Short-Scale Basses

[Kamrin]

Hello, I recently have been thinking about getting a short scale bass.
I've never really looked into them, so I'm not sure what out there.

I'm looking for a good but cheap bass, that's small so I can easily bring it around with me where ever I go. I'm looking into short scales because they seemed different and I'd like to try one.

I'm looking for something With a very small body/neck, and that is light weight
and by small body, I mean a really really small body.

If you know of any or have a recommendation just post em' down below!

Thanks!

 

[fjadams]

Check out these two to with. Many other options, but you said small body.

Kala U-Bass. Can be had in either solid or hollowbody. 24 1/2" scale
Ibanez Mikro. Comes with many color options and either rosewood or maple neck. 28 1/2" scale

Or one of the many versions of the "Beatle" Violin Bass. Hofner, Epiphone, Douglas, Jay Turser, Rogue, Eko, to name a few off the top of my head.

 

[Moving Pictures]

Fjadams has provided some great options. The Goldtone series is another option. Birdsong is another option but more costly. Also, providing a price range and some of the reasoning, other than weight, behind your search may help.

 

[walldaja]

Don't miss an Epiphone EB0

 

[hintz]

yeah the ukulele basses are awesome, intonation ain't all the on higher frets though, they make different sizes also

 

[Arizona Jones]

Ibanez Mikro, played one in the local GC yesterday. It was the best playing bass in the store!

 

[FerruleCat]

A lot of folks like the Gretsch G2220; it has a rep for being a solid performer.

Another favorite is the Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar.

I have a Squier VM Mustang, which appears to be discontinued; a modified Squier Bronco; and an SX Ursa 2 Junior, which sounds surprisingly good with flats.

If you like the styling, I'd suggest giving the Mikro or Gretsch a try.

 

[Brian Dechant]

I have back and neck problems, so I needed something shorter and fretless. I couldn't find what I wanted or could afford, so I made my own. I just got it strung up last night. Still needs pickups and finish. It's 1/2" shorter than my Les Paul, and has 30 frets.

 

[Daveypoo]

I just picked up a Fender Pawn Shop Mustang bass a few months back and I love it. The humbucker makes up for the lack of power in most Mustangs and having the HB in the P pickup position keeps it from being muddy like most basses with HBs up against the neck. Highly recommend it.

 

[raventepes]

Danelectro 58 Longhorn comes to mind

 

[mongo2]

I needed something shorter and fretless.....It's 1/2" shorter than my Les Paul, and has 30 frets.

Does not compute.

 

[ih8law]

I am a fan of the Gretsch Electromatic Junior Jet basses. A used G2220 would fit the "cheap but good" requirement. If you can cough up a little more coin, I recommend the Gibson SG Special.

 

[Tom0Blam0]

I really like my squier Bronco. It was dirt cheap ($70 used) and it plays well. Some people complain about the tuners, bridge and pup, but if you're just looking for something cheap and fun, it might be a good choice. Plus you can customize the crap out of it and make it work while (if you're into that kinda thing).

Squier Jaguar SS are also supposed to be pretty awesome, but I haven't had a chance to play one yet.

 

[bnolsen]

the pickups on a stock bronco are really noisy. i went cheap for 24usd and put in an 8k guitarfetish humbucker rail pickup. Surprisingly it sounds almost just like the original pickup but the noise is utterly killt.

I have a gretsch g2202 and its marvelous sounding stock. Its just heavy and the slab body could use some contouring. its probably my best bass but thats not saying much....

 

[KohanMike]

After playing guitar for almost 50 years and ukulele for the last year, and often thinking about learning bass but not wanting to be encumbered by a big electric bass, now that really small u-basses have come out, I decided to buy a Gold Tone GT MicroBass ($400), and also have a custom bass ukulele made to my specs for $460 including a custom gig bag.

This is an image I put together comparing a Kala U-Bass, my custom bass ukulele that I mocked up, and the Gold Tone I bought, and also the custom gig bag. Below that is the drawing I made for the custom bass uke.

I'm actually thinking of buying a mini electric guitar like a Dean and converting it to a 25" scale bass.

 

[Brendan5]

The jay turser short p bass feels like a guitar hero controller. I also like the mikro for a small body. ESP LTD has a BR5-JR that has a tiny body. The jag Ss and eb-0 have pretty big bodies.

 

[Brendan5]

Edge to the mikro 5 for the nice pickups.

 

[mongo2]

I'm actually thinking of buying a mini electric guitar like a Dean and converting it to a 25" scale bass.

I've converted an Epiphone Dot Studio semi-hollow guitar and a couple of Epiphone LP Special P90 solid-body guitars into 24.75" scale basses.

 

[Splanky]

Cort Action bass Jr. Really sweet playing and sounds really good.
A good platform to mod.
I have bought 2 used. About to respray one and replace the stock Mighty Mite soapbar with a Unicorn bass humbucker. In the workshop at the moment.

 

[MakoMan]

The jay turser short p bass feels like a guitar hero controller. I also like the mikro for a small body. ESP LTD has a BR5-JR that has a tiny body. The jag Ss and eb-0 have pretty big bodies.

Agree with Brendan5. The Jay Turser Mini Bass has a very small body and is extremely light for a normal 30 inch scale shorty. I absolutely love mine as a practice and backup bass. The Ibanez Mikro is just slightly larger and almost as light. The Cort Action Jr. is about the same size and weight as the Mikro.
The Jag, Gretsch and Epi all have larger bodies than the Turser, Cort or Mikro, with the Jag being the lightest of the 3 and the Epi the heaviest (with a ton of neck dive). I have both the Jag and the Gretsch, which are fairly light, but if I strap on the Turser after playing either one I feel like I`m going to float away.