Short scale

[Steve-D]

Am extremely pleased with the Allen Woody Rumblekat I just got a week ago. My fingers are really pleased with the closer fret reach. I seem to get quite a bit of neck dive with it though. Of course that probably has more to do with lousy posture than anything else. I am selling my Squier P bass.

 

[Steve-D]

I couldn't agree more! I was looking for something SS to teach my grandkids on and I recently picked up a used Squier SS Jaguar on Austin Craig's List for $70. It looks beautiful, I couldn't believe the condition for the $. I restrung it and used it the other night on my first set and it performed quite admirably. I was pleasantly surprised. I spent more for a case than the bass, lol.

I might also recommend that you consider a very light weight Danelectro Longhorn Bass. Although it's considered a medium scale bass, the 24 fret neck is set so far into the body that it seems like a much smaller ax than it is. It's made of Masonite so it weighs only a little more than a cigar box gitfiddle too so it's my "my back hurts tonight" bass. The Lipstick Tube Single Coil Pickups sound great too! I've added a tunable bridge for $35 since this pic was taken.

I also recently bought myself a used Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat Bass which is a short scale Badass for within your price range. Good Luck, whatever you do. View attachment 3103657 View attachment 3103658

I ended up buying a Allen Woody Rumblekat. Love the sound and it did give immediate relief for my hand.

 

[Steve-D]

I couldn't agree more! I was looking for something SS to teach my grandkids on and I recently picked up a used Squier SS Jaguar on Austin Craig's List for $70. It looks beautiful, I couldn't believe the condition for the $. I restrung it and used it the other night on my first set and it performed quite admirably. I was pleasantly surprised. I spent more for a case than the bass, lol.

I might also recommend that you consider a very light weight Danelectro Longhorn Bass. Although it's considered a medium scale bass, the 24 fret neck is set so far into the body that it seems like a much smaller ax than it is. It's made of Masonite so it weighs only a little more than a cigar box gitfiddle too so it's my "my back hurts tonight" bass. The Lipstick Tube Single Coil Pickups sound great too! I've added a tunable bridge for $35 since this pic was taken.

I also recently bought myself a used Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat Bass which is a short scale Badass for within your price range. Good Luck, whatever you do. View attachment 3103657 View attachment 3103658

I ended up buying a Allen Woody Rumblekat, great sound and the cure I was looking for. Can't find anything wrong with it.

 

[Steve-D]

@Steve-D if you do the Gretsch, please report back as I'd like to add one more shorty to the "shoulder or back or hands hurt" brigade. I've read many good things about the Gretsch.

The shorties here that are used during infirm times OR if we play a micro-stage are: SX(P/J, Jazz, P), Douglas violin bass(sounds just like The Animals' Gibson bass line at the beginning of "We Gotta Get Outta This Place"), a Gibson SG bass, and a solid body Greco violin bass.

NOTE: My newest SX(current crop with large tuning keys) came with very bad fret ends and other QC issues that I'd NEVER had on many other Rondo basses in the past. I like Kurt and what he's got us in the past but my buying habits would change if another hand-cutter comes here.

Ended up with Allen Woody Rumblekat. Very happy

 

[Steve-D]

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

View attachment 3104170

That will be my next bass.

 

[dmt]

That will be my next bass.

Just FYI, as far as I know, the two pickup version of the SG-style bass that Epiphone sells that is in your picture there, the EB-3, is NOT a short scale. Their short scale version is the one pickup EB-0:



Gibson’s current version of the EB-3, the SG Bass, is short scale, as are most vintage Gibson EB-3s and EB-0s

Glad you’re enjoying that Allen Woody!

 

[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 andit was good to go.

Been thinking ab changing strings to flats. Would you happen to know what gauge strings are on the AW RumbleKat? Been all over the Epiphone site and haven't found that out.

 

[Crash_BassWrex]

Been thinking ab changing strings to flats. Would you happen to know what gauge strings are on the AW RumbleKat? Been all over the Epiphone site and haven't found that out.

I’ve got ernie ball short scale slinky on mine currently .045 -.105. Not flats but they work

 

[Steve-D]

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

Good news, instant relief for my fingers! I won't be going back to long scale. The shortie sounds great and the fingers are much happier.

 

[slapshot]

Steve-D,
If you run across an Aria Pro II Cardinal Series CSB-300, give it a try. It is a medium scale, 32". Short reach, plays smooth and good sound. I know they were an "entry" level bass, but I have had mine since I started playing in 1983, and still use it every week for church. Worth checking out. Glad to hear the SS is helping the hands.