• 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.

The Non-Fender Shortie Poll

Which non-FMC shortie?

  • G&L Tribute Fallout

    Votes: 31 68.9%

  • Sire U5

    Votes: 5 11.1%

  • SBMM StingRay

    Votes: 14 31.1%
  • Total voters
    45
nonohmic

nonohmic

Dec 13, 2005
7,966
13,597
Land of Entrapment
#1
Loving all these recent short scale offerings!

I owned a CIJ Mustang and love the feel but not the sound. To me all of the Fender short scale offerings just look like a dull thump.

But recently things have exploded, and all around the $500 mark.

G&L Tribute Fallout Short Scale Bass Guitar - Surf Green $599

750-FalloutSSSG_front.jpg


Marcus Milller U5 $499

u5_ts_2048x.png


[This invalid link has been removed] $549

RaySS4_OWH_Front_web_1200x.png


Which one are you going for?

(I'm torn between the U5 and the ray).
 
  • Like
Reactions: TK4261 and StevePL71
#3
Naviiin said:
Can I be totally superficial and go with the only one that doesn't look like it was shrunk in the laundry, the Fallout? The Stingray sounds incredible in demos though.
Click to expand...

Agreed that the Fallout looks great, as it's the only design not just shrunk from it's bigger brother/sister. But i'd def want it to have the racing stripe of the USA models.

I also just noticed there is a distinct difference in the upper registers. The Fallout you're getting 19 frets, maybe good access to 18. The U5; 20 frets, good access to maybe 19.

But that Ray is banging all the way up to 21 (22 total).

And we all know that's where the money is made.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Inara and Naviiin
#4
I’ve been awaiting these models anxiously! They’re not in stores yet, so I can only go by photos and YouTube videos. I keep wavering between the Sterling SS and the G&L Fallout Tribute. They both sound great in demos (Fallout may be more versatile), but I really want to play them to test the necks. I prefer a chunkier neck, but I can’t tell from the demos. Has anyone played the Fallout Launch version that could give their impressions on the neck?
 
  • Like
Reactions: nonohmic
#8
Actually... none of them; however, I'm sure they're all very nice. I'm also pretty sure that none of them are available in a left handed model. As usual... So, you enjoy whichever one you choose; and, as for me?
Dano Longhorn (2).JPG I'll stick with this non - Fender shortie. Oh, and AFAIK? Fender doesn't make a left handed shortie, either...:cool:
 
  • Like
Reactions: nonohmic
#9
As @nonohmic mentioned, the upper register has significant differences. One of the things I hate about Fender and Squier's current short scales is the 19 fret neck. I already dislike the normal 20 fret Fender neck, and subtracting one more, I just can't deal with it. I do play up there, especially on my solo bass pieces. 24 is my preference, or at least 21.

I would probably go for the Ray, based on this and also I have had many positive experiences with both SBMM and EBMM. I voted for both the Ray and the U5, because I can compromise to 20 frets, I love a PJ bass, and it's gorgeous. If the Fallout had another couple of frets along with improved upper-neck access, I would have chosen it.
 
#10
nonohmic said:
... Which one are you going for? ...
Click to expand...
None.

The headstock on G&L basses is hideous, IMO, so that's a no-go for me.

The other two have neck adjustment at the heel rather than head, so screw those, too. (Although I wouldn't kick a Daphne Blue w/Maple Sterling out of bed.)

On a side note, I'm in love with my Squier Mini P. And a Bronco is still one of the sweetest of basses. For 500, you can get one of each. With change back.
 
#12
Volker Kirstein said:
The other two have neck adjustment at the heel rather than head, so screw those, too. (Although I wouldn't kick a Daphne Blue w/Maple Sterling out of bed.)
Click to expand...

What bothers you about that location? I can understand it with things like Fenders where you may need to remove the pickguard or even neck to adjust, but the Music Man wheel seems ideal to me - easy access, no need to remove anything, can adjust with a screwdriver if you need to.

If it's an aesthetic thing, I completely understand!

Personally, I have a SBMM Stingray and just got a Mustang PJ yesterday. There certainly isn't any dull thump with the Ray - that humbucker just cuts through the mix easily for me, I wasn't sure a passive Ray would be quite the same but it's close enough for me. Both basses are light, 8-8.3lb each according to my terrible luggage scale. The Ray I'm currently finding more comfortable due to belly cut and arm contour, not sure if I'll get used to the Mustang slab body yet. Both well constructed and I like playing both a lot.

I'm very, very tempted to sell a couple of instruments & pedals so I can justify a Fallout to myself, too. I just have so much fun playing a shortie, and these are certainly good enough basses for me to happily gig with. Plus, a daphne blue Ray & a shell pink Mustang - what could complement them better than a surf green Fallout? ;)
 
#13
Hank Scorpio said:
What bothers you about that location? I can understand it with things like Fenders where you may need to remove the pickguard or even neck to adjust, but the Music Man wheel seems ideal to me - easy access, no need to remove anything, can adjust with a screwdriver if you need to.

If it's an aesthetic thing, I completely understand! ...
Click to expand...
Well! I did not know that! When I see the adjustment at the heel, decades of Fender neck stories flood my brain. I can't afford a MM, so never really looked at them, read MM threads here, or researched whether the heel thing held true or not. I just assumed that heel adjustments required removal of the neck... which once more gives proof to the old addage about assumptions.

Dunno if decades of conditioning can be overcome at this point. Either way, I still can't afford a MM.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hank Scorpio
#18
I just bought the Fallout. It just sounded better to me than the other short scale basses I tried (and I tried everything I could get my hands on). I'm a guitarist and normally lean toward Fender products, and I admit that my preference going in would have been a Mexi-stang, but geez I could not find one without obvious quality control issues. I did come across a very nice Squire version, but the neck shape and finish just didn't do it for me.
 
#19
I wanted the Fallout tribute but got the Squier Vintage Mustang. It has a great neck. I put in Curtis Novak Fat mustang pickups and some hipshot tuners. It is really a good stage bass now for when my arthritis starts to act up. I am concerned about the Fallout weight. The ones Sweetwater shows weigh as much as my G&L L2000 US made, 9.3 lbs. That seems like a bit much for a shorty. Are they doing this for balance or what?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back