Your Go-To Short Scale?

[BarfanyShart]

My Supro Huntington 3 is my only electric bass guitar at the moment, so i gues that makes it my go to. Seriously, it is a nice instrument, and I am very happy with.

 

[Mustang Surly]

Really good:
Mensinger Cazpar (custom, but look for used)


Mensingers are real cool. I'd score a Joker 4 if I could come up with the scratch.

 

[Tommy V]

my only shorty is a Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special SS, strung up with Chromes.. I plan on playing it until it becomes part of someone else's inheritance.

 

[Jackcrow]

Serek Midwestern is the nicest one I’ve played.

 

[Mustang Surly]

More comparison footage, if the Mustang is in serious contention:

 

[GIBrat51]

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?

Well... I hate to disappoint you, but my go-to bass pretty much fails your test of versatility, playability, looks and value. It's pretty much the poster bass for a One Trick Pony; a lot of people find basses like this hard to play; it doesn't look bad, but it's nothing to write home about; and, IIRC, it only cost me about $250. What is it? An early '90s, Korean made Rogue VB-100 violin bass. A left handed one. As for why I'm playing it? Can you say "Beatles"? Pre - Revolver Beatles, to be precise. Strung with Rotosound Bass 88 Tapewounds, that's exactly the One Trick I want from this little Pony; and I get it - in spades... I have 6 other shorties to turn to, when I want to play anything else, but this is the one that lives on a stand, next to my rig...

 

[gregbackstrom]

Mine is my Supra Huntington III. The only “modifications” I’ve made to this bass are swapping out the knobs with Strat knobs and replacing the strings.

It’s a great sounding bass that’s fun to play!

 

[beatlebass64]

Birdsongs are expensive, but worth every penny.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

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.

View attachment 4377438

Jimmy, those things sound fantastic, especially with pick and palm mute. I put them right at the top of my "unconventional looking basses that sound excellent" list.

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

I've got 3, a '73 Musicmaster, '66 Gibson EB0 and a '71 Ibanez EB3 copy.

My fav is probably the Ibanez, as it records very well and gives me a lot of mileage in the studio. It can do a good Hofner sound, faux-upright and of course, a good EB3 sound.

 

[Indiana Mike]

JMJ mustang.

 

[davimoto98]

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?

In my opinion, I’ve landed on what I believe to be the perfect blend of everything you mentioned earlier, and that’s my Fender MIJ Hybrid Bass.

P/J configuration in a short scale for extra low end, with string-thru body, thin neck with no fretwork needed, suuuuper light, good-looking, AND it’s super frickin fun to play.

The downside? A tiny bit of neck dive, but I’m nitpicking at this point.

The only mods I would do are to swap out the neck pickup for a Lollar Mustang, a Lindy Fralin Split-Coil Jazz in the bridge, and the control plate with custom routing. Other than that, this is perfect (in my opinion).

 

[2cooltoolz]

Here's some old video of a vintage Mustang being played with a pick:

Damn!! AWB could boogie!! The Soul Train producers must have freaked when these guys showed up with all that equipment and wanted to actually PLAY!

 

[Pauly 4001]

I have a Squier Musicmaster Vista that’s my go to. Funny I just picked this up today. It’s super short scale. Not sure what I’m going to do with it. Doubt it’ll be a go to

View attachment 4377871

Nice bass. An Aria Cardinal, I guess?
Is it a set neck?

 

[NOVAX]

30" scale:
Fender Bullet
Warwick Corvette SS
Gretsch G2220
Epiphone Woody Allen
Schecter Banshee

 

[Tim Schnautz]

Mustang!

 

[Mastermold]

1957 Kay pro. Sounds like an upright. Super playable.

 

[fishdreams]

Danelectro Longhorn. Iconic bass, weighs almost nothing and sounds great (with rounds and flats)

 

[scuzzy]

These are my current shorties. Either my Starcaster or my build would be my go to. Both are great. The bass vi is too odd to be my go-to.

 

[b_carville]

I recently got one of the new Guild Starfire 1 models.
I put flats on it & have done about four gigs with it. Sounds fine. the soundman tonight liked it. You do have to use medium scale strings due to the bridge/ tailpiece placement. Strings marked for Hofner Beatle bass are the proper length. I previously owned a Squire Vintage Modified SS Jaguar when I had a bad left arm injury. that worked out well & was cheap to boot. Shame it's not in production anymore. I'm sorry I sold it when my arm healed. That used regular short scale gauge. They occasionally pop up cheap. The J pickup wasn't that great on it's own but the P pickup was fine & if you dialed the J a little with the P you could get some nice snap,