The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 5, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Kevan]

Chowny SWB1 pro for me. Huge sound from a small bass. 18v super loud too. 

[skej21]

For me it's the Mustang (and if 33" counts, then also my ACG!), both pictured here!

 

 

[TRBboy]

  On 26/06/2020 at 15:56, Dosi Y'Anarchy said:

Here's my current stable of shorties, 

Two Bass VIs (squier and gretsch) 

32" jag

Fender Mustang 

Gibson DC Les Paul 

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Lovely collection man, I've been lusting after one of those Gibson LP Junior tribute basses (or whatever they're called) for ages! 😍

[Dosi Y'Anarchy]

  On 03/07/2020 at 15:32, TRBboy said:

Lovely collection man, I've been lusting after one of those Gibson LP Junior tribute basses (or whatever they're called) for ages! 😍

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Thanks! I think they are great BUT its not a versatile bass, if you want a Dark, woody rock machine, then go for it. It doesn't really do "top end" but it's got a great midrange if you dig in, it alternately makes me feel like Jack Bruce and John Entwistle. 

[Osiris]

  On 26/06/2020 at 15:56, Dosi Y'Anarchy said:

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Love the racing stripe on the Talman. I've got a black short scale Talman and wouldn't mind copying you idea, how did you apply the stripes?

[grandad]

 

 

Self taught, my bass playing began aged 50, 22 years ago. Similarly unaware of the different scale lengths I progressed from a P to a J to a Nanyo and then a medium scale Tokai SG which I gigged with for some years.

At 65 I retired from the weekend warrior circuit and now enjoy the company of 3 other musicians of similar age and disposition in an amateur jazz quartet practicing weekly and performing now and again, (barring lock-down), at venues we can pick and choose.

About this time I bought my first violin bass, and felt very comfortable with the short scale. I then bought my first Mustang. A pro' setup with Labella flats is a must for me.

Playing sitting, they are both very comfortable, the Mustang has a narrower string spacing.

So if you're getting on in years and light-weight and comfort appear more attractive then I say try a SS.

Edited July 3, 2020 by grandad
added information.

[ezbass]

  On 03/07/2020 at 13:10, Kevan said:

Chowny SWB1 pro for me. Huge sound from a small bass. 18v super loud too. 

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These look like the doggie’s dangly bits. I really like to try one. Maybe a trip to Anderton’s when normality and stock return is on the cards.

[Maude]

Here's my 90s reissue Danelectro Longhorn, mint green with silver sparkle instead of the white tape. Lovely and lightweight with a surprisingly aggressive, Rickenbackeresque tone. 

[Maude]

My Hofner Ignition Club. Another super lightweight bass that is a joy to play. 

Custom oversized ivory scratchplate and control plate, vintage style bakelite knobs and LaBella flats. 

[Maude]

Now for the rediculous one, an early 70s Kay KJP-1B. Notoriously shite but as I was taught to respect your elders I felt it deserved some love.

Completely restored and after a good set up and wax potting the pickup it's surprisingly nice to play. Definitely fun and quirky. 

 

Edited July 4, 2020 by Maude

[Dosi Y'Anarchy]

  On 03/07/2020 at 17:31, Osiris said:

Love the racing stripe on the Talman. I've got a black short scale Talman and wouldn't mind copying you idea, how did you apply the stripes?

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I just bought them off some website I found on Google and they're just self adhesive strips that have a plastic cover to keep the strips in place, you remove them last. 

 

Found the site : https://www.inlaystickers.com/products/racing-line

[MoonBassAlpha]

I've just borrowed a ss Squier Jaguar. Plays and sounds fine but has terrible neck dive.  Is this common?  The whole thing is very lightweight @6.6lbs.

I've not noticed this on a bronco or old Musicmaster I've tried. 

[BassApprentice]

  On 03/07/2020 at 19:28, ezbass said:

These look like the doggie’s dangly bits. I really like to try one. Maybe a trip to Anderton’s when normality and stock return is on the cards.

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The Pros look great but the new standard in the trans blue has really caught my eye 

[ezbass]

  On 04/07/2020 at 09:49, BassApprentice said:

The Pros look great but the new standard in the trans blue has really caught my eye 

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TBH, they all look great, I'd be interested to try any of them.

[Bernardo]

Just picked up a Talman 30 in ivory. Pricy for second hand - £135 - but the bloke had fitted flats to it. Not plugged into my big amp yet but good through headphone amp and great fun to play. 

[three]

  On 03/07/2020 at 20:44, Maude said:

Now for the rediculous one, an early 70s Kay KJP-1B. Notoriously shite but as I was taught to respect your elders I felt it deserved some love.

Completely restored and after a good set up and wax potting the pickup it's surprisingly nice to play. Definitely fun and quirky. 

 

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Absolutely love this and a fantastic restoration - great to see it resurrected and what a very cool bass!

[Pea Turgh]

  On 03/07/2020 at 20:44, Maude said:

Now for the rediculous one, an early 70s Kay KJP-1B. Notoriously shite but as I was taught to respect your elders I felt it deserved some love.

Completely restored and after a good set up and wax potting the pickup it's surprisingly nice to play. Definitely fun and quirky. 

 

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You already know I love this look!  What happened to the bridge?  Assuming the one in the first pic wasn’t adjusting for intonation properly?

[Maude]

  On 05/07/2020 at 10:24, Pea Turgh said:

You already know I love this look!  What happened to the bridge?  Assuming the one in the first pic wasn’t adjusting for intonation properly?

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That first picture is after I fitted a Squier Bronco bridge. The old one which someone had fitted did actual intonate OK after all but the string spacing was too wide meaning my G string kept falling off (said the vicar😁) the side of the fretboard. The Bronco brought it from 19mm down to 17mm so it's all tickety boo now. 🙂

Edited July 6, 2020 by Maude

[Maude]

  On 05/07/2020 at 09:13, three said:

Absolutely love this and a fantastic restoration - great to see it resurrected and what a very cool bass!

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Thank you 🙂.

The build (strip and paint) diary is here if you're feeling really bored 😉. 

 

Edited July 5, 2020 by Maude

[ezbass]

A Serek Midwestern has just popped up in the for sale section. Closes eyes, sticks fingers in and hums loudly. 😬

[meterman]

  On 03/07/2020 at 20:44, Maude said:

Now for the rediculous one, an early 70s Kay KJP-1B. Notoriously shite but as I was taught to respect your elders I felt it deserved some love.

Completely restored and after a good set up and wax potting the pickup it's surprisingly nice to play. Definitely fun and quirky. 

 

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That's one of the coolest restorations I've ever seen! LOVE the refin work on that, it looks first class 👍

[42Hz]

  On 04/07/2020 at 09:25, MoonBassAlpha said:

I've just borrowed a ss Squier Jaguar. Plays and sounds fine but has terrible neck dive.  Is this common?  The whole thing is very lightweight @6.6lbs.

I've not noticed this on a bronco or old Musicmaster I've tried. 

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A lightweight instrument body adds to the tendency to neck dive. My SS Jaguar does not dive but it weighs some 4.2kg.

[MoonBassAlpha]

Yes, light weight is not the boon it seems if it upsets the balance and makes playing less of a joy. That's a heck of a difference in weight for the same instrument. The one I tried was a made in Indonesia 2013 Squier.

[mr4stringz]

I’ve now got as many shorties as I do long scale basses, more of you count my Revelation bass vi...