Your Go-To Short Scale?

[Chondroulis]

I have been wanting a short scale bass for some time now. There seems to be a lot of choices out there at all different price points; so many pros and cons. And it's a bit overwhelming, honestly.

I've been thinking about that perfect blend of versatility, playability, looks, and value. What are you guys playing and why?

 

[Billy Bob Bass]

The Squier Classic Vibe '60s Mustang is a nice and affordable short scale. I think it looks great. It sounds and plays fine.

 

[gln1955]

My main player is my Maruszczyk Jake, but for a mass production bass, my MIJ Mustang is a winner. Have to find a used one these days, but it's better than any of the current Mustang offerings, IMO.

 

[Dluxe]

 

[Chondroulis]

My main player is my Maruszczyk Jake, but for a mass production bass, my MIJ Mustang is a winner. Have to find a used one these days, but it's better than any of the current Mustang offerings, IMO.

How have I never heard of Maruszczyk? I will certainly check it out! I love my MIJ '86 P-Bass, so the Mustang is certainly worth a look.

 

[Chondroulis]

View attachment 4377236

Hubba hubba.

 

[el jeffe bass]

My one and only shorty is a Squier Jag. It’s a cool little bass with a bunch of potential but I decided that I’m a standard scale guy so it and I will probably be parting was soon.

 

[west al]

The 2018 Epi EB-0, strung with D'Addario ETB92S Nylons. A 30.5" neck, and a 12' radius Rosewood fretboard. I like it better than most of the Gibson EB/SG Std.'s I've had over the years.

 

[Mustang Surly]

Guild"Newark Street" Starfire and Reverend Dub King are two great choices. I was able to find each used but in excellent/mint condition for under $1K w/HSC:

The Guild has narrower (17mm) string spacing at the bridge and a 1.5"-wide nut. Dub King string spacing and nut are more "standard" (19mm and 1.65"). Guild fretboard radius is 9.5", while the Dub king's is slightly flatter at 12".

Both these basses are made in South Korea. The workmanship on mine is excellent.

The Starfire I that appears in the above video has been superseded by a newer, less-expensive one which is made in Indonesia with significantly different specs. I can't say anything which is based on personal experience about that one.

 

[Liam Wald]

Lakland HB-30 is my current go to short scale.
I just bought a Fender Player Mustang that will be here in a few days.
It will be interesting to see which one of those ends up being played the most.
Any guesses?

 

[Bunk McNulty]

These are mine: The red one is a 32" scale MIJ Jazz; the black one is a 30" scale Lakland HB 30; the green one is a 31" scale Birdsong cBass. If I could have only one, it would probably be the Birdsong. It's like having a Fender P that weighs 7 lbs. Also, of course, a shoutout to Roy Ayers: Red Black & Green

 

[Mustang Surly]

Lakland HB-30 is my current go to short scale.
I just bought a Fender Player Mustang that will be here in a few days.
It will be interesting to see which one of those ends up being played the most.
Any guesses?

Haven't played the Lakland, but Mustangs feel kind of tiny and toy-like to me. The basses I play most (see above) have pretty wide lower bouts, so I'm sure that the fact that that is my "normal" colors my perception of the smaller Mustang. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with Mustangs, mind you: they're just not ideal ergonomically for me, personally.

I swapped the stock pups out of my MIJ Mustang and replaced them with Nordstrand NM-4s, which yielded an improvement, IMHO.

 

[Jazzkuma]

Just picked up a JMJ mustang and I am loving it with tapewounds.

i also love the hollowbodys though.

my vote is for either one of the hollowbodys or a mustang.

 

[Jazzkuma]

Lakland HB-30 is my current go to short scale.
I just bought a Fender Player Mustang that will be here in a few days.
It will be interesting to see which one of those ends up being played the most.
Any guesses?

how are you liking the lakland? I was between that one and my mustang but went with the stang since it was cheaper.

 

[Chondroulis]

The 2018 Epi EB-0, strung with D'Addario ETB92S Nylons. A 30.5" neck, and a 12' radius Rosewood fretboard. I like it better than most of the Gibson EB/SG Std.'s I've had over the years.

View attachment 4377277View attachment 4377281

I've always liked the look and sound of these. Definitely one on my "short" list...

 

[Chondroulis]

Guild"Newark Street" Starfire and Reverend Dub King are two great choices. I was able to find each used but in excellent/mint condition for under $1K w/HSC:

View attachment 4377345





The Guild has narrower (17mm) string spacing at the bridge and a 1.5"-wide nut. Dub King string spacing and nut are more "standard" (19mm and 1.65"). Guild fretboard radius is 9.5", while the Dub king's is slightly flatter at 12".

Both these basses are made in South Korea. The workmanship on mine is excellent.

The Starfire I that appears in the above video has been superseded by a newer, less-expensive one which is made in Indonesia with significantly different specs. I can't say anything which is based on personal experience about that one.

View attachment 4377366

This is right up my alley, and basses I certainly want to know more about. They look cool as can be!

 

[Chondroulis]

These are mine: The red one is a 32" scale MIJ Jazz; the black one is a 30" scale Lakland HB 30; the green one is a 31" scale Birdsong cBass. If I could have only one, it would probably be the Birdsong. It's like having a Fender P that weighs 7 lbs. Also, of course, a shoutout to Roy Ayers: Red Black & Green

View attachment 4377368

I've been eye-balling the HB-30!

 

[west al]

I've always liked the look and sound of these. Definitely one on my "short" list...

The SG body style has been my favorite, since I saw it in the 60's.

 

[Chondroulis]

The SG body style has been my favorite, since I saw it in the 60's.

They've got built-in cool!

 

[Liam Wald]

Haven't played the Lakland, but Mustangs feel kind of tiny and toy-like to me. The basses I play most (see above) have pretty wide lower bouts, so I'm sure that the fact that that is my "normal" colors my perception of the smaller Mustang. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with Mustangs, mind you: they're just not ideal ergonomically for me, personally.

I swapped the stock pups out of my MIJ Mustang and replaced them with Nordstrand NM-4s, which yielded an improvement, IMHO.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I see you prefer larger body basses. I had a Starfire and loved the sound but it seemed too big for me.
The Mustang I have coming has also had the stock pups replaced with Nordstrands. It also had the controls changed to two stacked volume/tone pots and the three way switch removed. The stock three-way switch with shared volume/tone pots doesn't seem very flexible.