The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!

[scrumpymike]

8 hours ago, BabyBlueSound said:

Damn, I think the truss rod in my Talman shortie is messed up.

 

I wanted to give it some additional bow, as the neck seems a bit too straight. And I can turn the nut to the left alright, it's not too loose, it's not too tight, it never felt like it snapped.

 

But nothing happens. I kept adjusting it over the course of 2 days, I am at a full rotation to the left at this point and I do not observe any changes in the neck bow at all.

 

But it does not show the usual characteristics of a broken rod, like it being completely stuck, or just turning around too losely. It feels like it should, but again... NOTHING happens  

 

Might need another trip to the luthier...

Not the sort of problem you want on a low-cost bass. Unless you can fix it yourself, that is.

[Stub Mandrel]

9 hours ago, BabyBlueSound said:

Damn, I think the truss rod in my Talman shortie is messed up.

 

I wanted to give it some additional bow, as the neck seems a bit too straight. And I can turn the nut to the left alright, it's not too loose, it's not too tight, it never felt like it snapped.

 

But nothing happens. I kept adjusting it over the course of 2 days, I am at a full rotation to the left at this point and I do not observe any changes in the neck bow at all.

 

But it does not show the usual characteristics of a broken rod, like it being completely stuck, or just turning around too losely. It feels like it should, but again... NOTHING happens  

 

Might need another trip to the luthier...

Go no further, see if it can loosen rightoff and see what happens.

 

I had this gappen on a squier andcthe lwer anchor was pulling into the wood. There is a fortuitous hole at the end ofthe jnserf above the anchor (hidden in neck pocket). Saved me drilling... I loosed right off, flooded with cyanoacrylate and it's been fine for 5 years or so.

[Stub Mandrel]

Sorry sbout my thjmbs...

[BabyBlueSound]

I am sorry but I don't think I understood anything... 😅 flood what, where, why?

[stewblack]

Just scored an Epiphone shorty. Picked it up yesterday afternoon from FB marketplace, gigged it last night.

It's this one 

and it felt so tiny! But it sounded and played really well.

Glad I went for the short scale, there was a little bit of neck dive so I imagine the full length would be, for me, unplayable. 

[BassApprentice]

For those of you with deep pockets...

 

Spector Custom Shop now offer short scale options

 

https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2025/02/08/short-scale-spector-basses-are-finally-here-custom-shop-expands-ns-series/

[scrumpymike]

On 10/02/2025 at 14:13, BassApprentice said:

For those of you with deep pockets...

 

Spector Custom Shop now offer short scale options

 

https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2025/02/08/short-scale-spector-basses-are-finally-here-custom-shop-expands-ns-series/

No good for me then. I've got deep (empty!) pockets and short arms!

[Stub Mandrel]

Fender doing a 15% off sale today.

 

Squire Sonic Bronco for £179. In 'ultraviolet' or 'lime green'. Unsurprisingly, ultraviolent is sold out, but slime green still available, if you like that sort of thing.

[three]

On 10/02/2025 at 14:13, BassApprentice said:

For those of you with deep pockets...

 

Spector Custom Shop now offer short scale options

 

https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2025/02/08/short-scale-spector-basses-are-finally-here-custom-shop-expands-ns-series/

If these are anything like as good as the Spector Shorty (no reason why they shouldn't be), they'll be superb if prohibitively expensive basses.  I often wonder why the Shorty was discontinued (if indeed it was, though I haven't seen a new one for a long time).  The Shorty came in a wide range of configurations, though didn't have the exquisite curves of the NS2 etc.  I'd be interested to see the prices, though very unlikely to pay them.

[scrumpymike]

I think the Shorty came from the bass they made for Garry Tallent in 'The Boss's' E Street Band way back. I'm glad they've finally released a s-s range but a) they've been pretty slow off the mark, and b) sadly they are effectively pricing them out of reach for even moderately well-off players by confining them to the custom-shop range - which is strangely at odds with the 'youngsters and dwarfs' market most manufacturers promote their s-s basses to. Mind you, I guess the costs of tooling up for multiple scale lengths were not insignificant.

