Where's all the short scale bass players?

[descendent22]

I was always about long scale, and thought that short scale was for old timers or collectors. I just didn't like short scale basses, and at that point I never even played one, so I didn't know anything about the playability or anything. I was all about fender instruments, you couldn't tell me any different. One day I'm at GC and I ask my buddy Ray ( head salesman ) to climb the ladder and grab the only Gibson SG their off the top hanger. I had a desire to play an SG and see what the shorts scales were all about. After all I am a big fan of Mike Watt. I played the SG for about 15 mins and I didn't want to put it down. I was in love with the tone and how well I played on the short scale neck. With my fenders, even on my p basses I always put jazz necks on them. I prefer skinnier fast action necks. My fingers aren't small, but they aren't extra long either, they are very average size. Anyway with all that said I bought a Gibson SG. Never thought I'd buy anything but fender, and I haven't put down the SG or touched any fender since I bought it. I love the short scale, as I'm just a better bassist with it. So where's all the short scale players out their. Let me hear your story, see pics, and leave comments. Thanx!

 

[Fondsdale]

I have a Squier Musicmaster. Super easy to play and much lighter than my full scale basses.

 

[Marikk]

I have a couple, First
One of the anniversary Gibson SGs in fire burst
A Getsch Junior Jet 2220
Ibanez Mikro
and a Squier Bronco Badtz Maru bass(Cuz thats just how i roll)

 

[GIBrat51]

I have 8 of them, out of a total of 19 basses. My bass herd is made up of specific basses that fill specific categories (Short Scale Solid Body, for instance), so some of them were bought because they are short scale, or because a particular bass I wanted (like a Danelectro Longhorn) just happens to be short scale. The others fill categories that have nothing to do with scale (like Headless); the bass that came along just happened to be short scale. The scale didn't matter, just as long as it was headless. For various reasons, I prefer 34" scale basses; but I like my shorties, and can play them equally badly. What do I have?
1) A big, orange '94 Gretsch Broadkaster;
2) A '71 Epiphone EA-260;
3) A new Warmoth Mini P-bass;
4) A new Danelectro Longhorn;
5) An early '90s Korean Rogue VB-100:
6) A 2002 Starfire Violin Bass;
7) An early '80s Kramer Duke Deluxe; and
8) Another Kramer Duke (for a custom project).

 

[Wallace320]

just 1 out of 12 [they're all 34" scale but one: 7 4ers (1 acoustic) - 2 5ers - 2 6ers] the only short scale is Fender modern player 30" jazz bass

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[mongo2]

I've played shortscales and longscales for over 45 years so I guess I'm one of those old timers.

Since the early '90s I've used shortscales (~30" scale) much more, including: '60s Silvertone dolphin nose, Hofner Ignition Club, Rogue/Epiphone/Hofner/Teisco/Brice violin basses, Gibson EB-3, Dano RI Longhorn, Jerry Jones Neptune LH, DC and SC, Epiphone Rumblekat, 50's Kay TruTone, '60s Harmony H22, Ibanez Artcore AFB200, Gretsch 5442, Fender Mustang RI, Squier Jaguar SS, and Squier Bronco.

I also now have a few subshortscales in the stable such as the Ibanez Mikro (28.6" scale), an '80s Guild Ashbory (18" scale), Kala UBass (20" scale), GT MBass (23" scale) and a couple I've DIY'd from 24.75" scale guitars.

I've pretty much settled on my '63-ish Silvertone dolphin nose, Ibanez Mikro and Hofner Ignition Club.

 

[twinjet]

@pcake plays a Mikro, no? By the way, I tried one... Very fun.

 

[RED J]

I think the real question is where have you been? There is a large strong group of short scalers here , growing all the time, welcome to the ranks and search around and you will find a lot of short scale clubs and threads.
I share you love of the SG/EB short scales, they are my favorite bass ergonomically. I have about equal long and short scales Here are a few including E-C fiver.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I didn't used like the short scale basses I'd played years ago. Then I worked out it was shorty solidbodies I didn't click with.

Now I own 4 shorties 30":
Duesenberg Starplayer semi-Hollowbody w/ Chromes
Rob Allen Mouse fretless semi-HB w/Tapes
'67 Fender Coronado II HB w/TI's
Aria '67 HB w/TI's.

I have a thing for that 30" Hollowbody sound.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I played a Birdsong 31" for a few years, then sold it in a moment of insanity. Wonderful instrument.

