Kay started making them in 1952 -- the second production bass guitar model.
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What's driving the shortscale revival?
- Thread starter mrpackerguy
- Start date
Kay started making them in 1952 -- the second production bass guitar model.
I had been using a '66 Hagstrom short scale bass till the drummer said it looked funny. So I bought a used '99 Precision Special and used that for a while, but wasn't completely satisfied with the sound. So I took my 51RI to the last gig and liked it better. I think for the next gig I'm going back to the Hagstrom. Super lightweight and TINY neck and sounds great, too.
Lost use of my left pinky for fretting, which I’ve done since day one, so a short scale and learning to play with just three fingers on the neck was my only way to keep going. If I ever get the three finger thing figured out I might be able to go back to my jazz basses, but if not, my P/J Mustang will (hopefully) give me what I need. I’m already looking for a side jack US made Mustang body so i can set it up with a VVT. I’ve already got a nice MIM Mustang with an ebony fretboard and black bridge and machine heads, but the top jack and V T and 3 way pickup switch is a major fail for me.
YouTube has had an impact as well, short scales were never really on my radar until I saw some videos that sounded great. Funny thing my first real brand name bass was a Gibson EBO , I didn’t know anything about scale length back then, I just bought it because it seemed easier to play than a Fender P bass, and it looked cool. Sold it after a few years and bought a Ric 4001 and never looked back, until now.
When I was first interested in bass, I tried my ex's full sized bass. I could barely stand up with it on, and way too much real estate on that neck. He bought me two Ibanize Mikro SS, and they were perfect. I bought my own MM Stingray SS, a few months ago. While I love the Stringray for tone, the cheap Ibanez Mikros are easier to play. For me, it was just a matter of ergonomics.
Modern amps.
As strange as it may sound, they bring out the best out of even the oldest short-scale basses.
I've been playing short-scale basses since '83 - started on LS several years earlier - and always kept at least one around for diversifying the sound.
Nowadays I play short-scale 90% of the time, the only long-scale seeing the light of the day being my Gibson fiver which is the only 34" (actually 34.5") piece that I'll be keeping.
As strange as it may sound, they bring out the best out of even the oldest short-scale basses.
I've been playing short-scale basses since '83 - started on LS several years earlier - and always kept at least one around for diversifying the sound.
Nowadays I play short-scale 90% of the time, the only long-scale seeing the light of the day being my Gibson fiver which is the only 34" (actually 34.5") piece that I'll be keeping.
I was laughing at the reply when I realized I own one of those 32" Urge basses, BTW I'm 6'3" LOL
In 2020, I fell down a long staircase in Amsterdam. Since then, I’ve had three surgeries on my left shoulder as well as many months of physical therapy. I literally couldn’t extend my arm far enough to play any of my long scale basses. So - I bought a SBMM Sting Ray and it worked out well. This bass is light, looks good and after switching its strings to TI Jazz Flats and tweaking my amp a little, it sounds pretty good.
I like the short scale basses quite a bit, although my shoulder has healed enough that I can play whatever I want. If I was going to keep going with them, I’d get serious and get a Serek, the best SS bass I’ve heard
I like the short scale basses quite a bit, although my shoulder has healed enough that I can play whatever I want. If I was going to keep going with them, I’d get serious and get a Serek, the best SS bass I’ve heard
I started on a short scale EB-2 in the 60's and then a Hagstrom HagII for many many years (BEST neck in the world). Bought a P-bass in '08 and went through a lot of long scale basses, now selling off the longies, keeping the shorties. More comfortable for my again hands and lighter.
I think the main reason they are becoming more popular is STRINGS! Short scale strings were hard to find in the old days, so player just put on long scale strings and cut them off. But strings are wound under tension and the long scaled strings would be blow design tension and sound muddy, so shorties got a bad rap.
Now there is a really good selection of short scale strings that are properly designed for the lower tension. My faves, the TI Jazz Flats and the DR Sunbeams are available in Short Scale so I am set.
I think the main reason they are becoming more popular is STRINGS! Short scale strings were hard to find in the old days, so player just put on long scale strings and cut them off. But strings are wound under tension and the long scaled strings would be blow design tension and sound muddy, so shorties got a bad rap.
Now there is a really good selection of short scale strings that are properly designed for the lower tension. My faves, the TI Jazz Flats and the DR Sunbeams are available in Short Scale so I am set.
the revelation that a well setup bass is much more important to it's tone than the scale length. Not that longer scale length doesn't help, but it isn't the be all and end all.
