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THE SHORT SCALE BASS THREAD!

#221
Does anyone have problems with a weak E on a hollowbody shorty? I am in love with the tone, but the one I have has no balls below a low G. I've tried different strings to no avail. The problem is in the nature of it being hollow, in other words, it is apparent unplugged. The A through G strings have resonance, the E has very little. Tried roundwounds, flats with a .105 E, and half rounds. Tried drilling out the tailpeice notch so it doesn't pinch the E string.
I don't want to ditch the bass, but am running out of options. No good E is just not acceptable.
 
#222
I like shorties! Let's see...here's my list:

1960's Univox 335-copy:
Univox335copy.jpg


Rogue VB-100 "Beatle" bass, and a great player it is:
P6010079.jpg


Epiphone EB-O: ('scuse the background, it was laundry day...)
P1010301.gif


Applause (Ovation) AE-40:
Applause.jpg


And I have a Lyle (same as Univox) tobacco-brown short scale that I'm installing a Gretsch pickup in.
 
#229
I've got a violin bass (no pictures sorry!), and I was wondering if there are any pickups I could put on it. I can't find any mini humbuckers and I don't know if any others would work. Thanks!

Oh and nice short scales everyone!
 
#230
hey guys, I've been playing 34 and 35 scale basses for around 13 odd years, and I'm looking at trying to get that 60's sound/vibe like my bass hero Jack, not to mention the fact that it would be cool to do some Kim gordon style noise experiments with it. I'm looking at the moment at a handmade gibson sg style bass, from Weta guitars, a local luthier in Wellington NZ, it's only got one humbucker though, but it's a select gibson so it sounds like the real deal.

Anyway, Im looking at going short scale because you can do a lot more chord-wise, and it generally is much faster to play, Is there anything I should be aware of in terms of switching from longscale to shortscale? Do I need to be using special strings if I replace them? Is shortscale ok in terms of drop tuning, or even a straight DGCF or does it have issues when you tune down? and how does short scale handle things like phase switching etc? Does anyone who owns a SS use a DI box or amp modeller to clean up the muddiness found in most SS basses?

ok that's about it, any help here would be great as this really does seem like a good idea
 
#231
sifi76 said:
Anyway, Im looking at going short scale because you can do a lot more chord-wise, and it generally is much faster to play, Is there anything I should be aware of in terms of switching from longscale to shortscale?
Click to expand...
Woodshed for a while to get some hand memory as you may find it a bit disconcerting at first when switching between SS and LS basses.
sifi76 said:
Do I need to be using special strings if I replace them?
Click to expand...
Yes, but maybe not. With a standard type bridge the length of the string before the silk may be too long to fit into the tuner. There are sources for SS strings, but there are fewer alternatives. Juststrings has a lot listed, but I posted a cheaper source for my preferred strings earlier in the thread, especially as you're in the little islands to the east.
sifi76 said:
Is shortscale ok in terms of drop tuning, or even a straight DGCF or does it have issues when you tune down?
Click to expand...
Generally SS basses don't like downtuning in my experience.
sifi76 said:
and how does short scale handle things like phase switching etc?
Click to expand...
Fine. Phase switching and the tone is a combination of pickup and electronic design and implementation. Well done, ie appropriate for the instrument, I have found no issues with SS basses
sifi76 said:
Does anyone who owns a SS use a DI box or amp modeller to clean up the muddiness found in most SS basses?
Click to expand...
You need to get out and try more instruments. None of my SS basses are muddy. Muddiness, as usually applied to the Gibbo style SS is due to pickup placement and design and to some degree the mahogany construction as it's not very rigid.

There is a ton of info in the thread already re varying design aspects of SS basses and how that affects tone.

Post pics of your bass when it's none. Local rules state: no pics, no bass.
 
#232
sifi76 said:
I'm looking at the moment at a handmade gibson sg style bass, from Weta guitars, a local luthier in Wellington NZ, it's only got one humbucker though, but it's a select gibson so it sounds like the real deal.

.... Is there anything I should be aware of in terms of switching from longscale to shortscale? Do I need to be using special strings if I replace them? Is shortscale ok in terms of drop tuning, or even a straight DGCF or does it have issues when you tune down? and how does short scale handle things like phase switching etc? Does anyone who owns a SS use a DI box or amp modeller to clean up the muddiness found in most SS basses?
Click to expand...

Not familiar with the builder...
1- Short scales generally sound different from 34 inchers. That is THE thing you should be aware of, but surely you already are since you used to like Jack so much... BTW, there's another great and famous Jack who played also a short scale: Casady :)
2-You won't have any problems in finding short scale strings (yes, you will need short scales). Detuning is possible if the bass is well built and strings have a proper tension to start with.
3- Muddy sound is not inherent to all short scales, you can get as clear as you want depending on the pickups (mainly, there are other factors as well...).
Want it clear? Stay away from traditional Gibson humbucker pups (which on the other hand will make your bass sound like "the real thing" :D
Different pickups can make your sound big, fat AND clear.
 
#239
EduardoK said:
You're damn right I am... have ruined several sets in the past :D
What is your method ?:hiding:
Click to expand...
Just eyeball how much slack ya need and cut it. I'll be honest, I've accidentally cut em too short once or twice, but I use long scale flats on my shorties, and haven't had any problems aside from that.
Definitely not the case with my Alembics; no matter how careful or what brand, I get breakages on the E. The Smith SS are the same price, and I order them in batches, so why not?
Click to expand...
Well, I wasn't saying not to use short scale strings- just that, if you can't have get ahold of em easily, long scale work just fine. At least for me.
 

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