Short scale...with punch?

[Zummerbass]

I'm thinking of giving short scale basses a go. Having mainly gigged a Precision what's out there that will give me a similar kind of punch?

[BassApprentice]

Depending on your budget, this might be a good place to start. Around £776 on all your reputable online retailers

[url="http://intl.fender.com/en-GB/basses/mustang/mustang-bass-pj-rosewood-fingerboard-olympic-white/"]http://intl.fender.c...-olympic-white/[/url]

Edited November 10, 2016 by BassApprentice

[solo4652]

I am not joking when I say this;

The Harley Benton Shorty is [i]phenomenal[/i] value at £70: [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbp90bk_shortscale_ebass.htm?glp=1&gclid=CjwKEAiA0pDBBRCFtoPyguTh8AUSJADNWeux4j4ShHsVem04TOXU9FDNIMtcj_xxYeeYRfFQO4AgXBoC_m_w_wcB"]https://www.thomann....4AgXBoC_m_w_wcB[/url]

I wanted to try short scale and bought the HBS as a no-money try-out. I dropped some Entwistle PBXN pickups in there and I got a lightweight, nicely balanced P-bass that's really kind on my neck and shoulders. 41mm nut width too, so doesn't feel too narrow for a P bass player.The Entwistle pickups are pretty hot and punchy and cut down a fair bit of the traditional short-scale muddy thudiness. My band said it was the best-sounding bass they'd heard me play. Total outlay = under £100.

I still missed a J pickup for a bit of bite. So, I bought an Ibanez Talman TMB-30 for £170: [url="http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Ibanez-TMB30-BK-30-Short-Scale-Bass-Guitar-Black/1G9H?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+GENERIC&adgroup=GENERIC&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=67733d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=255341176042&gclid=CjwKEAiA0pDBBRCFtoPyguTh8AUSJADNWeuxzhONRk4YVSWdgZcV-Fjr7MKhFfaiPATgdHyFhDN8TRoC813w_wcB"]http://www.gear4musi...DN8TRoC813w_wcB[/url]

The neck pickup solo is a little more mids-forward than the HBS, and IMHO, stands right up there with any Fender P I've ever had. Mix in the bridge pickup and you have loads of sounds available. It's a bit heavier than the HBS, and the body is a little bigger, so the Ibanez isn't [i]quite[/i] so easy for me to play. 41mm at the nut so, again, not too narrow for my paws.

Absolutely no hesitation in gigging either bass. Don't know where you live, Zummerbass, but you're welcome to come round anytime for a noodle. I'm in Stockport.

Edited November 10, 2016 by solo4652

[scrumpymike]

+1 for the TMB-30. At the other end of the price/quality scale (but massive value for money), you could also put your question to Adrian Maruszczyk and see what he could offer you.

[ambient]

A friend of mine plays a short scale bass. He plays in the jazz collective that I'm a member of. His sound is brilliant. I'd never actually seen or heard a short scale bass until I saw Roger's. It's full and focused, great for walking lines and latin stuff. I'm not sure what make it is though.

[Zummerbass]

Thanks for the offer Solo4652. I'm in Somerset so a bit of a hike! The Ibanez sounds promising. Anyone tried the Chowny's?

[borntohang]

TMB-30 or Squier Jaguar SS are both really solid for the price.

I've been beating the proverbial horse about my SS for months now anyway, but a mate who is a professional session player on the folk scene just picked one up and we got chatting about how good they are, and not just in terms of cheap basses. I've done a few mods but they're seriously great straight out of the box.

[Number6]

I have an Epiphone Allen Woody Sig bass.....well made and a good sound in my view. Not too heavy either

[yorks5stringer]

I have a 30" Ibanez Artcore 5er which is punchy, but less so in my case as I have flats on it. You are welcome to try it, funny how 3 of us on this thread are in Somerset!

[Thunderbird]

[size=4]A Gretsch [color=#333333][font=arial]Electromatic Junior Jet Bass-Classic[/font][/color] shorty is a good start[/size]

[Joebethell]

Guild Starfire

[ead]

Get in touch with All Thumbs from this parish. He has a website about s/s basses and uses many himself.

[three]

If you're considering investing a major wedge, the Spector Shorty is likely to be of interest - dark punch and superbly designed and playable. If you're considering parting with an obscene wedge, an Alembic brown bass punches like little else. Balance is weird but construction and tone are incomparable

[Paulhauser]

[quote name='three' timestamp='1478973018' post='3173087']
If you're considering investing a major wedge, the Spector Shorty is likely to be of interest - dark punch and superbly designed and playable. If you're considering parting with an obscene wedge, an Alembic brown bass punches like little else. Balance is weird but construction and tone are incomparable
[/quote]

Spectors are great! I almost bought your Spector Shorty when it was for sale, but glad that you have kept it (AFAIR)

[scrumpymike]

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1478812165' post='3171911']
Get in touch with All Thumbs from this parish. He has a website about s/s basses and uses many himself.
[/quote]

Aka Scott Whitley.

[jaccjazz]

I have one up for sale that might match your requirements. Don't know your location, but if you're near me (in Surrey) you're welcome to come over to try it.
http://basschat.co.uk/topic/295397-atelier-z-short-scale-4-string-mustang-bass-mij/page__fromsearch__1

[only4]

+1 for the Spector Shorty an awesome instrument but expensive.
There are lots of good shortscale basses out there these days in all price brackets.

[bazzbass]

If you want to test the waters with a cheapie, SX make a nice P shorty that has the P sound.

cheap as chips, $220 Australian which is about tuppence in English money, our dollar is sinking fast !

[Geek99]

If you can find one, a prosebass - I had a fan fret shortie and it was awesome

[pete.young]

I have a Duesenberg Star bass strung with half-rounds, and that really does have a lot of dark presence and punch. I like the way it looks too, although I guess its not for everyone!

[Zummerbass]

Thanks to all for advice/pointers. Maruszczyk do a 32" scale P. Very tempting.

[obbm]

As a new owner of a Spector Shorty I've been following this thread with interest to see what else is about.

Whilst browsing the web I came across Artist Guitars from Australia which are sold through Ebay in the UK.

They have this offering, [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302111817714?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.u...353.m1438.l2649[/url]

I thought it looked familiar and when compared to the Harley Benton it would appear to be the same instrument probably made in the exact same Chinese factory. Only difference is the price.

What does interest me is this: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332037759106?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332037759106[/url]

I wonder if they do a fretless version and other colours?

Edited November 22, 2016 by obbm

[Zummerbass]

Thanks for the heads up OBBM. The Bacchus looks very classy,i didn't think there was much choice in the SS market. Seems I was wrong.

[scrumpymike]

[quote name='Zummerbass' timestamp='1479883417' post='3179966']
Thanks for the heads up OBBM. The Bacchus looks very classy,i didn't think there was much choice in the SS market. Seems I was wrong.
[/quote]
Just had a look and I agree - this line from the spec did amuse me though:

BODY: Popular

[scrumpymike]

Interesting. Been on the Bacchus and GuitarDen(official UK distributor) websites now. The mini Jazz seems to be the only bass on offer at <£1000 - typical prices are nearer £2k. They're positioning themselves as a premium manufacturer of 'hand-made' guitars designed in Japan and built there and elsewhere. First time this lot have appeared on my radar screen but at £350 the 30"-scale Jazz could be a steal provided they haven't 'dumbed down' on the quality - they shouldn't have if they intend it to be the bottom rung on the Bacchus brand ownership ladder.