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Why Are Short Scale Basses Looked Down Upon?

#41
Many early electric basses were short scale - perhaps to ease the transition from guitar. I learned on a Gibson EB-2 and then bought a Hagstrom Hag II and also played a Dano and Hofner - all 30" scale. The incredibly long scale of the Fender basses felt foreign to me back then!

Many short scale basses do not have the clarity of longer scale, perhaps a function of the strings and the physics of the strings. This may be the reason for the negative feelings. However, I find that if the strings are properly engineered for the shorter scale, They can have a good sound. String making may be better now than it was many years ago, allowing better sound.

I still have my Hagstrom and Hoftner, and will probably end up playing them full time again as my fingers slow down as they are surely more comfortable to play.
 
#42
I feel like short-scale basses get their bad rap simply because it's so easy to find crappy ones. This is one instance where I think looks don't really matter as much as some might think. Like whom I believe to be the majority of full-scale bass players, I'm totally comfortable with my 34" scale instruments and they produce the sound I want. Of the three short-scale basses I've played, none sounded anywhere near good (to me). After an experience like that I don't feel any need to even look at short-scales.
 
#44
I like short scales well enough and have played a few production and custom made short scale basses (Chip Todd loves making short scale basses). I haven't noticed a lack of bottom end (mind you they've all been 4 stringers) but due to my habit of bending a fair amount and a heavy handed vibrato they don't work well for me. If I stay in the 34-35" range the string response is consistent to me. On the other hand if I owned one it wouldn't take much to get used to, but even then I'd recommend someone play a full scale instrument and if they want to try a short scale bass or have a reason to play one then so be it. Personal opinion all the way here.
 
#45
My 2 cents... one of the reasons I love playing bass is because the bass feels BIG. I don't know if that really makes sense. I love how big it feels after years of playing guitar. When I pick up one of my guitars I feel like I am playing a little tykes my first guitar or something, it's so tiny! I do like the speed at which I can play on a shortscale, but I love the feel and timbre of a longscale bass. It feels powerful and raw and thunderous, and I just don't feel the same on a shortscale. I have big shoulders and I love the spread of a nice long bass between my two hands.

I don't necessarily "look down" on the shortscales, plenty of them are "real" instruments with real features and sounds, but they don't feel right to me. I get in a different mindset with a full scale bass. Like the ladies will tell you, 4 inches makes a difference...
 
#46
::::BASSIST:::: said:
Yep, Chris Stambaugh is a great guy. I'm sure he'd be happy to build you the same bass in whatever fashion you prefer, within reason.
Click to expand...

lol.... i'm not really good enough (or making enough money off of playing) to justify a custom bass.

i AM jonesing for a Dingwall tho. TRYING to stop buying effects for a minute to finance one. fanned fret = awesome.

sorry for the thread hi-jack.

more on-topic.... do they make any short scale basses that are stretched out over a "normal" sized neck and body? that might be kinda neat.

exxxxxxxxtra wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttsssssssssss...........
 
#47
I have had a Dano Longhorn and a Kramer Duke. I liked both of them and they had their place. The Duke was very well made but the aluminum neck and lack of body were deal killers in the long run no matter what the scale. The Dano is its' own particular type of animal.

I think a lot of the prejudice against shorties is macho bologna. Play what you like IMO.

The main problem I find with most production short scales is that they scale down the neck in the other dimensions - they assume some child (or a guitarist) is going to play it and they make the spacing too narrow and the neck not deep enough. For me this just leads to hand cramps. I guess I need a little more heft if I am going to be putting in a lot of playing time.

Peace,
S
 
#48
They generally dont get the articulation in the lower register that longer scales get. The same sort of effect that lets a low B string ring cleareer and with more focus then std scale. There are exceptions, but in more cases the short scale basses just have floppier strings etc compared to regular scale. Ive played short scale basses and though kinda nice like gibson scale guitar compared to fender scale, they just dint mneasure up to regular scale for sound and string tension with same gauges of strings.
 
#49
Try an Alembic shorty...it will flat change your mind. Great shorties can and have been built. I have one. No floppy strings, great articulation everywhere on the neck. Thunderous lows, grand piano like mids and heavenly highs. I would venture to say most people who say they don't like them have never tried a great one. Oh and I am not trying to change anyone's mind. Different strokes for different folks. I don't really give a sheet what you play, we are all Bass players!
 
#51
I don't think they're frowned upon, per se, I think they're more viewed as either "specialty" or "beginner" instruments.

They're referred to as "beginner" because many low quality short scale bass exist on the market.

They're also referred to as "specialty" on occasion, simply because when a person decides to purchase a high quality one, it's because they have decided that the short scale is most comfortable for them.

As for me, I have four basses. Two of them, my Ibanez and Precision are full scale (34"), my Aria Medium-II is medium scale (32"), and my Ideal Violin Bass (30"). Of all of them, I favor my Fender first and my Aria second.
 
#52
mcrracer said:
Try an Alembic shorty...it will flat change your mind. Great shorties can and have been built. I have one. No floppy strings, great articulation everywhere on the neck. Thunderous lows, grand piano like mids and heavenly highs. I would venture to say most people who say they don't like them have never tried a great one. Oh and I am not trying to change anyone's mind. Different strokes for different folks. I don't really give a sheet what you play, we are all Bass players!
Click to expand...

+1!

IMO, my alembic distillate has everything that my long scale basses have and more.
......and that was a perfect description of it by the way. ;)
 
#54
I've played short scales before. For me its not an issue of sound but playability. When I play a shortscale, my hand piles up and eventually cramps up. Its just not comfortable. I play guitar in addition to bass but I'm a rhythm guitar player for the most part since I only play chords. When I'm playing a bass line I prefer the longer scale since my hands don't cramp.

I've played longer scales than 34 and while I love the sound (I find it tighter and more defined) I don't like stretching as much to hit the notes. When I fret I hit the string right next to the fretwire.

Then again I've never spent serious time with a short scale bass aside from demo'ing them out. I've owned some Hofner Club basses but I'm unsure of the scale.
 
#56
Considering a baritone guitar is my ideal size of guitar, a short scale feels kinda funny to me. But, if I had to join a reggae band, I'd go out and buy a Mustang and be the thumpiest guy around. Plus, Bass VIs are technically 30", and I LOVE those.

So, as per usual, I have no definite answer.
 
#57
if they're still looked down upon its because of ignorance & machismo
baritone length is most comfortable for me too

they have so much more character and personality to their sound, long scales can sound a little clinical and anonymous.
it did take me a while to adjust to the smaller frets but now i appreciate being able to do stretches and ridiculous chords.

with modern amps you can get a good bottom on them so a lot of the old criticisms aren't relevant any more

thats not to say i'll never go back to back to long scales, i'm currently gas-ing for a 7
 
#58
I still find it really interesting that people here are talking about the "short scale sound" when I really don't think people can tell the difference between a quality short scale and a long scale. Just like many gear snobs can't tell the difference between an SX and a Fender in those soundclip challenges.

So I played this 34" standard scale crappy Costco starter kit bass the other day and it was horrible. I guess all 34" scale basses really stink. :)
 

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