What should I expect after getting a short scale bass?

[RabidMusic]

When I gave up the baseball bat and finally got an Ibanez SR1400 things got so much easier. I finally had a bass that I could get my fingers around. For the first time in my life I had a bass that I could play. I like it so much that I picked up a SR1405. Lately I have been wondering if that is as good as it gets, or can I take another step towards even more comfort while playing. So today I ordered a Gretsch 2220 Junior Bass. I cold not find one within 100 miles to try, so as usual I took a chance that Sweetwater would send me a decent, playable bass.

I would like to have gotten a 5 string but they seem pretty rare in short scale. I did consider the Ibanez GSRM5B2K but the Gretsch seemed to have much better reviews. So I decided that first I should just see if a short scale is an improvement for me, and how big of an improvement. From my research the Gretsch is a decent, cheap bass. Maybe the best of the under $500 crowd. What I am wondering is how people who play short string basses proceed with their previous regular scale basses. Do you continue to play them? Do you have problems moving back and forth? Does short scale feel like a vacation that gets you ready to go back to work, on your regular bass? Will I have problems moving between my short scale 4 string and 5 string regular?

 

[Old Blastard]

I have basses in 34, 32 and 30 and even a couple of 33. On the big ones, I noticed more stress on my old, beat up, tiny fingers. Other than that, playing them isn't much different.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Place a capo on the 2nd fret, and play the bass. It shouldn't feel much different.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

As long as you continue to play your other basses you should have no trouble changing back and forth.
One thing that surprised me is that the short scale seems to have more thump but less harmonics.

 

[J_Bass]

As long as you continue to play your other basses you should have no trouble changing back and forth.
One thing that surprised me is that the short scale seems to have more thump but less harmonics.

I noticed that too, the harmonics sound much better on the 34". But this is just my experience.

I recently purchased a 30" and it is much easier to play. I notice a difference in the E string, it's more powerful in the 34", but it could be the strings. But the 30" has its advantages, I find it easier and more comfortable and the sound is great.

I tend to prefer jazz width necks in the 34", like 38mm. But I noticed that in the 30" I prefer a thicker neck, maybe because it's smaller. My 30" has a 41mm nut and for me it's ideal for the size of the bass.

When I gave up the baseball bat and finally got an Ibanez SR1400 things got so much easier. I finally had a bass that I could get my fingers around. For the first time in my life I had a bass that I could play. I like it so much that I picked up a SR1405. Lately I have been wondering if that is as good as it gets, or can I take another step towards even more comfort while playing. So today I ordered a Gretsch 2220 Junior Bass. I cold not find one within 100 miles to try, so as usual I took a chance that Sweetwater would send me a decent, playable bass.

I would like to have gotten a 5 string but they seem pretty rare in short scale. I did consider the Ibanez GSRM5B2K but the Gretsch seemed to have much better reviews. So I decided that first I should just see if a short scale is an improvement for me, and how big of an improvement. From my research the Gretsch is a decent, cheap bass. Maybe the best of the under $500 crowd. What I am wondering is how people who play short string basses proceed with their previous regular scale basses. Do you continue to play them? Do you have problems moving back and forth? Does short scale feel like a vacation that gets you ready to go back to work, on your regular bass? Will I have problems moving between my short scale 4 string and 5 string regular?

 

[pcake]

i didn't care for the gretsch myself, although i know a lot of people like it - hopefully, OP, you will be one of them. i mention this because i didn't find it typical of my short scale experience. years ago, after i got my first mikro, i ended up with a hofner violin bass, the gretsch and a squier bronco. none of them suited me at that time, but then i really wanted to stick with long scale basses.

today i'm the happy owner of a bronco we put more time into adjusting, and it's darn nice. my MiM mustang sounds great - i love the MiM mustang sound in general. i have my green mikro, which i love, a medium scale ibanez mezzo (nice neck, active EQ), and recently picked up a 24.75" scale smallguitars.com MB2, which is a lot more fun than i expected and perfect for couch playing or days when my right shoulder is hurting more than usual. and i've ordered a short scale SBMM stingray, due to arrive in july.

