. So I guess in 44 years of bass-playing I have grown a quarter of an inch? I'll take that as Progress!

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

I like short scale, long scale, medium scale and micro short scale. If there is another scale avail, I’ll probably like that too.

Why not all the basses?

 

[JimChjones]

does playing on a short scale for a long time mess up your muscle memory on long scale basses?

No difference between playing at the 7th fret on a 34 and the 5th fret on a 30...

 

[dBChad]

A bass player should be pretty aware of the concept "serve the song above your ego." Just because you can slap high speed or do legato dominant seventh arpeggios doesn't mean it's always appropriate. If a short scale bass either 1: makes it easier for the bass player to play the song, or 2: has a different timbre that sounds better with the song, then short scale is a good choice. It would be just as legitimate as a B3 organ, round back oud, digerdoo, hammer dulcimer, chapman stick, or contrabassoon if there is a part in the song appropriate for it.

Players should play on whatever lets them focus on the song. Have small hands or need to constantly make 6+ fret jumps throughout the song? A short scale may be the right tool to have.

 

[Bander]

Wondering what the general consensus is on short scale basses. I have met many bassists that disregard short scale basses and say they are not "real" basses. I personally have no problem with them, I just prefer the longer scale. Not to say that I wouldn't play one if a cool bass came along.

If you don't know how to set one up, and you don't have the control to play one, you should probably stick with the standard scale.

 

[AMJBASS]

For over a year I've been playing Fender P-bass, short Beatle bass, and even shorter Luna Tat uke bass.
No problem at all, it takes 5 mins of practice when you put one down and pick up the different scale bass, and then the fingers find the right frets automatically.
And I'm an old and not very gifted student of 2 years. It won't mess up your normal scale playing one bit.
Short scales are fun, handy, often easier to play, and have their own sounds.

Agreed. I have gigged(and toured) on a short scale Mustang PJ, and have no problem switching back and forth with my P-Basses. They have a somewhat unique sound in that they sit a little bit higher in the mix.

 

[rashrader]

This is embarrassing.

 

[howlin]

My only problem with SS basses is the way some of them are designed. A Gretsch like B-mac's a Guild Starfire or the Allen Woody Epiphone - et al, have the bridge ~4" away from the base of the body making the lefthand reach pretty much in the same ballpark as a 34" scale bass. The advantages of a SS INHO are a lighter weight and a shorter reach like a Mustang, EB-0/EB-3 or a Dano Longhorn. YMMV....

 

[Tommy V]

some folks say bass vi's aren't real basses, and some say shorty 4 bangers aren't real basses.. on other forums, i read the same nonsense about short scale guitars, long scale ukuleles, 4 or 6 string banjos, low-tuned or tremolo harmonicas...... pretty much anything they consider "non-traditional" becomes a target.

it gets old, real quick.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

How can a bass be illegitimate?? Makes no sense