Small basses for short people?

[chuck norriss]

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[Milk]

Musicmaster

Reverend Dub King is excellent
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Reverend makes really sweet looking instruments but I just wish they made them affordable at all....... would it kill them to have at least one 500-600$ model?

Im assuming they're made in America at least for those prices.

 

[rickwebb]

Hey, I'm 6'1" and I find full-size Jazz Bass bodies a bit cumbersome.
Mostly that offset lower bout where the control/jackplate is.
I prefer P-Bass bodies. And the ESP Ltd. Series bodies are comfy too.

 

[Salamenster]

So I'm a 5'6" bassist (curse my Asian-ness!) and I've been looking around for some short scale basses or really anything with a small body. I'm currently using a J-bass, which sometimes gets a little unwieldy. Neck length isn't generally a problem for me, I just find large bodies to be rather cumbersome. Does anyone know any good basses that are comfortable for the vertically challenged?

I hear the the MM Sterling is essentially a shorter, slimmer version of the Stingray. Is this true?

I'm 5'6" too (and no I'm not Asian I'm just a small european in a country where the average for males is 6") and I think that you should look at a P-bass body style. They don't have the 'extended butt' and I find them REALLY comfortable. But then again, I've got no issues with Jazzes either. Maybe try get some more weight going to get some more diameter at the bass hanging place?

 

[NaH]

I started on the Ibanez Mikro. I bought it because I thought I needed a short scale. After a very short while I upgraded because I realized I didn't need a short scale and didn't like the hum from the single coil pickup.

Sounds like you've already confirmed you can play the longer scales but are looking for different body designs. Check out Dingwall. The 5 strings have 37" B-Strings, fanned frets, light weight, and a perfect shaped neck make them easy to play.

 

[fjadams]

I find it rather annoying that whenever anybody asks a question about short scale basses the majority of the comments come from people who don't play short scales and revolve around the reasons why nobody should.

BULLPUCKY!

If the OP was looking for reasons not to play one, I'm pretty sure that would have been the question.

Anyway, there are many good options for the person wanting to play short scales.

Probably the first one you should look at is the Squier Jaguar SS. Plays well, sounds good right out of the box, easy to mod, inexpensive. Can't go wrong with one of these. Very good value.

The violin or Beatle Bass: Many of these, Hofner, Epiphone, Douglas, Jay Turser, Eko, others.

Gretsch: G2220, excellent choice. Play well, sound good, good value for money. G5442 hollowbody. Bigger body than the solids, and a different sound.

Gibson/Epiphone: SG, SG Special, EB-O, Viola, and the out of production Epiphone Thunderbird SS.

Fender: Coronado & Starcaster hollow bodies, Mustang.
Squier: Jaguar SS, Mustang (Mikey Way is tragic in color, but plays and sounds good), Bronco, Bass VI.

Rondo Music: Makes many models of SS. Ursa 2 Jr (Jazz), Ursa 1 Jr (precision), Douglas Violin bass, Brice 5 string, Brice 6 string, also make the Ursa 1, 3, violin in fretless.

Ibanez: Mikro 4 & 5 string. 28 1/2 scale. Easy to play, a friend uses one of these in her band. Artcore hollowbody 4 & 5 string.

Guild: Starfire hollowbody, and the just announced M85.

Danelectro: Longhorn, 56' Dolphin Head.

Hofner: Icon/Ignition violin, Ignition Club, Shorty Bass.

As you can see there are many options out there. Don't let all the knobbers talk you out of something you like or want.

I have a few short scales.

Applause ABG
Daisy Rock Flower and Heart
Danelectro Longhorn
Epiphone Flying V
ESP B5-JR 5 string
Fender Starcaster
Gibson Thunderbird
Gretsch G2224
Guild JS II
Hagstrom Futurama
Hofner Icon
Kala U-Bass
Rogue SS
Squier Bronco, Jaguar SS (2),

Have a Guild Starfire on order.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

There's a thread you should check out:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/short-scale-bass-thread-310928/

Also, this link has very useful information about short scales:
http://www.innertainment.net/medium.html

 

[MrLenny1]

Pedullas have small bodies.

 

[MK1]

I love my Ric 4003. A couple of my other favorites are the Musicman Sterling (not Sterling by Musicman, although those are pretty good too). If you really like your Jazz bass, every once in a while a medium scale (32") Fender Jazz will pop up on eBay. The medium jazz has a shorter scale and a smaller body.

 

[Kaa]

Fender makes a Japan-only Jazz bass that is 30" scale and a really downsized body. Not cheap, but really nice looking.

 

[lasalle69]

Short scales rock! I have several and I am an average ht-5.10. My 73' guild js-2 was my first and favorite. My hofner icon has a unique sound and is light as air! My gibson sg grinds blues, and my 86' Ibanez ric clone just feels awsome. Whatever feels good and sounds right for you is what you should play. Notwithstanding what Randy Newman says(lol)

 

[Jefff]

Try not to play in F#

 

[sunfighter]

5'6" here. Im 42, ive been playing for 28 years and for 27 of those I only played a 74 and a 78 P, a 83 and 86 Ric and a 83 Jazz. Loved em all. But I started having some hand issues so I got a SG bass. After spending time getting it set up just right I love it! And anyone that says shortscales lack fundamental tone, etc. I invite them to come by and stand in front of my Acoustic 361 and when their done pulling themselves out of the wall they can tell me all about how shortscales are lacking.

 

[Jefff]

Most short scale basses are heavy on the fundamental.

 

[champlainbass]

I ended up with a medium scale Fender Japan Jazz Bass. I'm 5'7" and it find it to be a perfect fit. The body is slightly scaled down as well. Here's a link Link Removed

Also, the quality is top notch…….

 

[T-MOST]

Kala U Basses

 

[El Pelusa]

5'6" here. Im 42, ive been playing for 28 years and for 27 of those I only played a 74 and a 78 P, a 83 and 86 Ric and a 83 Jazz. Loved em all. But I started having some hand issues so I got a SG bass. After spending time getting it set up just right I love it! And anyone that says shortscales lack fundamental tone, etc. I invite them to come by and stand in front of my Acoustic 361 and when their done pulling themselves out of the wall they can tell me all about how shortscales are lacking.

Boom!

 

[Qlanq]

5'3" Jazz or headless for me. Got a Sterling SUB4 some time ago and that is now my main bass. Neck isn't the thinnest, just have to get used to it. Most important for me is that it really is comfortable when playing. And it sounds awesome too.

 

[NightCat]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang. I'm thinking about picking up one for my daughter (5'2")(not that it is a "girls" bass). She is used to a cello but wants to switch to bass. She has the paws for a full scale but the Mustang just looks right and fits her perfect and sounds terrific through my B100R. I let her play my G&L SB-2 which has a smaller P style body and it looked weird. The white one with the racing stripe might be her Christmas present this year.
Some people think short scales are too boomy or fundamental heavy but a little EQ, the right strings and a good amp helps brighten it up. For the kind of rock I like that fundamental heavy tone sits just right in the mix.