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Short Scale Basses

#4
All I have are shorties.
In you price range you can't go wrong with the Squier Jag SS. Easily the best of the short scale under $200 basses.
Others you might look at include the SX (Rondo Music). It looks like right now they have both the P and J versions available.
Epiphone EB-0.
Ibanez Mikro 28 1/2 scale so technically a sub scale.

You can find used ones on eBay, Craig's List or sometimes music stores or pawn shops.

But generally in this price range the Jag SS is probably the best buy in the market.
 
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#5
Jag SS - P/J bass, narrower neck. Luna - P bass, wider neck.

I have the Jag SS and it's a good bass - not a single complaint about it.
Lots of people don't care for the J pickup on it though.
Never tried the Luna.

Lots of info here if you do a search for 'short scale'. Not a lot on the Luna though.
 
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#6
I like the look of the Luna......so I've scouted around looking at reviews on the net about it....some haven't been very good.......but that's true of a lot of reviews.....people can't wait to post about a lemon they got....even though there's probably many many nice ones out there.

I thought I'd hate anything wider than a 1 1/2 inch nut...

but the 1 and 5/8ths is actually pretty sweet.
 
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#8
All my basses are also SS. Those from my stable that fit your price point are both SXs: a P and a J (on right and left in my avatar PIC). I didn't like the stock P's pups so swapped in some Dimarzio DP-127s, which have rails instead of individual pole pieces. They were I big improvement but I still prefer the sound of the pups that came in my SX J over either of the pups I've had in the SX P. Have no idea how much variation there may be in sound quality of the stock SX pups. Maybe I just got lucky with the J, but it sounds very good to me.
 
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#9
I think if you're gonna talk about stock performance, the Squier VM SS Jaguar Bass is the best short scale under $200. It's a shame they don't offer a more upscale version under the Fender name.

But if you want to go with something that has a lot of upgrade potential, to me, the Bronco Bass is my preferred modding platform because it responds so well to upgrades, and when fully upgraded, I greatly prefer the Bronco Bass to the Jaguar Bass.
 
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#10
honeyiscool said:
I think if you're gonna talk about stock performance, the Squier VM SS Jaguar Bass is the best short scale under $200. It's a shame they don't offer a more upscale version under the Fender name.
Click to expand...

What would you want Fender to change to make it more upscale?

honeyiscool said:
But if you want to go with something that has a lot of upgrade potential, to me, the Bronco Bass is my preferred modding platform because it responds so well to upgrades, and when fully upgraded, I greatly prefer the Bronco Bass to the Jaguar Bass.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with this. The Bronco mods I've done have been very successful and a lot of fun to do and to gig with, in particular, my Squender Mustonco.
 
#11
I have an SX Ursa 2 short scale Jazz bass which I like quite a bit. $119 bucks and plays just fine. Their current version has a body of solid alder, which is probably a three piece, though I can't tell for sure (mine is white, so I can't tell how many pieces). SX is a real good deal.

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The Squier Jags get nothing but good reviews and look real sweet. I haven't played one, but I believe I'd also back that horse, if you want to pay slightly more than for the SX. Some of these "cheapo" instruments are really quite good!
 
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#12
honeyiscool said:
I think if you're gonna talk about stock performance, the Squier VM SS Jaguar Bass is the best short scale under $200. It's a shame they don't offer a more upscale version under the Fender name.

But if you want to go with something that has a lot of upgrade potential, to me, the Bronco Bass is my preferred modding platform because it responds so well to upgrades, and when fully upgraded, I greatly prefer the Bronco Bass to the Jaguar Bass.
Click to expand...


I thought Fender did. It was called a Modern Player Jazz SS or something like that. It was only on the market a while back for the blink of an eye...and then they cancelled it..
 
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#13
Squier JAG gets my vote.I bought an epi EBO cheap,60$ Damn good bass for that kind money.Checkout the jag or sx if you'd prefer that style bass.I had a dean Hillsboro junior that I modded a decnt bass if you could find a used one.
 
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#14
ZenG said:
I thought Fender did. It was called a Modern Player Jazz SS or something like that. It was only on the market a while back for the blink of an eye...and then they cancelled it..
Click to expand...

Kinda.
Have both and the MP Jazz is probably the best short scale they ever released.
Best value short scale under $200 is the Squier Jaguar SS.
Best short scale Fender ever released is the Modern Player Jazz. It's a shame they made it a short run as I think these could be sellers at stores. They play well, sound good, look good. If I had someone looking to start playing bass I wouldn't have any problem recommending one of these.
 
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#15
fjadams said:
Kinda.
Have both and the MP Jazz is probably the best short scale they ever released.
Best value short scale under $200 is the Squier Jaguar SS.
Best short scale Fender ever released is the Modern Player Jazz. It's a shame they made it a short run as I think these could be sellers at stores. They play well, sound good, look good. If I had someone looking to start playing bass I wouldn't have any problem recommending one of these.
Click to expand...

It was bit more than 200 bucks I think......but worth it.
 
#17
The Rascal's kinda' cool, but it's way over the $200 budget.

I thought of something I don't like about the Jag SS.
I got the CAR one, and while the finish is flawless, I just don't like the red/black color combo.
A minor quibble, I know. But if I were to do it again, I'd get one of the other colors.
It was an impulse buy for me.
Walked in the store, saw it, tried it, paid for it, and brought it home - ha ha.
My first bass too. I got lucky, I guess.

Another one to consider is the Cort Action Jr. I've had two of them - currently have one.
They're not too easy to find, and they have a single pickup.
But they sound sweet, have a few more frets,
a flatter fret board (if that's your thing), and you should be
able to find one under budget with a little digging.
 
#18
If you can find a lightweight bronco used that's the way to go. Mods up nicely. The neck is pretty sweet on the bronco. Paying retail? I haven't seen the luna yet but I like the wide neck on my gretsch junior jet so I probably would like the luna.
 
#20
ZenG said:
I thought Fender did. It was called a Modern Player Jazz SS or something like that. It was only on the market a while back for the blink of an eye...and then they cancelled it..
Click to expand...

And yes, it is a great one. I have the red/black version. Since none are being made as of now, I would also go with the Squier SS. The SX Jazz isn't bad either, although you will need a good bridge and replacement strings to really bring out the best in it. Still miss mine.
 

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