John Stephen Well... rich kid or not, $1000 for a guitar is affordable. In this case, affordable is a relative term based on a scale of beginner to professional guitars. All the guitars I want are over $4000 and I can’t justify paying that, so I don’t buy one. Doesn’t mean they’re “too expensive”.
@@stephentanner9767 woah calm down there champ. If you couldn't tell, they didn't sound the same. Quit being so focused on elitism and how his playing isn't up to your standards and listen, it's not a Davie504 "LOOK AT MY CRAZY NEW BASS SOLO NO ONE ELSE CAN PLAY" video. He gave ok demonstrations, that was the purpose, and they fulfilled that purpose.
I have an $800 Gibson les Paul studio that is one of the best guitars I've ever played. Don't buy a price tag with a mahogany body and flamed maple top, buy a good guitar! A few of them with Gibson on the headstock can be had for $1000 or less, which is plenty to spend on a guitar.
Explaining to people that smaller electric basses have more low end has always made me seem crazy -- thank you for explaining that in the context of the harmonic series! I love the Ibanez Mikro series, they're tiny but have a huge presence.
this is making me wonder if i could use that black 30" jaguar baritone (nothing says it cant be called a bass VI at that point) to tune in BASS BARITONE tuning...like, down down down, to 5 string bass pitch? what strings do you like for your mikro, Wayne? looks like ive got 1 and a half inches on ya, but im worried about the low string needing to be too fat and touching the adjacent string lol.. (kalium will make strings that fit through the bridge if that becomes an issue)
@@Psyfonify right now I have Rotosound flats in a regular gauge. I didn't have to make any bridge or nut modifications, but you'll probably have to at least file the nut if you're modifying a baritone guitar.
the Ibanez Mezzo's at 32" sound great even with the active EQ. You just have to play a lot of them to find a really great one, like any other $300 instrument.
Sam uelson does he have small hands. I’m 5’2 and have small hands, and I didn’t know if I could pick up bass and eventually become good enough to play in a band or not.
@@thelegendarye2430 a short scale (30") would be perfect for anyone with small hands, and even then your hand's reach will increase over time. Pressing the strings down will also be easier as there is less tension on them. Good luck with your musical adventures
Yevgeniy Friedland not necessarily a metal guy, I’ll experiment with it, but I’m more of an alt rock/britpop guy. I just started a band with 3 close friends and we’re are going to be doing a lot of oasis sounding stuff, some weezer style, and even some beck. Our rhythm guitarists wants us to do a little pop punk as well. I just feel like it’s really hard to make pop punk not sound like a generic Green Day, but we’ll try.
My height is 157 cm and I want a short scale bass to see if it is more comfortable compared with a normal scale (I'm used to normal scale, but I want to try)
@@hermask815 -- if your hands don't have flexibility problems and you don't have small hands, then playing a full scale bass will give you 100x as many options, as they simply are that much more popular. There are a lot of short scale bases available now, though, so if you go that route you'll still find a bass you will like.
@@fudgesauce thanks for the answer.flexibility and size should be ok for a fullsize bass. i recently saw a video of a Status Quo guitarist (Parfitt) th-cam.com/video/nhnmPadl290/w-d-xo.html (first minute only)the movement of his little finger... no... i've tried that on a broom. normal gripping motions yes , but the little finger sideways ? as of now, no way. (not trying to be a guitarist, tho.)
Just my opinion but I went to a music store today (they do sanitize the instruments and make you use hand sanitizer at the door) and got to try some Ibanez basses, a music man, and a Rickenbacker (I obviously can't afford a Rick because I'm 13 but I had a chance to play it so who wouldn't pass up that opportunity) but there was one bass I played that felt really good to play and was a Jackson x spectra IV if I am correct. And when I first came to the store I was thinking It would be difficult to play a longscale bass because my only other experience with basses was the ones at my school and my Squier jaguar shortscale. But to my surprise I actually found it a lot nicer and now picking up my Squier feels wierd, but I now know what my second bass will be. Edit: just wanted to share it with everyone because I thought it weird that the bigger frets are more comfortable to me, I guess it just shows how everyone has different preferences.