 

[pcake]

@pcake plays a Mikro, no? By the way, I tried one... Very fun.

pcake does i love it - it is lots of fun and super comfy. i'm probably going to buy a second one and do some serious modding (i'm turn between a music man pickup and nordstands) and maybe a 5 string mikro, as well. i also have a squier short scale jag that i really like.

btw, the fender rascal is short scale - sort of heavy considering, but a very cool looking bass. the fender reverse pawn shop jag is medium scale and also very cool - i quite like it, but it's quite a challenge to play the high notes on the highest string due to the body shape.

 

[j0llysnowman]

Actually, what got me into short scale basses originally was the looks. Viola basses are gorgeous, and I love the Mustang body shape (for both guitars and basses!); the fact that they share scale length was a happy coincidence. So I picked up an Epiphone Viola and a Squier Bronco. I have no clue what it's like to play a 34" bass for longer than two minutes at Guitar Center!

There are quite a few active short scale threads right now!

 

[blue4]

I've got 4, two SX jazzes that guitarists question until they play them. Then they go to Rondo and see what guitars they have. A Squier Bronco that's been modded. And my favorite, an Epiphone Viola that is perfect IMO.

IME, the reason some people don't "get" SS basses is they don't take the time to find the right set of strings. They just slap whatever brand they use on their 35" 5 string and judge it from there. To me, SS basses each have a string type that best suits it, much more than a standard bass. I can slap anything on my Pbass, it'll sound good. But I use tapewounds on the SXs, Chromes on the Bronco, and LaBella flats on the Viola. Not because I just love those strings especially, but because those are the strings that bring the versatility and tone up from a niche SS tone to a every song, main bass type of tone. It's a patient act to find the proper tension that allows you to play like you want, while getting the tone you want. But people can't just slap some strings out of the bargain bin on them and expect it to sound like their old Pbass. IMO of course.

 

[Ken J]

I love the shorty's so much I hade Scott Beckwith build me one.

 

[lukatch]

To me, short scale is about tone. 30" scale basses sound bassy, round and fat even at the higher frets.

I currently own 4 shorties (and 8 long-scales).

 

[Rickengeezer]

Here's a short scale bass player:

 

[Short-scale]

For years I played long scales and even a 35" modulus Q4 for a couple of years. I never even thought about short scales until a friend told me about them.

So now I'm playing the Squier Jag ss and bass playing is so much easier. Short scales are where it's at for me!

 

[Bassamatic]

I started many years ago with a borrowed EB-3, and then bought my first bass - a Hagstrom Hag II back in '67. Modded it and played the heck out of it for many many years.
While I have a couple of P basses and other standard scale basses, I am now returning to short scale - it is just so much more comfortable and easy to play.
My shorty stable:

• '67 and '68 Hagstrom Hag II
• 60's Hofner Club Bass
• Mikro 4 and Mikro 5 (GREAT basses)
  
• Lakland HOBO 30 (my latest)
  
• Squier Jag SS (Surprisingly great)
• Greg Bennett Corsair 25.5" (sounds just like a P!)

 

[fjadams]

I've played shorties since I got my first Starfire in 68. Traded a 67 P bass for the 67 Starfire.

Now I have a couple or so.

2 Squier SS Jaguars, heavily modded
Gibson SS TBird, almost stock
No name 70s or 80s I rebuilt, modded
Les Paul I built out of a Chinese Les Paul guitar kit
Danelectro Longhorn, stock
Applause ABG, stock
Harmony something or other I rebuilt, heavily modded
Fender Modern Player SS Jazz, stock
Fender Starcaster, lightly modded
Fender Rascal, stock
Hagstrom Futurama, stock
Gretsch 2224, lightly modded
Guild Starfire, stock
Guild JS II, modded
Guild B4CE, stock
Hofner Icon, stock
Epiphone Flying V, heavily modded
Daisy Rock Heart, stock
Daisy Rock Flower, stock
Squier Bronco, being modded
ESP B5-JR, modded
Kala U-Bass, stock
Nicola Telecaster Thinline I built from parts
Squier Telecaster I converted into a Thinline, heavily modded
Rogue SS, stock
No name 70s or 80s in the closet waiting its turn
Jazzmaster in the planning stages

It's crazy since I no longer play out or really have any desire to. Find it more fun to work on them than play them anymore.

 

[bassfran]

Right here with a JJ Longhorn w/flats and a Lakland Hollowbody 30.