The things I hate about loving short scales

[Super D]

Mustang Not highend enough for the pro minded. Don't tell these players.

PlayersTomethy Furse and, more recently, Rhys Webb of The Horrors and Miss Frankie Stein of The Mission Creeps use all-black Mustang Basses.
Trevor Bolder of David Bowie and The Spiders from Mars used a Mustang Bass among many other basses.
Pete Agnew of Nazareth (band) used a Mustang bass on LP Loud 'n' Proud 1973.
Lisa Brigatino, formerly of Lez Zeppelin, frequently uses a Mustang.
Barry Bronson from Gear Wire reviews, is usually seen playing a Fender Mustang Bass when reviewing popular Bass amps.
Holger Czukay of German band Can used the Fender Mustang extensively in the 1970s.
Jason Falkner, solo musician, uses a black mid '70s Mustang Bass.
Jesse Murphy, formerly of New York City band Brazilian Girls uses a Mustang Bass.
Tim Foreman of Switchfoot presently uses this bass for live presentations.
Nicolas Godin of the French band Air uses a red Mustang Bass on tour and when recording.
Clive Griffiths of Patto used a Mustang bass for most of his tenure with the band.
Brian Hill of The Postmarks currently uses this bass for live performances as well as recording.
Gary Jarman of The Cribs used a Mustang Bass for The Cribs' self titled debut album, and extensively live around this period.
John Deacon of Queen occasionally used one and also had one as a backup for his Fender Precision Bass.
Jeffrey Hammond of Jethro Tull is pictured playing one in the Living in the Past album.
Alan Lancaster of Status Quo used Mustang and Musicmaster basses.
Denny Laine occasionally used one during his time with Wings, when lead singer Paul McCartney would switch from bass to piano or guitar.
John Linnell of They Might Be Giants plays a Mustang Bass in the music video for "The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)", although his role in the band is almost always that of keyboardist or saxophonist.
Colin Moulding of XTC used a Musicmaster bass in 1979.
Chris Murphy of Sloan frequently uses a Mustang bass.
Dee Dee Ramone played a Musicmaster bass during the early days of the Ramones.
Fred Smith of Television (band) used a Mustang bass during the band's early days.
Thompson Twins used a Musicmaster bass on "Hold Me Now" in 1983.
Wally Waller of the Pretty Things used a Mustang bass from 1967 to approximately 1976, including on the band's seminal albums S.F. Sorrow and Parachute.
Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads used a Mustang bass in the early days of the band.
Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys used it in the video of Good Vibrations, and probably he used it on 1967 album Smiley Smile, too.
Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones used Mustang basses in the late-1960s and early-1970s.
Bill Church of Montrose used a Mustang in the early days.
Roger Glover of Deep Purple used a Mustang on the Fireball album.
Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler of The Chariot plays a white Mustang on the band current tour supporting the album Wars and Rumors of Wars.
Patrick of The Illegal Kind plays a Mustang bass.
Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth can be seen playing a Musicmaster bass in the video for the band's song "Bull in the Heather."
Todd Ingram (Brandon Routh) from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World plays a Fender Mustang bass with the fictional band the Clash at Demonhead.
Zombierella Girl from Messer_Chups plays a daphne blue Mustang bass.
Justin Davidson of Mass Transit and Honey and the Lion played a custom Mustang Bass on the song "Sucker for Lovin'" from Mass Transit's 2006 self-titled release.
Max Greenhalgh played a Bronco bass in the early days of Tan Sister Radio.

 

[AntAir267]

I really do hope Squier makes a short scale P-Bass. I can no longer stand my P-basses length and would love it if they made a short scale version.

 

[Pilgrim]

I really do hope Squier makes a short scale P-Bass. I can no longer stand my P-basses length and would love it if they made a short scale version.

I suggest you boogie out to your local Fender dealer and grab a Squier Jag with the P/J pickups. Turn the J pickup down and you're in P-bass heaven. All you need is to dump the rounds that come on it and install Labella flats.

If defrocked guitarists like short scale basses, that's no reason to sell them short. As has been pointed out in this thread, plenty of highly accomplished bassists (including the estimable group posting here) enjoy playing them!

Not only do I like short scale, but I picked up a silver-bodied Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar with P/J pickups and a black-colored headstock today...$169 and a 15% discount sale...total price $144.50!

Stock photo:

 

[AntAir267]

I suggest you boogie out to your local Fender dealer and grab a Squier Jag with the P/J pickups. Turn the J pickup down and you're in P-bass heaven. All you need is to dump the rounds that come on it and install Labella flats.