and i do own a couple 34" scale basses, as well.

the thing is, i have shoulder damage and arthritis in my fingers. obviously less reach is less painful, and the lighter string tension is easy on my aging fingers - although, to be fair, i always preferred extra light strings for increased playability. and that's something you get with shorter scale basses. some people prefer stiff strings and heavy tension, but my fingers were never happy if i played for 4 hours on heavy or non-flexible strings. now i can play for longer than i've been able to for years.

for some kinds of playing, i prefer the 30" scale over the shorter scales, but since i got my 24.75" MB2, i discovered some songs had my fingers really reaching (i'm 5' 3"), which slowed me down, but i never realized it. on the MB2, i can play those songs with ease.

 

[ejaggers]

My 1st two basses were SS starting as a kid, and at that age I didn't understand scale.
Years later, I got a Jazz and hated it, because it took too long to play w/o looking at my fingers.

I've always prefer SS because I had to sing in almost all my bands.
SS is perfect for that to me.

I can play both LS and SS, but will only play LS if I have to.
I've been putting off getting a 5 for this very reason.

But I'm am going to get one when I find a steal,
and if I don't play it much, no harm, no foul.

Lord knows I don't need another SS, so I passed on that Gretsch.
But I could have gotten it for $100, so it was a huge mistake.

Bottom line, you're gonna love it, I'd bet money on it.

So what should you expect?
Think back to your first time, it's kinnda like that.

057912

 

[Verne Andru]

I switch from 34" 5-string to 30" shortscale 4 and a 6 to 7-string guitar right down to mandolin. Each instrument has it's own neck profile and I've had no problems adapting. Each instrument has its own thing going on, which I like.

 

[bobyoung53]

When I gave up the baseball bat and finally got an Ibanez SR1400 things got so much easier. I finally had a bass that I could get my fingers around. For the first time in my life I had a bass that I could play. I like it so much that I picked up a SR1405. Lately I have been wondering if that is as good as it gets, or can I take another step towards even more comfort while playing. So today I ordered a Gretsch 2220 Junior Bass. I cold not find one within 100 miles to try, so as usual I took a chance that Sweetwater would send me a decent, playable bass.

I would like to have gotten a 5 string but they seem pretty rare in short scale. I did consider the Ibanez GSRM5B2K but the Gretsch seemed to have much better reviews. So I decided that first I should just see if a short scale is an improvement for me, and how big of an improvement. From my research the Gretsch is a decent, cheap bass. Maybe the best of the under $500 crowd. What I am wondering is how people who play short string basses proceed with their previous regular scale basses. Do you continue to play them? Do you have problems moving back and forth? Does short scale feel like a vacation that gets you ready to go back to work, on your regular bass? Will I have problems moving between my short scale 4 string and 5 string regular?

I have 30.5", 33.25", and 34" scale basses and once you get accustomed to a bass as long as you pick it up here and there it will feel normal.

 

[GodPlayedBass]

What I am wondering is how people who play short string basses proceed with their previous regular scale basses. Do you continue to play them? Do you have problems moving back and forth? Does short scale feel like a vacation that gets you ready to go back to work, on your regular bass? Will I have problems moving between my short scale 4 string and 5 string regular?

I sold my ibanez short scale but yeah, it was weird going back and forth. When i went to the short scale i would end up reaching too far on the fretboard because I was used to the notes being further away. Right now i favor 33" scales. But I wouldn't be opposed to a 30 inch. Maybe try the hofner violin bass by ignition. The ibanez short scale is 28 in

 

[Killing Floor]

I think you'll find it isn't as long.

 

[dmt]

What I am wondering is how people who play short string basses proceed with their previous regular scale basses. Do you continue to play them? Do you have problems moving back and forth? Does short scale feel like a vacation that gets you ready to go back to work, on your regular bass?

