Best short scale basses...

[GuitarsFromMars]

...that are available today,The Hamer Slammer Jr.?I really wanted something that I wouldn't have to struggle to play;my hands are too small for a P-bass.and I play infrequently,but do occasionally need to record bass parts.Under 500$ would be nice,if it's possible...

:cool:

[MattK]

The Fender Mustang Bass reissues are pretty groovy. I played one for about 20 minutes last week at Guitar Center. It's a fun little bass.

[jpervin]

I've got a '77 Fender Musicmaster SS bass that's a blast to play. Fits my small hands perfectly and sounds great. You can find them on Ebay all day long for under $500.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/jpervin/MusicmasterBass/000_1030.jpg

[fyrwyr]

Yeah, those little basses play and sound great, very comfortable!

[The Golden Boy]

The Fender Mustang Bass reissues are pretty groovy.

I had an old LPB Competition Mustang for a while- effortless to play- but the tradeoff in a short scale bass is the lack of depth to the bass.

I'd recommend a short scale bass to a beginner because they're so easy to play, but when it comes to tone- I'd strongly suggest against getting a short scale bass because they sound so much better. A Jazz style neck (with a 1.5" nut width) will feel somewhat similar to the short scale basses- especially on your lower "money" frets.

Try out a Jazz bass or 2 to see if they don't fit the bill, or your hand, as the case may be...

[MattK]

I had an old LPB Competition Mustang for a while- effortless to play- but the tradeoff in a short scale bass is the lack of depth to the bass.

I'd recommend a short scale bass to a beginner because they're so easy to play, but when it comes to tone- I'd strongly suggest against getting a short scale bass because they sound so much better. A Jazz style neck (with a 1.5" nut width) will feel somewhat similar to the short scale basses- especially on your lower "money" frets.

Try out a Jazz bass or 2 to see if they don't fit the bill, or your hand, as the case may be...

That is very true. I just re-read the original post and noticed that you mentioned you are going to use this bass for recording. That little Mustang probably wouldn't be very good for that. It comes up a bit short (pardon the pun) in the tone department. As suggested, the J-bass neck is pretty comfy. You can pick up a clean, used MIM model for a little bit of nothing if you look around a bit. A Jazz also tracks really well, IMO.

[Ishouldbeking]

I like the look of the Waterstone hollow and semi-hollow bodies, some of which are short scale. Also the Guild Starfire. Don't know if they're fantastic or anything, but I want one nonetheless.

[tedzepplin]

I don't know if they would be "Best" for you but they are "Best" for me - My 60s Hagstrom and 60s Univox High flyer bass. the Univox with P-90 looking pick ups has a very high output which overdrives a tube amp perfectly.
http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/3990/hag654ek9.jpg
http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/9059/univoxbass654pr0.jpg

[Ishouldbeking]

A friend of mine has a 70's Univox exactly like the one shown above, and that thing sounds great. Its her main gigging bass, and run through her Orange half-stack it just sounds amazing... no lack of low end there.

[walterw]

univox?! wow, in my early gigging days i had a univox copy of a dan armstrong lucite bass that doug phillips had upgraded with emg's and a bone saddle and nut. it was hands down the clearest (pardon the pun) deepest and best sounding short-scale bass i've ever heard, probably because it weighed 15 lbs! still not as good as a long scale, but pretty good.

i saw the band cry of love at a big club back in the day, and their bass player got a huge and reasonably tight sound from a 70's les paul recording bass.

[michael30]

I just re-read the original post and noticed that you mentioned you are going to use this bass for recording. That little Mustang probably wouldn't be very good for that. It comes up a bit short (pardon the pun) in the tone department.

I just bought a '77 Mustang bass. The sound is amazing! Lots of bottom and punchiness. It actually sounds better than most of the long-scale basses that I've owned. Not as good as my Harmony H-22 but definately one of the better-sounding solidbody basses that I've played. I've played a few Mustangs before but I don't remember any of them sounding like this. Maybe you just have to find the right one.

[The Golden Boy]

I just bought a '77 Mustang bass. The sound is amazing! Lots of bottom and punchiness. It actually sounds better than most of the long-scale basses that I've owned. Not as good as my Harmony H-22 but definately one of the better-sounding solidbody basses that I've played. I've played a few Mustangs before but I don't remember any of them sounding like this. Maybe you just have to find the right one.

