kevvo66 Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 (edited) Hiya people, been pondering for awhile really with ongoing problem with my fingers thinking of making the switch but to be honest all the shorty I've tried so far seem like toys, I know a lot of great players have played them, any thoughts people or long scale with very slim necks that aren't going to make me remortgage the house Cheers kev Edited November 26, 2017 by kevvo66 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 You can get used to the switch by buying a capo and putting it at fret 2 on a 34" scale bass tuned down to D-G-C-F. With the capo you now have a roughly 30" scale bass tuned E-A-D-G. After you get used to that, buy a Fender Mustang bass or similar. Story has it that the bass on Hendrix' All Along the Watchtower is Hendrix playing a Fender Mustang. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevvo66 Posted November 26, 2017 Author Share Posted November 26, 2017 Cheers matey, good call Cheers kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 I have an Ibanez Talman that I bought new. I rarely use it which is stupid really as it’s cracking Bass and plays really nicely. They cost buttons (I think was around £160 or so new!). I have thought of selling it on a couple of times but never quite manage to let it go as it owes me so little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Nice Gretsch up for sale on here at the moment (I have no connection to seller but looks nice in the pics) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobpalt Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 Changed over myself a year ago and haven't regretted it at all. For the stuff I do (old men playing to a backing tape in pubs) they are wonderful, easy to play and handle. I use a Mustang, a couple of SW1s and a Warwick shorty and love them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yank Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 I've got a full scale Fender Jazz in lined fretless and a Chinese unlined fretless short scale violin bass. Love them both and switch back and forth with no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 My last Hofner verythin bass was short scale & didn't feel like a toy. Swapping from 34" to 30.5" never felt like an issue. If you play regularly you can soon adapt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 My experience is that there's very little to worry about - I bought a Spector Short Scale CTB - which I love, but then beat myself up about ben able to play a 34" scale again - once I started thinking straight I've had a 5 string built with a 30.5" scale - which too is lovely. I found that it takes very little time to adjust and switch from scale length to the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurksalot Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 I've gone short scale , no regrets here with regard playability , just hankering now for the right tone , and as my love of the spector tone means I need a Spector shorty , but the price of them is beyond me , I recall Vinny had a daisy rock short scale that played beautifully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 I went short scale 18 months ago because of neck and arm problems. I have 3 short scale (30") basses, and they have noticeably different playing characteristics. This is mainly because of the position of the neck relative to the body. See Photos. In photo 1, left to right, Lakland hollowbody short scale, Fender MIJ Mustang, Harley Benton Shorty. Notice the different bridge positions relative to the end of the body for each bass. The Lakland's neck projects quite a lot further to my left when I'm playing. It feels much more like a 34" scale bass as a result. The Mustang has a thin, skinny neck which brings my left hand closer in. The HBS brings my left hand even closer in, plus it has a small body, making it feel quite dinky relative to the other two. Howeber, it has the widest neck. See relative nut positions in side-on photos, and see how much "longer" the Lakland neck is. Kev - don't know where you're based, but you're welcome to pop round anytime to try these basses out for size. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevvo66 Posted November 28, 2017 Author Share Posted November 28, 2017 Cheers people, much appreciated as always, I'm on the hunt now Cheers kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 Just a thought. I bought the Harley Benton shorty as a "throw away" introduction to short scale. I replaced the pickups and wiring loom. Overall cost was under £100. It sounds unbelievably good for that money. It's my back up to my Mustang, but I choose to use the HBS for some Motown and reggae numbers because of its P-like tone. It was a very wise buy. Could be worth considering, Kev? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevvo66 Posted November 28, 2017 Author Share Posted November 28, 2017 Hiya solo, Three beautiful basses there, not sure where your based as I'm on the phone at the min at work and thanks for the kind offer I'm in Nantwich in cheshire , I've looked at the hb shorty, too bed myself in, then the long scales can go Cheer kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 Another shorty fan here. Dabbled a year or so back, but then went back on the full scales. Decision I regretted, and I hunted for a decent replacement ever since. My personal thing is for the Gibson SG shorties...I think they're a 30.5". Found one as new example earlier this year, and I've now got a pre-order for a new one. Obviously they stopped them a while back, but there's a limited edition run coming to the UK, well, shortly! Already available in the US. Tone, playability....it's all here. I do understand that if your a big guy, it can look funny after playing a full scale. However, it's still bigger than a 6-string, and loads of guitarists are far from small! Proceed with confidence. I've had fun changing my technique on purpose... approaching the instrument differently, good to shake things up. It'll make you question why the 'Fender' scale became the standard. Good things come in small packages! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevvo66 Posted November 28, 2017 Author Share Posted November 28, 2017 Thanks SpongeBob, I'm not a big fella so no worries there most basses look massive on me anyway lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 23 minutes ago, kevvo66 said: Thanks SpongeBob, I'm not a big fella so no worries there most basses look massive on me anyway lol I know that feeling! Wait until you put a full scale on after a shorty....it makes them feel and look beyond huge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 1 hour ago, kevvo66 said: Hiya solo, Three beautiful basses there, not sure where your based as I'm on the phone at the min at work and thanks for the kind offer I'm in Nantwich in cheshire , I've looked at the hb shorty, too bed myself in, then the long scales can go Cheer kev Kev, I'm in Stockport area - Marple, to be precise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevvo66 Posted November 28, 2017 Author Share Posted November 28, 2017 Great sounds like a plan , I'm a bit tied up this week including wknd , but will take you up on your kind offer when ever your available cheers kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powertripper Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 On 11/26/2017 at 16:17, EssentialTension said: You can get used to the switch by buying a capo and putting it at fret 2 on a 34" scale bass tuned down to D-G-C-F. With the capo you now have a roughly 30" scale bass tuned E-A-D-G. That's such a cool idea, going to try that out straight away. On another note, I once heard that scaling down was good for lower tunings, anyone know if there's any truth in this? I don't quite understand how it can physically work, but I heard it on a YouTube rig rundown. I've been jamming the idea of an EB or similar bass, this could be the perfect excuse to get one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 I have a Dano Longhorn and a Precision Lyte, both of which get used regularly. My advice would be to get a short scale bass that is not too much the same as your standard scale job, so that when you play the SS you know straight away it is different from your usual bass. The Dano is so different from my Fender meaning I never confuse the two and can swap between them fairly easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeycrikey Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 I have just picked up an Epiphone EB 3. Still in the getting familiar stage with it. It feels wonderful to play and the neck is fantastic. Not sure about the tone though.I am used to PJ pickups, so it sounds quite different with 2 Humbuckers on it. I believe it currently has standard long scale strings on it which may not be helping with the tone. Any recommendations for decent short scale strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 I have just had a couple of hours banging through some Christmas songs for a gig in a couple of weeks. Half on the Thunderbird and half on the short scale. I am no expert player by any definition of the word but I find I can swap between the two with no problem at all. It’s only a small difference really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goingdownslow Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 18 hours ago, mikeycrikey said: Any recommendations for decent short scale strings. La Bella Stainless Steel Roundwound M42S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 D'addario Chromes for me all the way. Quite expensive (nearly £40 for the short scale designated strings) but to my ears, they sound great. Guess it depends on the bass as well.....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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