Sub-Short Scale Basses at around 28,6"/28,5" scale length! [~25" to ~28,6" will do]

[Baloney Balderdash]

So inspired by the "Super Mini Basses" thread about basses with an about 16" scale length, I thought I would make this thread about basses with an about 28,6"/28,5" scale length (basses with a scale length from about 25" to about 28,6" will be fine for this thread), as there are quite a few of those on the market currently (and because my 4 string 28,6" scale Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass is actually my main bass).

 

Here's my 4 string 28,6 " scale Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass (with various visual mods, the J pickup disconnected and lowered considerably, and the stock P pickup swapped for a DiMarzio Model P, wired directly to the output jack socket)  :

 

And here's my 28,6" scale 5 string Ibanez GSRM25 Mikro Bass (with various visual mods, and the 2 stock J pickups wired in series, directly to the output jack socket) :

 

Edit/update!!!:

A more recent shot of my 4 string Ibanez Mikro Bass, with a fair deal of changes, among those a whole new GSRM20B body, and the DiMarzio Model P replaced for the pickup I had installed in it previously, namely an EMG Geezer Butler P pickup:

 

 

 

A list of 28,6"/28,5" scale basses currently in production, and the mention of a couple that is out of production :

 

4 string 28,6" Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass :  https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/gsrm20_03.html  )*   

4 string 28,6" Ibanez GSRM20B Mikro Bass :  https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/gsrm20b_02.html  )*  

5 string 28,6" Ibanez GSRM25 Mikro Bass :  https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/gsrm25_02.html   )*

4 string 28,6" Jackson JS1X Concert Minion Bass :  https://www.jacksonguitars.com/gear/shape/concert-bass/js-series-concert-bass-minion-js1x/2915556568

4 string 28,5" ESP LTD B-4 JR :  https://www.espguitars.com/pages/junior-models

5 string 28,5" ESP LTD B-5 JR   (out of production 5 string version of the ESP bass mentioned above)

4 string 28,6" Squier Mini Precision Bass :  https://shop.fender.com/en-DK/squier-electric-basses/precision-bass/mini-precision-bass/0370127554.html?rl=en_US

4 string 28,6" Fender Precision Bass Junior   (out of production, and as far as I am aware the first major production bass of this specific scale length. The Squier mentioned above is a cheaper budget take on this bass, just with an added tone control, as the original doesn't feature any tone control but just one single volume control)

 

)* USA links, following linked to is the only version of the Mikro Bass distributed in Europe (though Thomann got the Weathered Black Finish GSRM20B and the 5 string GSRM25 version in stock as well) : https://www.ibanez.com/eu/products/detail/gsrm20b_2y_05.html 

 

 

I'd personally really like to see a more high end take on this concept (about 28,6" scale length), as all the listed basses above, bar the Fender Precision Bass Junior, which was kind of mid priced, are cheap budget production basses. 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash

[eude]

Is 26.5" too short to join in?

Eude

[Baloney Balderdash]

59 minutes ago, eude said:

Is 26.5" too short to join in?

Eude

Looks awesome.... 

And no, it's fine, I suppose basses with a from about 25" scale length and up to 28,6" scale length or so will be fine for this thread (changed the title and the OP to accommodate that).

Just had the couple of basses currently in production at just about 28,6", and for the ESP 28,5", scale length in mind when I created the thread.

By the way before I even was aware of the existence of the Mikro Bass I had this 28 5/8" scale bass build out of Warmoth baritone parts, with a humbuker Seymour Duncan Rickenbacker Neck replacement pickup in the neck position and a humbucker Seymour Duncan Hot Rails Strat guitar pickup in the bridge position (I designed the headstock myself, but might have gone a little too far with that ) :

 

It sounded absolutely awesome, very clear, almost piano like, but unfortunately I was stupid enough to sell it, which I still regret.

 

Edited October 11, 2020 by Baloney Balderdash

[eude]

That's a really cool bass!
I think that some folks have now realised that a bass doesn't have to be huge to still be a bass.
There was a classic, weird little bass back in the 60's/70's, not quite sure when, which was regarded as a wonderful bass for recording when you needed that big thick short scale tone, the Airline Pocket Bass, which has recently been reissued by Eastwood >> https://eastwoodguitars.com/collections/bass/products/airline-pocket-bass
That's a 26.5" bass, and they haven't struggled to sell them.

Modern pickup technology, modern strings and considered construction have made it possible to create super usable, yet compact and easy to play instruments that sound great! I hope we see a lot more of these wee beasties!

Are you going to make yourself another one like your last one?

Cheers,
Eude

[Baloney Balderdash]

6 hours ago, eude said:

That's a really cool bass!
I think that some folks have now realised that a bass doesn't have to be huge to still be a bass.
There was a classic, weird little bass back in the 60's/70's, not quite sure when, which was regarded as a wonderful bass for recording when you needed that big thick short scale tone, the Airline Pocket Bass, which has recently been reissued by Eastwood >> https://eastwoodguitars.com/collections/bass/products/airline-pocket-bass
That's a 26.5" bass, and they haven't struggled to sell them.

