Short Scale Basses. The best thing since sliced bread?

[blue4]

Yeah, I'm a huge La Bella tape fan. I like the Blacks on my acoustic and piezo equipped basses and the whites and coppers on my regular basses. I'm at nearly year 15 on one set and absolutely no signs of wear or change in tone. Love em.

I've got the black tapes on my Brice 5 string. I had worried about paying $40+ for a set of strings, but I'm glad to hear they go 15 years. I may switch my two viola basses over to these as well. The D'ddario tapes I have on them now have weird A strings. They don't stay in tune as long as the other three. I would think it's bass related, but it's the exact same on both viola basses, plus it's the same on a jazz I have.

 

[azfatboy]

Yeah, I'm a huge La Bella tape fan. I like the Blacks on my acoustic and piezo equipped basses and the whites and coppers on my regular basses. I'm at nearly year 15 on one set and absolutely no signs of wear or change in tone. Love em.

I just put these on my acoustic a week ago. I am loving them so much they are going on my incoming bass as well (a gorgeous ESP Ltd B-4E).

 

[RED J]

I would look goofy as hell (I've tried).

That's just you talking to your self. What about big guys who play guitar ? Phooey.

I play mostly short scales now, and have always owned and liked them. I'm happy to see this thread proving that the short scale second rate myth is dead.
It reminds me of all the people who wouldn't buy a "foreign" car in the states for years because they pretty much assumed they were like a 1951 Volkswagen. Some people even liked those.

 

[Johnny Crab]

A recent finding(last night) has once again proven that short scales can sound as good as any other scale. Spent 2 hours working/tweaking over 40 patch channels in the Line 6 HD500X here last night using the PC-to-USB editing software with it connected as shown below:

SX Jazz SS->Line 6 HD500X->QSC 2402 run stereo->two ACME B2's sitting about 2 feet on either side of me.

Spoiled we are. The BOSE will not sound near as good tonight in the corner microstage.

 

[JRA]

but soon realised that short scales are huge fun to play (and have very few downsides).

what do you consider a downside on a SS instrument? i'm asking because: like other posters who are 'of age' and/or 'physical issues/pain', i've had an interest in looking into a SS instrument. i'm playing 34" fretlesses and the 'stretch' seems to get longer every year, but i'm also hesitant to introduce new learning curves at my advanced age (ha!).

interested in your experience. i can imagine advantages: but i'm not able to imagine disadvantages (except muscle memory issues). are there more disadvantages?

i know that BassHappy has been an advocate for SS and i have tuned into his posts/experiences. needless to say: he has me thinking.

thanks!

 

[delta7fred]

what do you consider a downside on a SS instrument? i'm asking because: like other posters who are 'of age' and/or 'physical issues/pain', i've had an interest in looking into a SS instrument. i'm playing 34" fretlesses and the 'stretch' seems to get longer every year, but i'm also hesitant to introduce new learning curves at my advanced age (ha!).

interested in your experience. i can imagine advantages: but i'm not able to imagine disadvantages (except muscle memory issues). are there more disadvantages?

i know that BassHappy has been an advocate for SS and i have tuned into his posts/experiences. needless to say: he has me thinking.

thanks!

I can only speak of the downsides of the Violin bass as that is the only one have played in the last 40 years.

The string spacing is very tight both on the neck and at the bridge, the neck seems like guitar width. I seem to remember I measured string spacing of 15mm at the bridge. What this means is that with my large fingers I have to play most of the time with a pick. I have no problems fretting however as I also play guitar

The bridge has a tendency of working it's way towards the pickups (because of the differing string angles at each side) which affects the intonation. I have heard that this can be prevented with a strip of double sided tape under the bridge feet but haven't been concerned enough about it to do it yet. I periodically slacken the strings a little and pull the bridge back to it's original position (you can see a slight mark on the top where it should be.

The shorter scale has not been a problem for muscle memory and the learning curve was extremely short. It is no different to playing a song a couple of frets further up the neck. I can see it might be a problem if you never play past the 5th fret but to be honest It took me no time at all to adapt. I received the bass on Saturday afternoon and couldn't put it down so played it for a couple of hours. I took it to the gig on Saturday night and played it all night. I had played a 5 string (G&L L-2500) for the last few years so apart from a few mistakes caused by switching from 5 to 4 strings had zero issues with it.

I don't think the Violin basses offer much in the way of reduced reach because of the position of the bridge. This will not be the same for all SS basses.

One thing I do love about it is that it weighs just over 6 pounds so I can play it all night and not feel any ill effects, not that I am complaining about the G&L but I certainly knew I had done a gig by the end of the night!

(I'm 65 and am very conscious about looking after what health I have left.)

