Short scale bass

[SteveK]

My much better half has decided to start in on bass. A full size P bass is not comfortable for her, both weight-wise, and scale length. We are looking at the Hofner Icon Series Vintage Violin bass, with a 30" scale length, as well as the Epiphone version. Any others we should be considering?

This is mostly for use in the church worship team, but we want something that will cover blues and rock also.

Thanks in advance

[Trego]

Ibanez AGB200

[Zounds Perspex]

my favorite is the Mustang RI basses, but that's just a little out of the price range of the stuff you're mentioning.

check out the Gretsch Electromatic Jr. Same basic price, great little bass. I think it sounds a lot better than the Epiphone or any of the cheaper violin basses. Great pickup in that thing...

[Sweetfinger]

Danelectros.

[9fingers]

My "better half" started bass 5 or so years ago. We thought she would need short scale too as she if not a big/tall woman. She simple can't hold or play a P or J; too big, heavy & too long a reach for her.
We found that the Ibanez Soundgear lineup is so ergonomic and balanced, with very good neck access without reaching a mile, that she is able to play their full scale basses very comfortably. (They are about 8 pounds with NO neck dive). The older MIJ Soundgears with P/J pickups seem to have a clearer, more classic sound than many of the newer ones (soundmen have complimented her on her tone).
Might be worth a try in your case.

[Auriemma]

I just picked up a used (2012) Squier Vintage Modified Jagaur Bass Special SS (Short Scale) for $90. It is immaculate. New, they run like $160-180 USD. All I can say is WOW. 30" scale is SO easy to play. The P-bass (neck) pup is great, full, with no muddiness. The J-bass pup is weaker and thinner, but usable. The guitar is light but heavier than you would expect from a short scale. The neck doesn't dive, but it wants to sit level if you know what I mean. There is one volume pot for each pup and a single tone for both, not selector switch so blending is key. The nut is 1.5" wide, so the neck is perfect for small hands. All in all a great little bass. She might like it, and the price is right.

[s2y]

Just make sure it's balanced. A lot of budget short scale basses have a short or no top horn, which makes first position reach feel further away and leads to neckdive. Neckdive can fatigue the hands just as easily as something too big.

[misa]

First, let me start saying that I prefer the sound of short scale basses, and they will do well in worship, blues, rock, and other settings. I have a Hofner Club Bass CT, which is great. It is more comfortable to play than the violin shaped basses for me, and Hofner has an Ignition series Club Bass for a lower price range. The Ignition series is hollow bodied, so it should be even lighter than my CT, which is very comfortable, and give you a "woodier" tone. Big fan of the Club Bass.


The Epiphone Allen Woody bass may be easier to find and has similar features.


I've also had my eye out on Squire's short scales. I didn't like the feel of the Jaguar SS at all. It felt very heavy and the neck dove a bit more than I would like, but it does have a very friendly budget price. For me, the Mustang Bass looks very tempting.

[NashSG]

I grew up playing a 78 Precision that weighs a metric ton and a Jazz bass. I got a Gibson SG bass a few years back when they reissued them as I always thought they were cool and didn't figure it would be come my main instrument.

It works well in a hard rock trio, as the tone has deep low mid sound which really gets the separation between the bass and guitar. I'm still going back to the Jazz bass some to record as that brighter tone cuts on a recording, but I'm kind of sold on the SG bass for ease of playing and sound live.

[Kiwi]

Danelectro RI Longhorn bass. Short scale, hollow, they weigh nothing, and are dirt cheap used. I've kept one around for years for recording on pop and surf tunes. I paid $125 from GC, used and clean.

Poor man's Rickenbacker, but - surprisingly - they're not a toy. Garry Tallent of the E Street Band plays one on tour, and Bruce's concerts go three hours or more.

[9fingers]

Are the Longhorn basses at all neck heavy? Visually they look like they might be but I haven't felt one. They do sound great.

Originally Posted by Kiwi

Danelectro RI Longhorn bass. Short scale, hollow, they weigh nothing, and are dirt cheap used. I've kept one around for years for recording on pop and surf tunes. I paid $125 from GC, used and clean.

Poor man's Rickenbacker, but - surprisingly - they're not a toy. Garry Tallent of the E Street Band plays one on tour, and Bruce's concerts go three hours or more.

[SteveK]

Thanks for all the help. SWMBO made her decision tonight. We now have the Epiphone Violin Bass in the house.

[Proletariat]

Sort scale basses are an abomination. If Tina Weymouth can rock the 34" socan your wife

[SteveK]

Originally Posted by Proletariat

Sort scale basses are an abomination. If Tina Weymouth can rock the 34" socan your wife

Tina probably doesn't have the neck and shoulder issues that my wife has...

[Proletariat]

Originally Posted by SteveK

Tina probably doesn't have the neck and shoulder issues that my wife has...

It's cool dude,IMHO I can't stand the wimpy tone of a short scale bass, then again if I had my spec I'd have a 38" scale. Yeah, hard to play but sounds like a bell.