The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!

[AlexDelores]

10 hours ago, Fuzzbass2000 said:

Anyone using Fender flats (9050 45-100) on Mustang strung through body? Do they fit or do the silks sit on the nut?

 

I know there are many other options - but they’re all 50-60£ a set. The Fender strings seem to be closer to the 40£ mark.

I’ve also used them on my Vintera 60s Mustang in the past. They fit fine 👍

[ped]

On 07/09/2024 at 13:18, JohnDaBass said:

A Nice Pair of Black & Tans ( well tort ☺️)

Would love to hear the thunderbenton if you’re able to record 👍🏼

[Plankton]

Hope you all are doing well. 
So, I’ve played full scale basses since i started playing bass almost thirty years ago- only now, with the purchase of a JMJ last year, i‘ve become a vocal fan of what short-scales bring to the table. Also, I’m not the biggest fella, so with a short scale i actually feel in proportion with my instrument for once!
My shorties are a ‘78 Musicmaster and a JMJ- that’s a ‘66 Precision sat in the middle. The JMJ was modified with a Serek B90 for a time, but i’ve since switched it back to stock while i consider if i want to part with it.

All i really need/ want is the Precision and the Musicmaster. The JMJ feels excessive, but i thought it’d be nice to show off in the mean time!

The eagle-eyed amongst you might notice the B90 isn’t in the original Mustang pickup position- this is because i shifted it back a little toward the bridge to place it in a 30” scale proportioned P bass position. This made it a bit less tubby, more lean sounding. It was also super responsive to picking position- changing position had a much more noticeable affect on the tone than i ever experienced in the original Mustang position.

I might be talking myself into restoring the mod, haha.

Edited September 9 by Plankton
More info, tidying up some clumsy sentences

[BabyBlueSound]

On 28/08/2024 at 09:07, HoorayForAnonyms said:

I’ve been perplexed by the price increase on these in the last year or so. I bought two sets for £35 each when they were first released. 
 

It’s actually cheaper to buy directly from Amazon in the US. And I’ve bought things directly from Amazon US and always had a smooth transaction. They also offer free international returns which I’ve used before.
 

Even with customs and shipping, the total landed cost for the flats is £62.05! 

 

I had fake Elixirs from Amazon, missing the nanoweb coat, looking used... only buying from proper retailers since.

[spyder]

NBD....

Following a short scale transformation with a Serek "the Grand" I just HAD to get a matching 5 string Serek.......

Both are incredible basses, the build quality, workmanship and sound are just what I was looking for. 

The Grand is strung with LaBella low tension flats and the Midwestern 2 is strung with Newtone Shorties.

[Sambrook]

I've just ordered a set of Newtone shorties- what's the tension like? I had TI rounds ready for my new to me Epiphone Newport, but they really didn't suit, tension was actually TOO low...

[spyder]

6 minutes ago, Sambrook said:

I've just ordered a set of Newtone shorties- what's the tension like? I had TI rounds ready for my new to me Epiphone Newport, but they really didn't suit, tension was actually TOO low...

I would say that they are medium tension. Not sloppy or tight. Just perfect for me.

[rwillett]

40 minutes ago, spyder said:

NBD....

Following a short scale transformation with a Serek "the Grand" I just HAD to get a matching 5 string Serek.......

Both are incredible basses, the build quality, workmanship and sound are just what I was looking for. 

The Grand is strung with LaBella low tension flats and the Midwestern 2 is strung with Newtone Shorties.

They just work for me. Very, very nice indeed.

[ezbass]

1 hour ago, spyder said:

NBD....

Following a short scale transformation with a Serek "the Grand" I just HAD to get a matching 5 string Serek.......

Both are incredible basses, the build quality, workmanship and sound are just what I was looking for. 

The Grand is strung with LaBella low tension flats and the Midwestern 2 is strung with Newtone Shorties.

It was hearing a 5 string Midwestern 2 that started me down the shorty rabbit hole in the first place. Nice score.

