I've always preferred lighter gauges on short scales, because for my experience they sound better, with better intonation and with more defined bass frequencies, where heavier gauges tend to sound muddier.
the heaviest I could tolerate to have a clear and define sound was a standard 45-65-80-100 from D'addario (both round and flat), but usually I prefer lighter Rotosound (short scale 40-95) or those like Pyramid, with lighter center strings, fe: 40-55-70-100.
the Thomastik long scale sounded better than their short, on the E string, which is a 106 (short) compared to the 100 (long), and it was all mud.
La bella 43-104 were good on the Mustang, but the Chromes 45-100 intonate better and sounded more defined.
however, I think that one of the reasons why short scale sets, in particular for "vintage brands", are usually lighter, and sometimes the only choice, is because in the 60's and 70's short scale basses always had narrower necks, with narrow string spacing, and with heavier strings it's not that comfortable.
now we don't have this issue anymore, and many short scales have the same width of standard/long scales. FE I've had two Ibanez Mikro, both strung with 45-100 (D'Addario, one with Prosteel, one with Chromes), and even if the scale is shorter than 30", the width is quite standard.
an Hofner, a Mustang, a Danelectro and others with standard gauges will have a reduced string spacing.
for me - to play with a pick. OTOH, the 39-96 760FX's - while still giving me the desired "Dano Sound" - are marginally better, pick-wise.
if you compare these two sets, both light, they are:
Dano: 42-56-65-83
FX: 39-56-77-96
the G string is heavier on the Dano, the D string is the same, and the E and A are slightly bigger on the FX set. this means that probably the tensions are kind of matched overall.
both these sets are similar to those offered by others like Pyramid (40-55-70-100)***, Rotosound (40-50-75-90), GHS (45-60-75-95).
they are light sets, and a 56 D string is extremely light for an average "standard gauge" player
La Bella FL have 43-60-82-104, so the D string is always lighter compared to standard sets; often the G string is bigger (compared to standard), as for Thomastik that are 43-56-70-106, with that bigger E on the short scale set, but the other strings are extremely light.
56 D and 70 A strings are like the ones in a 35-90 set... kind of light, right?
*** they advertise as this way, but many sets I've had, under the caliber are 42-55-75-100
PS: on long scale I prefer 55-70-90-105 for flats because the E strings sounds and intonate better than a 110, and I like the heavier G. I would never use a set like this on my shorties
for rounds I use 45-100/105 or 110 (in this case the Billy Sheehan set of Rotosound, which is 43-65-80-110), but on shorties with rounds I've always had troubles with heavier strings.
...obviously, YMMV and then some.
