The Official Short Scale Bass Club -- Part 4

Holy mama!! Me want!!

 

What's your impression of the overall quality and craftsmanship (fretwork, nut, wood quality, pickups/electronics quality), etc.?

 

The fit and finish are just excellent, I have no complaints. Tight neck pocket with a 6 screw neck plate and the frets are levelled and crowned enough to not need any work. Saying that, I may give it a level and re-crown sometime only because I do my own work and can, but it certainly doesn't need it to be a great bass. Fret ends are consistent and well rounded, no sharpness at all. It's clean running your hand up and down the fretboard but the nut could use some rounding of the edges, it's a little sharp when down on the 1st fret position. It's cut well though and just needs a little clean up. It's plastic, I wouldn't mind putting a bone nut in it's place. The strap button sits at the 11th fret so reach is very compact which made for the cramped feeling but that's going away. The neck wood is fine to me although it has the feeling of being not as dense as say, my Warmoth and G&L maple necks. The electronics are fine. I got no complaints yet. A couple of nits to pick on are the tuners having a bit of a loose feeling and I wish there was a little more space between the bridge and control plate like the U.S. model.
Overall, I am impressed with what $600.00 can get these days. It's a fine instrument indeed. I gotta say, the bridge is impressive.
Peace.

 

IMO looks much better

 

The feel of a Hofner is not just its scale length, it's the neck profile and radius and what it is attached to. Not everybody likes it. I can only comment on the cheaper ones, the German ones may be very different. I have had a few and, playing in a cover band, a one-trick pony isn't going to be an easy choice for me, but I felt the need to try it for a while.

 

In case anyone is interested....

For Sale - Guild/DeArmond Starfire Bass

 

New Sire Marcus Miller U5 short scale on its way. I got the mint(sea foam) color. Will post pics next week.

 

Friends, I’m looking for a short scale but given the times, don’t have the opportunity to play any possible choices. If you were in the market today, what would you purchase and why? I know price range... nothing crazy expensive - no Alembics - but I do want a quality instrument. I could be persuaded to look at the Sterling Stingray SS or the Sire U5, but I could go higher than that if it made a real difference. Probably a $2K cap at this point... new or used.

 

2k gets you most anything. I dig my SBMM, at 550 it's a great deal. I liked my Gibson DC (an injury is the only reason I don't have it), the Nordstrand Acinonyx is stellar. A used Musicmaster is great. Some of these newer Fenders are pretty cool, the Sire is a great deal too. maybe a used Serek? Reverend Mike Watt models, my 32" Fatfish plays incredible and the neck is fantastic.

 

At that price cap you could check out any number of manufacturers. Almost everyone is getting in on the SS craze right now.

Heck, you could even get an Ibanez headless shortscale! I am not saying you would but all these niches are becoming so commonplace you can actually get a headless multiscale short scale 5 string off the rack from Ibanez and it would be in your budget.

Having said all that, do you know what "style" body and neck profiles you prefer? Pickup config?

Chances are its out there in short scale these days.

 

I just posted my Ernie Ball USA short scale Starry Night in the classifieds

 

Rob Allen Mouse is a looker, never played it.

Plenty of demos on YT of the models you listed too.

 

I purchased my 2 SS new, both combined for under $2K.

G&L Tribute Fallout
Acinonyx

 

I have a Reverend Dub King Short scale for sale, see link below.

 

I can vouch for the Reverend Dub King sounding great and needing no mods. Tomorrow fed ex will bring me a new Sire U5 in mint (seafoam). After I string it with some DR Sunbeams I will post how it compares with my other 8 short scales. This will be my first maple fretboard bass so I may try some pressure wounds also.

 

I got my Sandberg Lionel in December and will give it a 100% recommendation. Options add up quick, but the base model is very fairly priced for what you get.

 

This and the Rev. Dub King are a bit early for my timing... I have to say that the Stingray SS is at the top of my list though and would be a serious consideration should it still be around when I’m ready/able to purchase.

@TK4261 , can you comment about what differences there are between the US build and the Sterling?

@Bass Man Stan , I’ll be really interested in your thoughts on the Sire.

I did see an Acinonyx for sale here and the bass really interests me but I’m nervous about the lifespan of the push buttons and the crazy narrow neck. The videos sound great.

I have played a couple of Rob Allens and they are very cool but I need more of a workhorse than a one trick pony regardless of how cool that pony might be.

Keep the thoughts coming... you all are helping me narrow things I think.

 

I had originally bought a Sterling and ended up sending it back and ordering the USA SS Stingray. The sterling was nice but mine was a bit heavy at around 8 &1/2lbs and the frets needed work...QC is hit and miss with the Sterlings. The USA SS Stingray is night and day difference in feel and quality. The weight, woods and amazing neck/fretboard and frets on the USA Stingray is a huge upgrade in Quality and craftsmanship over the Sterling IMO. Similar in sound though

 

Recent acquisition - Gretsch Junior Jet II - removed fretboard overhang, removed pickguard, aligned pickups (they were not lined up with the strings), swapped black screws for the chrome ones on the pickup ring, installed a Fender drop in High Mass bridge - its a sweet bass with great tones! I played a Squier Mustang today and the neck felt like a miniature bass rather than a short scale. I love Fender basses but not sure I can deal with the Mustang - the Gretsch feels much more like an real instrument for some reason?

 

Yooooo!