ped Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Alright folks You know that I like gadgets, and some of you know that I bought a mini bass a few years ago and filled it with bells and whistles. For playing synths or noodling away with caked in reverb and delay this little thing absolutely rocks. Kick in an octave pedal and some distortion and it's the heaviest fattest sounding piece of wood on the planet. Mine is made by Wingbass (made by Stanbaugh). I know there are other owners here too. I'm tempted to get a fretless version and I've been looking around at other manufacturers who make basses like this, and was wondering if I had missed anyone. A few years ago I don't think they exited at all, but it seems like lots of companies are doing them now, at least to use up offcuts of wood!! So far I have found: Mayones https://mayones.com/basses/cali4/ I quite like the look of these but Mayones never answer emails so that's put me off a bit. Also not sure if they do fretless and don't REALLY want to go custom, I'd rather buy one already made! Stradi http://stradi.pl/ Came to my attention after one sold on here. Very ornate, some look amazingly well crafted but I rather like the simpler designs. I like how they are in a section called 'Little Things' Kala https://kalabrand.com/collections/california-ubass Not quite the same, but these solid bodied ones can take strings with a metal wrap but I've never heard one and think they are a bit expensive, plus the bridge is naff Grossman https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Grosmann_Travel_Walnut.html Despite the builder spamming the piss out of every website on the planet and pretending not to own the company, these little basses look 'similar' to the Mayones effort Marleaux https://www.marleaux-bass.com/marleaux-bass_consat_sopran.html OK a little bit big at 22" but fairly close. Trouble is unless you go half scale you need custom strings - half scale you just chop your usual ones in half! Mub https://www.mauriziouberbasses.com/miezo Don't know much about these but they look well crafted - necks similar to Leduc Mihado https://mihado.com/product/fingybass/ These look a bit low end and crude but still good for them I say VB Custom Basses https://vbcustomtravelbass.com/gallery Saw these on FB. Some cool looking original designs. BTW if you think these basses are JUST for TRAVEL and PLAYING THROUGH AN OCTAVE PEDAL then they are not at all - they are inspiring, fun and like playing a proper bass. they are NOT GUITARS! NNNOOooooo000ooooooooooo... Please let me know if you have seen any brands I've missed and can add to my list? ta ped 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grantd Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 I have a MUB Miezo on order, due in a couple of weeks. I will let you know my thoughts. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 1 minute ago, Grantd said: I have a MUB Miezo on order, due in a couple of weeks. I will let you know my thoughts. Great! I meant to tag a bunch of people I know who have a mini bass - thanks for chiming in! What specs have you gone for, or was it a finished bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Paging @Jabba_the_gut. I think we need a pic or two of Jabbas beautiful mini basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 Just now, Frank Blank said: Paging @Jabba_the_gut. I think we need a pic or two of Jabbas beautiful mini basses. I think they’re a bit longer than the half scale type I’m referring to (with the exception of the Marleaux) unless he’s made another... I’ve seen a few good home builds actually and Andy at Wingbass is always helpful with advice and happy for people to make their own which is cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 4 minutes ago, ped said: I think they’re a bit longer than the half scale type I’m referring to (with the exception of the Marleaux) unless he’s made another... I’ve seen a few good home builds actually and Andy at Wingbass is always helpful with advice and happy for people to make their own which is cool. I did wonder if they were too long! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 Yeah I can’t be bothered to reach that far any more 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 (edited) I must say id never even considered one of these until I saw this video - sounds very authentic (playing and bass sound) to me 👍 https://youtu.be/FexkbCCsvDs She also plays normal bass - extremely well - I now really like the original of this when it comes on the radio but then miss the tasty bass parts on this cover!! https://youtu.be/f40HDIwho_E I know I shouldn't really comment on people's avatars but @ped is that a shell pink accordion in yours? 😯 Edited September 11, 2020 by drTStingray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 2 hours ago, ped said: I think they’re a bit longer than the half scale type I’m referring to (with the exception of the Marleaux) unless he’s made another... I’ve seen a few good home builds actually and Andy at Wingbass is always helpful with advice and happy for people to make their own which is cool. Yep, the two I built were 23" scale so a little longer. I'm going to make another couple of necks to try; one will be 27" the other 17". You're quite right about headed versions in particular as they require custom strings but headless ones with strings clamps allow a wider choice of strings. As Ped says, these super short scale basses are really great fun but also sound the business. And you don;t have to stretch so far..... 