 

[GBassNorth]

what do you consider a downside on a SS instrument? i'm asking because: like other posters who are 'of age' and/or 'physical issues/pain', i've had an interest in looking into a SS instrument. i'm playing 34" fretlesses and the 'stretch' seems to get longer every year, but i'm also hesitant to introduce new learning curves at my advanced age (ha!).

interested in your experience. i can imagine advantages: but i'm not able to imagine disadvantages (except muscle memory issues). are there more disadvantages?

i know that BassHappy has been an advocate for SS and i have tuned into his posts/experiences. needless to say: he has me thinking.

thanks!

Just take the dive! I did and haven't regretted it yet. Of course I kept all my medium, long and extra long scales but the shorties really put a smile on my face every time I pick one up. Just so effortless to play and sound just as good.

Disclaimer: never tried a 5 string shortie but there's been some very tempting ones shown on this thread. Also, never tried a fretless shortie, would be interesting to hear from someone that has. I'd have to have a lined one though or I'd always be off key. I'd think you'd get a very interesting bloom in the note and possibly a change in the mwah as well. Just a guess.

 

[BassHappy]

Think that's the first time I've seen that one of yours. Extremely nice! How's the medium scale coming along?

Hey FJ

I actually have 8 mediums in the works right now. There are the twin P and J Fender hollows, which should be done this week. I also have a hollowbody Gibson Les Paul bass in the works, which is kind of my take on Roger Giffin's "Florentine" Les Paul guitar. And I finally prototyped five of my own designs in medium scale, two solid bodies and three hollow bodies, all very similar designs which have different features. The bodies are finished and the five necks are in the works.

Now, back to the thread, sorry for the derail.

 

[JRA]

I can only speak of the downsides of the Violin bass as that is the only one have played in the last 40 years.

The string spacing is very tight both on the neck and at the bridge, the neck seems like guitar width. I seem to remember I measured string spacing of 15mm at the bridge. What this means is that with my large fingers I have to play most of the time with a pick. I have no problems fretting however as I also play guitar

The bridge has a tendency of working it's way towards the pickups (because of the differing string angles at each side) which affects the intonation. I have heard that this can be prevented with a strip of double sided tape under the bridge feet but haven't been concerned enough about it to do it yet. I periodically slacken the strings a little and pull the bridge back to it's original position (you can see a slight mark on the top where it should be.

The shorter scale has not been a problem for muscle memory and the learning curve was extremely short. It is no different to playing a song a couple of frets further up the neck. I can see it might be a problem if you never play past the 5th fret but to be honest It took me no time at all to adapt. I received the bass on Saturday afternoon and couldn't put it down so played it for a couple of hours. I took it to the gig on Saturday night and played it all night. I had played a 5 string (G&L L-2500) for the last few years so apart from a few mistakes caused by switching from 5 to 4 strings had zero issues with it.

I don't think the Violin basses offer much in the way of reduced reach because of the position of the bridge. This will not be the same for all SS basses.

One thing I do love about it is that it weighs just over 6 pounds so I can play it all night and not feel any ill effects, not that I am complaining about the G&L but I certainly knew I had done a gig by the end of the night!

(I'm 65 and am very conscious about looking after what health I have left.)

thanks for responding: yep (66 here!) and as much as i want to remain in denial --- things are not the same as when i started playing bass 40 years ago! but i have an interest in the SS discussions: i keep 'noticing' them and reading them and wondering about the instruments. i've looked at a lot of the links to instruments. i'm pretty sure i understand the violin bass string spacing thing: that might be an issue for me, not sure. i played around on one many years ago: it had flats on it and i was not willing to appreciate the strings, so my impression was not so much of the instrument itself.

i'm playing pj and jazz fretlesses (unlined: lines make me 'dizzy' ha!) and i don't see a lot of those available 'off the rack' or i might have already gotten one to mess with. i'm also playing a crap shoot with my shoulder issues: i may not bite the bullet and try SS's until my body forces me. maybe i'll get lucky and stop deteriorating!

i'm always interested the lighter weight stuff: i've gone from heavy/thick swamp ash to basswood, and if i could try one made from corrugated cardboard, i would.

and thanks for the tip on the reach factor: that alone is responsible for most of my end-of-gig shoulder pain: i play a lot stuff higher on the neck just to avoid the long reach. i didn't realize that the violin bass did not reduce the reach much.

i'll keep lurking on the SS threads. until i get 'a sign'! thanks.

 

[JRA]

Just take the dive! I did and haven't regretted it yet. Of course I kept all my medium, long and extra long scales but the shorties really put a smile on my face every time I pick one up. Just so effortless to play and sound just as good.