You'll get the punchiness with a short scale bass, but you won't get the same bottom end "fullness" that you will with a full scale bass. It's just how it is with a short scale bass.

I realize everyone has their own idea of a "good" sound- and if the short scale sound is how you hear it- that's all good. But if you're just accepting the sound you're getting because that's the best you can get out of a short scale bass- you need to look at a full scale bass.

[WahmBoomAh]

What about the Jerry Jones Danelectro`s ? Aren`t they short scale ?

[michael30]

But if you're just accepting the sound you're getting because that's the best you can get out of a short scale bass- you need to look at a full scale bass.

I'm comparing this thing to other basses that I own or have owned which include Fender Precisions, a Rickenbacker, 2 pre- and 1 post-EB MusicMan basses as well as some other stuff. I'm specifically looking for low-end fullness in a bass sound. I was as surprised as anyone when I plugged in the Mustang. I was originally going to help a guy at work sell it but decided to buy it myself after hearing it.

My advice to the original poster: check out a Mustang. You might get lucky and find a good one.

[The Golden Boy]

I'm comparing this thing to other basses that I own or have owned which include Fender Precisions, a Rickenbacker, 2 pre- and 1 post-EB MusicMan basses as well as some other stuff. I'm specifically looking for low-end fullness in a bass sound. I was as surprised as anyone when I plugged in the Mustang. I was originally going to help a guy at work sell it but decided to buy it myself after hearing it.


Just going by what you posted in the 'show your basses' thread, I can tell we're probably going by a differing standard of tone. :AOK

[michael30]

????????

The Harmony H-22? Try one. My main bass before that one was a '79 MusicMan Sabre which was not that unlike your G&L. Nothing I've ever played comes close to the Harmony as far as tone is concerned.

[SlyStrat]

I played a Gibson EBO for years. My choice.

[The Golden Boy]

????????

The Harmony H-22? Try one. My main bass before that one was a '79 MusicMan Sabre which was not that unlike your G&L. Nothing I've ever played comes close to the Harmony as far as tone is concerned.

What I meant was I think we're both looking for different things when it comes to good tone. Just going by the H-22's basic construction- it's not going to sound anything like a Fender style bass. A hollow or semi-hollow bass with a set neck and the pickup located close to the neck is going to sound distinctively different than an ash or alder solidbody bass with the pickups located closer to the bridge and a bolted on maple neck. I owned a 1968 Gibson EB-2 for several years, and it never gave me anything remotely close to a usable bass sound for what I was looking for. I'm not implying that the EB-2 and the H-22 sound the same, but they're closer for comparison than an H-22 to any solid body Fender style bass.

I'd actually love to try an H-22- especially now that I'm doing a Rolling Stones type thing. If you've seen my "Muting" thread, you'll see I'm having a difficult time getting any of my basses to get a similar sound to Bill Wyman's sound- While my EB-0, in it's stock form would probably do a better job, the Thunderbird is still too "ringy" and the Jazz and the G&L don't work at all for it. Again, I'd chalk it up to construction- Long scale, neck through mahogany, solid body, pickup placement all add up to a closer fit to the sound than a hollow body with the pickup mounted closer to the neck- which is what I assume is a lot of Wyman's earlier sound.

http://sesentas.ururock.com/images/rolling_stones.jpg

[michael30]

What I meant was I think we're both looking for different things when it comes to good tone. Just going by the H-22's basic construction- it's not going to sound anything like a Fender style bass. A hollow or semi-hollow bass with a set neck ...
...I'd actually love to try an H-22- especially now that I'm doing a Rolling Stones type thing. If you've seen my "Muting" thread, you'll see I'm having a difficult time getting any of my basses to get a similar sound to Bill Wyman's sound- .... a hollow body with the pickup mounted closer to the neck- which is what I assume is a lot of Wyman's earlier sound.

