What's driving the shortscale revival?

[mongo2]

I have no idea why the interest in short scales has increased but I'm happy for it, and the increase in manufacturers producing them, especially for the increased availability of short scale strings.

I've always had a short scale in my stable since the early '70s. I started using short scales more than long scales about 25 years ago and over the last 15 years or so years I've used short scales pretty much exclusively.

One of my favorite things about short scales I've used is that they are much better at controlling dead spots than the long scales I've used.

I currently have basses with scales ranging from 44" to 18" but I mostly use 30" scales now.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I read an article with one of the people that designed the Precision bass, and he made the comment that the scale was decided based off of how far apart the frets could be before the stretch was too uncomfortable for average hands.

Imagine if that design decision was never made. Or perhaps this story is just a myth.

 

[bassliner50]

Simple ergonomics. The human arm is ever evolving into a shorter limb.

 

[REV]

On YNE the wife and I went out to a local club. We went to see this band that I'd heard a lot about but had never seen before. The bass player was female and the guitar player was male and there seemed to be some kind of competition going on with volume. Midway through the second set the band was incredibly loud so we decided to leave and go somewhere else. We went to another club and the bass player in this band was also female and she was playing a Musicmaster bass through an SVT. This was a small club but the bass sat in the mix so well and the volume level of this band was perfect for the size of this club. The bass sound was neither too boomy nor too bright and it really got me thinking about short scale basses again. I have a Danelectro Longhorn that I rarely play live but I can really see how a short scale bass can work well in certain settings.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I don't think people are getting shorties for the difference in sound, especially if they're just smaller versions of existing/classic models. Pick up a Wattplower and tell me your Jazz feels like that.

As it turns out, I bought my Watt while I was still playing a Precision. IMO, it's the best Precision sound I ever had to that point, and I've stuck with it since. I'm about to buy a Squier Mustang, but I anticipate the Watt will continue to be #1.

 

[NKBassman]

I bought a Guild Starfire II last week, then came across a mint '71 Fender Musicmaster and am flipping the Guild. I think I'm in love.

For me, the interest in shortscale was several things. Age and the thought of something lighter and easier to play through a 4-hr gig was probably primary. Peculiar interest was another factor with a seeming uptick in shortscale threads here on TB. Also, mainstream guitar and bass companies targeting resources in the shortscale area: think EBMM with their Sterling Stingray Shortscale bass. Finally, as many of you probably have done, I started paying attention to shortscale information and read many of the shortscale threads here, learning a lot and piquing my interest. I think the biggest misconception I had was that shortscale could never sound close to regular scale basses. Wrong. At least to my ears.

I think one day I just realized that I loved the sound of certain shortscale basses on recordings. I started with a Supro Huntington II, but quickly flipped that for a JMJ Mustang and I've been very happy with that ever since. I saw your Guild for sale earlier today and honestly considered it for a split second. Love that short hollowbody vibe!

 

[stelles75]

As it turns out, I bought my Watt while I was still playing a Precision. IMO, it's the best Precision sound I ever had to that point, and I've stuck with it since. I'm about to buy a Squier Mustang, but I anticipate the Watt will continue to be #1.

Those Reverend P blades are INSANE. Super hot and punchy. I'm not sure it's fully converted me. Last Saturday, both my bands played the same bill. First set was the WP and the second was my Jazz. I hadn't practiced enough with the WP and lost my way once or twice. The Jazz is also monster (Adam Clayton sig). I actually find the WP to be a very challenging bass (in a good way... lots of tones I'm not used to), while also being the smoothest player I own.

Why can't I blend with the humbucker, though?! I will be modding this at some point.

 

[HelpImaRock]

Those Reverend P blades are INSANE. Super hot and punchy. I'm not sure it's fully converted me. Last Saturday, both my bands played the same bill. First set was the WP and the second was my Jazz. I hadn't practiced enough with the WP and lost my way once or twice. The Jazz is also monster (Adam Clayton sig). I actually find the WP to be a very challenging bass (in a good way... lots of tones I'm not used to), while also being the smoothest player I own.

Why can't I blend with the humbucker, though?! I will be modding this at some point.

Mine only has the P blade. It's not the newfangled II version with the neck humbucker. I generally run the volume and tone on 6 so I have room for adjustment live.

