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Short Scale Basses

#22
Dunno.
I've had duds in both flavors(long and short scales).
The KEEPER was a gamble on a solid body Greco VB(violin bass). Comes with a badaxx bridge, weighs next to nothing, sustains forever, and sounds great. It is my "long gig" or "sore shoulder" bass. Used it Tuesday night(sore shoulder).
 

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#23
I don't think you need a new instructor - he's just giving you his opinion on short vs standard. If you did get a shorty - you may notice a slight bit less sustain due to the shorter string length, and lower mass (physics) plus it may be harder to switch back over to a standard scale's length, but it's all a matter of personal taste.
 
#27
So an update regarding short scale basses and my instructor. I had a lesson last night and he clarified his statements. Basically, he feels that if I buy a short scale at this point, it may mess with my technique. He suggests that I stick with standard scale instruments until I reach a level of proficiency and then if I want to get a short scale, to go ahead and do so. I see his point. It would be similar to trying to learn to play electric and upright simultanously. Not impossible to do but for the sake of learning proper technique, probably better to learn them one at a time as they are played differently.
 
#29
BulbousMoses said:
So an update regarding short scale basses and my instructor. I had a lesson last night and he clarified his statements. Basically, he feels that if I buy a short scale at this point, it may mess with my technique. He suggests that I stick with standard scale instruments until I reach a level of proficiency and then if I want to get a short scale, to go ahead and do so. I see his point. It would be similar to trying to learn to play electric and upright simultaneously. Not impossible to do but for the sake of learning proper technique, probably better to learn them one at a time as they are played differently.
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I don't understand. Why is learning to play on a short scale the same as learning to play electric and upright simultaneously?
 
#32
The only way it might have an adverse effect on your technique would be if you have large hands and need to assume a cramped hand position in order to play a short scale.

If you have small hands (like I do), you may actually find that you play faster and with less muscle tension on a short scale. That can't be a bad thing.
 
#33
Hey guys, don't amp up the emotion, here. This guy is a great instructor and player in my area...he happens to not like short scale basses as his own personal preference. Does that mean I'll never buy one? Not at all. But he's very big on proper playing ergonomics and has seen many many players suffer from repetitive strain injuries as a result of poor technique. He's trying to make sure I avoid that (this is a good thing, trust me) I agree that I should get to a certain level of proficiency on my standard scale bass before buying a different scale instrument...so maybe a year, a year and a half and I'll start shopping for a short scale and life as we know it will continue unabated....;)
 
#35
Unless "technique" is something like the Simandl method, the "technique" is the same, the only difference is the stretch. I have hands the size of peas and my approach and technique doesn't change for any of my basses, and that included my former Peavey G Bass (35" scale 4 string) and my old Valco National 80 bass (25.5" scale). The only thing I have to worry about is my Jerry Jones Longhorn6, because the string spacing is basically that of a guitar and I mess up with it from time to time.

Your instructor I'm sure is great, but I'm thinking he might have a little too much bias. After all, if you wanted to start trying out a stand up bass the technique is still similar and the stretch would be even more at times.

Get the shorty as a back up. Or a medium scale (32") I defy anyone to pick up my Kubicki Ex-Factor (32") then my Kubicki Factor (34") and tell me that they can really detect a huge difference in feel.

My Dan Armstrong Modified Danelectro actually feels at times harder to play then my 34" because the neck on it is super chuncky even though its only a 30".
 
#36
::::BASSIST:::: said:
If you are currently considering one, check out the Squire ss Jag basses. Great basses and fairly cheap at less than $200.
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+1, check my sig for the SS club thread.

BulbousMoses said:
So an update regarding short scale basses and my instructor. I had a lesson last night and he clarified his statements. Basically, he feels that if I buy a short scale at this point, it may mess with my technique. He suggests that I stick with standard scale instruments until I reach a level of proficiency and then if I want to get a short scale, to go ahead and do so. I see his point. It would be similar to trying to learn to play electric and upright simultanously. Not impossible to do but for the sake of learning proper technique, probably better to learn them one at a time as they are played differently.
Click to expand...

No problem with that, he has your interests at heart as opposed to being a gear snob.
 
#37
he feels that if I buy a short scale at this point, it may mess with my technique
Click to expand...

again: he surely is a great instructor, but one thing is what he "feels" and he's fully entitled to feel for himself (whatever) another thing is a fact: unless you switch from a violin to an upright (and also here I have some doubt) your tecnique will be exactly the same, swapping between 34" and 30".

While you play, this adaptation happens continuously, while you shift from... the first frets down the fretboard: the hand goes where it is supposed to go naturally!!!

Years ago, here in a local music school there was a pretty young bass teacher and he was much tall. He was used to wear the bass with the body on his chest and he was teaching all the students to wear the bass like that!!! But he had arms very long while the students were just normal boys, so....
 
#38
I've played on every scale length I know of and agree that technique among "electrics" is pretty transferrable from Ashbory to Zon. I would guess there's value in consistency if you're just starting out, but I wouldn't worry too much about doing harm to your technique if you pick up a short scale just for the fun of it. They are fun! Explore it all!

Any comments about similarity to playing upright though are a stretch (literally). Upright is a very different beast, at least the way I play it. I make different note, position & timing choices (fewer notes) and use a very different fingering approach for upright vs. electric of any scale length.

Scale-length comfort is also a personal opinion and not always so obvious. For instance, I've recently discovered to my dismay that I can no longer play a 4-hour night on a short-scale (30") bass as my aging hands cramp up something awful by the end... long-scale, no problem at all!
 
#40
I think the instructor's point about getting proficient on a long scale before picking up a short scale is a popular myth held by a lot of people.

As has been said, the technique is exactly the same for a 34" scale bass as it is for a 30" scale bass. So there is no difference in playing one or the other.

Unless you are planning on becoming a session player, or are in a band that demands a certain sound that you can't get with a short scale, then there is no reason why you can't play a short scale exclusively if you want. Or switch back and forth between long and short scale.

If you're planning on becoming a session player, then you want to learn to play as many different types of basses and scales (upright, short scale, ERB etc.) as possible so as not to limit your calls.
 

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