When did "Short Scale Shaming" become 'a thing'???

[diegom]

Jack Bruce,
Felix Pappalardi,
Paul Mc Cartney,
Bill Wyman,
Ron Wood.

Of the top of my head, I can think of these electric bass guitar pioneers, their solid and often very melodic lines, and the fact that their instrument of choice was a short-scale bass.

When did it become a 'problem' to play short-scale?

Just throwing it out there for discussion...

Diego

 

[smeet]

Huh?

 

[Stumbo]

Jack Bruce,
Felix Pappalardi,
Paul Mc Cartney,
Bill Wyman,
Ron Wood.

Of the top of my head, I can think of these electric bass guitar pioneers, their solid and often very melodic lines, and the fact that their instrument of choice was a short-scale bass.

When did it become a 'problem' to play short-scale?

Just throwing it out there for discussion...

Diego

Who is shaming? Haven't seen that.

Play what you want to play. Music, instruments, rigs, whatever...as long as no one gets hurt, it's all good!

 

[diegom]

This was inspired by an earlier post, asking if it is "wrong" to play a short-scale...
Why would anyone be made to feel that way???

 

[Double E]

It's not...

 

[creaturegods]

definitely not "a thing."

 

[Warpeg]

Drugs are bad for you. Just sayin'

 

[Mushroo]

I don't think it was a "thing" until you made it into a thing by starting this thread.

 

[Double E]

I don't think it was a "thing" until you made it into a thing by starting this thread.

Oh, I suppose that through the years there's been the occasional turd-bag that might have said something stupid about short-scale basses. One or two idiots having an opinion doesn't make it "a thing".

 

[nostatic]

Drugs are bad for you. Just sayin'

^^^ what he said

But perhaps Mr. Mackey said it best

 

[jd56hawk]

Some people think it’s wrong to wear sndals with socks, some people think it’s wrong if you put ketchup on a hot dog, and some people think it’s wrong letting your kids ride in the back of your pickup truck.
Hey, if you’re comfortable with a short-scale bass or even one of those tiny hilarious-looking uke basses, just do you!

 

[nostatic]

put ketchup on a hot dog

don't go there...

 

[two fingers]

It's not a thing. Nobody thinks about it at all. We're the only bass dorks on Earth. Nobody else cares what you play.

 

[DarkStar90]

There have been alot of short scale basses come into the marketplace recently that have enjoyed success. New mustangs, serek basses, supro, to name a few. People seem to rave about them. I dont think they are great for slapping, but who cares? What I am willing to shame is the recent popularity of the JMJ Roadworn Mustang. Mustangs have been around forever, and the Japanese ones are fantastic. I have seen JMJ live many times, and have never seen him perform with one (I've only seen him perform with standard scale: Thunderbirds, Jazzes, and Jaguars). My guess, is that it is found in his recording arsenal. When I a/b'ed the JMJ with a standard Mustang, I didnt really notice a difference in tone or playability other than the worn in feel. The PJ equipped Mustang is a much better sounding bass to my ears. I'm a Fender fan boy, but I don't really understand why a paint job distinguishes a bass as being "signature", and I'm kind of over that signature model marketing. I mean, most signature models are born out of the artists popularity rather than the instrument itself. For example: Geddy Lee bought his black jazz at a pawn shop for 200$, there is nothing that special about it, other than Geddy bought a production model that turned out to be good. Other than these petty qualms, there is nothing wrong with short scale, just more tubbiness.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Sees like about 55 minutes ago.

 

[Gorn]

It's a macho thing. It's the same attitude that someone who drives a giant pickup truck has (not all of them, just the ones that use their trucks as an important element of their self worth.)

 

[saabfender]

“I play the largest guitar on stage! All genuflect before me or feel my wrath!!”

Felt like it had to be said.

 

[mcarp555]

It was only a thing while that post is still active. A week or so from now, 'short-scale shaming' will vanish as well.

 

[diegom]

But, what's the best short-scale for METAL???!??

 

[Robscott]

Some people think it’s wrong to wear sndals with socks, some people think it’s wrong if you put ketchup on a hot dog, and some people think it’s wrong letting your kids ride in the back of your pickup truck.
Hey, if you’re comfortable with a short-scale bass or even one of those tiny hilarious-looking uke basses, just do you!

Come on man, it's definitely wrong to wear sandals with socks, specially onstage