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Which shortscale?

#21
Mine too... the Fallout is roughly the same LENGTH as my Medium scale P-bass. The only thing short-scale about the fallout is the fret spacing.

I'm surprised you didn't like the Mustang S/S. But there are many variations in a "Mustang". I had a MIM Fender in a PJ config ($500), it looked and felt great. It needed better P/U and electronics so it got cut in one of the downsizes. The American Performer Mustang ($1000 - used) is my choice for the best SS (to me). It just fits me and checks all the boxes.
 
#22
Johnny Alien said:
With an offset body (which is what I mean by jazz style) and 32" scale I still stand by the fact that there would be minimum or no reduction in overall length. It sounds like you own one do you know the overall length?
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I don't, Fender's specs don't mention it, and I'm too lazy to walk down to the basement and find a tape measure. Look, I bought it so when I'm on a really cramped stage I'll reduce the liklihood of hitting my BL in the chops with the headstock. So far, so good.;)
 
#23
Bunk McNulty said:
and I'm too lazy to walk down to the basement and find a tape measure
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:facepalm:

Incidentally, the basement is where also I have my tape measures. But in my case it's not laziness that stops me to go there - it's the sub-zero temperatures in winter. So I just got myself another tape measure which I keep in my room. And it's metric :roflmao:
 
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#24
For what you need, stretch the budget out for the SBMM.

Due to its close-enough-to-P sound you’ll be playing it on stages spacious enough for The Mothman and not missing your P.

The Fallout is great, but it’s as big as a compact headstock 34” bass.

The SG bass, IMO, definitely requires doing like Andy Fraser and consciously plucking near the bridge quite a bit lighter than you may pluck a Fender, but it can work pretty great.
 
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#25
I have a Fender PJ MIM Mustang. Great little bass, I had the toggle switch changed to a blend knob. I used this to gig with until my custom Maruszczyk ss was ready, I use it for rehearsal now and my back up.
 
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#27
totalnoob said:
:facepalm:

Incidentally, the basement is where also I have my tape measures. But in my case it's not laziness that stops me to go there - it's the sub-zero temperatures in winter. So I just got myself another tape measure which I keep in my room. And it's metric :roflmao:
Click to expand...

It is good to be Prepared! My tape measure has inches on one side and centimeters on the other.
Allow me a moment of babble, I haven't really thought about this in years:
Back in the '70s, the feds put on a big push to convert to metric. Never really took off. Labor unions were among the strongest opponents of 1970s-era metrication, fearing that the switch would make it easier to ship jobs off-shore. (Which it did.) But some things did change: I was working in the wine business when fifths went away and were replaced by 750ml bottles. Pints are now 500 ml, etc. Honestly, it wasn't that difficult. As the story says: We know what 10 yards from the goalpost means. We gotta keep a mile from you. A game of inches. Etc.
 
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#29
Johnny Alien said:
A Wattplower is much higher than the discussed budget. Seems like the OP already has it narrowed down and is just curious what we would pick out of the listted options based on their situation.
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The Wattplower is quite a bit over budget, but sometimes you can find a Sentinel for much cheaper.

If your concern is simply external size, I'd suggest getting over your concern about the appearance and getting the Gretsch. I always hated the way they look, but I've grown to like it over time. The HB is tempting. Then there's always the mod-a-Bronco option. At one time, I had a Hammer Slammer short scale bass. They quality wasn't fantastic, but it was giggable, it sounded good, and its external dimensions were really short. The new Epiphone Newport also looks pretty compact.

I'd also look at 32" scale basses. My 32" 80s Greco is smaller than my Mustang in all dimensions, and I don't imagine that an Ibanez Mezzo would be any different.
 
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#31
Bunk McNulty said:
But some things did change:
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I see metric lengths used more and more ofthen, in the USA, so yes, I think some things did change. Of couse, in the guitar/bass world, inch fractions still rule, but in mechanical engineering I see metric units mentioned and used ever more often. And generally, nowadays americans seem to grasp quite well millimeters, e.g. when it comes to cartridge and bulled sizes.
 
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#38
eccles77 said:
Normally I know exactly what I want to buy but I need some advice. I play in a rock covers band using a P bass but sometimes I am stuck in a small corner up against a speaker stand or near a wall, a situation most of us know well.

