• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Short Scale Basses

#41
Not a fan of short scale basses but only because I don't like having to adjust my playstyle. Vibrato and bends are different with short scale basses. Oddly enough that only affects me when I'm noodling.
 
#43
BulbousMoses said:
Well, I haven't made a decision yet on a short scale but I AM feeling a very strong liking (unexplainable, really) for the Squier VM Jazz...what's wrong with me and please talk me out of it before I go buy one!
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with you, you simply came to your senses. Leave short scale basses alone, the VM Jazz is very nice. I love mine.
 
#45
The VM Jazz is a very nice bass for the price. The one I own is one of the best sounding Jazz basses I have had(including vintage Fenders, boutique basses, etc). However they aren't all the same. Play a few and pick the best one.

Regarding short scale. I disagree on the technique thing. I think a short scale can enable you to develope good technique without straining yourself. However everyone is different, and I can somewhat understand your instructors opinion on this. I have had a few short scales, and its been pretty easy to go back and forth between. My current shortscale is one of the better sounding, better playing basses I have owned.
 
#47
I have 30, 31.5, 32, 34 and 35" basses. AT this point, it is effortless to change between them. My favorite to play at this point is the 32" - an Aria Pro II TSB - it is just SO comfortable. I have average size hands and fat fingers, so it just works out very well.

By the time you are playing with the band you just can't hear the difference.

A major issue is using the RIGHT STRINGS. It is essential to use medium scale or short scale strings as required. If you put on standard strings and just cut them shorter, they will not have the proper tension and the sound will suffer. Perhaps that is where some of the bias comes from.

I am very getting close to selling off the menagerie and getting an L3 JPJ from Landing Basses.
 
#48
iamthebassman said:
My thoughts exactly.
An instructor is supposed to enlighten students, not put blinders on them.
Click to expand...

But not voice their opinion when asked? Because that's all he did. That doesn't make him a bad teacher. I'm 46 years old..if I want to buy a short scale, I will..whether he likes them or not. That said, I asked him for his thoughts on short scales because I value his opinion (35 years playing and 25 as a bass teacher). But if you're suggesting I only go with an instructor whose musical opinions and preferences exactly match mine, well good luck with that.
 
#49
I have 35" scale basses, 34" scale basses and 30" short scale basses and really don't notice any real difference in technique between the bunch.
What I do notice is less fatique in my fretting hand and less pain in my shoulder area after playing the short scale basses for a couple of hours on end. I really don't even notice a perceptible difference in tone (from an audience standpoint while playing in the mix).
About 5 years ago I started switching my bass collection to 5 strings since the low B gave me a few more options than the 4 strings. However, lately I've been purchasing more SS 4 string basses (haven't seen or tried any SS 5 string basses, not sure if they even exist:confused:) since I'm finding that I really don't use the low B that often.
So if I were just starting out learning how to play the electric bass today I'd probably start with a SS for ergonomic issues and then throw in some longer scale or 5+ string or fretless basses to cover specific needs as they come up. Plus many of the SS basses are generally speaking less expensive than a lot of the 34" 5 string basses (very general statement, lot's of exceptions, no flames needed). Heck, next time you have $150 burning a hole in your pocket give a bronco a whirl, not a bad bass for the price.
Just my 2 cents.
 
#50
BulbousMoses said:
But not voice their opinion when asked? Because that's all he did. That doesn't make him a bad teacher. I'm 46 years old..if I want to buy a short scale, I will..whether he likes them or not. That said, I asked him for his thoughts on short scales because I value his opinion (35 years playing and 25 as a bass teacher). But if you're suggesting I only go with an instructor whose musical opinions and preferences exactly match mine, well good luck with that.
Click to expand...

Sorry to voice my opinion when asked.
 
#51
GBassNorth said:
I have 35" scale basses, 34" scale basses and 30" short scale basses and really don't notice any real difference in technique between the bunch. ... I really don't even notice a perceptible difference in tone...
Click to expand...

This has been my experience, too. I'm new to SS basses, but my son has one and I've done a few lessons with him and another bass student at the same time. He's playing the SS, his pal is playing a standard 34" P-Bass, and I am playing my 34" Jazz. Frankly, my son's Squier SS Jag has the largest and deepest tone of the three.