Not only do I like short scale, but I picked up a silver-bodied Squier Jag with P/J pickups and a black-colored headstock today...$169 and a 15% discount sale...total price $144.50!

If defrocked guitarists like short scale basses, that's no reason to sell them short. As has been pointed out in this thread, plenty of highly accomplished bassists (including the estimable group posting here) enjoy playing them!

I've heard a ton about these recently and am definitively going to try one out next time I go to Guitar Center.

 

[Pet Sounds]

Whatever hate exists probably is a holdover from times past, as they do have a history of being marketed as student basses.

 

[cassius987]

I used to laugh at short scales until I plugged my dad's fake Hofner into a good rig and heard how f***ing huge it could sound (and then saw Chris Wood pull off bigger and better stuff with the real thing). I have completely abandoned the idea that a longer scale is better, after playing 35'' and 37'' scale instruments that left me cold and now more than a handful of 30'' scale instruments that really spoke to me. My main bass is a Ric, which is bordering on a short scale at 33.25''.

 

[Meddle]

Throw enough money at any bass and you can get round a specific problem. However I don't like the (typical) slack feel of shortscale basses with conventional strings on it. Even a CIJ Mustang I played felt like it had lower string tension which results in the notes going "blub blub blub" instead of sounding good.

 

[Sub41]

To be honest, it is only some of the inexpensive ones that are marked that way. I have yet to see a...Gibson's marked that way.

Check out the sales pitch on their SS Thunderbird. This straight from the Gibson site...

"perfect for players with shorter arms and smaller hands, beginners and students, or those who are more familiar with 6-string guitar scale lengths"

It just seems like they're trying to limit their market and sales when they throw that in there.

 

[selowitch]

Why the heck doesn't Fender make just one medium-scale solidbody bass??? Medium scale (32") seems to me the perfect compromise. It sounds almost just like a long-scale but is even more comfortable for my body and hands than a shortie.

 

[HosMan]

Wait a minute! I am a student,by god! *lightbulb fizzles,pops*
My sole reason for getting my ss VM Mustang? Always loved how the Fender Mustang looked.Hell,I never even really "got" the whole concept of short/med/long scaled instruments(yep,stoopid n dumm).Absolutely LOVE them!Esp. for learning(again) and small HosMan hands play quicker on ss.Maybe we ss bass players subconsciously ashamed of smaller-sized necks and 3-5 less frets? Ashamed of my anemic skills on the bass,yes...lol

 

[SBassman]

The marketing of short scales as student or child basses is simply lazy and unimaginative marketing.

A well built short scale can do anything a long scale can.
All while being incredibly more comfortable and fun to play for some.

And we don't need no steenkin 30 inch scale.

Great sounding, ridiculously fun to play 25.5 scale guitar-sized bass:

 

[UncleClyde]

I'm waiting for my first SSB from Warmoth. Having played for over 30 years with a 34" I was skeptical, when I played my first SSB I loved it. I do have small hands & a bad back, so less weight & easier reach was most enjoyable. I'm going with a SS Z bass, Black Korina body, Wenge neck, RW fret, Bartolini pup, Schaller bridge. I'll post pics. of the build soon.

 

[ZenG]

Let's take an arbitrary selection of 20 rock songs where some used a shortscale bass and some didn't.

Now, without knowing which is which....play them all and listen.

Can you tell which ones used a short scale? (Assuming that you know nothing about the band's instrument choice).

 

[Herrick]

Let's take an arbitrary selection of 20 rock songs where some used a shortscale bass and some didn't.

Now, without knowing which is which....play them all and listen.

Can you tell which ones used a short scale? (Assuming that you know nothing about the band's instrument choice).

I couldn't.

 

[selowitch]

Scale is just one aspect of the instrument, and not a terribly significant one at that. If you like it, play it and enjoy and to heck with anyone who tries to discourage you.

 

[knumbskull]

Bah, who cares what people think? Enjoy!

Enjoy the fun, the playability, the huge low end, the reduced weight (sometimes), the low priced options...

 

[AltGrendel]

I program as my day job, when I type so much that my wrists hurt (not ofter, but often enough) I love having an SS around.

 

[El Pelusa]

My main player is a Squier bronco. People always question it. Is that a guitar? Why are you playing it upside down?? Then they hear the beast and all their prejudices falls away. It's like a P bass on crack!!

 

[bassdude51]

Longer is always better!

 

[RED J]

I agree, the marketing seems to be 40 years behind when it comes to SS's.

there are a lot of new players who have no preconcieved notions about scale.

People can think what they want. Their ignorance does not change my preferences or behavior wne it comes to choosing basses

Yup yup and yup. Don't let those wallowing in ignorance make you feel bad unless it's pity for them.