Since when did 34"become "extremely long scale"?
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Short Scale Journey Didn't Last Long
- Thread starter socknroll1
- Start date
I dig your drift. I had a Fender Precision bass. While it was a well made instrument, it felt clunky, heavy, and badly balanced. then I had a Fender Jazz -slightly less clunky but with a thinner neck that gave it better "action" , but still heavy. Got rid of both and got a Rickenbacker. Problem solved, but times got hard and I made the mistake of selling it. Shoulda ate more ramen noodles and beans instead. I now have an Ibanez SR300 clone that is light, fast, and well balanced. Recently I picked up a SR Mezzo at a music store and fell in love with it. So what if they call it a "beginner's" bass. Unfortunately they don't make it lefty. But if they start I'm first in line to get one. Looking for something similar in the meantime - that doesn't cost a "custom boutique" price.
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Funny that so many people are noting neck dive because that was literally the only thing I could fault my new Mustang on. I absolutely love the feel and sound though.
I see you have a Gibson LP Junior Tribute bass.
May I ask you if you can measure the width of the body and the total length of the bass from body bottom to top of headstock.
I am interested in buying one but no local shop has this model where I live and I would have to buy online.
I would like to compare its dimensions with the Mustang PJ and the Bronco I currently have.
Y'know what? -Some of the less expensive, simpler BGs that are sometimes dismissed as "beginners basses" by techno-status-snobs are among the best basses around IMO! Over the years I've had fancy active basses with 4 or 5 knob pots on 'em and I remember constantly fiddling with them just to get the tone I now get from a single PU bass equipped with only one volume and one tone knob... When 'less' plays as well (or better) than 'more', why complicate life? -IMO there are only good BGs and bad BGs, and no such thing as a 'beginners bass'.........!!
Enjoy,
Greywoulf
I think the only thing that separates a quality beginner's bass from an advanced model is the price.
As I mentioned in a previous post, when I feel lazy I'll pull out one of my short scales and just cruise along. The ease in which you can play these is just wonderful but they do lack in tonal quality that you would get in a full scale model. My favorite short scale is this 1971 SB300 (somewhat modified). A good friend gave this to me but this hunk of wood needed some mods to make it playable. After adding the needed humbuckers, new pots and a Schaller roller bridge, it was ready to be taken out in the public. Some would say you shouldn't do this to an old bass (it will ruin the value) but this is not a high-end Gibson and what matters to me is the playability, not collectability.
The only thing I find offensive is that you associate short scale with lazy playing. Ha ha. Just kidding. But it must be nice to have a choice. Whenever I’ve tried even a 32” scale I’m like “not gonna happen”.
Totally agree. I have more expensive guitars (some of them vintage), and my Ibanez GSR205 and Squier Jag have convinced me of this. Both are heavily modded, but the basic quality of construction is right up there. For example, the tolerances on the neck/body joint of the Squier and Ibanez are better than on my American Standard Strat and my custom made Tele and Strat (all 3 USA made). I also haven't had to touch the frets on the Squier, which is something I do on basically everything I get in.
Yeah man, who are you calling lazy?!
I'm hoping to work my way back to long scale, but a shorty is all I can comfortably play right now. I don't find anything lacking in the tone though - if anything, the fundamental is stronger. That SG looks like a beast!
"I think the only thing that separates a quality beginner's bass from an advanced model is the price."
No, not really... A 'beginners bass' is the bass you buy when you're a beginner. Period.
And if you buy a bass when you're an intermediate or an expert player, than you've bought an intermediate player's bass or an expert player's bass. Price has really nothing to do with it IMO...
I also agree with a remark made here that the shortys, while fun and easier to play, usually do not have the tonal qualities of a full 34" scale bass. Not exactly sure why this is, but that's been my current experience also.
Greywoulf
No, not really... A 'beginners bass' is the bass you buy when you're a beginner. Period.
And if you buy a bass when you're an intermediate or an expert player, than you've bought an intermediate player's bass or an expert player's bass. Price has really nothing to do with it IMO...
I also agree with a remark made here that the shortys, while fun and easier to play, usually do not have the tonal qualities of a full 34" scale bass. Not exactly sure why this is, but that's been my current experience also.
Greywoulf
I hear what you’re saying. But the reality is a beginner is not usually going to go out and buy an EBMM 5er with a Mesa subway series and a 4x10 stack. But a beginner might buy a Squier P bass and a Rumble 100. That’s what I meant.
Yeah, they sound different. But is that a bad thing? I mean, one of the biggest musical geniuses of our time played mostly short scales, and I ain’t heard many people talking smack about Macca’s bass tone.
"I hear what you’re saying. But the reality is a beginner is not usually going to go out and buy an EBMM 5er with a Mesa subway series and a 4x10 stack. But a beginner might buy a Squier P bass and a Rumble 100. That’s what I meant."
Yes, and that's usually true... But I gotta tell'ya I had to laugh; a Squire P-Bass and a Rumble 100 are items I'd associate with a more advanced experienced player to buy.
Mostly at-home playing, I'm more enthused by Rumble 25's myself....
Greywoulf
Yes, and that's usually true... But I gotta tell'ya I had to laugh; a Squire P-Bass and a Rumble 100 are items I'd associate with a more advanced experienced player to buy.
Mostly at-home playing, I'm more enthused by Rumble 25's myself....
Greywoulf
I'm just speaking from my own currently limited experience. If the two basses I'm currently enamored of were women, I'd say that my 34" full scale GSR100 is a bright, articulate, fascinating woman, while my Mikro short scale is, well, at least she's friendly and easy to be with.....
Greywoulf