@@wannabecliffburton4275 yea schecter makes jumbo frets and I love them, supposed to help with expressiveness bending and such. I want to play a Jackson bass too but last time I was at guitar center they were about ready to crap their pants after asking to see three Basses so eventually I’ll check out a Jackson pj bass maybe
I’m a new bass player. Got a mini P bass because the reviews are great and didn’t want to break the bank for my first instrument/attempt. I have fallen in love with my purchase and with playing bass in general. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge.
Couple of months later and I keep falling more and more in love with my mini P bass and bass playing in general. If you’re a noobie like me trying to start from scratch: this is your sign to take that chance.
I don’t know if anyone else may have mentioned this, but the 3rd, Tele-style bass was made by Aria. I’ve got one that looks just like it, I mean exactly. Same color, everything, but it’s got the Aria sticker on the headstock. He was right about it being made in Japan in the 70s. I believe mine is a ‘74. It’s a great sounding bass!
I bought my Dano Longhorn reissue owing to my venerated, highly customized JB and my snazzy red Epi T-bird being too heavy to stand and play them slung over my 60+ yr old shoulder all night. It came strung with Chinese generic round wounds that I swapped for the ten year old Rotosound flats I had on my Gretsch Jet Jr. and I've never looked back tonally.The explanation of harmonic series made a lot of sense. I play through a Fender Rumble 100 which delivers plenty of low end for the venues I play. now. If I need more support there's a MB 400+ into a cab loaded with an 18'' Black Widow in reserve. Being an ''old school'' guy I recall the Shindogs' bass player used one, also the Traveling Wilbury's Tom Petty. I read Entwhistle recorded that crashing solo on "My Generation'' with a Long Horn. Many notable musicians able to afford any high end bass they fancied chose the Masonite Marvel!
Great to hear someone speak about flat wounds. It's all I've ever used and love the sound and FEEL of them, under my fingers and through my body. Just such a great vibe!
I just bought the Squier short-scale mini-Precision bass. It's very impressive for around £130. I've always played guitar, but wanted to try bass and this instrument has proved perfect as an intro.
Started playing the mini P bass without any prior instrument experience (aside from musical training from music production on DAW) and I’m beyond impressed by the quality of the sound for the price range. I tried a full scale bass at a friend’s house before going into the market and realized I could only afford short scale and a couple of days into it I’m very happy. I will eventually upgrade my pickups to take it up a notch whenever I can afford it but I’m not rushing. Same for the strings, although I have yet to get to know my instrument as is.
Watching TH-cam videos Its obvious seeing pros with freakishly long fingers I finally accepted that I have short sausage fingers and at this moment an American Fender Mustang is on the way to me. Thank you to whomever started putting out quality shortscale bass again 🙌
I picked up an Ibanez Mikro bass at Christmas on sale for $150ish. Pure joy to play! I have been dabbling with regular size basses for 20+ years and this is my first short scale. In a few months I have seen a major improvement in my skills because it just fits better.
@@larrymonteleone1789 I thought the exact same thing, when I read his comment. I guess, he was so angry, that he forgot to name the bass. He must not be very concerned that others might never discover his favorite shortscale bass. He's more focused on some other guy, who failed to mention it. People are so funny, but that's the internet for you. Always a magnifying glass and never a mirror.
I STRONGLY agree/concur; hosts tend to be ANNOYING because they are often arrogant, rude, immature, petty, narcissistic and sociopathic, and very likely suffer from psychological issues. 🤢
I have a Supro Huntington ii. I absolutely love it! It’s not as versatile as some basses, but for vibe and mojo it’s tops! I love it as a secondary sound in the studio, always turns heads.
the Fender Short Scale Jazz bass is an amazing guitar. I was trying various basses in my LGS and this thing won me over. Only made in limited numbers I believe, but fab.
I would only see playing a 35 inch for lower tunings,I mean, you'd also need long ass fingers but you have an extra bit of tension so you can go lower than C standard and have clarity.
I record a lot of bass, as does my wife for commercial work and we are not exactly hobbits but we are not against anything that will give us an advantage. We bought an ibanez shirt scale a year or so ago and it's phenomenal. I can play it for hours and it's just so much easier to get around on. Same for wife she's smaller than me and struggled on our old jazz bass, but could come up with great bass lines that she could barley play. I love short scale basses, and they deserve their moment.
