Short scale bass question

[lowlandtrees]

What is the difference between long and short scale basses? Apart from the obvious. Is there are tonal sacrifice? I assume they go to a low E. I can see lots of advantages. What are the negatives? And who makes the best short scale. Really looking for a pbass tone I guess.

[martthebass]

Can only comment on my Squier Mustang but, in general:

1. The tone is less bright and 'thumpier' - like a P bass on half tone? I like it FWIW
2. String tension is lower
3. String spacing is tighter (think this is a Mustang thing)

[T-Bay]

My Ibanez is more bright than my Thunderbird, so perhaps they vary by make/ strings. I love playing it but it only works for some songs for me. When I need a really fat thumping bottom end it just isn't there oomph wise.

[jazzyvee]

I love short scale basses, I have a short scale bass with 45 - 105 string gauge and whilst the strings are slightly looser, the tone to my ears is richer and warmer on the bottom end and sweeter at the top end than a 34" scale bass. I haven't personally found any disadvantage tonally of a short scale bass.

[lowlandtrees]

Jazzyvee
Which model do you have?

[timhiggins]

I have a couple and i love'm
for me i think they achieve that bouncy 60's vibe really well
i prefer more modern stuff on a long scale but i'm sure a shorty can do that too
i have a squier bronco and an old 60's tiesco silvertone type bass both cheap and both great imo

[JapanAxe]

[quote name='martthebass' timestamp='1507302860' post='3384647']
Can only comment on my Squier Mustang but, in general:

1. The tone is less bright and 'thumpier' - like a P bass on half tone? I like it FWIW
2. String tension is lower
3. String spacing is tighter (think this is a Mustang thing)
[/quote]

This, mainly. I have a MIJ Mustang, and there is a surprising amount of top available from it, so much so that I often dial the tone back to bout 30%, much as I do with a Precision, for that Motown sound. I think of the Mustang as the Precision's snotty punk kid brother.

The shorter scale and narrow neck make a gig feel almost like a night off!

Edited October 6, 2017 by JapanAxe

[bertbass]

While I love playing short scale basses, lighter, faster, great tone, as I play pretty hard, the E always seems floppy and goes sharp when hit, sorry plucked, and comes back in tune a second or so later. It you play lighter than I do then it will be fine.

[yorks5stringer]

I have a 5 string short scale and just find it easier to play. There's one for sale on here too....

[Spoombung]

As others have said, they are generally floppier and hence bassier, looser, with less twang. You can compensate with heavier or high tension strings. That's what I do.

[Marc S]

I've got flats on my Short Scale, whereas I've got rounds on my long scale basses (apart from flats on my fretless Jazz - though these are low tension LaBellas)
So I don't really feel the strings on the SS are floppier - in fact, they're higher tension than any of my full scale bass strings

The SS is a P/J - and I have to say, it does the "thump" sound pretty well
For me, swapping to & from it does cause a little issue with left hand positioning / fretting - as I can overshoot / over-stretch if I'm not very careful
It shouldn't really be a problem - but I am also swapping from bass guitar to DB as well.... so maybe that's part of my problem?

[Marc S]

My first "proper" (i.e. half decent / playable) bass was a Fender Musicmaster. That bass did lack a bit of bottom end
Although it has been said that this was due to the fact that Musicmasters used guitar pickups back then...

I once played at an open mic where another bassist had a Squier Jaguar Short scale, with P/J pickups that had been upgraded
That sounded great, and definitely didn't seem to lack any thump

Edited October 12, 2017 by Marc S

[Spoombung]

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1507802386' post='3388013']

For me, swapping to & from it does cause a little issue with left hand positioning / fretting - as I can overshoot / over-stretch if I'm not very careful
It shouldn't really be a problem - but I am also swapping from bass guitar to DB as well.... so maybe that's part of my problem?
[/quote]

This is my main problem: switching from my 30" scale to the 34" during a gig is irritating because of the adjustment required.

[No lust in Jazz]

Spector make awesome SS Basses - I have a CTB - it is a wonderful instrument.

For the P bass sound - the Mexican Mustang PJ is a great instrument although I'm not wild about the 'J' PU (this is a personal taste thing across all PJ instruments)

To my surprise I've found that I don't have issues switching from 30" to 34" scale.

Others have said it, but there aren't any real downsides.