I split my playing time about half and half between a regular MIM Precision and a short scale (currently my SG bass, formerly my Mustang). Oh yeah, and some time on a regular 34" scale acoustic bass. I have other basses (4 regular scale, 2 short scale in total), but it generally ends up that mainly two get played during any given period of time. I have no problems switching back and forth, but then again I also play guitar. Actually, there have been times when it was initially awkward for me to switch from 24.75" and 25.5" on guitar, but after a while you forget about the difference. Such awkwardness only occurs if you stick with just one scale for too long (like many months, or even years), but you can always adjust again soon enough.

Re: Does short scale does feel like a vacation that gets me ready to go back to work?

Well, for me this is complicated by that I consider the Precision to have my [generally] ideal sound, and the Precision happens to be full scale. So in that sense, I’m getting away from my "real" sound (argueably, "work") when I play short scale. Meanwhile, a short scale is easier on the body than full scale, so in that sense it can feel like a vacation. But, I have no particular attraction to full scale - in fact, kinda the opposite. I don’t think I’ll ever buy a 34" scale again (but remember, I already own 4). It’s just that I love the Precision and it happens to be 34" scale. Otherwise, if I’m not playing a Precision, I’d generally much rather it be a 30" scale instrument.

But, my Jazz is fun to mess with and I really like my acoustic, so 34" still has its place. But, but, 30" generally is the way to go for me - just easier on the back, neck, shoulder, forearm and hand for me, and the Mustang gets me enough of the P sound to satisfy. And after some mods, the SG is giving me something different tonally that I’m really liking, and the short scale is a bit freeing on the fingers (a plus and minus - the wide neck of the P slows me down a hair in a way that has its benefits). IOTW, depending on your needs, both scales can have their place

 

[pcake]

i forgot to mention -

i go from 34" to 32" to 30" to 28.6" without a problem. it does take me a couple minutes to acclimate when going from any other scale to my 24.75" scale bass or from that little bass to any of my other basses, but i've only had it for a week or so, so maybe that will change.

 

[pingvuiini]

I've been playing my Gold Tone fretless uke basses (23" scale) for almost 3 years now and I play them 90% of the time over my Status Graphite fretless 6 string. I only play the Status because it has a low B. I am having a custom built 5 string fretless uke bass made at this very moment and when it's finished I think the Status will not be played at all anymore. The Gold Tones are very small, light, sound big and are a total blast to play but there are many idiosyncrasies to deal with (i.e. rubber strings, extremely accurate intonation, etc). I think the fact that the Status is a 6 string makes it more difficult for me to play rather than the scale length.

 

[cnltb]

What should I expect after getting a short scale bass?
Your regular gigbags will be a little too long.

 

[knumbskull]

 

[knumbskull]

Serious answer: i don’t find it hard to switch between different scale lengths. It’s even quite fun to have the variety. YMMV and enjoy!

 

[Volker Kirstein]

... What I am wondering is how people who play short string basses proceed with their previous regular scale basses. Do you continue to play them? Do you have problems moving back and forth? Does short scale feel like a vacation that gets you ready to go back to work, on your regular bass? Will I have problems moving between my short scale 4 string and 5 string regular?

Yes.
No.
Huh?
Probably not.

I (currently) have 16 basses, ranging in scale from 20.5" ADGC to 34" BEAD. I have no issues changing scale/tuning basses on the fly. I find 30", with a jazz (38mm) nut, and a slim profile, to be the easiest for me to play. What works best for you is something only you can work out.

 

[jamro217]

The only thing that might mess with your mind is if you have a few odd scale fretless basses in the mix. Going from a 34" fretted to a fretless Rick (33 1/4") is close enough of a match to ruin your intonation if you aren't paying attention. That's usually around midway through the third set when you're tired. If you are familiar with your instruments it shouldn't be a problem. It's like having a pair of work boots, sneakers and slippers. They all feel different but you recognize each for what they are.

 

[40Hz]

The basses I own have: 30.0, 30.5, 32.0, 34.0, 34.5, and 35.0 inch scales.

I shift back and forth among them with no issues whatsoever.

YMMV. But I personally think that unless you have a physical disability or medical issue to deal with, scale length is only as big a concern as you decide to make of it.