Your Go-To Short Scale?

[Liam Wald]

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

I absolutely love the Lakland. I will have it until the day I die. It was my first short scale and I have subsequently sold all of my long scale basses. Every last one of them (Modulus, Alembic, AriaPro, Guild, Ibanez, and even my other Laklands).
The Lakland HB-30 has been the only bass that I have had for a year and now that I am getting back out and playing again I thought that I should have another bass. The Player Mustang seemed like the best choice for under $1K.

 

[west al]

They've got built-in cool!

I bought my first Gibson EB-0 in the Spring of 1970. $349.00 New, and no case. A lot of bucks for back then. But I loved that EB-0.

 

[Liam Wald]

I bought my first Gibson EB-0 in the Spring of 1970. $349.00 New, and no case. A lot of bucks for back then. But I loved that EB-0.

I have been thinking about an EB-0. Definitely on the short list (no pun intended).

 

[mellowgerman]

Orange and Apple, my dynamic duo. 1967 Sunburst with custom-housed Novak BSX pickups, 24-position pickup/coil selection circuit, Alembic filter preamp, and Hipshot bridge. 1970 Cherry with Hammon DarkStar neck pickup, Novak Bisonic bridge pickup, and ACG EQ-01 filter preamp.

 

[BlackVincent52]

Solid- Supro Huntington
Hollow- Hofner Club

Not really a fan of the Mustang Bass, tbh.

 

[Chondroulis]

Orange and Apple, my dynamic duo. 1967 Sunburst with custom-housed Novak BSX pickups, 24-position pickup/coil selection circuit, Alembic filter preamp, and Hipshot bridge. 1970 Cherry with Hammon DarkStar neck pickup, Novak Bisonic bridge pickup, and ACG EQ-01 filter preamp.

View attachment 4377390

Wow, I love everything about these guys.

 

[Chondroulis]

Solid- Supro Huntington
Hollow- Hofner Club

Not really a fan of the Mustang Bass, tbh.

I really like the Huntingtons quite a bit. But doesn't seem like there are a lot of them out there!

Hofner Club, of course, is a classic.

 

[mellowgerman]

Wow, I love everything about these guys.

I would say definitely check out the reissues! Especially the dual-pickup ones if you want versatility. They are pretty spot on in terms of physical specs and very good Korean build quality. The pickups are not super authentic copies, but still quite good with their own flavor. Of course, you can always upgrade to Novaks! Sometimes good deals come around on vintage ones too.

 

[Andy Marshman]

Without hesitation - Fender Mustang PJ. I've previously owned the original model too. I get my sound right away, every time.
In the past I've had Hofner, Gretsch and others but Mustang gets my vote. I'm sure the Squier CV is fine too.

 

[lbbc]

I recently played a G&L Fallout Tribute bass. It's on my radar now!!

 

[Ostie]

Here’s my lineup in order of favorites:
Epiphone Allen Woody / Epiphobe EB-0 (tie)
Fender Mustang MIM PJ—(I only use the P pup)
Hofner Ignition Club—tons of vintage coolness but a very specific tone. Good for acoustic music.

 

[JimmyM]

My 2009 Dano Longhorn. The only bass I ever bought that wasn't Fender/FSO that I can use with pretty much any type of music and not sound out of place.

 

[Dr. Keebs]

The one and only short scale I’ve owned is a Fender JMJ Roadworn Mustang. Saw it hanging in a local shop, had flats on it. It was a beaut, and I had to have it. Still play the heck out of it. It fits my ‘P bass’ requirement very nicely.

 

[macmanlou]

My favorite factory made bass is my CIJ Fender Mustang, but my overall favorite short scales are the fretted and fretless Shortbasses that Scott Beckwith of Birdsong made for me. The fretless in this video is the very one he built for me:

 

[WI Short Scaler]

My 2 Musicmasters.

And once it's done my Squier CV Mustang project.

 

[bench]

I only have one real dream bass... A callowhill mpb

Practically impossible to obtain. Especially in Germany... But if i ever get a chance, it will be the only time i might get financially irresponsible bass-wise... Just the coolest bass design ever. And every demo i've seen is great...

 

[Skillet]

Atelier Z baby Z-4PJ and Fender Mustang. These two got the call last night, and most weekends before that.

 

[bmusic]

1976 Mustang, and now, too, a Lakland Hollowbody-30.

I had a couple MIJ Mustangs, a couple Starfires (a 1965 and one of the two-pickup reissues) and a Beatle bass, and eventually whittled it down to the above two, which are solid, playable, and give me a good range of tones.

(Oh, I also briefly had an Epiphone EB-0 modded with a second pickup, but I hated almost everything about it.)

 

[secondbestcody]

+1 for the Fender Mustang PJ’s - they look great and have many color options. I had one and it was a really great sounding bass, I just decided I like 34” scale more. I also had a CIJ Mustang, the neck felt very thin and I wasn’t a fan of the pickups.

I’ve also been eyeing the Gibson Les Paul Tribute DC bass because I love the looks of them and their guitar counterpart. Thinking about giving short scale a try again.

 

[B String]

There are a lot of pro's in Los Angeles (and elsewhere) buying Nordstrand Acinonyx "Cat" basses. Well made, affordable, fun to play basses that sound great. They seem to be selling them faster than they can make them, so you might have to get on a waiting list. Worth a look.