The things I hate about loving short scales

[AntAir267]

I recently come to the realization that I love short scale basses. Very comfortable to play, and a lot more fun too. Unfortunately, I've seen quite a few cons of this. For example, most product descriptions always say "great for a small child, or a person with small hands." I am not a small child, nor do I have small hands and I am positive there are others like me who the marketers are ignoring. The only description I've seen that mentions regular people who like short scale is for the Fender Mustang Second, they are pretty hard to find. And yes, I understand googling them usually works. What I'm talking about is in pawn shops and music stores. In regular music stores I see about 1-3 short scales compared to the 20-30 long scale basses on the wall. Pawn shops typically have about 0 or a terrible Sears brand bass from the 70s. It's as if they don't exist! Third, is not being taken seriously. I was at Milano's (local music store) the other day purchasing my Bronco and the man asked me if I had previously played guitar before taking up bass. I said no, and he started ranting about the superiority of long scale basses. I bought the Bronco, but he tried to convince to buy a Mustang instead (more money in his wallet) after he talked about its inferiority.

What's the deal with people hating on short scale basses?

 

[Ric5]

I used to like short scale basses. But I go used to 34" and now the short scale feels like a toy.

 

[Super D]

Ant I agree, the marketing seems to be 40 years behind when it comes to SS's. Granted they are not as popular, but I love my Mustang and I am currently modding a Bronco for fun. I perfer the SS so much that I am selling all my std basses.

 

[de la mocha]

I don't appreciate the fact that they seem to market short scale basses as "beginer" basses. That's a turn off...:scowl:

 

[notverygood]

They are becoming more popular every day. the new jag's from Squier and the SS Thunderbird coming out should help as well. Warmoth has started a short scale line too. I think there are a lot of new players who have no preconcieved notions about scale.

 

[-=DanAtkinson=-]

Birdsong basses are certainly not "toys".

 

[MonkeyBass]

Les Claypool's main Carl Thompson 4-string walnut bass is short scale. 32"

Enough said.

 

[AntAir267]

Les Claypool's main Carl Thompson 4-string walnut bass is short scale. 32"

Enough said.

Not to burst your bubble 'cause I like Les Claypool, but that's medium scale.

 

[MonkeyBass]

Not to burst your bubble 'cause I like Les Claypool, but that's medium scale.

Oh...

Bubble burst.

Still...

 

[Pilgrim]

I have a half-dozen of each, including a couple of medium scales. I switch back and forth with no problem.

People can think what they want. Their ignorance does not change my preferences or behavior wne it comes to choosing basses. My Bronco with a TV Jones pickup is a very nice bass.

 

[Dark Horse]

I love shorties and play them on gigs all the time. Played my Longhorn on 2 gigs yesterday, in fact. Yeah, I still love my P Basses and such, but lately the short scale basses have been getting all the action.

Play what you like.... ignore what others think.

 

[devo_stevo]

I like the feel of a short scale too. In fact I'm in the process of building one right now. 30.75" scale with lots of Birdseye maple and purpleheart. It doesn't feel or look like a toy to me.

 

[electracoyote]

most product descriptions always say "great for a small child, or a person with small hands

I find this especially amusing, because I'm 6'4", and one reason I specifically play short scale basses in my retro country band is they actually look BIGGER. I play only hollows and semi-hollowbodies, 335-style with big f-holes, so they look more like big guitars and more proportioned to me.

I was at Milano's (local music store) the other day purchasing my Bronco and the man asked me if I had previously played guitar before taking up bass.

Well, there is a little truth to this. I'm a guitar player who also plays bass, and a short scale bass sure feels more like a guitar than a bass to me. Though I'm a pretty versatile bassist and play every kind of bass under the sun, it's not uncommon for guitar players to gravitate toward the short scale bass. That's probably what prompted the clerk's stereotyped comment.

Anyway, shorties rule! Rock on!

 

[ejaggers]

This is definitely not a toy. I have played more gigs with this in my life than my 72 jazz, AFN P, Tbird, and Axcellorator combined. It's the most comfortable bass I've ever played, especially when I play and sing lead:

http://s676.photobucket.com/albums/vv127/eslie_jaggers/?action=view&current=CoronadoII.jpg&newest=1

 

[RED J]

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=192569&d=1293199767

Beginner Bass indeed. (chuckle)

 

[hdracer]

To be honest, it is only some of the inexpensive ones that are marked that way. I have yet to see a Birdsong,Alembic, Gretsch (not the Electromatic Junior Jet) or Gibson's marked that way.

 

[Tom Howland]

Played a Jerry Jones short scale for years.
Huge tone, fun to play, well made.

 

[fish slapper]

three words: Rob Allen Mouse

Yes, I get funny looks the first time I get it out of the case. I even had a trumpet player who showed up to our jam ask where the bass player was.

But after the first tune, they don't complain anymore.

Hmmmm, maybe a SS fretted mag bass is in my future...

 

[IronLung1986]

I have a half-dozen of each, including a couple of medium scales. I switch back and forth with no problem.

People can think what they want. Their ignorance does not change my preferences or behavior wne it comes to choosing basses. My Bronco with a TV Jones pickup is a very nice bass.

Squier Custom Shop!! lol

 

[Aussie Player]

I played short scale exclusively from 1971 to 1981.
The basses included a Beatle bass, (of course) couple of 1968 Gibson EB 3's, a 1971 Les Paul and a 1966 EB 2D and an early 70's Fender Music Master bass.

From 1981 to about 1990, I played and Alembic Spoiler and Alembic Distillate Exploiter, both 32" scale (medium) and the EB 2D.

From 1990 to 2002 I used just the EB 2D.

From 2002 to present, I used 2 Fender MIM Precisions, a MIA 5 String Jazz bass, a Warwick Thumb BO, a, ESP 404 Spalted Maple 4 string, an ESP 205 ( I think) 5 string, a Warwick Corvette and the EB 2D.

Now I am thinking of the new Squire Jaguar SS as a back up for the EB 2, as I play the Warwick Thumb with MIM P bass for back up. Although I have done it many times, I no longer want to mix scales at the one job.

My question is.........Is Fender marketing this new SS bass as an exercise to determine market interest?

The Gibson SG is not an EB3 so looses the EB 3 buyer, like me.

The Fender Mustang and all the others are not highend enough for the pro minded. BUT.... if there is enough interest in SS basses overall, perhaps a P and J bass could be issues with 30.75" or 32" scales??????

What do you rekon??