Edited September 17 by ezbass

[nick]

Finally got my hands on a Danelectro Longhorn, after years of wanting one or at least trying one out....

I believe it's 90's MIK 'Pro' version, with the fully adjustable bridge & better tuners.

 

Got the rusty old roundwounds that came with it off & restrung it with some GHS Brite Flats.

 

Really liking it so far. Though I'm not finding it the most comfortable body shape (for me)

But it's lovely to play & has a big sound for it's size, and has quite a unique but useable tone IMHO.

 

Will see if I can bond with it, and if it's a keeper 🙂

 

Edited September 18 by nick

[Clarky]

On this day in 1976, Siouxsie and The Banshees played their first gig. Steven Severin playing a competition-striped Mustang bass. And yes that's Sid Vicious on drums, as well as MarcoPirroni on guitar.

 

 

[bremen]

Look at the poster behind Slouching Sid!

[scrumpymike]

Interesting to note that the supply of used s-s basses on the Basschat marketplace has pretty much dried up of late. Does this suggest we've all decided we like them so much that we're keeping them? My personal preference for the 'Gibson' scale length goes back to the '60s.

[Obrienp]

Well I have four of them at the moment and I don’t feel like selling any but I might have to. I would find it very difficult to decide which one to cull, as they all have their own distinctive sound. Current favourite is the Guild NS Starfire 1. Least used is the Acinonyx, after being my “go to” for a couple of years but I don’t feel I could part with it. Apart from any thing else, it is probably the bass I will be able to continue to play the longest, despite creeping arthritis in my left hand.

 

P.S. A friend is on the look out for a Sandberg Lionel, if anyone wants to part with theirs, I can put you in touch.

Edited September 20 by Obrienp

[spyder]

2 hours ago, scrumpymike said:

Interesting to note that the supply of used s-s basses on the Basschat marketplace has pretty much dried up of late. Does this suggest we've all decided we like them so much that we're keeping them? My personal preference for the 'Gibson' scale length goes back to the '60s.

I think many of us "seasoned" Basschatters are getting to the age where a heavy 34" scale bass just won't cut it anymore. Up until a few months ago I never considered a short scale bass but with an aging back and early arthritis I really didn't want to cart around a 4.5kg bass for hours on end. I bought an Acinonyx and didn't look back. I sold all of my 34" anchors and found my perfect bass company... Serek.

Now have two, one for an old school vide and the other for more modern jazz bass tones. Perfect. 

Edited September 20 by spyder

[bremen]

Although I enjoy playing my squier jaguar, I might have to "move it on" -now that's what I call a euphemism, it's like "putting to sleep" - as I get all the sounds I need from my big basses and I really dislike the PJ pickup arrangement.

 

Then again, Spider makes a very good point...I get my bus pass on Sunday so maybe I should hang on to it...could always swap the P pickup for a J...decisions...decisions...

[meterman]

I started out on a short scale and stayed with them and for 30 years they were my main preference, despite every ‘proper’ bassist laughing at my Mustangs or Musicmasters or whatever. I owned 34” scale basses too but they always felt like a bit of a struggle until I discovered the joys of the Jazz neck. Now I have two basses - a 25” scale Precision copy and a regular 34” scale Precision but with a Jazz width neck. But short scales are still my #1 go-to bass, and it’s great seeing the multitude of choices available now for everyone.

[bremen]

On 17/09/2024 at 14:41, spyder said:

NBD....

Following a short scale transformation with a Serek "the Grand" I just HAD to get a matching 5 string Serek.......

Both are incredible basses, the build quality, workmanship and sound are just what I was looking for. 

The Grand is strung with LaBella low tension flats and the Midwestern 2 is strung with Newtone Shorties.

What's that switch, with the diode and capacitor symbols?

[Clarky]

17 minutes ago, bremen said:

What's that switch, with the diode and capacitor symbols?

Three way switch with options of: "Skuzz Serkit" (a passive fuzz); Open; and Tone Rolled Off

[spyder]

18 minutes ago, bremen said:

What's that switch, with the diode and capacitor symbols?

