Which shortscale?

[ejaggers]

...Once again, we're not really helping the OP very much with these thread derails....

I guess people just aren't reading.

In my opinion, some people are more concerned with pushing their own agenda rather than being helpful.
I did a post once where I explicitly stated I wanted advice on a passive bass,
and got many, “You don’t want passive....You want active”, responses.

One of the good things about the US of A is, people are entitled to their own opinions,
but even better news is, we are also entitled to ignore them.

Op,
out of my 5 short scales, my favorite is my modded Mustang.
So if it were me, I get the Harley Benton MV 4.

Since I'm a mod-oholic, I'd turn it into exactly what I wanted,
if stock was lacking something….057912

 

[alex1fly]

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 . 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

Add Squier Bronco to your list. Basically a 51 P in short scale form. With a professional setup it'll hang with your P (at least, mine does). 500 pounds would get you the instrument, a setup, a new electronics/shielding in the cavity if you like. Can't recommend this instrument enough for the reasons you listed plus its ability to cop a beautiful P Bass tone.

IMO "Squier Mini P: looks too much of a toy" is a silly reason to exclude it. It's the short scale version of your bass. Keep the Hello Kitty stickers off of it, play it like a wizard, and you'll be fine lol

 

[BassPilot]

My main player is a Sire U5. Wonderful instrument in quality/fit/finish, playability and tone. I also have a SBMM Stingray and it’s another very good instrument if you like the Stingray tone.
One night a few months ago I couldn’t sleep and was perusing TB and, as tired as I was, on a whim ordered a HB Pb shorty (P-Bass). Wow! For the money ($79 + $60 shipping to the US from Thoman) I’m truly impressed. It’s not a high end instrument but I’d gig it in a heartbeat. I have 2 out of town gigs coming up in a few months and will probably bring it as a backup to my Sire U5.

 

[ejaggers]

Add Squier Bronco to your list. Basically a 51 P in short scale form. With a professional setup it'll hang with your P (at least, mine does). 500 pounds would get you the instrument, a setup, a new electronics/shielding in the cavity if you like. Can't recommend this instrument enough for the reasons you listed plus its ability to cop a beautiful P Bass tone.

IMO "Squier Mini P: looks too much of a toy" is a silly reason to exclude it. It's the short scale version of your bass. Keep the Hello Kitty stickers off of it, play it like a wizard, and you'll be fine lol

Very good advice!!!
I second the Bronco, it's a lot of bang for the buck and can be had for $100 used,
which leaves a lot in the budget for upgrades that will make it a small beast.

I also agree with the "it's silly" comment, but I wasn't going to say it....057912

 

[KidAmnesia]

It's probably already been suggested (did not read the full 6 pages). But if size is your main concern you might want to go headless. You can't go much compact than that.

 

[Kevlanco]

I guess I’ll throw in my two cents here in case OP is still deciding. I’ve owned a few sire and Harley Benton basses now, and only sold any of them due to being well over 10lbs. I sold my Sire U5 after picking up the Harley Benton mustang. They both played great out of the box and while I wouldn’t hesitate to call the sire the “better instrument,” I wound up keeping the Harley Benton for a couple reasons.

1). I like to tinker and mod, and the Harley Benton is a great template for that. If you want something ready to go, that would be the sire U5.

2). I’m a skinny 6’ tall and don’t really feel comfortable living behind such a tiny instrument, so I didn’t need two shorties. Also, the sire looking like a shrunken aerodyne bass made it look extra tiny on me. The sire was definitely lighter than the HB though.

3). I LOVE the aerodyne style, but I fell out of love with the mint green on the U5, and I had issues with using a pick at times due to the binding on the body.

I only recently learned about the g&l fallout tribute being closer to a standard sized bass, and that has me VERY curious about trying one. It’s worth noting as well that G&L is running a sale on B stock basses on their web store. They have B stock fallout tributes for $375 or so in stock. I don’t have much experience with G&L, but I picked up a sonic blue JB2 tribute for $300 coming on Wednesday. Heavily tempted to just go for a fallout tribute as well, though I just saw they sold out of olympic white today

 

[samdan61]

I only recently learned about the g&l fallout tribute being closer to a standard sized bass, and that has me VERY curious about trying one. It’s worth noting as well that G&L is running a sale on B stock basses on their web store. They have B stock fallout tributes for $375 or so in stock. I don’t have much experience with G&L, but I picked up a sonic blue JB2 tribute for $300 coming on Wednesday. Heavily tempted to just go for a fallout tribute as well, though I just saw they sold out of olympic white today

Thanks for the reminder, just bought a black fallout Tribute from G&L clearance section!

