what is best or your favorite short scale basses:

Birdsong. Doesn't get any better.

 

I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on one of these...



Not sure if it's the best, but that's so subjective anyway!

 

My Fender Mustang Bass LE PJ is one of the best sounding and easiest playing basses I've ever owned.

My Squier CV Mustang Bass is a close second.

My Hofner Ignition Club Bass sees the most use with our jazzy duo. It fits well there.

My early '60s Silvertone Model 1444 by Danelectro is a favorite but mostly retired.

Maybe more importantly, my favorite strings are D'Addario nylon tapewounds which are on all of the above.

 

+1 - waiting on my 5th Birdsong (2006, 2007, 2005/2014*, 2015, and "soon")

*not an order, but "Richard the Test Bass", Birdsong's old shop R&D instrument. Built in 2005, pieced back together and in my hands 2014. Lots of extra pickup holes, mismatched hardware, note to me in Sharpie on the back.

 

I love my first Birdsong so much, I bought another. Then realised I kind of wasted my money as I only play the first one. I have no interest or need to ever play another bass ever again.
But one is fretless and one is fretted so I guess its ok to have two.

 

I've got six or seven , but just picked up a Gibson Les Paul Jr DC bass , and it's in the running . It's one great little bass ...

 

I like the Hofner Ignition series so they're OK for me. I tried the Beatle and Club versions but chose the Club version because I prefer the body style.

 

My two favorites are my Gibson SB-300 and Gretsch Junior Jet.

Both get a lot of play time.

 

1984 Kramer "The Thin White Duke": current favorite!

 

I love my Supro Huntingon. Serek makes amazing stuff. Really enjoyed the little time I spent messing with G&L's new line. Gretsch's short-scale bass is great.

 

Danelectro Longhorn Pro. Weighs only 6 lbs. Lots of tones. Easy access to every fret. Surprisingly versatile. Bought it to practice with but ended up gigging with it often if I have a long (3 hours+) show or a tiny stage. And it looks like nothing else!

 

Alien Audio

 

Jerry Jones Longhorn... Can't get them as easily anymore!

 

I have seen some Serek basses that got my attention.

 

My current fav.

Lately I've been looking at the Ibanez Mezzo 32" 5 string. and the D Lakin 30" 4 string Really like the 32" scale Conklin Woody, but @ well over 3k, a bit much for my budget

With so many companies now making shorties, and builders like Maruszczyk, that offer just about any bass they make in short/med scale, there are a whole lot more choices for the short scale players.

 

I love my CIJ Mustang, but I'm severely impressed by the Bronco bass. It's already a decent bass and with a few upgrades is a major player.