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What's driving the shortscale revival?

#202
Steve Fox said:
I think I had that exact one in my SW cart earlier this week but it sold before I completed my order! I love that color but c’est la vie. I’ll just have to enjoy the arctic white one instead!


Happy thumping!
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The white was my second choice, but I would be tempted to black it out and I don't wanna change these tuners. I don't normally like reds, either, but this aubergine really grabbed me. It's like the red version of their current Sherwood Green. Choosing the right pickguard is going to be super difficult. I am thinking gold pearloid or something swirly with purples and burgundies. :thumbsdown::greedy:
 
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#203
stelles75 said:
The white was my second choice, but I would be tempted to black it out and I don't wanna change these tuners. I don't normally like reds, either, but this aubergine really grabbed me. It's like the red version of their current Sherwood Green. Choosing the right pickguard is going to be super difficult. I am thinking gold pearloid or something swirly with purples and burgundies. :thumbsdown::greedy:
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That’s going to look slick!
 
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#204
Just a side note on these things... I really wish Fender listed their pickup ratings and provided audio samples and whatnot. It was very difficult choosing between the Vintera, Road Worn (those lollis *drool*) and the AmPerf. My main concern was the quality of these goofy little split coils (which sound super neat). If I had more confidence that I wouldn't be hunting for a replacement, I would have gone with the Road Worn (and I hate relics). It has the best overall features aside from the lone pickup. I have a newer Fender Jazz and I *know* the pickups in the US model will live up to the youtube demos (pretty sure anyway). Plus, you get a bonus J!
 
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#205
stelles75 said:
Just a side note on these things... I really wish Fender listed their pickup ratings and provided audio samples and whatnot. It was very difficult choosing between the Vintera, Road Worn (those lollis *drool*) and the AmPerf. My main concern was the quality of these goofy little split coils (which sound super neat). If I had more confidence that I wouldn't be hunting for a replacement, I would have gone with the Road Worn (and I hate relics). It has the best overall features aside from the lone pickup. I have a newer Fender Jazz and I *know* the pickups in the US model will live up to the youtube demos (pretty sure anyway). Plus, you get a bonus J!
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I wanted to want the JMJ more. I’ve always had better experiences with Duncan pickups than what Fenders typically come stock with, and frankly if I were to ever buy a signature bass that dudes name on it might just sway me. I just can’t ever bring myself to buy a relic-ed instrument. If I want my bass beaten up I’ll do it myself the way Lemmy intended.
 
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#206
Afaik, the US pups are vintage-style, somewhat overwound. At worst, it might underperform in the output department slightly compared to most of my other basses, which are hot af, and my preamp will take care of any deficiencies. On the demos I watched, including the Fender ones, it sounds significantly more muscley than the Vintera or Squier. I had a harder time telling the difference between those two, at least.

Mine should be arriving today. Congrats on our basses!! :woot::woot::hyper::hyper::bassist:
 
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#207
stelles75 said:
Afaik, the US pups are vintage-style, somewhat overwound. At worst, it might underperform in the output department slightly compared to most of my other basses, which are hot af, and my preamp will take care of any deficiencies. On the demos I watched, including the Fender ones, it sounds significantly more muscley than the Vintera or Squier. I had a harder time telling the difference between those two, at least.

Mine should be arriving today. Congrats on our basses!! :woot::woot::hyper::hyper::bassist:
Click to expand...


That was my thinking too.

HAPPY NEW BASS DAY!
 
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#208
241D872B-64E1-4C5D-A011-091FE68A2EEA.jpeg
Sweeeeeeeeeet
 
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#214
Hank Scorpio said:
I think for me, it's just the realisation that I'm more comfortable playing a short scale, and don't have to compromise to play one.

I have a Mustang PJ, a SBMM Ray and now a Maruszczyk custom that are all 30" scale, are well made, and sound great. The biggest turning point for me was strings - I get mine through Newtone here in the UK, and they're custom made to my exact gauge, material, core and length specifications, for ~£30-35 a set.

Now I can play a shortie with phenomenal pickups, the sound I want, and have the string tension and clarity I want even when tuning down to C#. I used to think I had to put up with a 34" scale bass for that, but now I don't.
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This is a very helpful kick in the britches for me to go try a 30" scale Maruszczyk. I've been hunting for an alternative to my old 10.5 lb. Jazz for about two years and the only issue my tiny brain has cooked up concerning this instrument is the shorter scale. If it sounds decent and doesn't stress my hands or my shoulder, I predict all earlier reservations going... **POOF!!**
 
#215
Okay, yeah... I'm wicked angry right now.

Shipment was delayed. Ended up sitting in the FedEx warehouse all night, even though it was priority overnight and it arrived in plenty of time to get on a truck. FedEx dude said it was a mistake and he was sorry.

Get the bass home, looks great. I wanna adjust the truss. No tools or Fender registration card included.

Go to change my strings. Whomever performed the "55 point" inspection and setup yanked the ball end of the high string all the way through that hole in back, so it's stuck under the bridge.

Now I'm on a long hold to find out if I'm going to void any warranty by taking the bridge off to fix the issue.

Steaming. :D
 
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#217
groove pump said:
This is a very helpful kick in the britches for me to go try a 30" scale Maruszczyk. I've been hunting for an alternative to my old 10.5 lb. Jazz for about two years and the only issue my tiny brain has cooked up concerning this instrument is the shorter scale. If it sounds decent and doesn't stress my hands or my shoulder, I predict all earlier reservations going... **POOF!!**
Click to expand...

I made a NBD and a couple of update posts after some practises, but honestly, I think it's the real deal. It plays like a dream (I ended up raising the action after it arrived), the fit and finish is perfect, theres a good range of hardware choices - I went for a hi mass, quick string change bridge and a set of Ultralite tuners which seems to make the balance perfect (the bass isn't heavy, around 8lb 2oz) - and you can pick basically any active or passive pickup combo, so the sound is what you make it.

I strongly suggest giving one a try if you can. I paid £1200 for mine which is identical to the price of a Fender American Performer, and I think it compares very favourably to an American Professional at £1700. For what's essentially a bespoke instrument, I'm not sure there's better value in that price range anywhere.

NBD: My first 'custom' bass, a Maruszczyk Elwood
 
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#219
Molochnik said:
It's a shame Squire doesn't put a better pickup in the Bronco. If you can find one with a good neck, swapping the pickup makes it a fantastic bass. Mine has been my go-to for over a decade
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I'm going to agree with you somewhat, although the stock PUP is not god-awful.
But the advantage of this is, PUPs are plentiful and most of the time cheap.

Which allows you to mod to your liking, have a nice playing bass, w/o spending very much $$$.
I complain more about the bridge than the PUP....057912
 
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#220
I have a mix of premium and budget basses. Any budget bass I've modded and kept, which is most of them, stand up to the premium models just fine. All about how the neck and weight feels to you. Everything else can be upgraded for dirt cheap (or not dirt cheap :) ).
 

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