 

[gln1955]

In this video Lobster explains that the Fallout is just as big as any full scale bass

This is simply incorrect. The Fallout is a bit over 2" shorter overall compared to a P-bass.

 

[Dust2Dust]

This is simply incorrect. The Fallout is a bit over 2" shorter overall compared to a P-bass.

Here it is next to a Sire M5, 34" scale

 

[wiscoaster]

No question in my mind about the best in the OP's list. For the type of music he's playing, it's the G&L Fallout. The Sire U5 (IMO) has a more playable neck but its pickups (IMO) are a bit on the wimpy side for a P-bass guy. I have both basses, so my opinions are from my personal experience playing the two. A suggestion for an alternate not mentioned by the OP is the Squier medium-scale Jaguar PJ. If that was added to the list, that's the one that would be be my first choice.

 

[wiscoaster]

.... but I fell out of love with the mint green on the U5, ...

Hah!! I hear ya!!
Marcus Miller Gets Naked

 

[Johnny Alien]

Here it is next to a Sire M5, 34" scale

Both things can be true. It can be 2" shorter than a 34" Precision bass and also be the same size as a 34" Sire M5. All that says is that the M5 is a compact 34" bass. The Precision is a better reference point as that is the bass that the OP uses regularly.

 

[Spupilup]

Both things can be true. It can be 2" shorter than a 34" Precision bass and also be the same size as a 34" Sire M5. All that says is that the M5 is a compact 34" bass. The Precision is a better reference point as that is the bass that the OP uses regularly.

As an owner of a Fallout and, what I would consider a rather small Stingray, it’s all much ado about nothing. It would appear as though there exists a camp of bass player who simply don’t like the Fallout (for whatever reason) and like to find fault with the instrument.

A dyed in the wool G&L owner dating back to 1980, I was initially turned off by the cost and weight issues of the US and Tribute Fallouts. The overall sized felt fine, even with my limited experience with the short scale Stingray. Now, after picking up a Fallout that weighs just under 9 lbs. for a great price, I never touch my much lighter, more compact Stingray. Yes, it weighs more that the Stingray but the Fallout is comfortably balanced so the extra weigh is not an issue this 63 year old man.

BTW, if anyone wants to see a photo, I can set my Fallout next to my L1K and L2K to show it is measurably shorter than a bass that is identical in length to a standard P bass.

Now, in terms of what’s a better alternative from a tonal standpoint, with my limited experience with the Fallout and the Stingray, there simply is no comparison. The Fallout, when set up properly (adjusting the height of the pickup), has so much more to offer a player.

As I mentioned in my first post 5 or 6 pages back, I had a U5 on order but, after waiting over 6 months and picking up the Fallout in the interim, I cancelled my order. From the comments I’ve read here, I’m confident I made the right decision.

Getting back to my initial point. You don’t like G&L’s, great, ignore one of the better, inexpensive short scales available at your own risk. If you’re remotely interested in the Fallout, make the effort to try one. Properly set up, I think most would be left with a sense that it’s a comfortable bass with great tone that is marginally bigger than most 30” scale basses.

 

[lug]

There are currently 3 clearance Fallout Tributes on the G&L store page for $375 each.

 

[Johnny Alien]

As an owner of a Fallout and, what I would consider a rather small Stingray, it’s all much ado about nothing. It would appear as though there exists a camp of bass player who simply don’t like the Fallout (for whatever reason) and like to find fault with the instrument.

A dyed in the wool G&L owner dating back to 1980, I was initially turned off by the cost and weight issues of the US and Tribute Fallouts. The overall sized felt fine, even with my limited experience with the short scale Stingray. Now, after picking up a Fallout that weighs just under 9 lbs. for a great price, I never touch my much lighter, more compact Stingray. Yes, it weighs more that the Stingray but the Fallout is comfortably balanced so the extra weigh is not an issue this 63 year old man.

BTW, if anyone wants to see a photo, I can set my Fallout next to my L1K and L2K to show it is measurably shorter than a bass that is identical in length to a standard P bass.

