The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!

[Mikey D]

The talman is amazing value for the money. I play it more than most of my basses. I upgraded it too with Aguilar. Not a small job but made a massive tone difference.

Dont forget the EHB range for short scales too. I had the 1505sms and only sold to fund another more expensive bass. Great basses. I played them both with low B and high V. I'd you can find used they are great value too.

[BassApprentice]

11 minutes ago, AlexDelores said:

 

Am I missing something or is there a massive gap in the market here? 

I think with SS having a moment in the sun with more punters and pros playing them there is a small gap, yes. Having had another quick look, there is the Ibanez EHB1505S - but appreciate they may not be your cup of tea.

It can be done as shown by Maruszczyk/ACG/Sandberg/Wilcock so scaling up the premise to mass production isn't unfeasable, just hasn't obviously been deemed profitable enough yet.

[AlexDelores]

Yeah, all very good points. 
 

I think just as mentioned above that as SS’s are having their moment, I’m surprised that a brand like Sire hasn’t jumped in with a decent entry level bass. Especially when you can see it’s been done by Ibanez already, so it can be achieved. 

[Obrienp]

2 hours ago, AlexDelores said:

I’m looking at getting a 5 string. And, as I’m mostly gigging shorts now, I thought I’d try and find a SS 5.
 

Having a scan of this thread and multiple googles. Is the only real option for a 5 string shortie under £1k+ the Ibanez Talman & Micro? 
 

Am I missing something or is there a massive gap in the market here? 

People have already mentioned the Ibanez EHB models. They now do a standard 30” and a nicer looking version of the multi-scale but those are both well over the £1k mark now. Bass Direct have a MTD 5 string 32” scale at just under £1K. It looks like an upmarket version of the discounted Ibanez SRMD Mezzo medium scale but with better appointments and build (you would hope).

 

Nordstrand have been threatening a 5 string version of their short scale Acinonyx for some time. That would probably squeeze in at around the £1K mark and might just be the fiver for those, like me, who can’t manage the usual neck width. It was meant to imminent but no doubt Trump’s clowning has caused a delay.
 

Neck width was what caused me to part with the Talman 5. Mine had a neck like a cricket bat, as well as a body made of lead. I understand they vary quite a bit in this respect. A reasonable bass otherwise but you will end up spending so much on upgrades, you may as well look for a used EHB.

[fretmeister]

2 minutes ago, Obrienp said:

People have already mentioned the Ibanez EHB models. They now do a standard 30” and a nicer looking version of the multi-scale but those are both well over the £1k mark now. Bass Direct have a MTD 5 string 32” scale at just under £1K. It looks like an upmarket version of the discounted Ibanez SRMD Mezzo medium scale but with better appointments and build (you would hope).

 

Nordstrand have been threatening a 5 string version of their short scale Acinonyx for some time. That would probably squeeze in at around the £1K mark and might just be the fiver for those, like me, who can’t manage the usual neck width. It was meant to imminent but no doubt Trump’s clowning has caused a delay.
 

Neck width was what caused me to part with the Talman 5. Mine had a neck like a cricket bat, as well as a body made of lead. I understand they vary quite a bit in this respect. A reasonable bass otherwise but you will end up spending so much on upgrades, you may as well look for a used EHB.

 

 

Nordstrand have announced the end of the far east built Acinonyx basses.

 

So if they go ahead with a 5 string it is likely to be a USA built one and will be a lot more expensive.

[Obrienp]

4 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

 

 

Nordstrand have announced the end of the far east built Acinonyx basses.

 

So if they go ahead with a 5 string it is likely to be a USA built one and will be a lot more expensive.

I missed that. Just looked at their website and couldn’t see anything about it but I’m sure you are right. They had quite a lot of challenges with their Far Eastern manufacturing. It’s a shame as far as price is concerned but perhaps a bonus in terms of build quality.

