Short scale basses legitimate basses?

[JIO]

This bass is 30" scale. It is as long as a Gibson Thunderbird (longer than a P or J), is light and balances well. It has a rich, full bass tone and is fun/easy to play (I have big hands) I have played it live and no-one came up after the show to scold me for using a ss bass. It was made in 1965, the era many players discount these MIJ offers as sub-standard. They are still commonly available for a very affordable cost. (one in VGC on eBay right now) Haven't played any of the many new short-scale basses out there but I bet they all sound like a bass.

 

[yodedude2]

Fenders sound different than Gibsons and part of that was scale length. Jimi was there first but Eric Clapton was a big influence on trading Les Pauls in for Strats.

jimmy page says hello

 

[IamGroot]

jimmy page says hello

Wasnt Jimmy a Les Paul fan in the early days?

 

[IamGroot]

jimmy page says hello

Jimmy Page's Guitars and Gear

A telecaster during the Yardbirds.

 

[Relsom]

Legit? Yup!

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Legit

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Legit
View attachment 3484804

 

[TinIndian]

Nothing wrong with a shortscale.

 

[Kilgore777]

Short scale is not my thing, but plenty of people get great sounds out of them, so...

 

[arbiterusa]

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

I can play basslines on my workbench with my sander. Or with a few differently tuned drums. Or with a washtub, piece of clothesline and a broom handle (washtub bass). Or a Nord synth. Anything that can make low-frequency noises is a "real" bass.

 

[rtslinger]

I agree with all who voted yes.

 

[mcnach]

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.

and those bassists... do they play exclusively 41-43" scale basses? Or do they play those dinky teeny weeny 34-35" scale toy electric things?

 

[diegom]

Wow!!! 7 pages of this??!?? I was going to opine that I did not think the question was legitimate!

I can only speak of personal experience. I don't think we can judge instruments in a vacuum. Ultimately, the sound is a combination of the instrument, the player and the sound reproduction method (or capture).
As an example, I consider myself a hack, therefore I will play what feels more comfortable to me. I love the Ric tone, but I could not put up with the bad ergonomics to my body. I can get a Ric-like tone (to my ears) with my Spector, which fits me like a glove!
I have also found that the only way to get a piano-like tone, clear and high note-definition, is to play a 34" scale or higher. I found the 32" and lower sounded thumpier, almost like a softer attack. That would be true of players like Jack Bruce, MaCa and Felix Pappalardi. Enter Stu Hamm, playing a 32" scale bass and making every note jump out with clear, decisive definition. Obviously, my theory of "softer attack" went out the window! I have since relegated my 32" to piccolo. It seems to like it there.

Tone=Player, instrument, amp (or recorder, DI, interface, etc.).

PLAY WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY!

Diego

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Uh, why wouldn't they be? Silly question.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

If you'd played some of the bastard things I have in the old days...

Lol!

 

[LordRyan]

The very first instrument considered to be a Bass Guitar in the mid-30's, the Audiovox Model 736 Bass Fiddle, featured a 30.5" scale.

Gibson's first Bass in 1953 was a short-scale and they didn't make a long-scale until the Thunderbird in 1963.

The Kay K-162 introduced in 1952 had a 31" scale.
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Of course there is the venerable Hofner 500/1 invented in 1955. It appears that other than Fender most manufacturers initially favored short-scale Basses which continued to be very popular into the 60's and early 70's. After a period of long-scale dominance short-scales have made a comeback with more models than ever now available.

 

[mobeme23]

oh yeah!
I jumped into short-scale-land earlier this year, and i am so glad that i did!
For what i am going for, it is the perfect fit.

At some point, i will get another one, just to be sure...

 

[Ric5]

My daughter has one of these … I play it more than she does … But it is a legit bass at 28" scale … that is about 6" shorter than a 34" scale bass … it takes a little getting used to but after a few minutes it feels great, plays great, and sounds great

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[Bassamatic]

I have had other bassists come up to tell me how they like the sound of my Mustang PJ / MarkBass setup. I keep trying to go back to my standard P bass, but finding less and less reason to do so - the Mustang PJ is so darn easy to play and is so well made.

I also go back and forth with 4 and 5 string miKros, Gretch Electromatic, Hagstrom Hag II, and Hofner 500/2.

In my studio, I feel that the P Bass with the LaBella Flats is the ultimate sound, but on the Gig, you just can't tell the difference between that and the Mustang.

I think it is because of the custom pickguard

 

[mbell75]

The first mass produced guitar was the Fender Broadcaster/Telecaster and has a 25.5 inch scale. Someone better tell all the iconic guitarists who have played Les Pauls with its short 24.75 inch scale that their guitars are inferior! There is no standard, there are just variations. short, medium and long scale basses. Just like in guitar, scale length doesn't matter when it comes to basses.