Why do some people love short scales?

[spade2you]

This man says "Because Allah loves wondrous variety."

However, musicians don't.

 

[GM60466]

I play both because my EB2 and Hofner Club don't come in 34" scale

 

[pbass2]

My Jerry Jones Longhorn (the Neptune one from about 8 years ago with the adjustable saddles) is possibly my favorite bass, and one of the best-sounding, best made basses I've ever owned. And at 5'8" and scrawny, I do love the size and weight. Doesn't look small on me
Most of the time it sports old flats for the retro thing which is what one might expect--at least I typically associate shorties with flats and thump---but I will also slap some fresh rounds on there and it can rock out just as well as my Jazz (just different). PLENTY big sounding. Bruce Thomas used one with Elvis Costello with rounds--sounded killer:

 

[Diogenes]

im 6ft3. i love a shortie. i dont own one but i love how they sound. my friend is getting annoyed cos i keep borrowing his and putting flats on it

+1.

I'm not self conscious about playing a guitar or a Sakpipa (smaller than my Invalid Link Removed) so I think it's ridiculous to assume a tall person doesn't look right playing a short scale bass. Flat out preposterous.

 

[Marko 1]

I put my Mustang ri on CL, and some young Asian guy who was kinda small with small hands bought it. He sold his P, tried the Mustang out, and was very happy.

Had I not gotten into fivers, it’d never have gotten rid of it; I really liked that bass, and it sounded fantastic.

My fingers aren’t long, but I’ve found that playing a fiver is easier for that because I can use the B and play higher on the neck where the frets aren’t so far apart.

 

[Denial]

Size certainly matters, but short scales most certainly have a different character than standard scale basses. String tension is lower. String bends are easier. Vibrato is easier. The tonal character of the notes are different.

A couple examples:

Glen Cambell, on a Dano 6-string with Stone Temple Pilots:


Stanley uses short scale electrics because he wants to, not because he has to.

I probably don't need to mention Jack Bruce.

I personally find short scale basses musically inspiring. It's all about the music.

 

[ProfGumby]

If you have small hands, they're great. You can get around much faster.

That and if you are like me and the dexterity in your hands is somewhat limited, it makes playing a lot more comfortable without moving your hand around too much...

 

[paganjack]

Being 6'3" and playing a short scale bass looks really silly (IMO). That said, they're kinda fun to play. It's like playing a little toy instrument. I sometimes feel that way about playing 6-string guitar too. It doesn't feel big enough to be real.

 

[TheSuzie]

Size certainly matters, but short scales most certainly have a different character than standard scale basses. String tension is lower. String bends are easier. Vibrato is easier. The tonal character of the notes are different.

A couple examples:

.....(Dano and Alembic)....

Yes, but the examples you mention have construction and electronics that would be distinctive even if you built them as a long scale. I have played both long and short scale Danos and owned a longhorn. No matter what the size, they sound like Danos.

Funny thing but people who play the short scale SX jazz bases say they sound like a Jazz. Same for the short P basses. They sound like a P.

As far as string tension what you say is true *given the same or similar string construction and gauges*. Many bassists are funny in that they really don't experiment much with strings. I used to run heavy strings on one of my shorties and it had more tension and more piano like tones than my long scales. These days I have a long scale tuned EADG standard with .075 .055 .040 .028 nickel plated rounds. I bet you could bend the strings all the way around the neck if you had strong hands.... Not really but you get the idea. Loose as or looser than than off the shelf short scales with typical strings.

Peace,
S

 

[Denial]

TheSuzie,

I hear you. But I do think string length does have something to do with the tone. Also on bending, short scale means you have to push less to get the same pitch difference.

Funny you mention the SX. I have a short scale one that my son learned on. We refin'd it Daphne blue and put lipstick pickups in it. Still doesn't sound like a Dano though. Right now it has piccolo strings on it. A bit stuff tuned to E, but dropped to D it is quite fun.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I rejoined the short scale bass fraternity Tuesday when I got a '95 Mustang Bass. I had a '07 Höfner 500/1V63 for a while, but sold it last year to a friend in Oz.

The Mustang has a great, growly tone with a nice pillowy bottom end with the tone control rolled off, very nice! My only gripe was the narrow string spacing at the bridge; I took care of that tonight with a Hipshot A style bridge.

More mods are in it's future.

 

[Winemule]

I would not trade any of my short scale Birdsongs for any long scale custom at any price unless I could sell the long scale and buy two more Birdsongs....

Playing is believing. My Cbass does just about everything a P-Bass does, except it weighs 6 lbs. and I don't have to do finger-stretching exercises.

 

[BassManDan101]

i'm 16, 5'8, and have massive hands.
my hands seem to big to fit around a normal guitar.
my body is too small (IMO) to have a long scale bass (my last being a epi thunderbird, i looked like a baby with a plank of wood)
so what fits perfectly? my fender mustang reissue
plus, they're fun on stage/practise. you can thrash around carelessly and it's far FAR less tiring. plus they sound punk as hell!

 

[pklima]

Being 6'3" and playing a short scale bass looks really silly (IMO).

But it'll make you look like you're 6'5"!

I don't have any shortscale basses, but I do like how some of the Landing basses look like overgrown Strats. Those are cute.

 

[trkelley]

i actually really like the feel, and i can go a lot faster on a short scale (only played an EB gibson reissue) but they look funny on me cause theyre so short. i know its not about look, but i just feel funny playing a bass thats that small.

Conversely; I feel funny playing a bass that looks too large. I'm a short (5'4") thick vintage chick who plays in a rock band. I put a lot of care into my visuals as well as my sound. My bass should fit as well and look as good as my leathers, hat, boots, etc. It's part of the show! I gotta wonder why short people struggle with large basses - out of some sense of "keeping up" or being taken seriously maybe? the old "overcompensation" vibe?
Through a good amp with a good player's hands on the strings, there is no sonic reason NOT to play a shortie, that I can think of.
I wouldn't trade my SX Jazz for a "real" Fender Jazz, been there, done that. Probably will upgrade the PUs at some point, but they're quite acceptable as is. Just bought a "J Reynolds" 7/8 size p-bass copy for $30 off of CL, no strings. Another fun mod-project!

 

[Old Fart]

My short-scale bass is a heavyweight champion compared to my Jazz, in at least one category. Thump. The Jazz is more resonant, more sustain, more overtones.....but the short scale bass can out-thump it. Sounds more like a kickdrum. Perfect bass for metal.

 

[Rocker949]

It's just what I got used to when I started playing at 15. I'm just as comfortable or even more comfortable with a long scale.

 

[rythman6969]

I like all scales. I have a 20 inch scale Kala Ubass, 30 1/2 inch Musicmaster, standard 34 inch P bass and a 42 inch scale upright. They are all fun to play.

Bingo !