very tall guy... short scale

[bassbully]

I'm a big guy 6'1" and 265 and love my SS. I look kind of goofy but who cares they rock! get out there, play it and have fun.

 

[tuBass]

tonight I A/B'ed the short scale and the t-40. The short scale with the flats sounded a little richer and clearer, but the t-40 with half rounds had more highs and growl.

my wife liked the short scale sound hands down. I'm going to play it at practice on saturday and see what the rest of the band thinks.

 

[BassManPatsFan]

I'm 6'2" 190 lbs and I only play short scales. Both of my basses are semi-hollows with big bodies (Guild Starfires), so they look bigger than your average short scale bass.

 

[tuBass]

Well so much for that....

Had band practice today, and I started with the short scale. Didn't sound right. It was loud, but not clear. I played two songs and switched back to the t40. Oh my... the peavey beat the bronco like it stole something! It's strange because when you play them both by themselves the short scale has a tone that would seem to be better, until you put it in a mix

I guess the short scale gets hung on the wall of the bedroom for when my wife really wants to hear me play "black magic woman" she loves that song, if you know what I mean....

 

[xaxxat]

Well so much for that....

Had band practice today, and I started with the short scale. Didn't sound right. It was loud, but not clear. I played two songs and switched back to the t40. Oh my... the peavey beat the bronco like it stole something! It's strange because when you play them both by themselves the short scale has a tone that would seem to be better, until you put it in a mix

I guess the short scale gets hung on the wall of the bedroom for when my wife really wants to hear me play "black magic woman" she loves that song, if you know what I mean....

You can always find a compromise. Here's a Bronco/T40 I had mocked up. It's all apart again, but sounded like it was on steroids when it was together.

 

[tuBass]

if I had an extra t40 pickup, I would do exactly that. that's a cool picture!

I'll keep my eyes open for a pickup for sale, thanks

 

[RickeyC]

Just do it.. I doubt anyone's going to fight you!

 

[xaxxat]

I converted that pup to a 4-wire and wired it up for a 5 way switch. It goes single, single, parallel, series, series-out of phase.

 

[soxhats]

I have no idea who Bakithi Kumalo is and I'm too lazy to Google him. I presume he is a big fella. However, the one bass player I ever saw play a U-Bass was over 6' and not exactly skinny. Nobody saw a problem with it.

Me, I'm a short guy with long arms. My arms like regular scale. My short, arthritic fingers like my SS Jag.

Like everyone else said, the audience thinks you're playing a guitar (Hey, isn't there a rule against profanity on TB?) anyway, so what's the problem?

Kumalo is Paul Simon's bass player. A large man from South Africa.

 

[Herrick]

Tubass, I don't think you look awkward at all. Seems like you're very comfortable with that bass.

 

[bklynbass]

I'm 6' 5" and love playing my shortscale basses. They have a fatter sound you just can't out of a longscale bass. As tall bass players with good taste, looking a little dorky holding them is one of the few crosses we have to bear, but the less self conscious you are about it, the less dorky you will look.

 

[neo 7]

Threaten your guitarist with bodily harm if he doesn't switch to one of these

Invalid Link Removed

 

[SolarMan]

Threaten your guitarist with bodily harm if he doesn't switch to one of these

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LOL!

That thing looks like fun!

 

[khutch]

If you like the bass just play it, it looks fine on you. Some years ago I got a 20 inch folding bicycle to commute to work with because the local train lines allow only folding bicycles on rush hour trains. It looks like a kid's bike, I look like a clown on it, and all the 12 year old boys sarcastically shout "nice bike, mister!" as I ride past. But I get to work on time, I've lost 15 pounds, and I am in far better shape now. So I am fine with all that. Trust me, your bass looks a lot better than that on you!

Ken

 

[pgolliher]

The most accurate thing people said here is that most people don't know the difference between a guitar or bass. This is a fact. Look at artists renditions of guitars and basses, they never get them right. Yes- your band might rib you, but no one else will even know that you are playing bass. It looks like you put time and money into that bass putting in good pick ups and you like the sound. Play it. - 5'6" guy, reaching to tune the G.

 

[dralionux]

If it plays well and sounds good, I'd say rock it, appearances be damned.

I'm 5'4" and I play a Peavey Axcelerator 5 (35" scale).