Short scale

[Steve-D]

The Gretsch is a great little bass.
I have the Jr. Jet 2220 and it blows my Squier VM Jag shortie out if the water for tone. (The Jag has upgraded pickups too.)
If you weren’t aware, Gretsch is owned by Fender. Mine has the same Fender 5 screw bridge, so there are a lot of options if you want to upgrade.
When I bought mine, I was thinking about a better bridge, but it sounded so much better than I expected it to that I decided to just leave it as is.
Other upgrades down the road would be better pots and a better switch, but only if what I have now starts getting wonky.
The strings on the Gretsch are Chrone flats. The Jag has tapewounds but used to have Chromes and even then, the Gretsch was just so much better. I think the Gretsch mini-humbuckers make all the difference.
Of course it does need a tort pickguard in order to be a real bass.

thanks for the input, I seem to be getting more and more good replies for the Gretsch. Will most likely be the one I buy.

 

[DumDrummer]

I picked up an Ibanez Mikro a few weeks ago. It plays and sounds as good or better than any Squire or MIM Fender I have ever played.

Tremendous value at the $180 price tag.

 

[Crash_BassWrex]

I picked up an Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat this spring, and I love it. I’ve been using it at gigs all summer. I added a mod bar to the bridge andit was good to go.

 

[CalBuzz51]

I agree.

However, I've found that short scales with the bridge closer to the end of the body result in my left arm being jammed up against my body when playing past the 6th fret and awkward left hand contortions. I find middle of the body bridge location and/or an offset body design to be much more comfortable for me while still being a shorter reach than a long scale bass.

I agree with this as well, although for me it’s around the 12th fret.

A short scale bass is still longer than a guitar. It just depends on what feels right to you.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

thanks for the input, I seem to be getting more and more good replies for the Gretsch. Will most likely be the one I buy.

If you are looking at new, they came out with a couple of new colors this year. One is a walnut color, the the other is dark army green. They still make the black for now, but I think the burst has been discontinued.
The new ones coming out will also have walnut for the fingerboard. Consensus in most circles is that walnut works fine in that application. The older ones are Rosewood, so shipping out of the country becomes an issue.
I had a couple of conversations with FMI about the Gretsch as I was looking at buying new, but then I found a a very nice used one here on TB.

 

[vvvmmm]

Did this not come up yet?
Don't sell them short -

I saw what you did there.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Super class act... the Spector Bantam....... quality, tone, and a short scale.
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[Steve-D]

I picked up an Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat this spring, and I love it. I’ve been using it at gigs all summer. I added a mod bar to the bridge and it was good to go.

I just was looking at that bass on Sweetwater. Kind of wondering about weight. Looked at the Hofner Ignition series and it only weighs 5 lbs.

 

[Steve-D]

First thing id mention is have you tried adjusting your playing position? I say that because I’ve played various basses in different scales and the longer the scale of the bass the lower and more vertical I tend to wear it so I don’t have to reach far. Have never played a Gretsch. If you’re wanting to stick to fender/Squier id suggest doing a google search for 32” scale fender bass. They’ve done a few 32” over the years along with 30” might be able to find one of those 32” jazz basses. Warmoth also does short scale. Seems like there’s some chatter over the new 30” supro basses but I’ve never seen one in person to give it a spin.

Been doing some research and have narrowed it to three. HofnerIgnition Club, Gretsch Jr Jet, and the Allen Woody Rumblekat. Just trying to justify spending the extra money. Being Sweetwater is offering 24 mo. 0% interest I will be able to pay a little more for a good shorty.

 

[Crash_BassWrex]

Epiphone lists the weight of the rumblekat at 7.9 lbs +/- 5%. I’ve been very happy with it as I thought the Horner felt too light but it’s all personal preference. For what it’s worth I use a Gruv Gear Recoil strap and it does not have any headstock dive

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

I've had three real Hofners (not the Ignition cheaper series) before, even back in the day in the late 60s. Haven't had a bass like that in decades. It never fulfilled my need to really play bass. They were conversation pieces at most. Never had the play ability or tone quality, that most bass players would demand.

Just saying. Do yourself a favor and go play a lot of stuff before you drop some dough. And if you need, bide your time and save to get something good or find a great deal used. A good bass is an investment for now and the future. A cheap bass is only a toy.

Currently I have over a dozen basses, and a couple of upright basses. And I play all of them once in a while. But my Spectors are a real cut above most anything I have ever played before. And when I'm going to a gig, at least 3 Spectors come with me, sometimes I will also bring my Warwick Infinity SE or my Gibson T-Bird. So go play everything you can, and do your homework. Spend your money on an investment that you'll keep and play for years.

 

[Steve-D]

Have a 20th anniversary Squier P Bass and my old fingers are hating the fret reach. So I am looking at a short scale and ready to purchase from either American Musical or Sweetwater. The price range is $350 or less. Looking now at Gretsch JR Jet. Opinions, please.

Well, the decision has been made and I ordered the Hofner Ignition Club. Just like the sound better than the others. And I got a good deal on the base with the hardshell case. Thanks to everyone and I am sure this debate will go on forever. After I play it for a while I'll let you know the outcome.

