Short scale basses....thumbs up? Thumbs down?

[wiscoaster]

Nothing wrong with short scales. In my experience playing short, medium and long, my opinion is that long sounds best. With respect to your fingering experience, there are hand and finger stretches and exercises you can do that will improve your ability to play long. Also, in my experience switching between three different scales I don't think your concern about muscle memory is anything that need influence your decision. If you really don't want to play long scale, I'd cast my vote for medium scale (32 in.), but it wasn't in the poll. Medium scale offers the length advantages of short scale and puts out pretty much the same sounds as long scale.

 

[dieggsy]

I also prefer notation, and coming from violin and mandolin, had similar thoughts at first. After less than a year of practice I wasn't even thinking about the fret spacing anymore. It doesn't cross my mind now and the more I practice the easier it's been to explore the whole fretboard.

With only a month under your belt, I'd say stick with what you have for now, you might surprise yourself. Once you are more comfortable with it you can explore short scale and decide whether you prefer that.

They're just a slightly different instrument, not better or worse.

 

[JEDI BASS]

I voted “technically inferior” because I think the sound of a shorty can be obtained from a 34” scale via string choice, technique, and EQ. But, a 34, 35, 36 or more scale sound can not be gotten from a 30” especially when talking about a B string or any drop tuning scenario.

But, I know short and medium scale basses are super hot right now because they’re easier to play (for most) and have vintage tone built right in, which is also super popular at the moment. I think it’s great that smaller players have more comfortable choices now. I’m cramped on a 30” bass and feel just fine all the way up to 37”. But, I still may jump on the bandwagon and get a shorty for the heck of it.

 

[Benj-jammin]

Stick with what you have and practice as stated above. On another note, I found out I am more sensitive to string spacing rather than scale. I have 2 mustang short scales and a 35" 5 string that are fine with me.

I tried out one of the Mustang American Performer models at GC last week, and was blown away by the sonic fullness and power of that little beast. Of course, with 2 pups, it offers a bit more tonal control than the original version, but regardless of that, I starting developing a bad case of GAS, until I saw the price at around $1,150. Maybe when I get closer to retirement...

 

[landrybass]

A 33” v a 30.75” is a huge difference but are both considered short scale?

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

A 33” v a 30.75” is a huge difference but are both considered short scale?

I think 33" is usually considered "Medium Scale", but different manufacturers (and retailers) list them, differently.

 

[Naigewron]

My 4005XC is larger than my 4003. Not all short scale basses are small.

True. I guess I'm mostly thinking about the classics, like the Mustang. Short neck and small body, looks like a toy when I play it

 

[wiscoaster]

A 33” v a 30.75” is a huge difference but are both considered short scale?

Well, no, 30 in., 32 in., and 34 in. are the "default" scale length definitions for short, medium and long, but as noted in another post above, manufacturers (notably Guild and Gibson) will differ, and so when you buy strings to fit whichever scale, you need to make sure their winding length is enough for your instrument's actual length. In other words, string manufacturers' lengths differ, too, and some string sets marketed as "short scale" will be too short to fit on some "short scale" basses.

 

[Maestro29]

I had to rush to a rehearsal one night without my bass. I used the singer's Gibson SG bass and my lord it had such a clear articulate bottom end. Same sort of thing whenever I pick up a Hofner, they just seem to have this massive but articulate fundamental. I'm trying to get my hands on a Reverend Wattplower.

 

[Danny C]

I'm currently using short scales cuz of 3 fractures in my fretting hand. They are fine for at home, studio and gigging. Serek MW2, Wilcock Mullarkey, JMJ Mustang and Hofner. Nothing wrong with Short scale. Use what is gonna work for you and enjoy.

 

[TK4261]

My custom 30" short scales that I own sound the same if not better than most 34" scales that I have played.
I think most people when they hear the word short scale think of Mustang basses which sound completely different from a standard 34" scale bass.

 

[B-Mac]

It can also be ‘play what fits you’ per our own @BassHappy

Why Not Play the Bass That Fits You Perfectly?

In his case, what ‘fits’ him is medium scale 32”.

 

[Mayo Fan]

Maybe this was already brought up, if so please ignore me.

