Short Scale Basses. The best thing since sliced bread?

[Tanner5382]

Thanks @Tanner5382! I know I've modded mine (and still one last mod to do) from stock, but I love this bass so much.

I really like the mods, they look awesome. The pickups don't appear to be modded to me though. Are they?

Either way, these are awesome basses they feel and sound great. I've got a stock '06 model in cherry.

 

[Tanner5382]

Depends on how they're setup and amps/cabs that they're played through (which is the most important factor).

Most are setup with really thin strings, because of the "student" BS. I use regular-scale Medium-Heavy gauge strings on mine. The action has to be higher as well to compensate for the lower tension, which isn't as big a deal as it sounds, because the reach between frets and first position is shorter and therefore you have more leverage and the forearm muscles that control the fingers can apply more pressure.
Heck, I'd put a 0.130 E String on mine if I didn't have to worry about it unwinding off the core when I cut it down.
But play a Kala U-Bass or copy of one sometime. You can't deny the depth those things have.

Yeah, I did the same and still didn't find any of what Rob said to be accurate for me.

The Kala U-Bass certainly has depth, but you can't really compare that to a normal solid-body bass of any scale length.

I don't think short scales lack depth, I just don't think their low end is any fuller or rounder. It's just more of a mid-range focused sound to me.

 

[Figjam]

Fender musicmaster with flats sounds great. (with an aftermarket bass pickup)

 

[Rib 13]

My belief is that Fender is largely responsible for the 'beginner', 'student', 'small hands' (we all know what that is saying now) memes.

You can read it in their ads for Mustang basses to this day if you don't believe me.

A number of their serious competition were SS and it was an easy mark.

They enforced the image back in the day by producing a beginner, student bass as their only short scale.

To this day they still don't make a short scale for over $1,000.

fantastic observation, although the only exception is that I do think they were serious in recent times about the Rascal but, even still, that thing was emphasizing its campy form as much as its function....It is a very cool instrument (in both function and form) and I imagine had it caught on and warranted a USA version, it wouldve been in that price range....even still, they really didn't push it like other debut models, either, re-emphasizing your point about them historically

 

[TonyP-]

Mike Lull is entering the short scale realm as well.

They will have a 30" scale realsed for NAMM 17'

 

[azfatboy]

My first bass was a shortscale (Gretsch) and it is still my preferred scale. It is so easy and fun to play. If I were taking just one bass with me on a trip, it would be that one.

I also would pay for a higher end, american-made, Fender bass in shortscale. Fender are idiots on this one...

 

[Tanner5382]

My first bass was a shortscale (Gretsch) and it is still my preferred scale. It is so easy and fun to play. If I were taking just one bass with me on a trip, it would be that one.

I also would pay for a higher end, american-made, Fender bass in shortscale. Fender are idiots on this one...

Yeah, I would think a USA Mustang would sell reasonably well.

 

[BassGreaser]

I really like the mods, they look awesome. The pickups don't appear to be modded to me though. Are they?

Either way, these are awesome basses they feel and sound great. I've got a stock '06 model in cherry.

View attachment 952321

Gorgeous looking SG! It's funny ours are if the same vintage.

My pickups are stock for now, but soon I'll be replacing the bridge pickups with a TV Jones ThunderBlade as I have one on my other SS in then neck spot and it sounds great!

 

[DChalo]

Do short scale basses require special strings or what?

 

[Tanner5382]

Gorgeous looking SG! It's funny ours are if the same vintage.

My pickups are stock for now, but soon I'll be replacing the bridge pickups with a TV Jones ThunderBlade as I have one on my other SS in then neck spot and it sounds great!

Ah, thank you! Cool, you've got an '06 too! Yes, that era of Gibsons (2006 to 2007 in particular) are great basses. The Gibson in my avatar is a 2007 and it's my favorite and main bass.

I must say yours is certainly the best looking black SG I've seen!

A ThunderBlade sounds like an awesome idea for that bass!

 

[BassGreaser]

Do short scale basses require special strings or what?

Yes only in the regards of how long the strings are compared to 34" scale strings.

 

[Tanner5382]

Do short scale basses require special strings or what?

You can usually get away with using long scale strings, but some people say to strictly use short-scale strings. I've read that some folks have had trouble with cutting La Bella strings to fit short scale basses. They unraveled or something. If you're worried about it, buy short scale strings. Generally though, you should be okay with normal strings.

 

[honestjohnny]

Yeah, I did the same and still didn't find any of what Rob said to be accurate for me.