@@justinhowell3527 Breezy doesn't sound like a musician at all. A fellow bass player or guitarist would've immediately known that you were simply sharing an option to change the upper range and tones available on a short scale bass. This could give you both the hand comfort and playability of a shortscale bass, while maintaining the upper register of a longer scale bass. A beginner bass player might not have even considered this option and if their favorite bassist plays a lot of higher notes near the bottom of the neck, they might be disappointed in their choice of a shortscale bass. Don't worry, real musicians get it. Good tip, bro.
I've had one for almost 4 years now, and besides having damaged/replaced the pickup switch after a bad fall, it still plays great. If I wasn't starting to consider going to a 5-string in the future, I don't think I'd have much reason to consider buying a new bass guitar.
I play 2012 Gibson SG Special bass without reservation, going through a Marshall 400 watt valve amp. But i must say that that Supro sounded so good. Wouldn't play one though, because none of my heroes ever did. Just the way my world works.
I bought a Squier VM Jaguar Bass Special Short Scale few months ago and it was one of the best decisions i made. A great bargain buy, has a pretty good tone to it and sounds brilliant if you give it a Carol Kaye treatment with the foam. I’ve used it a few times for live performances and recording, it’s great for the melodic parts. Travelling is also a bit easier than a standard scaled bass. It has some quirks to it, the tuning can be a bit dodgy but all in all, it’s worth the buy.
My favorite bass is the violin type, currently have a Rogue Violin bass. Had 2 others like it over the last 20 years and decided to come back to it. I love the mellower low end on it, love the short scale on it, and it's lightweight. I had a Gibson EB3 for a while but my shoulder would get tired with it hanging off of me. Same with the Epiphone EB0 version I had, liked both a lot but are heavy. I can play with the violin bass for hours without a problem. I am intrigued by the Gretsch 2220 Jr, may check that one out.
I use short scales out of necessity: i had a deep cut between my pinky & ring finger on the left hand that, once healed, reduced my reach. I love the Squier Jaguars. Mod it with a high mass bridge and get new pickups ( Seymour Duncan on two of them) and you got a good instrument. I also have an Epi SG that sounds pretty good stock. One day i will have to get a third Jaguar and try out Geezer's signature pickups from EMG.
Better fundamental? Maybe the perception of a fuller sound because you have less of those upper harmonics, but the fundamentals of each note will be much more wobbly and your strings will flop around like crazy if you try to play with any kind of gusto. Short scale basses have a place, particularly for people who don’t play very hard (check his fingers in the video) or have fatigued hands from age/work. They also have a specific sound with a more relaxed energy. While the cool factor is through the roof, I don’t think they can replace the power and broad spectrum sound of longer scale instruments like everyone has been saying. Don’t sell your 34” basses, your band’s lead section will appreciate the continued support. PS Nothing but love for this video and Reverb. Just wanted to weigh in! ✌️
Usually people use heavier strings to compensate for the floppiness. The original Mustang bass also has the strings go through the body for extra tension. But you're right that they have less highs, and to my ears, also less lows. That leads to a more focused sound which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The biggest issue for me though, has been the highs. It's harder to make a short scale bass "poke out" of a mix compared to a full scale one.
I don’t notice any loss of highs. I play plenty hard and have no issues with string wobble. I love that there’s more flexibility in the strings and with the shorter distance on the frets I’m a smoother bassist.
When I first started playing bass I had switched over from playing guitar. I had a couple of Aria Pro 2’s that were 32” scale and I loved them! Great big bass tone and easier to play going from the guitar
Some guy named Bill Wyman played bass for an outfit called the Rolling Stones for some years back in the day. Short scale bases almost exclusively. They seem to have worked out well for them...
I picked up a Jedson short scale bass a week or so ago, apparently known as 'Japcrap' in the 70s. It has a Tele shape and a very distinctive sound and was £85 (in a shocking state). Now I've cleaned it all up I really like it. I'm not playing my P bass copy at all.
My bass is a short-scale fretless Beatle bass made by Douglas. It was cheap, beautiful, and sounds huge. I have black nylon tape-wound strings on it and it sounds like an acoustic upright bass.
