I did call the short scale Gretsch Junior Jet a "toy" recently, I must admit, but it wasn't in a "hate" kind of way - I clarified that mine is not for sale. I like my toys, regardless of scale length.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Small Scale Bass Hate?
- Thread starter DOOGLER
- Start date
im not savvy enough to mess with the action last time i did everything buzzed, and then you fix the truss rod which ive been told is not good to do if your not a luthier
the guy at sam ash was like confused that i wanted a short scale bass and said, you know all the fanous people play long scale basses
wintremute
mediocrity at its finest
- Oct 16, 2014
- 6,942
- 29,551
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Langstrom Carrot Farms
Get thee to the setup sticky thread on the hardware and setup page! ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE | TalkBass.com
It's really not that hard, everyone who owns or plays a bass should know the basics, imho.
I've been playing short scales for a couple of years and really like them. Both of mine are 30" scale, one active jazz and one passive p/j.
I'm assuming those who think ss basses are cramped don't play guitar...
I'm assuming those who think ss basses are cramped don't play guitar...
I suppose he'd never heard of (Sir) Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman, Jack Bruce, Tina Weymouth, Stanley Clarke, Robbie Shakespear, Allen Woody..?
Was he some young guy who thinks that the Taylor Swift is old?
I was told a short scale bass has a deeper tone because the strings are under less tension. Hard to tell unless someone has a standard scale and a short scale of identical basses.
In my experience, it's not a concern. My first bass was a short scale, just because it was the right price and I liked how it felt and sounded—I don't think I'd even heard of different lengths at that point. After I got a 34" bass, I had no trouble going back and forth between the two, and neither did a friend who'd sometimes borrow the shorty.
If you're playing fretless and fretted, then I would think it would be more of an issue, or at least you'd want your "main" fretted bass to be the same scale as the fretless. Then again, maybe not.
I have a Hofner, Mikro, Ibanez abg205 and a Fender Starcaster re-issue. Get my strings from Jason, BassStringsonline.com, who always gets me the proper sizes. Love my "shorties so much that my wife is only 4'9"! 
Music stores not carrying short scale strings is a headache. And my shorty Gibson SG gets just as much play as my Jazzy.
I have a Squier Mikey Way Mustang. Good platform now strung with flats. It's not a joke either. Comfortable on the couch and the kids can learn on it also. I suggest trying some short scales out locally if possible. If you buy online, go with a retailer who will make sure it's set up before shipping (like Elderly or Sweetwater). Good luck.
Charlie Parker, Johnny Hodges and Paul Desmond played "sissy little horns" with "sissy little sound"? Heck, even Sidney Bechet got a big sound out of his "sissy little" soprano.
Bronco basses are cool. I like Mustangs (with the original style, split single-coil pickups). Both are 30.5" scale.
I'll play anything if it's bass. String, electric, Moog, washtub, tuba, digeridoo - you name it. If it's got that down-low mojo, I'm there.
When people ask me what I play, I tell them: the low notes.
I don't care too much what I play them on. If it's down low - it's mine.
When people ask me what I play, I tell them: the low notes.
I don't care too much what I play them on. If it's down low - it's mine.
Me too. I even tried the bass oon. Couldn't get the hang of that there soprano oon.
You're supposed to do it in the opposite order
It's not hard, quite frankly, but if you're uncomfortable with it, take it to a pro repair shop and have them do it.
Nothing wrong with a short scale! In my last band we had a flaky bassist so we all pitched in and got one of those 179 dollar short scale squires. We used that thing a lot and it played excellent and sounded absolutely fine.
If you want a short scale I see no point in not getting one.
If you want a short scale I see no point in not getting one.
So basically if you do the opposite of what most salesmen in that type of store tell you then you'll be in good shape.
Of course, the perfect response to him though is, "you misheard my question. I was asking if you knew sweetwater's number."