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grantd Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 4 hours ago, ped said: Great! I meant to tag a bunch of people I know who have a mini bass - thanks for chiming in! What specs have you gone for, or was it a finished bass? Maurizio posted this on instagram, mine is the one on the right. Ash body, going to be stained black. Birdseye fretboard (I considered fretless and discussed it with him, but fretted is more usable - maybe I wasn't brave enough), 4 string, Bartolini pickup and we're discussing Kemp strings that play in the usual 34" octave - no need for a octaver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grantd Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Is it weird that I have had a Wingbass, Stradi, Marleaux and I’m about to get a MUB… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 3 minutes ago, Grantd said: Is it weird that I have had a Wingbass, Stradi, Marleaux and I’m about to get a MUB… Yes I think it’s pretty clear that we’re weird and logically you must be four times weirder! But weird is good. The MUB looks great, did you try one somewhere or are you just going for it? So Mayones next?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grantd Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 I was too impatient to wait for a Mayones, so opted for the Miezo. But wait 6 months and it will be for sale here while I wait for a Mayones...stranger things have happened. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 I started making a 19.75” scale mini bass. It has built in headphone amp similar to Mayones. Biggest difference mine is 5 string 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 12, 2020 Author Share Posted September 12, 2020 That looks great - apt username too! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 Looking forward to hearing about your bass @Grantd I've been following them for a while, will yours have a headphone amp built in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grantd Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 3 hours ago, BassApprentice said: Looking forward to hearing about your bass @Grantd I've been following them for a while, will yours have a headphone amp built in? In the current setup it won't but I can still add it. I have been considering adding one, it will add to the versitility when travelling. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 (edited) Yes, I know, Guild Ashbory fits the bill only partially, but I would add it to the list. Fun to play, complicated body shape. Edited September 13, 2020 by itu learning to write Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 Add KAM and Kala to the list. I looked at the Mayones Cali - certainly look the part but I can't justify £1500 on an impulse buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 23 minutes ago, TheGreek said: Add KAM and Kala to the list. I looked at the Mayones Cali - certainly look the part but I can't justify £1500 on an impulse buy. I’ve got Kala down although they only partly fit the brief... who are KAM? Any links? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubster Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 I’ve got an Ele Custom Bass 30” but he makes a very interesting mini https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2525291947590380&id=254643697988561&set=a.2525291720923736&source=54&ref=page_internal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz39 Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 On 12/09/2020 at 18:40, Chopthebass said: I started making a 19.75” scale mini bass. It has built in headphone amp similar to Mayones. Biggest difference mine is 5 string Oh my wooly word that's gorgeous. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 15, 2020 Author Share Posted September 15, 2020 18 minutes ago, Tubster said: I’ve got an Ele Custom Bass 30” but he makes a very interesting mini https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2525291947590380&id=254643697988561&set=a.2525291720923736&source=54&ref=page_internal Ah yes I did see that - sliding pickup, cool! IIRC the scale was about 20"? Love the look of your bass by the way, assuming it was the one advertised here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 On 11/09/2020 at 17:30, drTStingray said: I must say id never even considered one of these until I saw this video - sounds very authentic (playing and bass sound) to me 👍 https://youtu.be/FexkbCCsvDs Easy to see why Kala sent her a free uke bass! I've had a number of uke basses over the years, but I've never made one sound as good as that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 On 11/09/2020 at 16:01, ped said: Trouble is unless you go half scale you need custom strings - half scale you just chop your usual ones in half! Is it really as simple as that? Just buy long-scale strings and chop off 18" including the silks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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