Modern pickup technology, modern strings and considered construction have made it possible to create super usable, yet compact and easy to play instruments that sound great! I hope we see a lot more of these wee beasties!

Are you going to make yourself another one like your last one?

Cheers,
Eude

Thank you.

Well, my economical situation is not nearly as good as it was back then, so as it is now I can't really afford to have something like that build.

But if I ever get the money it require then yes, I will definitely have something similar made again. 

[Baloney Balderdash]

Really?

No one else with a preference for sub-short scale basses, or at least just own one?

Edited November 13, 2020 by Baloney Balderdash

[TheGreek]

I've been looking at short scale basses recently. I'm not interested in the short scale Jags/ Bronco/ etc. or a violin bass. Alternatives are limited - There seems to be a lot of old tat out there like the Swift and the Hofner Travel bass (is it a short scale?) and anything else which looks more than half decent is in the £1,000+ region.

I do like the look of the Squier Mini at around £130. I tried a Chowny SWB a while back and was underwhelmed with the hardware. 

The only thing I've seen in the £500-600 range which looks even slightly VFM is the short scale Musicman - £699 seems to be par for the course - you do need to hunt around to find them for less than £619 (Thomann I believe).

https://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/short-scale-stingray

Ideally,  like many others here I'd like one of @Jabba_the_gut's creations but Jez isn't turning them out and I believe is harassed, understandably, to sell those which are nearing completion.

Here's what Bass Direct have:

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Short_Scale_Bass_Guitars.html

Edited November 13, 2020 by TheGreek

[fretmeister]

I'd like one of these

 

 

22.5 inch scale.

Marleaux Soprano.

[Baloney Balderdash]

14 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

I've been looking at short scale basses recently. I'm not interested in the short scale Jags/ Bronco/ etc. or a violin bass. Alternatives are limited - There seems to be a lot of old tat out there like the Swift and the Hofner Travel bass (is it a short scale?) and anything else which looks more than half decent is in the £1,000+ region.

I do like the look of the Squier Mini at around £130. I tried a Chowny SWB a while back and was underwhelmed with the hardware. 

The only thing I've seen in the £500-600 range which looks even slightly VFM is the short scale Musicman - £699 seems to be par for the course - you do need to hunt around to find them for less than £619 (Thomann I believe).

Ideally,  like many others here I'd like one of @Jabba_the_gut's creations but Jez isn't turning them out and I believe is harassed, understandably, to sell those which are nearing completion.

Here's what Bass Direct have:

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Short_Scale_Bass_Guitars.html

Appreciate your input, and I am short scale bass enthusiast too, though this thread was meant to be dedicated sub-short scale basses, as in basses shorter than the just about 30" scale length usually categorized as short scale basses, like in the about 25" to 28,6" scale length range, since there is always a thread going on about mini basses at around a 16" scale length.

[Jabba_the_gut]

I've made four basses that fit roughly into this category with scale lengths of 27" and of 23". All are four string - the 23" basses are headless and the 27" are headed. I'm currently tinkering with the 23" basses and trying out a 27" headless neck which is looking promising. All details are in the build diaries section if anyone is interested in seeing what they all look like.

I'm really please with the last 27" bass I made. Passive with a single Bartolini pickup (that can be switch between single coil and humbucker) and white LED side markers. It is really comfortable to play and sounds great - I really need to get some sound clips sorted and posted on here! Here's a few piccies. 

There is something about basses of around this scale and I can only suggest people trying them. I'll be taking all these short things to bass bashes, hopefully in the first half of next year.  With a bit of luck I'll have finished the five string version I'm currently building. 

Edited November 13, 2020 by Jabba_the_gut

[Baloney Balderdash]

49 minutes ago, Jabba_the_gut said:

I've made four basses that fit roughly into this category with scale lengths of 27" and of 23". All are four string - the 23" basses are headless and the 27" are headed. I'm currently tinkering with the 23" basses and trying out a 27" headless neck which is looking promising. All details are in the build diaries section if anyone is interested in seeing what they all look like.

I'm really please with the last 27" bass I made. Passive with a single Bartolini pickup (that can be switch between single coil and humbucker) and white LED side markers. It is really comfortable to play and sounds great - I really need to get some sound clips sorted and posted on here! Here's a few piccies. 

There is something about basses of around this scale and I can only suggest people trying them. I'll be taking all these short things to bass bashes, hopefully in the first half of next year.  With a bit of luck I'll have finished the five string version I'm currently building. 

 

Amazing! 

Great work! 

Unfortunately I am not much of a woodworker myself, and I am sure it would go horribly wrong if I attempted making my own bass, and I can't really afford to have one custom made either, or else I would have had a custom 28,6" scale bass to my dream specs.