The H-22 has a bolt-on neck but otherwise you're right. "Good tone" is very dependent on what kind of music you're playing. My idea of what's good has changed considerably during the years. A hollowbody would have been impossible for me to play in the 80's with my double stacks powered by a Marshall Major and a Fender PS 300. As good as the Harmony is, it's probably not the perfect thing for a Stones cover band. Wyman used a Framus Star bass a lot on stage during the 60's but he used his first bass (a cheap japanese no-name solidbody bass that he modified by cutting away most of the body) on every Stones record except "Some Girls". You can see it in the picture below (notice that both Keith and Brian are playing Harmony guitars). My recommendation for a bass that comes near the Stones sound would be..... ...dare I say it: a Mustang (Wyman used one on stage during the early 70's) :)

http://www.guitarhucksters.com/files/hucksters.kotisivukone.com/harmony-dudes.jpg

[musicofanatic5]

Play those maracas, Stu; smoke that cigarette Mick! Whatta great shot of those youngsters! Yeah, Mustang bass, or how about a custom, short-scale Travis Bean!

[Bassomatic]

You'll get the punchiness with a short scale bass, but you won't get the same bottom end "fullness" that you will with a full scale bass. It's just how it is with a short scale bass.

Ever played a good Hofner beatle bass? I respectfully disagree - huge bottom end.

[TravisE]

Fave short scale? EB-0 without question. You're not gonna get a good "lead-bass" tone out of it but as far as layng down a kick-ass, THICK 70's groove is concearned, I doubt there's anything better. An EB-0 through an old Ampeg B-15N...yummy!

Again, solos, tapping, slapping, popping and other tricks (aka. "lead-bass") aren't being considered.

[Coach]

Ever played a good Hofner beatle bass? I respectfully disagree - huge bottom end.

+1

what's all this talk about short scale basses not having suitable bottom end? psssh

[mcknigs]

I've got a '77 Fender Musicmaster SS bass that's a blast to play. Fits my small hands perfectly and sounds great. You can find them on Ebay all day long for under $500.



+1 on the MusicMaster. I got one in trade years ago and it tends to stay in a stand where I can grab it in a hurry for recording. Or it lives at my neighbors for those impromptu bluegrass jam sessions.

-Scott

[tbelling]

Fave short scale? EB-0 without question. You're not gonna get a good "lead-bass" tone out of it but as far as layng down a kick-ass, THICK 70's groove is concearned, I doubt there's anything better. An EB-0 through an old Ampeg B-15N...yummy!

Again, solos, tapping, slapping, popping and other tricks (aka. "lead-bass") aren't being considered.


Are you guys nuts? Lead bass playing was basically invented by Jack Bruce on a Gibson EB3 in Cream. I use a a 68 EBO through a 67 Fender Dual Showman and a 64 Fender Bassman into 2 12's and a 15. Sounds awesome. I've gotten more comments on my bass tone than my lead guitar player literally melting his guitar. Just have to turn up the treble and turn down the bass knobs. Also think about Felix in Mountain, awesome lead bass as well.

[Rob Martinez]

I play the Waterstone Indra, the best 30" sclae bass out there, I believe. I sold my Epiphone Rumblekat when I got my Indra, the Indra just blew it out of the water. I have mine strung with LaBella Beatle flatwounds and the tone is RICH and THICK and BEEFY. As much bottom as any 34" scale bass, and I own a few of those too.

[shredtrash]

Dude! It didn't take you long to post and pump that Indra.

Tom

[pedalhead]

I have a RI D'armond / Guild jet star.
Short scale, had a few tuning problems until i put some hefty strings on there, but it records superbly

[alanbass1]

Best short scale bass I ever played was a friends Alembic Series 1 with a 30" scale length. Trouble is it is way over the $500 mark you set. But like guitars, you are not going to find the top sounding basses, in any scale length, for that money.

[Rob Martinez]

Dude! It didn't take you long to post and pump that Indra.

Tom

Always pushin' product, Brutha!

[Loves_LPs]

Another option for short scale is the Gibson SG Reissue.

[jefesq]

Wow I had a hagstrom two. Still do I think, but is not the same as it was.

I'd try the Squier Jazz bass, Neck's narrower than a P bass and farily well put together. Better sound that the short scales.

[Jo]

I have an old 70's Fender Musicmaster bass as I have small hands and found the stretch of a standard bass to be really difficult, and then one day I got an MIM jazz bass. The neck is nice and super comfy and great for small hands like mine. I won't bother to play the Musicmaster now. This jazz bass is much nicer.