It adds a fuzzy tone to the signal. Sounds very 1960's / 70's 

[martthebass]

I’ve just sold one of my Lionels leaving me with a Gold Lionel and a Sterling SS Ray as my shorties. Had no luck hunting down a EBMM SS Ray so will be ordering a shortie Sandberg TT or another Lionel in my preferred colour.

[RichT]

11 hours ago, scrumpymike said:

Interesting to note that the supply of used s-s basses on the Basschat marketplace has pretty much dried up of late. Does this suggest we've all decided we like them so much that we're keeping them? My personal preference for the 'Gibson' scale length goes back to the '60s.

 

I thought that every other post on marketplace was someone trying to sell a JMJ Mustang! 😂 But yes I'm keeping my shorties and playing s-s almost exclusively now. My 34" basses are feeling very sorry for themselves these days. 

 

I've just bought myself another Vox Starstream A1H! (directly from Vox, not from marketplace). I was strongly considering one of the new Sterling Stingrays with the roasted maple necks as a 'cheaper' s-s Stingray for taking to pubs and open mics, but they're £700 and at that level arguably overpriced.  

 

I noticed that Vox had some refurbished black Starstreams available for the same price. I reasoned if I'm going to spend £700 on a bass that sounds like a Stingray I may as well get something made in Japan with Aguilar electronics and Gotoh hardware. I love my red Starstream but it's almost irreplaceable now, I wouldn't want to risk taking it outside and damaging it. So I ordered a black one with the intention that if it gets knocked it won't bother me so much knowing my main red one is safe at home.

 

This is the first time I've ever bought two of the same instrument. Surely that unlocks some kind of Basschat achievement? 😁

 

Edited September 20 by RichT
Better photo

[scrumpymike]

15 hours ago, RichT said:

 

I thought that every other post on marketplace was someone trying to sell a JMJ Mustang! 😂 But yes I'm keeping my shorties and playing s-s almost exclusively now. My 34" basses are feeling very sorry for themselves these days. 

 

I've just bought myself another Vox Starstream A1H! (directly from Vox, not from marketplace). I was strongly considering one of the new Sterling Stingrays with the roasted maple necks as a 'cheaper' s-s Stingray for taking to pubs and open mics, but they're £700 and at that level arguably overpriced.  

 

I noticed that Vox had some refurbished black Starstreams available for the same price. I reasoned if I'm going to spend £700 on a bass that sounds like a Stingray I may as well get something made in Japan with Aguilar electronics and Gotoh hardware. I love my red Starstream but it's almost irreplaceable now, I wouldn't want to risk taking it outside and damaging it. So I ordered a black one with the intention that if it gets knocked it won't bother me so much knowing my main red one is safe at home.

 

This is the first time I've ever bought two of the same instrument. Surely that unlocks some kind of Basschat achievement? 😁

 

These are absolute killer basses! I've got the A2S in black the build quality is faultless. I'll be likely to add an A1H to the collection if I see a used one. The Aguilar pickups are amazing.

[RichT]

8 minutes ago, scrumpymike said:

These are absolute killer basses! I've got the A2S in black the build quality is faultless. I'll be likely to add an A1H to the collection if I see a used one. The Aguilar pickups are amazing.

 

Agreed on build quality. The only issue I've ever had was a tendency for the bass to naturally hang a little more towards horizontal than I prefer due to the lightness of the body, however I sorted that by fitting some Res-o-lite tuners. I'll probably do the same with the new one at some point. 

 

Maybe not quite 2nd hand prices but the only place I've seen them for sale at anything like an affordable price is directly from Vox. They still currently have some A1H refurbs available via https://www.voxamps.co.uk/products/vsba-a1h-mbmb

[2pods]

If I could get a SS Sterling Stingray in white, with white scratchplate, and rosewood fingerboard with a LOW action and good setup,

I would pounce on it.

 

I had a SH one from Bass Direct that I moved on here that I couldn't get to go low enough, otherwise I would have kept it.

Even Mrs 2pods loved the look of it.