Though I have kind of pondered on buying a cheap 27" scale Harley Benton 7 string guitar and then having a new nut and 6 mono rail bass bridges fir on it, that way converting it to a 6 string short scale bass, but tuning it in E standard tuning, and pondered on doing the same to an Eastwood Side Jack Bartitone Guitar, turning it into an 27.5" 4 string bass. 

Both would end up with a bit tighter string spacing than standard, but I would actually see that as an advantage, and it wouldn't even be by that much (the 7 string Harley Benton guitar having a nut width of 48mm and the Eastwood baritone guitar a nut width of 41mm, but the latter then with a neck that doesn't expand much in width as it goes up).

Actually, if I go through with this idea, kind of counting on using the stock guitar tuners, or that is respectively 6 out of 7 and 4 out of 6, and making them able to accept bass string gauges by drilling the string holes in them bigger (hey if it works for Danelectro I ought to be able to make it work for me too). 

The Eastwood Baritone guitar/4 string bass conversion I assume likely to turn out the best, especially since it got a slightly longer scale length and the tuners being 3+3 and not in a line like on the Harley Benton 7 string guitar.

The Eastwood would cost me double as much as the Harley Benton though, but then having a nut cut and installed together with 4 mono rail bass bridges ought not to cost me that much, and the stock 2 x P90 pickup's 6 pole pieces ought to be able to cover the 4 strings just fine (the 7 string Harley Benton being equaipped with 2 x blade humbuckers).

 

Edited November 13, 2020 by Baloney Balderdash

[Owen]

1 hour ago, fretmeister said:

I'd like one of these

 

 

22.5 inch scale.

Marleaux Soprano.

It is a classic BC saying, but if that was a 5.......

[42Hz]

I have the 5 string Mikro (GSRM25) as well. I like it. I would like to try other strings. Not many 5 string sets around for this scale.

[eude]

33 minutes ago, 42Hz said:

I have the 5 string Mikro (GSRM25) as well. I like it. I would like to try other strings. Not many 5 string sets around for this scale.

Try Newtone Strings, they make custom strings for my basses, 31.5", 30.5" and 26.5".

Best strings I've ever had.

 

[Jabba_the_gut]

+1 for Newtone. I’ve had custom strings made for my 27” basses and I’m really pleased with them.

[Baloney Balderdash]

Newest shot of my 28.6" scale 4 string Ibanez Mikro Bass, but with the outstanding neck from the battered GSRM20 model pictured in my OP, to a Weathered Black finish GSRM20B Mikro body, that I had laying around unused, since that neck unlike the other had horrible fretwork from stock, which was only made much worse by my haphazard attempt at a first timer fret leveling procedure.

 

This new body, like the old, is supposed to be Mahogany, but where the old GSRM20 body was unusual heavy, even for a piece of Mahogany the size, the new is unusual light for a piece of Mahogany that size.

 

The neck pocket of the new GSRM20B body also fit dead tight and snugly around the neck pocket of the old GSRM20 neck, which wasn't the case with the neck pocket of the old GSRM20 body, which I think, together with the new body's lack of an insane thick poly finish, contribute to the slightly improved resonance and sustain after the neck transplant.

 

Currently strung with gauge .080 - .060 - .045 - .034 D'Addario XL nickle plated roundwound steel core strings, and tuned to G standard tuning, as in 3 half steps above regular 4 string bass E standard tuning.

 

Gives a clearer and more vibrant tone that is better suited for chords and melodic work and prevents the thuddy, staccato, dead note effect that short scale basses, and especially the Mikro with it's even shorter scale length, seems to suffer when the low thick gauge E string is fretted approaching the upper end of the fretboard, typically above 12th fret or so, but while still being substantial and deep enough to fill out the sonic space of a bass instrument. 

 

Used for the musical project that has my main attention currently, a sort of progressive stoner/doom rock bass and drums duo, where I also run the signal of my bass through an always on 1 octave up effect, giving an effect somewhat similar to that of an 8 string bass (with pairs of respective bass and octave strings), with the riffs and playing in this project utilizing more of a bass/baritone/ guitar crossover style. 

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by Baloney Balderdash

[Aussie Daz]

Hi

 

Have just bought the same bass but having trouble finding strings to fit.  The shortest I can find are 30".  Where can I buy (in Australia) 28.6" strings or are 30" OK?  I expect I can forget finding flatwounds for this scale!

 

Regards,  Derek

[Len_derby]

I’ve got a Mustang and a Harley Benton shorty P, both 30”. And a ukulele bass. Nothing in between, yet.   There’s a very tempting Squier mini P in my local guitar shop, 28.5 inch scale. Maybe it’s time…..

Edited February 5, 2022 by Len_derby

[Owen]

On 13/11/2020 at 19:59, Jabba_the_gut said:

 

 

Swoon

[GrahamNN3]

Pyramid Strings in Germany make custom length flats - if you ask them.