[John Phillips]

Are you guys nuts? Lead bass playing was basically invented by Jack Bruce on a Gibson EB3 in Cream. I use a a 68 EBO through a 67 Fender Dual Showman and a 64 Fender Bassman into 2 12's and a 15. Sounds awesome. I've gotten more comments on my bass tone than my lead guitar player literally melting his guitar. Just have to turn up the treble and turn down the bass knobs. Also think about Felix in Mountain, awesome lead bass as well.And Andy Fraser in Free...

These guys were the first to really make the bass a lead instrument, and IMO did at least as much to re-define what a bass could do as the usual candidates - and all played short-scale.


The Musicmaster is a cool little bass, but let down by its two-saddle bridge (good luck getting decent intonation) and cheap pickup, which is actually a Musicmaster guitar pickup under the cover.

But you can make them really amazing if you fit a decent bridge, and realise that the pickup is exactly the same size as a Strat one, and fit either a powerful blade-type Strat pickup, a Red or Blue Lace Sensor, or best of all an EMG SA, which turns it into a great little active bass which will handle being DI'd straight into a mixer or a recording set-up very well.

[Bassomatic]

And Andy Fraser in Free...

And Jack Casady in Airplane and Hot Tuna.

[Bassomatic]

Here's a link to a clip of my new shorty:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?p=3514109#post3514109

[mainsale]

Well, this old Hofner of mine (s/n 937) was my first "real" bass guitar. I still have it and they are still available today, although they cost a lot more than mine did. I don't know if it's "the best" short scale bass out there, but it sure is a good one and has been an outstanding investment for me!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/Mainsale/Guitars203.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/Mainsale/Guitars205.jpg

[JohnLochner]

Gotta vote for the little Danelectro Longhorn bass... love mine!

[JohnLochner]

And just so I don't forget later... my hero of the short scale bass, Allen Woody, influenced by everyone mentioned above. About seven and a half minutes into this clip it just gets mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RRGV3hwick

[JohnLochner]

Ok, one more... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J5Rop_9QJc&feature=related

[Rhomco]

Hamer Slammer Bass and I was very impressed. Not a bad bass for very little money. It started me thinking about a shortcsale bass for my self. Here is what I came up with. A basic aftremarket tele thinline body with a fender bronco neck and hardware. It plays like a dream and sounds just like my full grown fender basses.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/rhomco/TeleThinlineBass002-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/rhomco/TeleThinlineBass010.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/rhomco/TeleThinlineBass002.jpg

[Bassomatic]

^^

I love your tele style build. Too cool.

[walterw]

And Andy Fraser in Free...

These guys were the first to really make the bass a lead instrument, and IMO did at least as much to re-define what a bass could do as the usual candidates - and all played short-scale.


The Musicmaster is a cool little bass, but let down by its two-saddle bridge (good luck getting decent intonation) and cheap pickup, which is actually a Musicmaster guitar pickup under the cover.

But you can make them really amazing if you fit a decent bridge, and realise that the pickup is exactly the same size as a Strat one, and fit either a powerful blade-type Strat pickup, a Red or Blue Lace Sensor, or best of all an EMG SA, which turns it into a great little active bass which will handle being DI'd straight into a mixer or a recording set-up very well.
seconding the sa as a shockingly good sounding bass pickup in a musicmaster, considering.

[markophonic]

Fave short scale? EB-0 without question. You're not gonna get a good "lead-bass" tone out of it but as far as layng down a kick-ass, THICK 70's groove is concearned, I doubt there's anything better. An EB-0 through an old Ampeg B-15N...yummy!

Again, solos, tapping, slapping, popping and other tricks (aka. "lead-bass") aren't being considered.

+1 on the EB-O

I've had two of them over the years and I wish I had them back...They used to be plentiful and CHEAP! now like everything else the prices are creeping up.

Huge bottom end.

[JohnLochner]

Hamer Slammer Bass and I was very impressed. Not a bad bass for very little money. It started me thinking about a shortcsale bass for my self. Here is what I came up with. A basic aftremarket tele thinline body with a fender bronco neck and hardware. It plays like a dream and sounds just like my full grown fender basses.




dude, those are TASTY. Like a pound o crawfish and a cold beer!

:RoCkIn

[Westy]

I just posted this 1967 EB conversion in the Buy and Sell section for $750:

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l159/29eagle/EBGibson.jpg