Shortest scale?

[davehertzberg]

I have a student who is going into 4th grade and she's on the smaller side. She rented a 1/2 size Squier but it seems a little big for her. These are about 28" scale - are there any basses that are shorter scale than that? Like 25"? Something that would be easily available and not expensive. I know I could steer them toward a U-Bass but just wondering if there is anything else out there. Thanks!

 

[ZedLepp]

This one looks like it might be shorter than 28" and closer to 25" scale. Don't really know because they don't list the scale length. It's $100.
https://www.amazon.com/ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR-Small-Childrens/dp/B005QOQYUU/ref=sr_1_11?crid=UHLWNI35TSXC&dchild=1&keywords=short+scale+bass&qid=1594839086&s=musical-instruments&sprefix=short+sca,mi,182&sr=1-11

Edit - Found on another site this same bass. 26" scale.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

The Fame M

I have a student who is going into 4th grade and she's on the smaller side. She rented a 1/2 size Squier but it seems a little big for her. These are about 28" scale - are there any basses that are shorter scale than that? Like 25"? Something that would be easily available and not expensive. I know I could steer them toward a U-Bass but just wondering if there is anything else out there. Thanks!

The Fame M-03 Mini Bass has a 20.5" scale, w/38mm nut, and 19mm string speacing at the bridge, like a very compressed jazz neck.

 

[MonetBass]

The Samick Corsair Mini Bass is 25.25" scale. I use one as a piccolo bass.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I have a student who is going into 4th grade and she's on the smaller side. She rented a 1/2 size Squier but it seems a little big for her. These are about 28" scale - are there any basses that are shorter scale than that? Like 25"? Something that would be easily available and not expensive. I know I could steer them toward a U-Bass but just wondering if there is anything else out there. Thanks!

Lookie:

Right here at 25.5" scale
Glen Burton GBMB-NT Half Scale J-Style 4-String Electric Bass Guitar w/Gig Bag, Strap & Cable | The Gator Tone | Reverb

Either the Glen Burton GBMB or one of the tiny P-basses posted above, paired with the La Bella/Gold Tone MBLS flatwounds, and she won't have to change strings for as long as she needs a supershortie:
MicroBass LaBella Flat Wound Strings | Gold Tone Folk Instruments

 

[BishopHastur]

Ashbory. It's an 18" scale marked fretless.

 

[Gorn]

It's amazing how many different scale basses there are nowadays, but you're saying her 28" seems a little big? How much trouble is she having with it? If you're teaching her well and her technique is good and she doesn't have physical issues then she should be able to adapt right?

 

[scottie65]

The Fame M

The Fame M-03 Mini Bass has a 20.5" scale, w/38mm nut, and 19mm string speacing at the bridge, like a very compressed jazz neck.
View attachment 3905966

I like that Fame-03 bass you have. Can you tell me who sales those units?

 

[FretNation]

18" Scale Bass from Hilton Guitars. Bartolini Electronics.

 

[B-Mac]

I have a student who is going into 4th grade and she's on the smaller side. She rented a 1/2 size Squier but it seems a little big for her. These are about 28" scale - are there any basses that are shorter scale than that? Like 25"? Something that would be easily available and not expensive. I know I could steer them toward a U-Bass but just wondering if there is anything else out there. Thanks!

Ellen plays bass
She plays full size
However in this video it may be 30”
Check it out. I think she’s 8 or 9 here?

 

[abarson]

Mezzaluna Piccolino bass is 19.125" scale
Liutaio Mottola Lutherie Information Website

 

[scottie65]

The Samick Corsair Mini Bass is 25.25" scale. I use one as a piccolo bass.
View attachment 3905995

Do you find the strings really floppy on these mini bass scales of 25" with steel strings or is it minimal? It is not too bad on the 28.6" scale of the Squier Mini P. Just wondering about this Corsair how it would be. Thanks for any info.

 

[MonetBass]

Do you find the strings really floppy on these mini bass scales of 25" with steel strings or is it minimal? It is not too bad on the 28.6" scale of the Squier Mini P. Just wondering about this Corsair how it would be. Thanks for any info.

Using bass piccolo strings (D'Addarios in this case), the tension is fine. Not floppy at all. And since this is essentially guitar scale, you could use the bottom four of a heavy electric guitar string set (I'd recommend at least 11s) on it.

 

[scottie65]

Do you mean a set of electric guitar strings with the high e being .011" ? If so the actual bass strings would end up pretty light in my opinion. Is that what the corsair mini usually comes with something like .019, .33, .43, .53 for it's string gauges? Thanks for your input.