THE SHORT SCALE BASS THREAD!

[EduardoK]

ouch, seems there are a couple of downsides to playing ss,

I just don't see those downsides unless you have really huge fat hands and the bass has a 15mm string spacing (... Stanley Clarke does not seem to have problems with that either )
Thomastic-Infeld makes great short scale strings and they are in Austria, closer to you...
I agree spending $50 on a set of strings seems like a lot of $.
If you're worried on saving $20 on strings maybe the bass ain't worth it either
Flatwounds will last a lifetime...

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.

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.

Most strings (short or not) need to be cut to the proper length. But you have to cut them at the silk wraps (or the inner wounding if they have no silk ends).
IMOE If you just cut a long scale string trying to make it fit on a short scale, chances are the string will break or it's outer wound will unwrap.
Thought you used a special "trick" to prevent this from happening.

 

[MonetBass]

Got this one for my son from fellow TB'er GregoryC. It's a dinky one: 25 1/4" scale. But man, it sounds huge! The neices and nephews had fun playing on it during the birthday party yesterday.

 

[Showdown]

Most strings (short or not) need to be cut to the proper length. But you have to cut them at the silk wraps (or the inner wounding if they have no silk ends).
IMOE If you just cut a long scale string trying to make it fit on a short scale, chances are the string will break or it's outer wound will unwrap.
Thought you used a special "trick" to prevent this from happening.

I agree with this. I cut a set of long scale TI flats down to fit my Epi Rumblekat and they worked fine - for a while. After about 6 months (which isn't long for TI flats) the E string would no longer stay in tune. IMO if you need strings and can only find long scale it will work, but plan on changing them regularly to avoid problems.

 

[sifi76]

yeah I think I have the string thing figured out because the luthier runs the shop he sells his basses in, and as such he loads them with new short scale strings, so he carries new stock of them all the time to use on making his basses.

 

[sifi76]

okay, so in terms of playing shortscale, I fiddle on a guitar when I can't my hands on a bass, like say at parties etc, and I play the top four strings, along to whatever guitarist is playing and it's a breeze. Now the thing is, is that anything like the playability of a ss bass? I'm aware obviously the strings are shorter on a gat and the spaces between the strings are shorter still (something I wished they wouldn't be lol) but If I can handle the old 'faux' bass like that, a short scale should be no problems right?

don't worry I am gonna buy one of these eventually.. or you guys ill beat me over the head with a tree I guess.. just not a walnut tree, no sense wasting good tone wood.

 

[A9X]

I find it really annoying to play a guitar like that. Physically, it's much closer to a LS bass to play a SS. To get an idea for feel, capo at the second fret and detune two on your 34/35" basses to get a 30.5/31.3" SS. It won't be quite the same because of the releif etc being wrong, but it's a five minute reversible test.

 

[sifi76]

yeah I tried that, felt just like anormal bass cept the neck kinda ended short (gee no kidding), does a short scale or medium scale normally have smaller spaced frets or am I just imagining that?

Oh and I also found a really good deal on a epiphone EB0 bass in see-through heritage cherry, anyone think these are a good ss bass?

 

[sifi76]

that's the eb0 semi-hollow viola bass (with the painted on f hole), not the sg one.. I like it cause it reminds me of the gibson model felix pap used to play in mountain

 

[A9X]

yeah I tried that, felt just like anormal bass cept the neck kinda ended short (gee no kidding), does a short scale or medium scale normally have smaller spaced frets or am I just imagining that?

That's how it'll feel, just like a LS played from 3rd position with a bit lower string tension. On a SS the frets are closer together, but the interval between them is the same proportionally, that's why the experiment worked.

 

[cervusflies]

yeah I tried that, felt just like anormal bass cept the neck kinda ended short (gee no kidding), does a short scale or medium scale normally have smaller spaced frets or am I just imagining that?

Oh and I also found a really good deal on a epiphone EB0 bass in see-through heritage cherry, anyone think these are a good ss bass?

I've played these Epi eb0 basses on several occasions.
Two words.

Fire Wood.

I told my local GC what I was looking for and in two months found a Gibson eb0 "Player" for $400. NOTHING compares for the price. And it OOZES MOJO!

 

[sifi76]

oh yeah I meant an eb1 by the way.. man I sound like a bloody amature lol

 

[sifi76]

Good news! Just bought this year Epiphone EB1 2000 baby for a little under $200 US. It might not be a gibson but running through my amp it had the sound I was after and it felt great to play. I have contacted Fred Hammon and I'm getting a darkstar replacement pup sent to me, so soon it's going to be sounding similar to jack's EB1. It may not be completely short scale but 32" still counts in this thread hopefully. Anyway here are the pics of her. THANKS FOR THE ADVICE GUYS!!

 

[Pennydreadful]

Nice score, sifi!

Most strings (short or not) need to be cut to the proper length. But you have to cut them at the silk wraps (or the inner wounding if they have no silk ends).
IMOE If you just cut a long scale string trying to make it fit on a short scale, chances are the string will break or it's outer wound will unwrap.
Thought you used a special "trick" to prevent this from happening.

I've never had any ill effects from cutting long-scale strings short. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, just that no problems have manifested for me. Maybe it's something I do that I'm not aware of- like how I wrap the strings around the pegs, or something like that. I dunno.

 

[randomhitz]

A shoulder injury has forced me to consider moving to a short scale bass. I purchased an SX SS jazz and am wondering if a different pickup/string combo would give me more note definition on the low end of the E string. I believe the bass came with D'adarrio XLs. I'm liking the comfort of the short scale, so I'm up for trying whatever is necessary to try and make this a pro quality instrument. I want a basically vintage J tone and am not opposed to the idea of flats, especially if I gained a little string tension in the process. I feel like the overtone series over the lower notes produced by the current pickup/string combo makes it hard to distinguish the actual note compared to to my 34" basses. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[erochelle77]

I'm not sure if this counts as short scale, but it's 32"

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[pbass2]

For me, a short-scale Longhorn with flats (in my case a Jerry Jones that I adore) is part of my "if I could only keep three basses" quiver---a P, some kind of J, and the 'horn. If it wasn't the horn it would be a Hofner.
Gotta have one hollow or semi-hollow shorty IMHO, in particular with flats. It amazes some folks how when I do my "faux upright" thing, I use the littlest bass I own . . . .

 

[EduardoK]

erochelle77: although technically a 32" could be considered by some as a medium scale, I would personally include them under the "short scale" label. I find 32" to be a great compromise (if built well), they keep the "strength, focus and fullness" (for lack of better words) of a 34" and at the same time they add playability much like a 30".

And I have to agree with pbass2, JJ Longhorns are amazing basses which I'd say most players tend to overlook. Hofners are... well... they always sound like Hofners, and string spacing is too narrow and neck is too round IMO. Jerry Jones basses, either strung with flats or rounds, are so more playable and versatile.

 

[cdaniel]

This one is a Stagg, made in China. I got it as a starter for my son. It's surprisingly nice to play and sounds good for the $190 new I paid.

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[rfclef]

Time to revive this thread a little:

My short scale Lo Ryder was sounding a little anemic, a little thin without the punch I am looking for... I replaced the tuners, and am putting new pickups in it. I am thinking some thicker strings might help... does that sound reasonable? It is a short scale with tune-o-matic type bridge and a string through body... Any suggestions?

 

[drbassman]

Wow, I just found this thread, very cool! Here are my short scales and I love them all for their unique qualities. They are very different.

The Thunder Jet on the right is my main rock bass (along with a couple T-Birds)....

Here are my SS HB basses....

And finally, a Mustang I bought to reifnish!!! And man does it need it!!!!!