The Kala U-Bass certainly has depth, but you can't really compare that to a normal solid-body bass of any scale length.

I don't think short scales lack depth, I just don't think their low end is any fuller or rounder. It's just more of a mid-range focused sound to me.

I won't disagree there. Most of what we hear is midrange and treble, just due to the way our ears are designed. Ultimately, I do believe with the right EQ, speaker cabinet configurations, and right hand placement any bass can sound bright or deep as we want.

OTH, marketing hype is just that. And I think that Rob is actually saying the opposite of the truth. In studio, where you can sit down and really work out the sound you want on the record, you use whatever fits the bill and you can control the vertical, horizontal, and Z-axis as much as imaginable. And I know of several players, Mike Watt, Dusty Hill, and others named previously who use shorties on stage, because night after night, a shortie is easier on the body.

 

[Tanner5382]

I won't disagree there. Most of what we hear is midrange and treble, just due to the way our ears are designed. Ultimately, I do believe with the right EQ, speaker cabinet configurations, and right hand placement any bass can sound bright or deep as we want.

OTH, marketing hype is just that. And I think that Rob is actually saying the opposite of the truth. In studio, where you can sit down and really work out the sound you want on the record, you use whatever fits the bill and you can control the vertical, horizontal, and Z-axis as much as imaginable. And I know of several players, Mike Watt, Dusty Hill, and others named previously who use shorties on stage, because night after night, a shortie is easier on the body.

I totally agree.

Also, I didn't know Dusty Hill used short scales. That's cool to know!

 

[jazzyvee]

There is so much mis-information and so many misconceptions regarding our instrument.

Stanley Clarke has massive hands and plays a short scale. A quality instrument is a quality instrument. I have a bunch of short scale basses. They all sound great. Basses are like snowflakes, there all different.

I have a short scale Alembic and it is a superb instrument and has a fantastic range of sounds and I've used it for everything from Soul, pop, funk, rock n roll, jazz, blues, folk music and reggae and has provided a great sound for all those genres. Phil Lesh has fairly recently had a short scale 6 string bass with a Low B.

 

[cdlynch]

Story is I've been experimenting with converting inexpensive 6 string guitars into sub-short scale basses for nearly three years

I made one of those! It works OK, but the E has unpleasant overtones. I doubt it'd matter in a mix, but I haven't tried. I started with larger gauge strings but those sounded worse than standard gauge. I had to unwind overwrap to make use of the guitar tuners. I know that's a no-no, but I only did it 'cause the guitar body was free and I had the pickup sitting around unused since '95 or something. Meet the Splatobasstard:

 

[Fat Freddy]

I made one of those! It works OK, but the E has unpleasant overtones. I doubt it'd matter in a mix, but I haven't tried. I started with larger gauge strings but those sounded worse than standard gauge. I had to unwind overwrap to make use of the guitar tuners. I know that's a no-no, but I only did it 'cause the guitar body was free and I had the pickup sitting around unused since '95 or something. Meet the Splatobasstard:

Love the name!

 

[Mustang Surly]

"Do short scale basses require special strings or what?"

Some shorties, especially those with string-thru bridge design (e.g.: Mustang), are better off with medium-scale strings. I have a Reverend Dub King, which can use either short-scale strings (top-loaded) or medium scale strings (string thru). The Guild Starfire Basses are short scale, but are best strung with medium-scale strings because of the distance between the bridge saddles and string anchor points on those "harp" style bridges.

So, in short: it varies.

 

[BassmentPlayer]

fantastic observation, although the only exception is that I do think they were serious in recent times about the Rascal but, even still, that thing was emphasizing its campy form as much as its function....It is a very cool instrument (in both function and form) and I imagine had it caught on and warranted a USA version, it wouldve been in that price range....even still, they really didn't push it like other debut models, either, re-emphasizing your point about them historically

I have one of the now defunct Rascals. Most versatile bass I have. With a pick it is amazing. I am learning to use a pick specifically to play it.

It was originally a custom shop design they decided to try mass producing.

I bought one for two reasons. I thought it would have cool sounds (and it does) and I wanted to reward Fender for making a quality SS bass.

I'll do it again with the Mustang PJ.

After that I'll have a Fender SS Jazz, Mustang, Rascal and a PJ Mustang. I think will have the Fender slab SS's covered.

 

[SasquatchDude]

I just got my little sister a Mustang, and I gotta admit it's way more fun to play than I expected... but for all the people citing lower string tension as a factor, why not just put lighter gauge strings on a long scale?