I was wondering if playing a short scale is a bad thing? I don't rreally know too many people who play one. What's the disadvantages compared to the advantages?
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Short Scale Question
- Thread starter MoparMonster
- Start date
I have a shorty SX Jazz, and it's a total gas to play! I do find myself having to look at where I am on the fretboard, as my muscle memory has me going further than I need to...
I play both short scale and long scale. I don't see any negatives to either. I prefer short scale bacause I have small hands. But I found a Yamaha long scale that is perfect for me.
There is a slight adjustment period when going from short scale to long scale (like 5 minutes) but other than that, I don't see any downside.
There is a slight adjustment period when going from short scale to long scale (like 5 minutes) but other than that, I don't see any downside.
I have an Epiphone Viola bass with flat wounds on it that I play once in a while. It has great tone and is a lot of fun to play becuase it's smaller and MUCH lighter than my Fender Jazz (and cost a lot less, I got mine for $270 new from Guitar Center, the price tag was wrong, shhh...)
But like Bassic83, muscle memory does mess me up a little when going higher on the neck. But I stick to 34" and 35" for my usual bass.
But like Bassic83, muscle memory does mess me up a little when going higher on the neck. But I stick to 34" and 35" for my usual bass.
Advantage: easier reach, lighter, smaller in general
Disadvantage: tend to lose some high end tone, not always as easy to find strings, sometimes requires higher action, fretless models require more accuracy to play
Disadvantage: tend to lose some high end tone, not always as easy to find strings, sometimes requires higher action, fretless models require more accuracy to play
I just got (3 weeks ago), my first and thus far only bass is also an Epiphone Viola. I just started playing, and was torn between the short scale Viola and a couple other long scales. I chose the Viola because 1) I like the fact that things are closer together, despite my freakishly long orangutan hands and arms 2) I liked the sound of the bass, especially for jazz (I play with my HS's jazz combo), 3)lets face it, it looks cooll and 4) GC had it marked down from $399 to $249.
I like the short scale... I am already planning (casually so) my next addition to the arsenal, and I plan on going short scale so my muscles will not have to make the shift. I was thinking maybe the Hamer Slammer special Short scale bass (I like cheap, if it works well), or someone just clued me in to the Dean EVO, a sharp looking axe that I would like to try sometime.
I doubt I will ever go to a 5 string, so I plan on sticking with the short scales. Guess it all depends on what you want. YMMV.
Ditto, except change Yamaha to Steinberger for me.
Action depends on brand, construction etc ie quality, and tone does as well but also includes pickups, electronics etc. Strings are easily avalable through the mail order houses; stock up a bit and you'll have no supply issues.
the only downside i can see is that there aren't that many shortscale models out there to choose from.
i have a squire bronco that i like, but would like a birdsong someday, too bad i live all the way here in Finland.
peace.
i have a squire bronco that i like, but would like a birdsong someday, too bad i live all the way here in Finland.
peace.
Disadvantages- none
Advantages- none
Everything else is down to personal preference and each individual bass. I play almost exclusively shorties.
Advantages- none
Everything else is down to personal preference and each individual bass. I play almost exclusively shorties.
I play a mix of mostly 35" scale fretted/fretless basses, 34", 32" and my brand new 30" Rob Allen.
I wish I could compare them as apples to apples, but even my Rob Allen 35" and 30" have the same neck+body woods, but different tops and fingerboards. Oddly enough, my Mouse 30 sounds brighter than my 35" scale MB2, which may be because the strings are still new and need to break in a bit or might be from the different woods I chose. Really, the action is about the same since fretless basses aren't quite as picky as their fretted counterparts.
Fretjobs being equal, the increased tension from extra scale makes for a tighter vibrational pattern, which allows the string to be lower and not buzz against the frets. To test this, take a bass and set it up in standard tuning as low as it can go without buzzing. Now drop it a 1/2 step and you may notice a slight buzz. As you keep decreasing the tension, that buzzing will become more pronounced.
If you have access to other basses, capo the first fret and measure the distance to the bridge then drop the tuning so the capo becomes a nut and you're again in standard A440. That's the easiest comparison.
I wish I could compare them as apples to apples, but even my Rob Allen 35" and 30" have the same neck+body woods, but different tops and fingerboards. Oddly enough, my Mouse 30 sounds brighter than my 35" scale MB2, which may be because the strings are still new and need to break in a bit or might be from the different woods I chose. Really, the action is about the same since fretless basses aren't quite as picky as their fretted counterparts.
Fretjobs being equal, the increased tension from extra scale makes for a tighter vibrational pattern, which allows the string to be lower and not buzz against the frets. To test this, take a bass and set it up in standard tuning as low as it can go without buzzing. Now drop it a 1/2 step and you may notice a slight buzz. As you keep decreasing the tension, that buzzing will become more pronounced.
If you have access to other basses, capo the first fret and measure the distance to the bridge then drop the tuning so the capo becomes a nut and you're again in standard A440. That's the easiest comparison.
If you are looking for some famous short scale players to help justify playing one here are a few: Jack Bruce; Stanley Clark; Paul McCartney etc....
Just bought a Dean EVO off a fellow TB'er here to add to my vast collection of one bass (Epi Viola)... I am psyched... can't wait for it to get here.....
Like Spade2you, I own both a Rob Allen MB2 (35", unlined fretless owned for several years) and Mouse (30", owned for 90 days). I really like both basses. The shorter scale is all I've been playing since I got it. Took a little getting used to, but WOW I really like it. For me, it's a little easier to play just because the notes are closer together (I had lines added to this bass, and with that, my intonation is much better in the upper registers than with the MB2, although intonation with the MB2 was not all that bad). Both are great instruments!