 

[Admiral Akbar]

Exactly. The marketplace for instruments like these is aging. People want instruments that are lighter to carry and easier to play. Short scales work well on both counts. So the marketers get to sell more instruments to people who already own instruments. Win-win for everyone.

No question the short scale basses are generally lighter and easier to handle—a big plus for aging boomers.

That said, it s always seemed to me that the younger players are more into the short scale instruments. It’s a cool way to get a hip instrument that isn’t necessarily “iconic” but also isn’t as “played out” as a Fender J or P or a boutique.

I love my Mustang, only because I saw a local young pro bassplayer using one and he sounded fantastic. I still use my precisions and jazzes. It’s all cool to me if it sounds great.

 

[Old gold]

This is why. And this is my good hand. Due to arthritis, I have knuckles that are now 30 degrees out of line and getting worse each year. Pretty soon I’ll need a short scale that has strings running perpendicular to the normal axis.

 

[ZedLepp]

I can't say it's because of it but I'm glad that I have a SS bass.
We had to move into a smaller practice room and it's been very helpful.
I haven't hit the guitar player or knocked myself out of tune. yet.

 

[BAG]

the Bass VI

I had GAS for a Bass VI for a while and one came up for sale locally. I went and tried it out and very quickly realised it wasn't for me. I'm not sure what it was but the reach on the fretboard felt so much further than my full scale P or J and it actually felt longer in scale than them. I'm sure playing it more would have gotten me used to it but I kept hitting notes two frets higher than I meant to.

 

[Inconnu]

I had GAS for a Bass VI for a while and one came up for sale locally. I went and tried it out and very quickly realised it wasn't for me. I'm not sure what it was but the reach on the fretboard felt so much further than my full scale P or J and it actually felt longer in scale than them. I'm sure playing it more would have gotten me used to it but I kept hitting notes two frets higher than I meant to.

The Bass VI has a different feel then a Jazz or a Precision. I have one of each (among others) and I could say that the Bass VI somehow doesn’t feel short. I recently tried a Mustang and it felt tiny compared to the Bass VI and it’s the same scale length! Maybe it’s because of the body shape (though it ain’t far from a Jazz bass, really).

I personally find myself the Bass VI comfortable to play and, while I’d like a 4 string short scale, I haven’t found one that felt right yet…
Could they make a Bass IV???

 

[frankie5string]

This time I really don't think it has anything to do with aging boomers - nice try taking credit, though. Sure, aging boomers may be buying some of them, but ultimately, companies are realizing these shorter-scale instruments are "new" to many generations that came after boomers... what's old is new again!

It's really just flavour of the month. Every decade or so short scales (or shortER scales) come back along and enjoy some time in the sun.
In fact, the 1980/90s Kubicki Factor and ExFactor were 32" scale basses that led to the very first signature Fender bass being the "Urge" which was also 32"... they later changed it to 34" with the URGE II, but there you have it...

My first bass was a short scale, and I just bought a medium scale 5... Builders are making wonderful shorter-scale 5 string basses now, so why not, right?

 

[funkinbottom]

Dupuytren's contracture led me to Shorter scale basses. I had surgery on my left had due to DC, so shorter necks are easier for me to play than long scale these days. I still own and play a couple 34" scale basses, but not often, and mostly at home for shorter duration. For gigs/rehearsals I take one of my SS basses. The long ones only get gigged if it's a short show.

Edit. All my shorties are 5 string.

 

[CPB2019]

Because our bassist is under 5’ tall:

 

[watspan]

I had an Epiphone Allen Woody Signature short scale a number of years ago--nice instrument. I'd also like to checkout the G&L Fallout short scale. truth is though, I've thinned the herd (from 13 to 5) and don't see myself buying any more basses (famous last words) !!!

 

[felis]

Started with a short scale. Stayed with short scales. Not a revival for me.

 

[steimlem]

I remember looking up threads just like this one 7-10 years ago when i was first starting out, and even 5 years before that. I don't think there's a revival right now, i think there's been one for a while..

i wish there were a medium scale revival.. i find them to be perfect and love my mezzo..wish there were more alternative new options!

 

[droo46]

The thing thats' driving short scales is that very few folks have hands that are as big as mine. I kinda need a bass with as big a neck as I can get, or my fingers get cramped (I play faster on wide, thick necks).

You should play a bass that fits you. For me, that's a big wide neck, full scale. For many folks, that's skinny necks and/or short scales.

Hand size has nothing to do with short scales. They're shorter, not narrower.