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Small basses for short people?
- Thread starter Gimmick
- Start date
Hi there. I recommended my bass in the ''Short bassist's" thread.
Its an ESP/LTD Viper 254 bass, 34" scale, 22 frets with passive EMGs and an active pre-amp. Looks kinda small on me and has a narrow/thinnish neck. Could be worth a try as I found the thinner neck improved my playing a hell of a lot, coupled with the fact its only technically 22 frets as opposed to 24 on full size. I'm 5'10-5'11ish in height. My younger brothers can play it reasonibly well.
Superb allround Jazz/Metal bass, F#$% nice.
Its an ESP/LTD Viper 254 bass, 34" scale, 22 frets with passive EMGs and an active pre-amp. Looks kinda small on me and has a narrow/thinnish neck. Could be worth a try as I found the thinner neck improved my playing a hell of a lot, coupled with the fact its only technically 22 frets as opposed to 24 on full size. I'm 5'10-5'11ish in height. My younger brothers can play it reasonibly well.
Superb allround Jazz/Metal bass, F#$% nice.
why not a steinberger? or one of the knock off's like the hohners, the hohners are great and pretty cheap.
I am like 5'5 or so and have really small hands,
I play 4,5, string and upright bass...
You DO Not need to buy a short scale
or small basses...
I can play any bass that any 6 foot plus guy can play...
In fact I can probably play it better... lol
If anything
You need to analyze your technique...
and how you are holding your instrument
(the Higher the strap the better the bassplayer)
and the position
of your left hand to get the maximum string coverage...
If you are looking for a new instrument I recommend
finding a comfortable neck first... Necks can be very different
some are very flat and thin or thick while others will be rounded..
Find something comfortable...
and as far as a body is concerned.. bass guitar bodies are generally small..
If you were buying a acoustic gtr.. would you get a short scale mini bodied
acoustic??? Of course you would'nt
The morel of the story is You Can Play any Bass you want..
You don't need a "mini me" size model...
Just Stepup and own your bass, don't let it own you...
M
Best,
I play 4,5, string and upright bass...
You DO Not need to buy a short scale
or small basses...
I can play any bass that any 6 foot plus guy can play...
In fact I can probably play it better... lol
If anything
You need to analyze your technique...
and how you are holding your instrument
(the Higher the strap the better the bassplayer)
and the position
of your left hand to get the maximum string coverage...
If you are looking for a new instrument I recommend
finding a comfortable neck first... Necks can be very different
some are very flat and thin or thick while others will be rounded..
Find something comfortable...
and as far as a body is concerned.. bass guitar bodies are generally small..
If you were buying a acoustic gtr.. would you get a short scale mini bodied
acoustic??? Of course you would'nt
The morel of the story is You Can Play any Bass you want..
You don't need a "mini me" size model...
Just Stepup and own your bass, don't let it own you...
M
Best,
I've only got one inch on you, OP (5'7" asian on a good day) but i play a 6-string 34" bass.
There's no need to go short scale, but there is 34" and then there is 34". The jazz is one of the biggest body shapes out there, and there's no need to get something so big.
Spector, Ibanez (SR Series), Warmoth (Dinky P), and almost any headless design would probably be a lot more comfortable. Just ordered my first headless bass, the smaller body needed to counterbalance the neck should help manage weight and general bulkyness.
There's no need to go short scale, but there is 34" and then there is 34". The jazz is one of the biggest body shapes out there, and there's no need to get something so big.
Spector, Ibanez (SR Series), Warmoth (Dinky P), and almost any headless design would probably be a lot more comfortable. Just ordered my first headless bass, the smaller body needed to counterbalance the neck should help manage weight and general bulkyness.
Asian-ness is not an excuse. Go out work out.
I've played 2 hour set with Peavey T-40.
Working out makes you taller? WOW!!! All this time I thought height was genetic. Stupid me. gonna hit the weights now.
Oh yeah and I second the Fender mustang it was made for the 5'6" and under crowd..........
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha....!!!
How about short scale is roughly considered to be between 30"-33"? Average is 34" and there is such a thing as 35"-37".
Enjoy whichever bass you find that feels right in your hands.
R...
OK, first of all, Tal Wilkenfield is like 5foot nothing and she plays the living hell out of a Sadowsky 34 inch scale full size bass.
On the other hand I've seen clips of Chris Wood who is about 6 ft something just tearing up a hofner short scale
so...size really isn't the thing..its how it feels in your hands and inspires your heart.
I have a secret lust for short scales, and here is my list of desireables:
Rob Allen Mouse
Veillette Minotaur
Hofner 5000/1 Deluxe
Birdsong Sadhana
Landing DS1
There are lots of others as well, many custom luthiers will make you a short scale.
my tastes run towards piezos and hollow bodies..thus the Mouse and Minotaur top my list.
Although after buying Ralf Gauck's album "A Hard Days Night" and listening to it, I'm not so sure that the Hofner 5000/1 deluxe fretless can't be an "ultimate" bass
In any case, find what turns your creativity on!
On the other hand I've seen clips of Chris Wood who is about 6 ft something just tearing up a hofner short scale
so...size really isn't the thing..its how it feels in your hands and inspires your heart.
I have a secret lust for short scales, and here is my list of desireables:
Rob Allen Mouse
Veillette Minotaur
Hofner 5000/1 Deluxe
Birdsong Sadhana
Landing DS1
There are lots of others as well, many custom luthiers will make you a short scale.
my tastes run towards piezos and hollow bodies..thus the Mouse and Minotaur top my list.
Although after buying Ralf Gauck's album "A Hard Days Night" and listening to it, I'm not so sure that the Hofner 5000/1 deluxe fretless can't be an "ultimate" bass
In any case, find what turns your creativity on!
5'6" and Asian? That sounds awfully familiar...wait...I'm one of those, too! (Japanese, that is.)
There once was a time when I was very self-conscious about my stature as a guitar player (with a Martin Dreadnaught acoustic guitar, that is) during my 20-something years as a folkie. And there are times when I do wish I were at least 5'10" with bigger hands with longer, straighter fingers even today as a rookie bass player.
But I don't think I will ever be giving up my beloved Fender J and P simply because of my own size.
There once was a time when I was very self-conscious about my stature as a guitar player (with a Martin Dreadnaught acoustic guitar, that is) during my 20-something years as a folkie. And there are times when I do wish I were at least 5'10" with bigger hands with longer, straighter fingers even today as a rookie bass player.
But I don't think I will ever be giving up my beloved Fender J and P simply because of my own size.
anyone got any experiences with the new gibson eb 2013? im wondering how the neck is. nice and slim or bulky?
I'm about 5'6". Play Fender P's almost exclusively. The 34" scale and the 1 5/8" nut are not an obstacle at all. Decades ago I played a 32" scale Gibson EB3. The shorted scale takes away from the toughtness of the strings, the fundamental of the note even intonation is harder to achieve. Never again. Just play the 34" scale and you will adapt to it quickly. There are draw backs to a smaller scale which in my mind are unacceptable. Ever compare a long piano to a shorter one? Ever hear a spinet that sounded even passable?
However some bass straps even on their shortest adjustment are still a little too long and I have had to modify them....to feel comfortable. Luckily the bass played and sounded the same. I would never recommend a short scale. My opinion base on experience...
However some bass straps even on their shortest adjustment are still a little too long and I have had to modify them....to feel comfortable. Luckily the bass played and sounded the same. I would never recommend a short scale. My opinion base on experience...