Disclaimer: never tried a 5 string shortie but there's been some very tempting ones shown on this thread. Also, never tried a fretless shortie, would be interesting to hear from someone that has. I'd have to have a lined one though or I'd always be off key. I'd think you'd get a very interesting bloom in the note and possibly a change in the mwah as well. Just a guess.

ha! the plunge! i just responded to delta7fred.

i'd have to have 4 strings, unlined fretless, or i'd be trying to (re)learn too many things at once: plunging into the deep end for me! but i've gotta say: when i hear remarks like yours, "put a smile on my face every time I pick one up," i'm intrigued. you guys just make them sound too tempting!

i'm going to have to try and play one somewhere: i have a sam ash and a GC within 30 minutes. but i get the impression that the big boxes don't present a lot of variety in the SS department.

 

[Rocker949]

I can't quite identify with making short scale or long scale into and either/or issue. Mostly because of circumstances, I've mostly played short scales. But I like long scales almost as much. In fact some of my most memorable gigs (3 of them in Ireland) were with Jazz or Precision basses. But 95% of time I end up with short scales. I just plain like them.

 

[delta7fred]

I can't quite identify with making short scale or long scale into and either/or issue.

+1
To me a SS is nothing more than a long scale where you don't have access to the first 2 frets.

 

[GBassNorth]

ha! the plunge! i just responded to delta7fred.

i'd have to have 4 strings, unlined fretless, or i'd be trying to (re)learn too many things at once: plunging into the deep end for me! but i've gotta say: when i hear remarks like yours, "put a smile on my face every time I pick one up," i'm intrigued. you guys just make them sound too tempting!

i'm going to have to try and play one somewhere: i have a sam ash and a GC within 30 minutes. but i get the impression that the big boxes don't present a lot of variety in the SS department.

SS offerings are definitely worth a try. Unfortunately Sam Ash in Cincinnati will most likely only have one or two in stock and they'll probably be a fretted Squier Jaguar or maybe a Squier Bronco. Neither of which are prime examples of what a Short Scale can be in my book. The Guitar Center around the corner from Sam Ash and the one down in Florence will be the same situation.

Regardless, either bass will provide a feel for the scale length and how it fits you. The Jag SS is a PJ layout and a good bass for the price. The Bronco is dirt cheap and although somewhat anemic in stock form it can be easily modded and is a solid platform you can use to custom build your sound. Both are Squier offerings so it goes without saying that from a QC standpoint they can range from good to great but either should be played before purchased.

Here's a pic of my Bronco...

Modded with GFS Lipstick Humbucker, SD Coil Tap Trim Ring, Stingray type Preamp, P Bass Ashtray and La Bella White Tapewound strings. It sounds and feels fantastic and could easily hang with any sub $1500 stock bass. I paid $75 for the bass used at Guitar Center and the mods (which were all drop in, no routing required) cost me under $100.

 

[Mastermold]

Love my '68 EB-2:

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[Rocker949]

I've always liked the sound of an EB-2.

 

[JRA]

SS offerings are definitely worth a try. Unfortunately Sam Ash in Cincinnati will most likely only have one or two in stock and they'll probably be a fretted Squier Jaguar or maybe a Squier Bronco. Neither of which are prime examples of what a Short Scale can be in my book. The Guitar Center around the corner from Sam Ash and the one down in Florence will be the same situation.

Regardless, either bass will provide a feel for the scale length and how it fits you. The Jag SS is a PJ layout and a good bass for the price. The Bronco is dirt cheap and although somewhat anemic in stock form it can be easily modded and is a solid platform you can use to custom build your sound. Both are Squier offerings so it goes without saying that from a QC standpoint they can range from good to great but either should be played before purchased.

Here's a pic of my Bronco...

Modded with GFS Lipstick Humbucker, SD Coil Tap Trim Ring, Stingray type Preamp, P Bass Ashtray and La Bella White Tapewound strings. It sounds and feels fantastic and could easily hang with any sub $1500 stock bass. I paid $75 for the bass used at Guitar Center and the mods (which were all drop in, no routing required) cost me under $100.

pretty neat. i can get a rough feel of the potential, i think, if i play it (general feel, neck, balance, weight/heft --- or lack thereof --- yada yada) on a fretted instrument. i'll try to find one to play for a bit. i'd order one online, but i'm invested in some PA upgrades and i need to conclude that business first. but who knows? my curiosity is piqued, for sure.

 

[Mastermold]

I've always liked the sound of an EB-2.

Yeah it's my favorite Gibson bass. It records really well too, I was surprised by that since hollow bodies aren't what you think of when you think recording. Fenders and the like are more the norm.

 

[Rocker949]

Yeah it's my favorite Gibson bass. It records really well too, I was surprised by that since hollow bodies aren't what you think of when you think recording. Fenders and the like are more the norm.

If you listen to the "Are You Experienced" album, all of those songs have an EB-2 with the exception of three songs. I really think the EB-2 sounds great on that.

 

[Aldo Sanchez]

I am very happy with mine. Here is my 78' Musicmaster.

 

[Mastermold]

This thread inspired me. Just ordered an old Mosrite bass.