The Official Medium Scale Bass Club

[Pkaaso]

Andyboy33

I've had great luck with the Yamaha Motion basses. They don't have great pickups stock but sound pretty good. Install EMG's or something and that little bass comes alive. You can find them used usually on Ebay in your price range.

 

[c-dub]

I tried to join before, don't know if I got a number. Got an Urge I, a mij e series Squier P, and a 87 Kubicki on the way!

 

[banditcosmo]

Hi all,
Helpful forum as I am making the well-traveled transition from guitar to bass. I am learning on an Ibanez AEB5E acoustic bass (32" scale) which isn't great but is playable enough to get me hooked. I do want to purchase an electric 32" scale in the $200-$400 range that can hold its own and sound decent playing classic rock.

After reading your forum and researching elsewhere, these are the only 4-string electrics I could find (new) at 32":

ESP LTD AX-54 Electric Bass Guitar (I'm not too picky when it comes to looks but I may be 20 years too old for this one).

Davison Electric Bass Guitar Vintage Cutaway Semi Hollow (Weary of this one, given that I don't know much about this company)

Ibanez GAXB150 (Nice bass but stocks appear to be dwindling)

Any suggestions?!?!? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

There also the Waterstone TP-4/32
Keep an eye on E-Bay as Waterstone has been selling demo models for your price range.

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[EduardoK]

I tried to join before, don't know if I got a number. Got an Urge I, a mij e series Squier P, and a 87 Kubicki on the way!

Sure, you've already got number 36!!!

 

[Andyboy33]

Thanks for the feedback on entry level medium-scales. I love the look of that Waterstone! I'm pondering whether to sell my beloved Martin (guitar) to move into the $600-800 price range.

 

[Polk Salad]

Here is my MIJ "E" series Fender P Bass:

 

[banditcosmo]

Here is my MIJ "E" series Fender P Bass:

Sweet !! I really want one of those.

 

[crab]

I play 2 Rondo 'Gypsy Rose' basses.

32 is my length now. Cannot go back.

Can I get a number?

 

[bassclef112]

All of my basses are 34" except for two - they are both 32" Alembics and are among my favorites. I was raised on 34's but I find medium scale to suit me extremely well.

'84 Distillate
'00 MK Standard

Can I get a number?

 

[wideyes]

The way I see it, your right hand issues should have very little to do with the scale length, and a lot to do with the string spacing at the bridge...

Sorry, should have been more specific. What I meant was that my right hand/arm/wrist feels a bit cramped, because I play predominantly fingerstyle and like to let my right arm kind of hang. On my 34", my right hand has all the room it needs, and I can play directly over the p pickup and still be all loose and hangy. Only thing there is, I can't seem to get my left hand happy with fretting on a 34". Enter the SX shortscale: my left hand loves it, but now my right hand is wishing the bridge were a bit further back so I had more "dangle" room. Raising my elbow works, but I'd like to be able to relax on it a bit more, and it's just seeming like 32" scale could be my best compromise. Besides, I always like a little something different

 

[EduardoK]

Updated list !!!
1- EduardoK
2- natasmi
3- bongomania
4- smaughazard
5- sturmvogel
6- DeanT
7- 90k
8- bikeplate
9- bassman10096
10- Winston TK
11- A9X
12- Charles Farley
13- T-34
14- emblymouse
15- Skywalker22
16- yodedude2
17- 90k
18- eude
19- norbusser
20- kenjikun
21- banditoscomo
22- jazzbo58
23- wannabass24
24- stevetat
25- tone_challenged
26- broadblik
27- Frank Orlando
28- Chuck King
29- RedsFan75
30- Dusty Entwistle
31- mike1762
32- bunny10
33- arnoudfaber
34- DaBeat
35- BassHappy
36- c-dub
37- Jonah
38- pdxpunk
39- r0ddan
40- DanJ
41- Pkaaso
42- jscan2s
43- BBell
44- Redraven
45- BassParrott
46- hdracer
47- thunderbird32
48- radapaw
49- Superfriend
50- Avalon
51- Polk Salad
52- crab
53- bassclef112
54- trunkshope6

Just post here or shoot me a PM if I am missing someone...

 

[Polk Salad]

Updated list !!!
1- EduardoK
2- natasmi
3- bongomania
4- smaughazard
5- sturmvogel
6- DeanT
7- 90k
8- bikeplate
9- bassman10096
10- Winston TK
11- A9X
12- Charles Farley
13- T-34
14- emblymouse
15- Skywalker22
16- yodedude2
17- 90k
18- eude
19- norbusser
20- kenjikun
21- banditoscomo
22- jazzbo58
23- wannabass24
24- stevetat
25- tone_challenged
26- broadblik
27- Frank Orlando
28- Chuck King
29- RedsFan75
30- Dusty Entwistle
31- mike1762
32- bunny10
33- arnoudfaber
34- DaBeat
35- BassHappy
36- c-dub
37- Jonah
38- pdxpunk
39- r0ddan
40- DanJ
41- Pkaaso
42- jscan2s
43- BBell
44- Redraven
45- BassParrott
46- hdracer
47- thunderbird32
48- radapaw
49- Superfriend
50- Avalon
51- crab
52- bassclef112

Just post here or shoot me a PM if I am missing someone...

Check out post #226!

 

[trunkshope6]

also have a squier medium scale

 

[EduardoK]

List corrected now...
Polk Salad, that is a sweet looking bass!

 

[trunkshope6]

Here is my MIJ "E" series Fender P Bass:

what i only thought squierswere made short scale,i had an e series precision and i thought it was long scale

 

[Polk Salad]

Does that make me #53?

And thanks for the compliment on the bass, I do love it.

 

[EduardoK]

Polk Salad, #51

wideyes, I get your point. Not sure why (probably aesthetics and body shape), but I see a lot of basses (very common on short scales) with the bridge positioned more towards the center of the body. Aside from your "right hand complaint" this design factor alone results in a longer reach to 1st position...
Same as you, I like the bridge as further back as possible on ANY bass!!!

 

[BassParrott]

wideys, I get your point too. I have 2 32" scale basses by Tom Clement and I really like the ergonomics a lot. Comfortable for both hands. My fretless has the bridge a bit further to the back, but they both work great for me! There is a group on TB called Club Clement if you want to see more of his basses. I can't say enough about his work. They are the best basses I have ever owned!

 

[wideyes]

I see a lot of basses (very common on short scales) with the bridge positioned more towards the center of the body. Aside from your "right hand complaint" this design factor alone results in a longer reach to 1st position...
Same as you, I like the bridge as further back as possible on ANY bass!!!

I hear that! It seems like that design kills the whole purpose of medium scale, especially on those Alembics! I've been doing lots of experimentation with straps and positioning lately, and I think you can get most basses to hang where you need them to be, but why make it harder?

Found this cool video of Jack Casady where he seems to have the relaxed lowrider position going on - his right wrist looks very happy!


Looks like I have trunkshope6's mij squier p on the way to me in the mail, so I should soon be a proud club member!

 

[EduardoK]

I couldn't agree with you more, that design goes against the whole purpose of short and medium scale basses.
The strap button at the neck heel plus the bridge placing are things I don't like about my Alembic SC which is (in spite of this) a truly great bass. Thank G-d it is a short scale!!!!
Same thing with the Starfire (also a great bass), notice that most of the bass' body hangs away from Jack's