 

[Steve-D]

I have used the Gretsch Jr Jet II, Epiphone Rumblekat, Epiphone EB0, Squier Jag SS, Ibanez Mikro, Silvertone Model 1444, Kay Truetone and Hofner Ignition Club. The Hofner gets the most work by far.

I'm currently working on a bass using a light Paulownia Telecaster body and Ibanez Mikro neck for it's better ergonomics so I can continue gigging while I heal from a minor stroke.

The Hofner won the contest. Hope I like it as much as you.

 

[Steve-D]

I've had three real Hofners (not the Ignition cheaper series) before, even back in the day in the late 60s. Haven't had a bass like that in decades. It never fulfilled my need to really play bass. They were conversation pieces at most. Never had the play ability or tone quality, that most bass players would demand.

Just saying. Do yourself a favor and go play a lot of stuff before you drop some dough. And if you need, bide your time and save to get something good or find a great deal used. A good bass is an investment for now and the future. A cheap bass is only a toy.

Currently I have over a dozen basses, and a couple of upright basses. And I play all of them once in a while. But my Spectors are a real cut above most anything I have ever played before. And when I'm going to a gig, at least 3 Spectors come with me, sometimes I will also bring my Warwick Infinity SE or my Gibson T-Bird. So go play everything you can, and do your homework. Spend your money on an investment that you'll keep and play for years.

Being retired on a fixed income makes it really hard to justify a $3000 + bass. When I get much better as a bassist and I want something better I'll definitely take your advice. I am a 60 something-year-old just starting out $649 is quite a bit of coin for me.

 

[dragon2knight]

Being retired on a fixed income makes it really hard to justify a $3000 + bass. When I get much better as a bassist and I want something better I'll definitely take your advice. I am a 60 something-year-old just starting out $649 is quite a bit of coin for me.

My sentiments exactly, I'm a 50 something year old also starting out, and I chose the Hofner Ignition Beatle Bass myself. I needed short scale and this seemed like a great choice in addition to my mint second hand Ibby Mikro. Both cost me under $600.00 and I added a nice Fender Rumble 25 to top it all off. This should more than be enough to keep me in the groove while learning. Good luck to you on your journey Steve-D, I hope you have as much fun as me doing this

 

[mongo2]

The Hofner won the contest. Hope I like it as much as you.

Best of luck with it.

 

[Steve-D]

In that case, the Gretsch may be very close to the neck profile of the Mustang PJ. Specs say it is a C shaped neck as is the Mustang. The nut width of the Mustang is 1.5 " and the Gretsch is 1.56 " iirc.

The Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat is the short scale with mini humbuckers as well.
Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat Bass

After ordering a Hofner Ignition Club and waiting 3 weeks to find out that Sweetwater ordered it and still had no idea when anything was coming from Hofner I ended up canceling the order. Went back and looked some more I ended up buying a AW Rumblekat. I will have it in a couple days.

 

[Steve-D]

My sentiments exactly, I'm a 50 something year old also starting out, and I chose the Hofner Ignition Beatle Bass myself. I needed short scale and this seemed like a great choice in addition to my mint second hand Ibby Mikro. Both cost me under $600.00 and I added a nice Fender Rumble 25 to top it all off. This should more than be enough to keep me in the groove while learning. Good luck to you on your journey Steve-D, I hope you have as much fun as me doing this

Update. Ordered the Hofner Ignition Club at Sweetwater and they were out of stock, ordered it anyway. After waiting 3 weeks or better they still had nothing from Hofner, not even an ETA. Canceled the order and am getting the Allen Woody Rumblekat, whichI will be playing through my new Fender Rumble 25.

 

[Steve-D]

for me it's my L shoulder, but same result = always looking at the short (or medium) scales and trying to follow what fellow TB'ers are getting into.

so, i don't have good advice (or even an opinion), but i'd sure like to know how this works out for you --- so please follow up and share what you get/learn and any 'surprises'. good luck on your quest!

When all was said and done I have a AllenWoody Rumblekat on it's way. Will be playing it through my new Fender Rumble 25

no worries --- thanks for responding!

there are a bunch of us on TB who are looking for some kind of relief, for some kind of ailment, in order to keep on keepin' on ---so i'm selfishly wanting to know how things work out with a change of scale. so far: i haven't heard/read that anyone was particularly disappointed enough to switch back to 34" scale. seems that almost everyone has written that they got some amount of immediate relief from from the 'downsizing'. i hope you have the same experience, but just wanted to get the details --- so please follow up if/when you make the switch! thanks, jim.

BTW, An old friend of mine recently went through this same change and he ended up with a new Fender Mustang with the P/J pick-up configuration and he couldn't be more pleased; however, a new one of those is closer to $575 at Guitar Center, Sam Ash, etc. while there are a few used ones around in the mid $400 range.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I had a Hofner Ignition Club bass that I purchased mostly to use for our 3 pc acoustic based group.

But after snagging an Allen Woody Rumblekat a couple months ago, I'm selling the Hofner.

I play the Rumblekat through my new Rumble 500 and the tone is 10 times the Hofner, IMO. And the neck dive on the Hofner was quite frustrating. Nice bass but just not for me.