Now, in terms of what’s a better alternative from a tonal standpoint, with my limited experience with the Fallout and the Stingray, there simply is no comparison. The Fallout, when set up properly (adjusting the height of the pickup), has so much more to offer a player.

As I mentioned in my first post 5 or 6 pages back, I had a U5 on order but, after waiting over 6 months and picking up the Fallout in the interim, I cancelled my order. From the comments I’ve read here, I’m confident I made the right decision.

Getting back to my initial point. You don’t like G&L’s, great, ignore one of the better, inexpensive short scales available at your own risk. If you’re remotely interested in the Fallout, make the effort to try one. Properly set up, I think most would be left with a sense that it’s a comfortable bass with great tone that is marginally bigger than most 30” scale basses.

I don't think that this is pointed at me but just in case I would like to say that while I have never played a Fallout it would be high on my list of recommendations for short scales because I have owned and really dig L1K's with the same pickup/electronics. I was basing my initial comment on length requirements only and before anyone actually measured and showed that its not as long as a Precision.

There are currently 3 clearance Fallout Tributes on the G&L store page for $375 each.

The OP is not in the USA.

 

[lug]

I don't think that this is pointed at me but just in case I would like to say that while I have never played a Fallout it would be high on my list of recommendations for short scales because I have owned and really dig L1K's with the same pickup/electronics. I was basing my initial comment on length requirements only and before anyone actually measured and showed that its not as long as a Precision.



The OP is not in the USA.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Was just making a general statement for anyone interested. One even has Tort, which makes it far more valuable!

 

[Spupilup]

 

[gln1955]

There are currently 3 clearance Fallout Tributes on the G&L store page for $375 each.

I bought one of the white clearance Fallouts about a month ago for over $400. Wish I would have waited and got a black one for less.

As an owner of a Fallout and, what I would consider a rather small Stingray, it’s all much ado about nothing. It would appear as though there exists a camp of bass player who simply don’t like the Fallout (for whatever reason) and like to find fault with the instrument.

A dyed in the wool G&L owner dating back to 1980, I was initially turned off by the cost and weight issues of the US and Tribute Fallouts. The overall sized felt fine, even with my limited experience with the short scale Stingray. Now, after picking up a Fallout that weighs just under 9 lbs. for a great price, I never touch my much lighter, more compact Stingray. Yes, it weighs more that the Stingray but the Fallout is comfortably balanced so the extra weigh is not an issue this 63 year old man.

BTW, if anyone wants to see a photo, I can set my Fallout next to my L1K and L2K to show it is measurably shorter than a bass that is identical in length to a standard P bass.

Now, in terms of what’s a better alternative from a tonal standpoint, with my limited experience with the Fallout and the Stingray, there simply is no comparison. The Fallout, when set up properly (adjusting the height of the pickup), has so much more to offer a player.

As I mentioned in my first post 5 or 6 pages back, I had a U5 on order but, after waiting over 6 months and picking up the Fallout in the interim, I cancelled my order. From the comments I’ve read here, I’m confident I made the right decision.

Getting back to my initial point. You don’t like G&L’s, great, ignore one of the better, inexpensive short scales available at your own risk. If you’re remotely interested in the Fallout, make the effort to try one. Properly set up, I think most would be left with a sense that it’s a comfortable bass with great tone that is marginally bigger than most 30” scale basses.

My only complaint about my Fallout is the weight, a pounf or more heavier than my other SS basses. It is also longer than my Mustang and Maruszczyk short scale P, but I never noticed until I measured it for this thread. I play SS basses for the scale length not their overall size.

The tones I get from the MFD pickup are killer, so yeah, anyone considering a SS should check these out for sure.

 

[Dust2Dust]

I stand corrected then.

Based on that, maybe that's why I can't play "Money" (Pink Floyd) on my P Bass but I can on my J Bass or any of the others. (All Squier CV)

On my P Bass, my pinky finger doesn't quite stretch far enough to properly fret the B on the G string (4th fret) and I get fret buzz and it drives me crazy

 

[bassburner]

View attachment 4998590

Here it is next to a Sire M5, 34" scale

How about compared to a headless? This is apples to oranges with the different head stocks. And also, the affect of the overall length is also dependent on where it hangs.