The string tension is lower on short-scale basses because people use the wrong gauges. The "short-scale" sets that most brands offer are usually the same gauges that a long-scale would use, just tapered at the necessary point to fit into the tuning pegs. The shorter the scale length, the heavier the gauge needs to be to achieve the same tension. If you select your own gauges from a company like StringJoy or others, you'll have much better results - it can actually sound better than a long scale bass, because you're able to use strings with more mass. Also, the fret spacing is a non-issue: Fender's short scales were derived by removing two blades from the gang saw they used to fret the long-scale necks...it's exactly the same as playing a P-Bass with a capo on the 2nd fret! Leo Fender was not a musician, and the 34" scale length is just what he was able to come up with that sounded good using the strings that were available at the time.
I'm a short guy and when I was playing bass with my band (we broke up a couple of years ago now) there weren't that many many short/medium scale options, well, not many serious ones anyway. So I built my own. Shorties are the best!
I bought a Jackson Minion bass and love it. I changed the heads as the stock ones were terrible. I also changed the bridge "jazz" style pickup because it was single coil. But for little money it's a nice playing bass!
Dude! Jake!!! That was amazing man!! Exactly what I was searching for. TH-cam got me back into playing my bass, and I NEVER KNEW about these short-scale puppies!! Gotta have one of those! Thanks again man, you CRUSH IT on cam!
5:31 this Jolana bass is actually not from Japan, but from Czechoslovakia! I own a Jolana bass myself, a blue tele- style with "f" shaped cutout, the model name is "iris".
I personally just got a Mikro bass from Ibanez and wow for the price they really nailed it, it sounds awesome in my last video with barely no processing and the playability is also neat !
I was looking for a bass about 2 weeks ago and the Ibanez Mikro caught my attention. I debated for about an hour between the Mikro and a P Bass but I went with the Ibanez because it just felt so comfortable and smooth
super fun vid! I really love short scale basses. They don't do everything but I tend to get cooler tones from them. Host is quite a good player. I enjoyed letting my ears drop into each of those basses. I've got a modified Hagstrom MkII sunburst bass...probably late 60's. Electronics were replaced with Pbass style EMG pickup. Sounds fabulous!
Another interesting addition: Danelectro Longhorn. The new models are very affordable (made in Indonesia or China) and offer a 60's vibe. Not a short scale exactle, but a mixture between a regular and a short scale.
I have a Gretsch short. The sound was never too appealing sort of dull and lifeless. After having the neck reset on it and new strings.....kinda prefer it over my full Squier. It Really thumps. Thanks for the clear and info rich video.
With the modern home recording needs a lot of guitarists are now liking to record their own bass tracks, but they don't have toe adjust to the longer scale. Oh, and Höfner came back, and somehow people realized that they sound fantastic.
Picked up a squire bronco 2nd hand for about 65$ US and dropped a seymour duncan SCPB hot 2 and put on Flatwounds. Love it. Ultra round and gritty. Did require some pick guard modding.
I have a handmade 30" scale neck thru that has really hit the spot for me - once I changed to pickups to dimarzio. It has oak centre and kauri wings. It is very light and easy to play
As someone who plays bass as a 3rd instrument (which means mostly never), I own the cheapest short-scale bass ever, the squier bronco. No complaints after i put some small hand tools to the fret ends.
The Gibson LP DC Short scale is so cool in the blue finish. I TOTALLY want a matching set of LP DC Tributes (in guitar and bass)...both in Blue, of course!
I love cream. Ive always appreciated Clapton's thirst. It's before he started being totally comfortable in his greatness, which made him way less great imo. And Jack bruce is the man.
@bflo1000 that's because everyone wants to sound like paul. Rounds salvage a bit of the tone, still a hofner though. It won't be shaking that stigma anytime soon.
Me as well, just grabbed one recently when I saw they were discontinued. Did you have any tuning issues with yours? My E is hard to tune and goes out easily and my A has a harsh ring when played open.
@@Reloaded44 tighten the screws on tuning peg. Also watch Dave's World of Fun Stuff on how he set up Jaguar Short Scale. The nut is not cut right for stock strings and might get worse if you go for thicker strings - the brand Dave strung. Cut the nut, do a setup (you don't need super set of tools) and it will not get low end out of tune when you fret Bb on G string or F on E string. Set intonation - and height for curvature. I stopped playing mine for a while (really like my Harley Benton P450 fretless) but after setup.and restring plus added new Jazz pickup it's a really fun bass again. Have been looking for a 2nd hand one to convert to fretless. They are getting rare at decent price.