[HeadlessBassist]

I'm relatively new to the short scale world - recently bought an American Performer Mustang which I love and can't seem to put down. When I got it, it was strung with flats which totally killed all of it's character. Now it's strung with 40-95 Elixirs it's truly versatile, with a Jazz bass on steroids sound with the taps fully open, a burpy Jaco sound with the bridge pickup solo'd and 50% of the Greasebucket equipped tone control, and a huge Precision-style thick sound from the little Japanese-made split coil, again with 50% tone. Couldn't be happier! 

 

 I noticed some mentions of the Nordstrand Acinonyx basses. I tried both the original version and the second generation model, and much preferred the original with the two banks of buttons.

Edited yesterday at 14:35 by HeadlessBassist

[LeftyJ]

2 hours ago, AlexDelores said:

Yeah, all very good points. 
 

I think just as mentioned above that as SS’s are having their moment, I’m surprised that a brand like Sire hasn’t jumped in with a decent entry level bass. Especially when you can see it’s been done by Ibanez already, so it can be achieved. 

 

While not exactly priced as an entry level bass, they do have been making the U5 for a few years now, which sells for about 400 GBP.

[AlexDelores]

13 minutes ago, LeftyJ said:

 

While not exactly priced as an entry level bass, they do have been making the U5 for a few years now, which sells for about 400 GBP.

Yeah but it’s only a 4 string with no 5 string option. 
 

Sorry, I meant that I’m surprised they haven’t jumped on the SS 5 string gap rather than the SS as a general rule. 
 

1 hour ago, Obrienp said:

Neck width was what caused me to part with the Talman 5. Mine had a neck like a cricket bat, as well as a body made of lead. I understand they vary quite a bit in this respect. A reasonable bass otherwise but you will end up spending so much on upgrades, you may as well look for a used EHB.

Yeah, I’m not a massive fan of the styling of the Talmans. I’m a bit of a boring traditional shaped guitar guy. Maybe I need to play one of the EHB ones and get over myself as they’re nice looking, I just can’t imagine myself playing one as they’re a bit too modern looking!😂🙏

 

 

[Obrienp]

41 minutes ago, AlexDelores said:

I’m a bit of a boring traditional shaped guitar guy. Maybe I need to play one of the EHB ones and get over myself as they’re nice looking, I just can’t imagine myself playing one as they’re a bit too modern looking!😂🙏

 

 

They have a lot going for them in terms of ergonomics: light and very well contoured. Another benefit is the string clamping mechanism, which allows you to use standard length strings and cut off the excess. This gives you much more choice and keeps the price down compared to short/medium scale strings. I had a 4 string EHB that had quite a wide neck but it was shallow and the profile was graduated, if I remember correctly. This meant it was still easy to play. The only problem I had, was often landing two frets out when playing without looking at the neck. I think it was something to do with not having a headstock in my peripheral vision. This might not be as much of an issue with the multi-scale EHB 5. The benefit of buying used is you might get one that has had the pickups upgraded to Nordies, or Aguilar. The original Barts weren’t everybody’s cup of tea. However, if you like traditional, they very much fall in that bracket. I note the new model EHB shorties have Nordies OEM.

[Iheartreverb]

4 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

I'm relatively new to the short scale world - recently bought an American Performer Mustang which I love and can't seem to put down. When I got it, it was strung with flats which totally killed all of it's character. Now it's strung with 40-95 Elixirs it's truly versatile, with a Jazz bass on steroids sound with the taps fully open, a burpy Jaco sound with the bridge pickup solo'd and 50% of the Greasebucket equipped tone control, and a huge Precision-style thick sound from the little Japanese-made split coil, again with 50% tone. Couldn't be happier! 

 

 I noticed some mentions of the Nordstrand Acinonyx basses. I tried both the original version and the second generation model, and much preferred the original with the two banks of buttons.

 

That looks great. I’ve been really considering one of these, specifically in that colour. Keep thinking it would look great with a tort guard 

[LeftyJ]

16 hours ago, AlexDelores said:

Yeah but it’s only a 4 string with no 5 string option. 
 

Sorry, I meant that I’m surprised they haven’t jumped on the SS 5 string gap rather than the SS as a general rule. 

 

Ah, makes sense now! Yep, missed opportunity.