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Where are the midrange medium scale basses?

sotua

sotua

Sep 20, 2004
1,657
1,344
Somewhere in time
#1
I've been looking for a 32" bass for comfort/ergo reasons. I've tried 30"s and they're nice but don't feel quite right.

However, it seems to me there's pretty much no midrange series for these. You can get into a ibanez mezzo (which I already tried and returned because while good it's still low tier and you can tell on hardware/electronics), squiers, and then it jumps to maybe the Reverend Me'shell model (which is a P) and then you need to go semi/custom (warmoth) or full custom (Maruszczyk or some other reasonably priced custom builder). What alternatives am I missing? (it's perfectly possible that my search skills are to blame :)

TL;DR: 32" passive JJ, hopefully with a nice small ergo body and 21+ frets, in the $600-$1000 range, where?
 
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#3
J Posega said:
Warmoth
Click to expand...

That's what I'm afraid of - but since SSB parts are not in high demand, they have very little stock (i.e. no screaming deals), so you'd probably end up getting custom orders for both neck and body. And that's about $850-$900 already gone, with just $100 or so for everything else, and that's not considering that assembly isn't free (it's either bring it to someone that knows what they're doing or doing it yourself, and your time isn't free). I guess I'll have to budget some more.
 
#4
Show me where the actual market demand is enough to change or set up production lines to create them.
Remember TB is not the real world; just because something is popular here does not means it actually translates to sales.
 
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#8
Not JJ, but Warwick Starbass and Ibanez BTB845V (33” 5 string) came to mind.
there has been some recent MIJ Fender jazz basses that are 32”.
Otherwise if you can land on a medium scale JV Fender or Squier like I did. 82244564-560D-4310-B168-CF4C2E875C06.jpeg
 
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#10
I used to own a Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster bass, 32". They made them with a single pickup as well as a model with a hum bucker in the neck and a single coil in the bridge. I sold mine to a band mate whose son was learning bass. I'd recommend it. It fits the price range and it's a reliable instrument. Only problem is they don't make them any more. Gotta find a used one.
 
#11
Yea, there don't seem to be lots of choices. I went Warmoth. I've settled on P and MM setups so have nothing J any more. My 32" J was great.

I ordered another body to go to a different color and from P to MM. Eventually will be selling a loaded SSB P body. But that is not today, and it isn't a J so ...
 
#13
Where are they? I imagine the members of the "Official Medium Scale Bass Club" (here on this very forum) own most of the things...;) I don't own one, myself; you think you got problems finding one? Pretend you're a lefty - like me - and have a look... Anyway; I'm sure they can steer you where you want to go...:cool:
 
#14
Vintage. fender Japan- lots of models, Yamaha motion b, aria tsb and cardinal models, and aria zzb for a pointy medium, fender aerodyne Japan, and my fav the hard to find Ibanez rs721.

these are all great instruments, and often available used at reasonable prices.
 
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#15
sotua said:
I've been looking for a 32" bass for comfort/ergo reasons. I've tried 30"s and they're nice but don't feel quite right.

However, it seems to me there's pretty much no midrange series for these. You can get into a ibanez mezzo (which I already tried and returned because while good it's still low tier and you can tell on hardware/electronics), squiers, and then it jumps to maybe the Reverend Me'shell model (which is a P) and then you need to go semi/custom (warmoth) or full custom (Maruszczyk or some other reasonably priced custom builder). What alternatives am I missing? (it's perfectly possible that my search skills are to blame :)

TL;DR: 32" passive JJ, hopefully with a nice small ergo body and 21+ frets, in the $600-$1000 range, where?
Click to expand...
Like @GIBrat51 said, someone in this group can help you out. The Official Medium Scale Bass Club
Eastwood tends to dabble in medium scale too.
 
#18
Fender Japan.

But best not to get hung up on scale length, IMO. I jump from one scale to the other without issue, and in 34 years of bass playing, I haven't ever picked a bass for a gig based on its scale length. There are much more important things to think about with a bass, not least of which is looks.
 
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#19
Gully Foyle said:
Vintage. fender Japan- lots of models, Yamaha motion b, aria tsb and cardinal models, and aria zzb for a pointy medium, fender aerodyne Japan, and my fav the hard to find Ibanez rs721.

these are all great instruments, and often available used at reasonable prices.
Click to expand...

This^
There are quite a few good condition used Japanese 32" scale basses on ebay and Reverb. Some of those Yamahas, Arias, Grecos, etc. are very well made instruments. Among other options maybe Sire, or one of the new Ibanez headless models?
 
#20
2F/2F said:
Fender Japan.

But best not to get hung up on scale length, IMO. I jump from one scale to the other without issue, and in 34 years of bass playing, I haven't ever picked a bass for a gig based on its scale length. There are much more important things to think about with a bass, not least of which is looks.
Click to expand...
I find the biggest difference between different basses is less a matter of scale than reach to lower frets. That is determined by the distance between the butt end of the body to the bridge saddles.
For instance, a Fender Mustang has its bridge down close to the butt. Whereas a Reverend Dub King bridge is located a couple inches farther from the butt. As a result, left had reach is increased by the same amount.
Scale matters but reach is just as important.
 
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