The yellow one is a copy of the KAPA made in Maryland . They were totally awesome. It had a Hofner pick up. They were made a short time. I have been looking for one since 1973 when it got stolen. Still my first choice is another KAPA.
That “Funky Vintage Model” is a Sears and Roebuck from 69 - early 70s. Right after they stopped calling them “Silvertone.” I have one with dual lipstick pups and it’s amazing.
I like short scale basses. As a guitar player my hands are not accustomed to the 34 or 35 inch scale of a Fender. But a 30 in scale is a lot more manageable. The Supro bass that came out about 3-4 years ago was the perfect short scale. They even came with flatwounds already on them! It’s a shame they were discontinued.
I have Jaguar Squier with Pj set up . The short scale and jaguar body make it fun and comfortable to play . P bass tone is good. Both pick ups have a nice bouncy sound but not as “burpy” sounding as jazz bass but definitely feels more punchy.
Jake-good topic. I've been interested in short-scale basses for awhile now, because I frequently have to travel by plane to shows and I much prefer carrying on my instrument. Unfortunately, most airlines while require that you check a standard (long) scale bass. Not so with a short scale! I got a Vietnamese-made "LTD" for around $200, and it performs just as you described. Very solid primary notes, and few/no overtones. Plus it's easy to play. For a live show with most standard blues/rock bands, that combination is perfect. You can even plug it straight in to the house PA via a DI(I use a multi-effect pedal also) and it sounds good-you just have to make sure the sound guy puts it in your monitor at a volume you can clearly hear onstage. Later on, I bought a Epiphone Violin or "Beatle" bass for about $350 new, after trying out a Hofner(which was going for around $450-500) for a few gigs. The Epiphone is more durable and lower maintenance than an actual Hofner, and I'd swear the pickups are hotter and give it more versatility.
At 5'2" I started on a 1974 Rickenbacker in 1984, great sound, fast and small neck for a bass. Having 2 jack out puts was quite useful. When I signed the record contract and got some equipment money, I ran to buy the headless Steinberger bass in 1987. It looked smaller and is. I couldn't afford the price that Sam Ash was selling them for and they were all used..so a Hohner B2 fretless with the Steinberger tuning components, EMG pick ups was $400 cheaper and all black, especially the neck. I needed a tool and this worked for me. Much easier to carry on subways and vehicles. It was pretty great for live gigs and my small hands...I went with the fret-less because of Jaco and I still play it as often as possible.
True.... Look up Jedson short scale.. I learned on one wen I was a teenager.. And coz it got stolen.. Only just now got the same replaced for £150,!!! Outrageously cheap for what it is....
I ditched the noisy round wounds on my Fender Mustang and put on a set of tape-wounds. Cuts out a lot of irritating 'brightness' as well. Gives a cool sound and looks cool with the black strings.
I just recently learned about short scale basses. Had to have one. Lovin it. Wish I'd found get long ago. Love my P bass and now Lovin my short scale bass.
I love the sound of the Hofner bass here, though they don't always sound as good. I wonder if the difference is due to the amp or interface you're plugged into, the flatwounds and the pick, or the fact that it's a higher-end model.
Thank you. This is the perfect ad for my Eastwood Classic 4 short scale. It looks like a Gretsch country gentleman and sounds like a bass and is for sale for just under $500.
I like short scale because I’m a guitarist rather than a bassist and short scales just feel more like what I’m used too. I want to get a Bass VII style one.
Wot, no Bass VI?! As a guitarist with small hands, my world changed for the better when Fender launched the Squier Bass VI reissue. And so versatile with the pick-up on/off switches.
I have a squier bass vi, it is honestly a terrible instrument. The general concept is awesome, but the execution on that particular instrument is horrible. The bridge is garbage that can't be intonated and adds strange overtones, the pickups sound terrible, and the fretwork is so bad that I get fret buzz everywhere even though I have the action a mile high, and it's super noisy. It's a shame really.
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I like this host. Clear speaker, not too much fluff, not trying to be funny the whole time. Great video too.
Apparently it was a dank day...
John Stephen Well... rich kid or not, $1000 for a guitar is affordable. In this case, affordable is a relative term based on a scale of beginner to professional guitars. All the guitars I want are over $4000 and I can’t justify paying that, so I don’t buy one. Doesn’t mean they’re “too expensive”.
