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Why Are Short Scale Basses Looked Down Upon?

#21
I play any scale... I own a 35.5 scale (extra long) 5 string custom made jazz, a 32 scale (medium) 5 string alembic, and a 34 scale (long) musicman stingray 5 hh...

I've owned two shortscale basses... a 69 mustang and a 70s aria jazz of some sorts...

To me a good player can adapt to and play anything... and likes to do so, makes stuff interesting... fender type necks, baseball bat warwicks, skinny fast ibanez soundgear necks and everything in between. Number of frets and scale length included... I've owned basses or had experience with every major company... I dont care what I'm playing... I have fun with each instrument...

As far as short scale goes... The only downside I can think about them is for low tunings and the lack of tension compared to longer scales, which some people may not like... I dont think it'd be possible to have a tight and clear sounding D let alone B on a short 30 scale bass... I guess thats why I dont see many 5 string 30 scales if any exist at all...
 
#23
I could go see a — let's say — very tasty bebop band and see a bass player dressed up like twisted sister playing on a eleven string pink Steinberger while headbanging, and i wouldn't really care if the whole sound and playing's coherent. You can't be looked down upon by people who judge which tool you're playing on, diregarding on how you play it…
 
#26
loopee said:
did you try EQing your amp?
Click to expand...

Ya know what, I knew I forgot to do something....LOL. Yes I tried changing my eq. It seemed like I could'nt win. When I added mids, it sounded like a guitar. When I added low end it was as if the sound was coming out like mud coming out of a tube of toothpaste. I am usually able to use a flat eq with all of my other basses maybe a small boost here or there. I could'nt get anything to work. Before anyone asks, I did try different strings (elixirs). I wanted it to work more than anyone, at home I felt like the bass playin' version of Tony Iommi!!!!!!!!! Minus the pornstache and the Peter Brady perm of course. I'll stick with my trusty P Bass and Stingray.
 
#27
ThunderV said:
Ya know what, I knew I forgot to do something....LOL. Yes I tried changing my eq. It seemed like I could'nt win. When I added mids, it sounded like a guitar. When I added low end it was as if the sound was coming out like mud coming out of a tube of toothpaste. I am usually able to use a flat eq with all of my other basses maybe a small boost here or there. I could'nt get anything to work. Before anyone asks, I did try different strings (elixirs). I wanted it to work more than anyone, at home I felt like the bass playin' version of Tony Iommi!!!!!!!!! Minus the pornstache and the Peter Brady perm of course. I'll stick with my trusty P Bass and Stingray.
Click to expand...

A $120.00 DiMarzio Model one would have cleaned it up. It would be like dropping Lindy Fralin or other top notch pick up in a Squier or SX. I even put one in my SG & wired it Parallel-coil tap-series. It brought pure life to the neck pup, dial in some bridge and it sings!
 
#28
Mr. Reed (mcrracer), things have really come a long way for short scaler here on TalkBass. In the past, if there was ever a thread about short scale basses, many nay-sayers would automatically chime in about how they are always poor quality, sound thuddy and have really flabby strings. I went on a mini quest to change those erroneous notions about short scales through this thread:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=626148

Many people thought the short scale jazz had the best tone. Better than a very well respected brand standard scale bass. At least now (and including this thread), I have noticed that few and fewer people are slamming short scale basses for their tone. Understandably, many people do have a legitimate point that the quality of a lot of short scale basses is shoddy since they tend to be cheaper basses, but as soon as you start talking about Landing, Alembic and Birdsong, it becomes clear that it is not possible to criticize short scale basses as an entire group.

It will take some time for people to leave their misconceptions about short scale basses behind, but based on trends I've seen recently, it will happen eventually.
 
#30
people look down on them because they're short. ;)

but seriously, i don't look down on the 6 that i own, and i don't think that anyone else does. here they are:


'85 Alembic Distillate:
alembic-1-w.jpg


'68 Beatle Bass:
beatlebass-1-w.jpg


'68 Gretsch 6073
gretschbass6073-1-2-w.jpg


'68 Gibson EB3
68eb3-1-w.jpg


'67 Gibson EB2-D
eb2d-1-w-2.jpg


'69 Gibson EB1 (not shown)
 
#31
Most basses are 34 or longer, it's just the massive availability of great long scale models vs the rather more limited short scale inventory. I have one long, aonther short, and both serve their purpose. As amazing as the long scale sounds (upgraded pickups), I am always drawn to my short scale bass most of the time. It just plays so much faster, making "difficult" fingerings all the much easier. Plus it definitely has a different sound, even unplugged (pickups have been upgraded as well). A GOOD sound.

Ironically, my short scale is longer than my long scale, because it's a flying V, and the horns are just long. One of my friends teases me, saying "did you bring your keayboard?" The case is just huge, much like a keyboard's. :P
 
#33
I love shortscales, in fact I play them exclusively. I have a $2000 shortscale Stambaugh that sounds, feels and plays outstanding. I also have a short scale Landing on order that will be similar in appearance to a tele guitar.

Some people have a sort of snobbish attitude to shortscales. Their loss as far as I'm concerned. It is a shame to turn away new players from shortscales just because of some people's biased opinions.

Here is me and my ss Stambaugh. BTW, I am 6'1 and weigh 215LBS so while some ss may look goofy on bigger guys, that is not to say they all do.
Torin-Stammie2.jpg
 
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#38
::::BASSIST:::: said:
I love shortscales, in fact that I play them exclusively. I have a $2000 shortscale Stambaugh that sounds, feels and plays outstanding. I also have short scale Landing that will be similar in appearance to a tele guitar.

Some people have a sort of snobbish attitude to shortscales. Their loss as far as I'm concerned. It is a shame to turn away new players from shortscales just because of some people's biased opinions.

Here is me and my ss Stambaugh. BTW, I am 6'1 and weigh 215LBS so while some ss may look goofy on bigger guys, that is not to say they all do.
Torin-Stammie2.jpg
Click to expand...

THAT... is a pretty bass sir. do they.... make them in 34" 6 string? :hiding:

seriously tho, DAYUM.

NICE.
 
#39
Good short scales are killer. The wood choices, electronics (and pickup position!), and neck rigidity are perhaps even more important than with 34"+ scale lengths, though. Bad short scales are quite often still fun in a way, but lousy with a band.

I'd love a short (or at least shorter) scale 7-string. Would make some of the chordal stuff I'm doing a little less strenuous. There was a beautiful 33" Elrick 7 on ebay a couple months ago that had me sweating. Price was too high, though, and I couldn't raise the money anyway. Would also really dig one of those MIJ Ampegs with the big MM-style pickup.
 
#40
A short-scale bass is still 4.5" longer than a gu***r. That's the real reason chicks dig the bassplaya. :)

As far as TB forums, the way people are it's possible to feel like you have to defend playing only 4 strings, not having a tube in your amp, not having a pile of pedals on your board, spending less than $1k for your bass...
 

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