The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!

[Stub Mandrel]

5 hours ago, ped said:

I must say, I prefer short scale basses that have their own shape, as opposed to a scaled down body from another bass. That way they feel like an instrument in their own right instead of a mini version of something else.

 

I like the proportions of the Jaguar SS, but it's based on a guitar body. The long scale version looks a bit gangly.

[JohnDaBass]

45 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

I like the proportions of the Jaguar SS, but it's based on a guitar body. The long scale version looks a bit gangly.

Here you go

 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, JohnDaBass said:

Here you go

 

 

They both look ok...

 

Possibly I've seen pics of the long scale at an odd angle.

[scrumpymike]

6 hours ago, ped said:

I must say, I prefer short scale basses that have their own shape, as opposed to a scaled down body from another bass. That way they feel like an instrument in their own right instead of a mini version of something else.

Despite having preferred Gibsons and other s-s basses since I started playing, I've got mixed feelings on this. Here's a few random thoughts:

 

 

When I bought my first bass (a Watkins Rapier) back in the mists of time, I chose it on the basis of what felt most comfortable and looked cool without even knowing that different scale-lengths were available;

 

Gibson's shorter-than-Fender-standard scale was/is equally valid and hearing this constantly referred to as 'junior' (i.e. 'not for real men') - notably by Fender - p155es me off;

 

In light of the above, what have Fender's marketing people got for brains? IMHO, they could have a big s-s market running in parallel to their 'standard' scale-length offerings if they didn't dumb-down on their s-s products;

 

Mitigating against my love for Gibsons is the fact that, for me, the strap-balance that comes with having the top strap button at the F12 'sweet spot' is essential (and why I moved away from SGs);

 

Like it or not, the perception that 'proper' bass guitars have to look like a P or a J (with the possible exception of the Gibson SG) is widely held, especially (but not only) outside the bass-playing fraternity;

 

That's why I feel happier playing my Sandberg Cali ll on stage than my equally excellent Vox Starstream Artist, although this may change as my latest band members share my love for the quirky looks and wonderful Aguilar sounds of the Vox;

 

IMHO, the main-stream bass-guitar manufacturers have held back the natural evolution of the s-s bass guitar - Gibson through a mixture of incompetence and dodgy quality control, and Fender presumably in a misguided attempt to preserve the purity of the brand's original DNA.

 

 

There, glad I've got that lot off my chest 🙂

[fretmeister]

11 hours ago, dmckee said:

I’ve not tried a Lionel or a short scale Stingray, but with short scale versions of originally long scale basses like those, is the body actually smaller than original? Like, is it actually just scaled down, and if so, by how much? 

I’ve got a Lionel, but I’ve never played the full scale VS4 so I don’t know if the body is a different size, but the Lionel is a lot smaller than a usual Fender precision.

 

The 34 scale TT4 (jazz) is definitely smaller than a Fender Jazz as well.

 

I’d really like a VS4 so if I ever find enough money maybe I’ll find out!