Short Short Scale Question

[Super D]

I was wondering if anyone has owned or played a really short scale? Say around 25.5, as a fun project I have been thinking about the idea to convert one of my many guitars over to a bass. Would this be very playable? Any ideas, thoughts, constructive comments?

 

[royjulius]

There's a 6 string short scale club on here, (search for short scale) and they can answer your questions. I am currently looking at getting a Schecter Hellcat VI, which is a short scale 6 string with similar string spacing to a regular guitar.

 

[Super D]

Thanks for that tip, I've seen topic just figured they used longer scales.

Also to be clear I want to make this a 4 stringer. I did not include that.

 

[Orangeclawhammr]

subscribe

 

[xaxxat]

I once had a Teisco / Guyatone that had a 25" scale. It was a lot of fun to play. I bought a Strat hard tail body and a neck blank. I'm going to build a 4 banger out of it.

The Teisco / Guytone:

 

[fuzzy beard]

Ubass! And if you go to bassuke.com they have one that is 25 inchs call big bufo(i think that is what it is called)

 

[TRichardsbass]

I was gonna say this Tiesco, but also the old Kay Pocket bass. I had one for about a year. It was a gas to play, and it travelled planes well.

I have to admit, though, the sound was a little thumpy. So if you don't mind a little muddled thump, or you play a lot of rockabilly and early rock, you would love it.

Converting a guitar shouldn't be too hard. The original Danelectro bass was just the Danelectro guitar design with a longer neck and slightly different bridge. All the same pickups. I'd venture to say if you took a faux strat, changed out the nut and bridge, you would be mightily surprised. Only problem will be strings. Best option would be the D'Addario Jerry Jones six string set, and just throw away the high E and B.

If you do it, you have to post it and some sound clips.

 

[Super D]

Thanks for the replys. Keep em coming.

This is one that I was looking to maybe convert. I think it would be cool.

 

[xaxxat]

Thanks for the replys. Keep em coming.

This is one that I was looking to maybe convert. I think it would be cool.

That would be downright sexy.

 

[grisezd]

That's the same bridge and tailpiece that I used on my guitar conversion. If you want to keep the same tailpiece you can ream the outer two holes large enough for the bass strings you use then drill two new holes spaced properly for the inner two. You could do the same tomfoolery with the bridge, though I just cut a wedge of maple as a stopgap. I was lazy and just recut my nut, but I'll replace it one day properly. Guitar tuners work fine if you peel the outer layer of wraps off the strings as needed. Finally, you'll get almost no tension out of regular bass strings or bass IV strings. You want a BEAD set, or the top of an old 5-string set, to get proper tension.

The guitar pickups will be fine for now. Just play it for a while. Mine's not my favorite bass so I'm taking my time deciding the next step.

BTW, no truss rod adjustment was needed going from 6 heavy guitar strings to 4 really heavy bass strings.