And yea, also that we're all getting older and weaker and our fingers hurt more when we stretch.
At least, personally, that is what I forsee one day being why I Will change (Back) to short scale (I used to play short scale alembic, but that doesn't count because it was sooo heavy and just a superior bass in every way)
And yea, also that we're all getting older and weaker and our fingers hurt more when we stretch.
At least, personally, that is what I forsee one day being why I Will change (Back) to short scale (I used to play short scale alembic, but that doesn't count because it was sooo heavy and just a superior bass in every way)
I think a generation's worth of older players wanting to find a way to keep thumpin' has led a lot of veterans to give shortscales a fair shot, then realize that hey, they bring all the chunk and funk with less need for geriatric hand yoga.
Also, there are nowadays some really young players who literally can't hold a 34" P bass, but completely slay and murder funk lines on their shortscales and Mikros for all to see & hear on social media. And nothing legitimizes a once-spurned instrument like someone completely wailing on it.
Also, there are nowadays some really young players who literally can't hold a 34" P bass, but completely slay and murder funk lines on their shortscales and Mikros for all to see & hear on social media. And nothing legitimizes a once-spurned instrument like someone completely wailing on it.
I think the short scale sound melds with certain instruments of the day better like synths. While some have physical/cost reasons, must not lose sight of the fact that the music is king or at least it should be.
Music is all in the ear/brain and these days for whatever reason musos are hearing certain sounds and frequencies where a short scale just locks things in. These are music tools, not ornaments to be constrained to generations and age-groups of humanity.
As has been pointed out things go in cycles. When the Beatles came along they were driven by let's call them PTB, to offset a bad time in history. Figure what had occurred in America right before the Fab Four hit Ed Sullivan. The "mania" lifted the spirits of the youth after a certain day in Dallas. We're going through a similar dark time and music will help see us through or at least provide some solace.
Let's see if millennials and Gen Z can bring the spark...
Politics played a big part in Sullivan's move to guest the Beatles. Even the FF we're surprised why things were happening for them when they mostly did Buddy Holly and Little Richard covers.
Music is all in the ear/brain and these days for whatever reason musos are hearing certain sounds and frequencies where a short scale just locks things in. These are music tools, not ornaments to be constrained to generations and age-groups of humanity.
As has been pointed out things go in cycles. When the Beatles came along they were driven by let's call them PTB, to offset a bad time in history. Figure what had occurred in America right before the Fab Four hit Ed Sullivan. The "mania" lifted the spirits of the youth after a certain day in Dallas. We're going through a similar dark time and music will help see us through or at least provide some solace.
Let's see if millennials and Gen Z can bring the spark...
Politics played a big part in Sullivan's move to guest the Beatles. Even the FF we're surprised why things were happening for them when they mostly did Buddy Holly and Little Richard covers.
I started on a '76 Fender Mustang, with my tiny hands, I found the neck quite comfortable, but at the time I thought it was overall too small for my body size (being 5'11), and sounded a bit thin, so I (foolishly) ditched it and got a '64 Gibson EB-2, which I loved for its look, mojo, and massive bottom end, but the neck was a bit larger and action higher. I played that for 15 years until I got a 2010 Gibson SG bass, which I thought was pretty good for the price and was considerably lighter; but then I found a '67 Guild Starfire I which is the best of all worlds - fat bottom, clearer mids, and a perfectly slim neck. I can see why jammy players like Phil Lesh and Jack Casady went for these. I even went the extra step of getting a brass Alembic bridge, tailpiece, and nut installed, which took it to the next level of playability and sound.
What was the question again? Oh, right. Well...as some have said, folks are just more aware of them now because of the intrawebs, and it only takes a member of a popular band to be seen playing one...and there you go. Also, without getting in to gender issues, there are probably a lot more 'girl bands' now, and many of them prefer short scale instruments, based on what I have seen, anyways.
What was the question again? Oh, right. Well...as some have said, folks are just more aware of them now because of the intrawebs, and it only takes a member of a popular band to be seen playing one...and there you go. Also, without getting in to gender issues, there are probably a lot more 'girl bands' now, and many of them prefer short scale instruments, based on what I have seen, anyways.
When I bought my Lakland SS Hollowbody several years ago there wasn't the selection that is available now. Some brands have done a good job coming up with some good choices. Everyone has their reason for liking them. For me I like the smaller frets at the low end of the neck. I did a lot of reading up on the new models and tried several different short scales and now I'm the proud owner of the Lakland, Schecter Banshee and the Acinonyx Cat.