"I can play everything on the first five frets" is a bit simplistic. There are a number of reasons why it might be preferable for certain songs, passages or licks to play them higher up the neck, even on the E and A strings. Take for example Crazy Little Thing by Queen. I prefer to play that starting from the D on the E string (10th fret) because that makes it sound a bit more mellow which is (in my mind) a more appropriate sound for that tune.

So I'd advise to use some tabs or YouTube playalongs from good players as inspiration and learning material. It's not all about hitting the right notes at the right time. Those small distinctions and choices will become second nature once you put in more hours and broaden your inspirational horizon.

 

[13bass]

"I like both" needs to be an option, as both can sound fantastic to a given individuals tastes. I have both 34" and 30" basses, and a Guild which I think is 31.5"?, and gig with all and they all do the job great. I also am one who doesn't think switching back and forth is an issue at all. If you play both regularly, you adjust in less than a minute and just play. Folks that play both bass and guitar probably have no issues, and that is an even bigger adjustment.

 

[pingvuiini]

I enjoy my collection of 23 inchers:

 

[Taborius]

I think you ought to stick with whatever bass you're playing now before you buy another. You're looking to purchase your way out of a problem that will solve itself with practice and time, in my opinion.

First post nails it.

 

[MingusBass]

I have a couple short scale, a couple medium scale, several long scale, and even an extended range 5 string, they all have their place depending on the music I'm playing.

I have a ton of fun playing both my Serek The Grand and Reverend Dub King, which are both short scale.

 

[sabre79]

So....I've been playing bass guitar for about a month now. And as noted elsewhere, I prefer to read standard notation rather than tabs. I want to read the sheet music, think about how to finger the instrument, and make the proper sound. (I do not like tabs.)

Knowing that, I wonder if I should get a short-scale bass guitar. Here's my thinking:
Because of my limited ability, I tend to play on the first five frets. And those frets are really pretty far apart. Even though I have really big hands (fourteen keys on the piano), I prefer the frets that are closer together. They seem to be easier to play.

And when you're playing from sheet music, you can play it however you want. Contrast this with tabs, which seem to be written in such a way that don't make intuitive sense. For example, in Metallica's "Orion", one of the bass lines (as written in tabs) uses the A string, seventh fret. Then it jumps to open E, then to A string, fifth fret, then back to the E string, seventh fret. (Tell me if there's an easy way to annotate that using a keyboard.) But you can get away with using the top three frets.

So it seems to me (the guy who's been playing for a whole month now) that a short-scale bass will work better for me and my playing style. (If I were playing on frets 7-10, this wouldn't be a problem.)

BUT--I also recognize that most people play full-size basses. And if I get used to playing on the shorter neck, I'm afraid that I'd never be able to "step in" and play with the basses that most others use, because my muscle memory would be off. (And TBH, I'm also concerned that people would see the short neck and think that I'm some kind of loser. "I mean...he's playing on a child's toy.")

Thoughts? Opinions? (For the record, I'm looking into an Ibanez Mikro 5-string short scale. But I've heard that the low B-string can get really floppy and hard to control--especially on a short-scale.)

I've gone from long scale to short, wide nut to narrow nut. I thought I had a preference each time. I guess I like them all. I haven't tried a 5 string though. Oh, shoot, I just felt a GAS pain.

 

[Pilgrim]

This could win the prize for the most biased poll of the day. There is no option for people who play and enjoy more than one scale length. This indicates that the person posting the poll thinks that short scales must be better or worse, but cannot be equal to other scales. Your bias is showing!

Where the hell is this badly needed option?.. "Short scale is fine, other scale lengths are fine." (Or words to that effect.)

I have three 34" scales, three 32" scales, and a half-dozen short scales. Over time I've become increasingly fond of playing short scales. However, I play whichever scale length and bass appeals to me for the moment and the event. As far as I'm concerned they all sound about the same, with any difference attributable either to different strings or unusual pickups...but not to scale length.

BTW - I also have an NXT electric upright with 41.5" scale. I guess that's "other."

 

[SunByrne]

None of the above options. I play mostly 34" scale, but I have a 35" and a shorty, and I like them all for different things. Play what works for you.