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which custom-makers build short-scale well?

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by bongomania, Nov 27, 2005.

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  1. Nov 27, 2005 #1
    bongomania

    bongomania Supporting Member Commercial User

    Oct 17, 2005
    PDX, OR
    owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
    Hi,
    A recent thread turned me on to Birdsong's Cortobass, and I'm likely to get one. But someone in that thread thought the Cortobass was overpriced and that one could do better going to a different custom builder.

    So, among custom makers, who does short-scale or medium-scale basses with a better bang per buck than Birdsong?

    P.S. I am not asking what you think of short-scale basses, and I am not asking about production basses like Epiphone, Kubicki, etc. however nice they may be.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Nov 28, 2005 #2
    Munjibunga

    Munjibunga Retired Member

    May 6, 2000
    San Diego (when not at Groom Lake)
    Independent Contractor to Bass San Diego
    Alembic.
     
  3. Nov 28, 2005 #3
    adrian garcia

    adrian garcia In Memoriam

    Apr 9, 2001
    las vegas. nevada
    Endorsing Artist: Nordy Basses, Schroeder Cabs, Gallien Krueger Amps
    Carey Nordstrand
     
  4. Nov 28, 2005 #4
    Marcus

    Marcus

    Dec 26, 2004
    NYC & Vancouver, BC
    +1

    I actually own a 32'' scale Spoiler and it is fantastic.

    I used it to record a tune recently that is on my music page. I believe it is the Zelda's Lullabye/Song of Storms tune.
     
  5. Nov 28, 2005 #5
    Kelly Coyle

    Kelly Coyle

    Nov 16, 2004
    Mankato, MN
    Look at Landing. Awesome basses.
     
  6. Nov 28, 2005 #6
    mike sancho

    mike sancho SANCH

    Feb 10, 2004
    Milwaukee, WI
    Ken Smith
    Sadowsky
    Zon
    Roscoe will special order a 34" scale
     
  7. Nov 28, 2005 #7
    Akami

    Akami Four on the floor

    Mar 6, 2005
    日本/Alyeska
    To add to this, if some people like the sound of short scale basses, what is the shortest a 5string can be and yet still have a usable B string?
     
  8. Nov 28, 2005 #8
    Baryonyx

    Baryonyx Inactive

    Jul 11, 2005
    Marathon Man
    Fodera have done 33" B's before that I hear have sounded thick and fat...

    Also, a local luthier (with whichI have talked about building a 32" scale 6 before) has let me play a 32" scale 5 string he built, and the low B was full and rich in tone.
     
  9. Nov 28, 2005 #9
    Blackbird

    Blackbird Supporting Member

    Mar 18, 2000
    California
    Michael Dolan, Santa Rosa, CA.
     
  10. Nov 28, 2005 #10
    bongomania

    bongomania Supporting Member Commercial User

    Oct 17, 2005
    PDX, OR
    owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
    None of these builders mention a short or medium scale option on their websites. Can you point to a link to a short or medium scale bass by any of these builders, or do you have any personal experience with one?
     
  11. Nov 28, 2005 #11
    Ed Goode

    Ed Goode Jersey to Georgia

    Nov 4, 2004
    Acworth, GA
    FBB Custom regularly builds shorter scale basses. Here is a 33" 6 string

    m077.jpg
     
  12. Nov 28, 2005 #12
    Tom Howland

    Tom Howland

    Feb 11, 2003
    :cool:
    FBB
    Stambaugh
     
  13. Nov 28, 2005 #13
    MAJOR METAL

    MAJOR METAL The Beagle Father Supporting Member

    Sep 10, 2002
    Where I lay my head is home
    I have heard he does excellent work, i am hoping to get a project off the ground with him. :bassist:
     
  14. Nov 28, 2005 #14
    Lo end PUNCH

    Lo end PUNCH

    Jan 28, 2005
    Racine,Wi
    Hey pointbass, thats my bass you posted there, however, it doesnt look that way anymore I've had Matt do some naaasty little things to it. :D should be done soon.
     
  15. Nov 28, 2005 #15
    Discgraham

    Discgraham

    Jul 6, 2004
    Bellingham, WA
    Fodera, Fodera, and Fodera! They have the nicest shorties around if you like the Fodera tone. They generally sound very clear and defined, with a good low/mid balance. Fairly transparant really.
     
  16. Nov 28, 2005 #16
    Fealach

    Fealach Guest

    Apr 23, 2003
    Gone to a better place
    :cool:
     
  17. Nov 28, 2005 #17
    bikeplate

    bikeplate Supporting Member

    Jun 7, 2001
    Upstate NY
    HI

    I've owned an Alembic Spoiler since 1983. Now retired but was always a solid bass. 32 inch scale. I see them used from time to time

    Rob
     
  18. Nov 28, 2005 #18
    Blackbird

    Blackbird Supporting Member

    Mar 18, 2000
    California
    I have an idea about a little project myself.

    I'd love to hear your idea sometime.

    I've owned a strat copy and a short scale Alembic copy which unfortunately was yellow. According to Steve Barr, its nickname is "The Banana"... Still, top notch stuff.
     
  19. Nov 28, 2005 #19
    therealting

    therealting

    May 4, 2004
    London, England
    What do you mean by bang for buck though?

    Those Cortobasses looks like they start from $975, which seems like a low start for a custom instrument, albeit a fairly basic one.
     
  20. Nov 28, 2005 #20
    bongomania

    bongomania Supporting Member Commercial User

    Oct 17, 2005
    PDX, OR
    owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
    Yeah, that's the core of my question. I certainly do appreciate all of the responses about high-end makers, but honestly I don't have 3k or more to spend right now. Alembic's cheapest current model available in shorter scale starts at 5.7k! The standard Cortobass runs 1.5k, and the standard Landing runs about 1.2k. That's within my price range.

    If you think about it, it's certainly possible to sound GREAT on a less expensive bass, so the question for me becomes: What kind of bang does $5,700 buy me that I won't get for $2,000?

    And if (as another TB'er claimed) 1.5k is too much for the quality of the Cortobass, who can custom-build a bass of equal or better quality for less money? Maybe Landing, except I'm not fond of the Fender clone look.

    Anyhow, keep the answers coming folks, I'm interested to see what else is out there!
     
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