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Short Scale Basses
- Thread starter edbnuts
- Start date
I'm a long time short scale guy. No matter what you get, I bet you like it.
Whilst I still like my red one i do wish in hindsight that i'd gone for the black and put a red pick guard on it. Can't beat the Jag SS for value.
In my experience, in Australia, getting a bargain second hand shorty is very difficult. It appears that most people looking for shortys know the value and will pay a decent asking price. Getting a lucky bargain on a long scale appears to be a bit easier.
That red-wash one looks really good!!! How is the neck dive on those??
JB62SS is better than the Modern Player shorty, come on, guys. And I prefer a good Mustang Bass over either.
I've got a Mikro too.
The scale is only an inch and a half or so shorter than a 30" scale, but something about it makes it seem significantly smaller.
Maybe it's that it also has a smaller body, or maybe shorter fret distance, or string spacing or something.
Whatever it is, it doesn't feel like my other short scale basses.
I like it though.
I started with short scale back in the 60's and am now returning to SS - so comfortable. I have several, and the one I like the best is the VM Jag SS. Great sound, great neck, outstanding value for $189! I have other, more expensive ones, but this one is surely the go to. The Gretsch Electromatic Junior is also a great bargain used, but the sound is not as versatile as the Jag SS. I do wish it came in a sunburst - I'd get another.
The neck is pretty light, so I don't notice any neck dive. I always play with a shoulder strap, however, even when I'm sitting down, so maybe that's what it takes to balance it. It's never going to balance like a bass with an upper horn, but it's worth it, in my view. - Jeff
I would definitely go with the jag. When you get a few more bucks you can choose from multiple upgrades. I would start with the jazz pickup personally. You could pick up a nice one used for $25. I think you can get a Seymore for a mere $50. The tuners are ok for the cost but maybe consider those but i would look at bridges second. You should have an incredible sounding shorty after that for nearly nothing. As far as the sx basses, that would be my second choice. I bought a fretless jazz several years back. Other than the horrible pickups it was as good as a nice squier. Still holding up quite nicely
Yeah, it was $399 and worth every penny. Once I'd had it for a while and saw how good a bass it is I'd have paid more.
You can get the Jag SS in sunburst, but only as part of a new pack Squier came out with:
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I notice the head stock's not painted on it.
Maybe they'll make it available separately later.
I've bought two and the red definitely had a better finish than the silver. But do agree that the original pickguard doesn't look very good with it. Fortunately ther are some people making replacement ones for it. Pretty easy to upgrade to one that looks better.
I suppose street price would be in the $250 range. Looks like a great deal for somebody new to the instrument. Not usually a fan of burst finishes but that one doesn't look too bad. Looks like the finish on the Gretsch 2224.
Might be true. Unfortunately I neglected to pick one up before they ceased production and the price skyrocketed. My MP SS Jazz cost me $399 and right now the JBSC2SS is going for $700 or more plus the $125 for shipping. More than twice as much, but I'm still thinking if I should just order one anyway.
Have played various Mustangs and while good and I'd surely buy one if I ever saw it come up at a reasonable price I don't think the ones I played are as good as the MP Jazz SS. But that's just my opinion and as such is worth whatever one thinks it is.
Fixed.
I figured since I'll be keeping this one, I'd give it a try.
If I messed it up, I could always look for a replacement.
I think it came out OK though.
Can of spray paint and a little drying time, and I like it a lot better now.
I think I can live with the painted head stock.
.
When I got a Bronco, I planned on upgrading the bridge, the tuners, and the pickup.
The Jaguar SS I got already had acceptable tuners and bridge,
and I kind of like the sounds I can get from the stock pickups.
I figure any way you look at it, I came out ahead with the Jaguar.
I still might get a Bronco to mod, but I know I'd have to throw some money into it for sure.
The upside is that you can pick and choose what to put in.
But that could put you into the price range of a nicer bass to start with.
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