I have decided to get a shortscale for such occasions to prevent damage to my bass, the gear or other people :D. But what to get? I have listed some below and would like some opinions. Budget is a max of £500 or $600. First here are some that I won`t look at.

SBMM Stingray: too expensive
Gretch Electromatic: don`t like the looks
Squier Mustang: had one, too expensive for what you get
Epiphone EB 0: eh just no
Squier Mini P: looks too much of a toy

So I have narrowed it down to these.

G&L Fallout Trib: I like the idea of a mini L1000 but it`s almost the same size of a 34" bass apparently. If someone could measure the overall length, that would be great. Price £500 or $600

Sire MM U5: These look really good and seem to get a lot of love but does the headstock look massive on these? It`s the only thing I`m not sure of. £390 or $470

Harley Benton MV 4: The cheapest of the 3. I could get a new wiring loom for around £40 so I can have separate vol and tone for each pickup.£200 or $240

I cannot try any of these out in the flesh as they are not available locally and trying to return to Thomann for the second 2 is a bit of a pain. So if you own any of these 3 I would be interested to hear your thoughts. Ta
Click to expand...
 
#39
eccles77 said:
Normally I know exactly what I want to buy but I need some advice. I play in a rock covers band using a P bass but sometimes I am stuck in a small corner up against a speaker stand or near a wall, a situation most of us know well.

I have decided to get a shortscale for such occasions to prevent damage to my bass, the gear or other people :D. But what to get? I have listed some below and would like some opinions. Budget is a max of £500 or $600. First here are some that I won`t look at.

SBMM Stingray: too expensive
Gretch Electromatic: don`t like the looks
Squier Mustang: had one, too expensive for what you get
Epiphone EB 0: eh just no
Squier Mini P: looks too much of a toy

So I have narrowed it down to these.

G&L Fallout Trib: I like the idea of a mini L1000 but it`s almost the same size of a 34" bass apparently. If someone could measure the overall length, that would be great. Price £500 or $600

Sire MM U5: These look really good and seem to get a lot of love but does the headstock look massive on these? It`s the only thing I`m not sure of. £390 or $470

Harley Benton MV 4: The cheapest of the 3. I could get a new wiring loom for around £40 so I can have separate vol and tone for each pickup.£200 or $240

I cannot try any of these out in the flesh as they are not available locally and trying to return to Thomann for the second 2 is a bit of a pain. So if you own any of these 3 I would be interested to hear your thoughts. Ta
Click to expand...

the Epi EB0 is very good. I have a real 66 and AB’d it with the epi once. It’s very good especially for the price and my general advice to new bass players is to get the EB0 and keep it until you are in need of a Gibson tier instimenr and then get an SG bass.

It’s worth noting that Gibson owns a factory in China with American oversight. These instruments are generally very good.
But when they are selling fast they will have a third party manufacture instruments for them. These can be very bad. Check serial numbers.

The MM short scale. I like the design and it’s comfortable.
The build quality was the worst I’ve ever seen. The electronics were loose and the screw stripped. I woudlnt buy it if you can’t try it.

also for what it’s worth. Everyone thinks the Indonesian PRS stuff and the other cort stuff is good. I’m sorry, it’s super overrated. $500 for a guitar from there is fair.

don’t pay over $750 for one please.

Not to pick on PRS but the S2 and below stuff all cast hardware. Gibson uses machined aluminum. The cast pot metal stuff is porous and bubbly inside the chrome plating and has mystery meat metal that starts corroding very early in it’s life.

the Gibson Les Paul tribute bass might be satin finish but it’s got the same aluminum stuff on a custom shop R9 Les Paul and it’s PLEK’d at the factory.

Everyone gets all up in arms because a $1500 Les Paul is more likely to have a finish defect. But guys, the wood is treated in the same facility as the R9. The hardware is the same as the R9. The Plek cuts the nut and dresses the frets. The intonation is perfect.

Fender Epiphone Jackson Charvel Ibanez Schecter ESP LTD have been creeping guitars with squire materials and build quality into the $1250+ price point with some novelty tricks or an artist name.

please don’t pay $1200 for a squire. Do us all a favor and reject this.

not that OP is considering it, and appears to be very wise with his money.
I just don’t like this idea that the stuff cortec is building is competing with the US made stuff. It’s just not and it’s not personal or anything.
 
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#40
Rondo music has a couple SX.

Sx p-j.jpg
 

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