Which short scale to buy?

[Tommygun_ted]

Due to a car accident over a decade ago, I have a ruined scaphoid in my fretting hand, which has caused some early onset arthritis. In an attempt to keep bass playing comfortable I want to grab another short scale bass that I can use for playing live. We play folk rock, Americana and blues, so any of my choices would work as far as tone/look. I' just looking for general opinions on the basses I'm looking into. Top of my list is the gibson Memphis Les Paul bass. I know it' pricey but I have owned a Les Paul bass from Gibson in the past and it was by far the best bass I've ever played, so I know I will love this one. Second is a gretsch electromatic short scale bass. Much cheaper but I don't know much about gretsch basses. Third is the jack Cassidy bass from epiphone. I'e played these before and the price is great but the last one I tried in store didn't work and I'm not sure I want another epiphone, as all my other basses currently are from epiphone and this will likely be my main gigging bass. Finally, if one can be found in North America, the hagstrom Swede bass, not the super Swede. Found one in black online for 800 Canadian but again, my only experience with hagstrom is playing my buddys dad's guitar from the 70's when I was in high chool. Which would you guys go with and why?

 

[Gorn]

The Jack Casady bass isn't short scale but it's interesting that you said you tried it and apparently didn't notice. So maybe it doesn't have to be short scale. Different body shapes make a big difference in how comfortable a bass is to play.

 

[Tommygun_ted]

And I meant the rumble cat not the jack Cassidy bass

 

[Marial]

Right now the Supro Huntington would be my choice if I had the money. As it is, I'm quite happy with the Fender Mustang PJ.

 

[dxb]

I've been gassing for a short-scale and I'm currently drawn to the Ibanez TMB30, which is their short-scale Talman bass. They're very much on the budget end of the spectrum but have pretty positive reviews here and elsewhere.

 

[Stumbo]

What's your max budget?

 

[Robert B]

If it were me, I'd go for the Lakland.

Lakland Skyline Hollowbody 30 Short Scale -Tobacco Sunburst, Rosewood

 

[NoiseNinja]

I know it's a budget bass, but that said of amazingly high building quality considered:

How about going sub short scale and buy an Ibanez Mikro (or eventual one of the new similar speced Jackson Minion) basses?

With it's just 28,6" scale length, it's extremly comfortable to play, and I at least don't feel there are any major trade offs, I myself use one as my main.

For the money saved by buying such a cheap bass buy a new quality set of P/J pickups to swap the the stock ones with and you should be good to go.

At least my Mikro with a pair of P/J EMG Geezer Butler pickups both sound and plays amazing, in my opinion.

On the considerably more expensive side I am thinking that the Guild Starfire bass might also be a fitting candidate, especially since the sound of a hollow body bass would be a good fit for the musical genres you dabble in.

Alternatively perhaps a Jerry Jones Longhorn, if you are lucky to be able to find one used, or the more cheap option a Danelectro Longhorn, which are semi hollow basses.

Can't speak for the Danelectro one, but the Jerry Jones is just absolutely amazing, having owned one myself and being sort of a high end/high quality clone of the Danelectro.

 

[Slapthatplank]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

This little beauty is on Kijiji today. Price seems high but it sure is a looker.

 

[JACink]

I don't know what your budget is, but the Mensinger Cazpar has been making me drool for a while now...

 

[Tommygun_ted]

Seeing as the gibson is about 4000 canuck bucks is sat I'm not looking for a budget short scale lol

 

[JACink]

Seeing as the gibson is about 4000 canuck bucks is sat I'm not looking for a budget short scale lol

In that case, you could get a 4, 5 and fretless from Mensinger, and still have plenty of spare cash

 

[Old Blastard]

My .02 Canadian Cents: I love my Fender Starcaster. It's got all the yummy goodness of a Fender neck with the chewy sound of good humbuckers. Mine is heavy, however.

I do gig an Ibanez AFB 200, which is full on hollow and light and awesome, but feedback is an issue if you get loud. We don't.

The Ibanez TMB30 is a solid bass, and I've liked the sounds out of the ones I played. I haven't played a Mikro but have heard good things. I've also heard good things about the Ibanez AGBs, which are semi-hollow and short-scale. Same pickups as the AFB, but smaller bodies and less feedback. The pickups seem to work fine in the AFB. They're not TV Jones Thunderblades, but they're acceptable.

 

[mongo2]

I use quite a few less expensive and a couple of vintage solid, semi-hollow and hollow body shortscales for the same types of music you describe but add soul and jazz to the mix.

Get the Gibson.

 

[Tommygun_ted]

In that case, you could get a 4, 5 and fretless from Mensinger, and still have plenty of spare cash

That's dangerous thinking

 

[KeithERice]

I have really small hands and short fingers...so I struggle to play long scale unless the fretboard is narrow and thin.

At the moment I'm really enjoying a Hofner Contemporary 'Beatle'. With flats on, it really gets that early Beatles thump. Very light - good for an old man's back! - and very playable.

For a more 'modern' sound, I've got an Ibanez Atcore 205 (5-string, semi-hollow body) with nickels on. The B-string is a .0145!!! A bit metallic if you don't fret it just right but it gives a hell of a deep thump! Beautiful rich sound, especially on the A and D strings.

 

[Duder]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

This little beauty is on Kijiji today. Price seems high but it sure is a looker.

That's actually a good price for one of the non-black Vistas. There's a white one on Guitar Center's used site for $500USD.

 

[micahwc]

Upgraded Ibanez Mikro. They are wonderful.

 

[Londo Molari]

I'll second the Jerry Jones Longhorn suggestion. Awesome bass, light weight, incredible diversity of sounds. Mine has been my "go to" bass for the last 21 years now.

 

[mikewalker]

There's a ZILLION nice short-scales on the market now - where were they all hiding 30 years ago?
I guess in another 30 years, there will finally be a plethora of Medium Scales to choose from...