[LeftyJ]

12 hours ago, scrumpymike said:

I'm glad they've finally released a s-s range but a) they've been pretty slow off the mark, and b) sadly they are effectively pricing them out of reach for even moderately well-off players by confining them to the custom-shop range

 

To be fair, they've been offering the Czech-made Bantam model for several years now as a shortscale 4-string and mediumscale 5-string. It's a simpler bolt-on design and by no means a cheap instrument at about €2000-2500, but not nearly US custom shop territory. 

[mikebass456]

There's always the Bill Wyman Bass Centre signature bass.......😉👍

Edited February 13 by mikebass456
Added pic

[MoonBassAlpha]

8 hours ago, mikebass456 said:

There's always the Bill Wyman Bass Centre signature bass.......😉👍

That's really flippin' odd! 

[mikebass456]

I think (and more than willing to be corrected), that it was a self-build?🤔

[Obrienp]

4 hours ago, mikebass456 said:

I think (and more than willing to be corrected), that it was a self-build?🤔

That’s the story as I understand it. I think the original was fretless and you can get the Bass Centre version fretless for a hundred quid more LoL!  I thought about the Bass Centre Wyman bass but it does look weird and it’s quite a wide nut (41mm). 

[MJJS]

I have recently purchased a short scale sterling stingray from this parish and it’s fab.

 

Another one has just appeared:

 

https://bassbros.co.uk/product/sterling-by-music-man-stingray-short-scale-2/

 

[JohnDaBass]

NBD Fender SS Kingman V2

So a new casual project as a Duo with a Local singer/ guitarist required a new member to join the herd.

It's a very nice Fender SS Kingman V2.

I previously owned a long scale Kingman with a great Jazz neck and huge body but moved it on due to the arthritis.

This short scale is a dream to play, lovely roasted maple, satin block inlaid neck with a 38mm nut wideth.

Plenty of volume for settee noodling and a great range of tones from the Fishman PreSys+. Sounds fantastic through my DIY Fender(?) IMP.

A nice size body but the fret board is a little dry.

  

 

[AlexDelores]

1 hour ago, JohnDaBass said:

NBD Fender SS Kingman V2

So a new casual project as a Duo with a Local singer/ guitarist required a new member to join the herd.

It's a very nice Fender SS Kingman V2.

I previously owned a long scale Kingman with a great Jazz neck and huge body but moved it on due to the arthritis.

This short scale is a dream to play, lovely roasted maple, satin block inlaid neck with a 38mm nut wideth.

Plenty of volume for settee noodling and a great range of tones from the Fishman PreSys+. Sounds fantastic through my DIY Fender(?) IMP.

A nice size body but the fret board is a little dry.

  

 

Very very nice. I didn’t even realise they did a Kingman SS… Got to say, I’m getting very jealous of your bass collection John! 

[BabyBlueSound]

20 hours ago, MJJS said:

I have recently purchased a short scale sterling stingray from this parish and it’s fab.

 

Another one has just appeared:

 

https://bassbros.co.uk/product/sterling-by-music-man-stingray-short-scale-2/

 

 

Well, well, well! Here I go then too.

 

 

[scrumpymike]

21 hours ago, JohnDaBass said:

NBD Fender SS Kingman V2

So a new casual project as a Duo with a Local singer/ guitarist required a new member to join the herd.

It's a very nice Fender SS Kingman V2.

I previously owned a long scale Kingman with a great Jazz neck and huge body but moved it on due to the arthritis.

This short scale is a dream to play, lovely roasted maple, satin block inlaid neck with a 38mm nut wideth.

Plenty of volume for settee noodling and a great range of tones from the Fishman PreSys+. Sounds fantastic through my DIY Fender(?) IMP.

A nice size body but the fret board is a little dry.

  

 

I really like it! Tempted to get one of these and put my Gillett Contour ST up FS. Mine's the actual one that Bass Gear Mag played at the 2019 Nashville NAMM and voted 'best in show' so it's potentially collectable. Thing is by the time it reaches its peak value I'll be long gone ☹️