I primarily play DB with a scale length of 41.5" and I don't personally notice much difference between the 30" and 34" scales. Totally different story with my 10 year old. The shorter scale (and smaller size) of the Jag makes it a lot more accessible for him. Even with the 1-2-4 fingering (my normal fingerings for DB) in the Ed Friedland method book, the larger bass is a bit of a challenge for my son. The SS is perfect.

That said, I now firmly believe that that 30" basses aren't just for kids and people who need smaller instruments. That SS Jag (mentioned earlier) is just a great little bass, even if you have big hands or are used to double bass.

--Steve
 
#52
Stev187 said:
This has been my experience, too. I'm new to SS basses, but my son has one and I've done a few lessons with him and another bass student at the same time. He's playing the SS, his pal is playing a standard 34" P-Bass, and I am playing my 34" Jazz. Frankly, my son's Squier SS Jag has the largest and deepest tone of the three.

I primarily play DB with a scale length of 41.5" and I don't personally notice much difference between the 30" and 34" scales. Totally different story with my 10 year old. The shorter scale (and smaller size) of the Jag makes it a lot more accessible for him. Even with the 1-2-4 fingering (my normal fingerings for DB) in the Ed Friedland method book, the larger bass is a bit of a challenge for my son. The SS is perfect.

That said, I now firmly believe that that 30" basses aren't just for kids and people who need smaller instruments. That SS Jag (mentioned earlier) is just a great little bass, even if you have big hands or are used to double bass.

--Steve
Click to expand...

I purchased one of the short scale Jags a couple of weeks ago and LOVE it. Great little bass, it can hang right in there with any of my full scale Pbasses plus has the jazz pickup at the bridge to dial in that bit of bite that a traditional P bass lacks. Solo'ed the bridge jazz pickup is lackluster so I'll probably replace it with a more agressive jazz pickup but the rest of the bass is fantastic. My next purchase will be the Squire Mustang if I can ever find one in a store that I can test drive first.
 
#54
iamthebassman said:
My thoughts exactly.
An instructor is supposed to enlighten students, not put blinders on them.
Click to expand...

I've been enlightened for years.

koa1-1.jpg
 
#55
BulbousMoses said:
So, my bass instructor doesn't have too many good things to say about short scale basses and I am wondering what the "real" deal is with them. How, specifically, are they worse than a standard 34" scale bass? I was thinking of buying a short scale as a second/backup/travel bass but if they truly suck, I may not make the move.
Click to expand...

I like short scale 4 string basses but have not heard a B string that I would have called "good" on anything shorter than 35".
 
#58
I don't think there is any inherent ease/difficulty in scale length differences of the type we are talking about. For a person with unusually large or small hands, maybe.

Short scale basses typically have fatter neck profiles and that requires a different left hand position. If you try to play a short scale bass with your thumb fully stood off in the center of the neck like you would on a bass with a thin neck profile, you're stretching farther and you will get tired for that reason. But you don't have to do that. You can keep the neck cupped more between your left thumb and index finger. IMO this is easier than when I play my long scale basses (again the difference being the neck profile rather than scale length).

It does take time for this to feel natural if you're used to the other way, which is a good example of why brief experiences with musical instruments may not tell us much.

If it was really a matter of scale length, anybody that has trouble with a short scale bass must also have trouble with a guitar, and a lot more people play guitar than bass, but I don't think I've ever heard of anyone that just couldn't play a guitar for left hand physical reasons other than some actual injury or disability.
 
#60
not heard a B string that I would have called "good" on anything shorter than 35".
Click to expand...

while a good string set (any average set) is generally homogeneous with maybe a few exceptions, the "good" B string is strongly affected by the "freshness" of the B string, by the "rightness" of the B string (its build/tension/diameter/set-up is it any good on this bass?), by the overall quality of the bass self and its overall proper set-up. Do not forget a good amplification.

Always in general, for the low B it is really difficult to express an opinion, an objective one, after a simple three minutes road test. 35" basses start with an implied "stiffness" advantage vs. 34", but there are tons of good sounding B 34" basses around; just check yourself on any occasion you'll may have: you will be amazed.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back