John Stephen Most civilized TH-cam argument ever. 😂
Agtronic he cant play,every bass he “played” sounded the same,shit because he can’t play
@@stephentanner9767 woah calm down there champ. If you couldn't tell, they didn't sound the same. Quit being so focused on elitism and how his playing isn't up to your standards and listen, it's not a Davie504 "LOOK AT MY CRAZY NEW BASS SOLO NO ONE ELSE CAN PLAY" video. He gave ok demonstrations, that was the purpose, and they fulfilled that purpose.
It’s amazing the word affordable can be used in conjunction with the brand Gibson.
Not to mention thousand dollar price tags.
Overspend Authentic
I mean, the bass *is* affordable compared to what Gibsons normally go for
Or in conjunction with a $1000 price tag...
I have an $800 Gibson les Paul studio that is one of the best guitars I've ever played. Don't buy a price tag with a mahogany body and flamed maple top, buy a good guitar! A few of them with Gibson on the headstock can be had for $1000 or less, which is plenty to spend on a guitar.
Explaining to people that smaller electric basses have more low end has always made me seem crazy -- thank you for explaining that in the context of the harmonic series! I love the Ibanez Mikro series, they're tiny but have a huge presence.
this is making me wonder if i could use that black 30" jaguar baritone (nothing says it cant be called a bass VI at that point) to tune in BASS BARITONE tuning...like, down down down, to 5 string bass pitch?
what strings do you like for your mikro, Wayne? looks like ive got 1 and a half inches on ya, but im worried about the low string needing to be too fat and touching the adjacent string lol.. (kalium will make strings that fit through the bridge if that becomes an issue)
@@Psyfonify right now I have Rotosound flats in a regular gauge. I didn't have to make any bridge or nut modifications, but you'll probably have to at least file the nut if you're modifying a baritone guitar.
@@Psyfonify a buddy of mine has his bass VI strung up in 5ths from low C and it sounds heavy.
the Ibanez Mezzo's at 32" sound great even with the active EQ. You just have to play a lot of them to find a really great one, like any other $300 instrument.
The best way I describe it to people is to play the E and A strings close to the body. More boom and thump.
Our bass player only used a short scale bass cause he's 5'1 and it just looks like a normal bass on him
Sam uelson does he have small hands. I’m 5’2 and have small hands, and I didn’t know if I could pick up bass and eventually become good enough to play in a band or not.
@@thelegendarye2430 a short scale (30") would be perfect for anyone with small hands, and even then your hand's reach will increase over time. Pressing the strings down will also be easier as there is less tension on them. Good luck with your musical adventures
AttakaiMusic thanks
Yevgeniy Friedland not necessarily a metal guy, I’ll experiment with it, but I’m more of an alt rock/britpop guy. I just started a band with 3 close friends and we’re are going to be doing a lot of oasis sounding stuff, some weezer style, and even some beck. Our rhythm guitarists wants us to do a little pop punk as well. I just feel like it’s really hard to make pop punk not sound like a generic Green Day, but we’ll try.
My height is 157 cm and I want a short scale bass to see if it is more comfortable compared with a normal scale (I'm used to normal scale, but I want to try)
I used to play a standard scale bass, but I'm getting old and my hands are getting arthritic. The short scale helps a lot!
Does this also count as an advice for a sixty year old thinking about starting bass?
@@hermask815 -- if your hands don't have flexibility problems and you don't have small hands, then playing a full scale bass will give you 100x as many options, as they simply are that much more popular. There are a lot of short scale bases available now, though, so if you go that route you'll still find a bass you will like.
@@_richardleon -- Yes, technique helps, but technique and a short scale bass help even more. It isn't one or the other; both apply.
@@fudgesauce thanks for the answer.flexibility and size should be ok for a fullsize bass.
i recently saw a video of a Status Quo guitarist (Parfitt) th-cam.com/video/nhnmPadl290/w-d-xo.html (first minute only)the movement of his little finger... no... i've tried that on a broom. normal gripping motions yes , but the little finger sideways ? as of now, no way. (not trying to be a guitarist, tho.)
Same here. I’m approaching 67 and my hands just don’t seem to stretch like they used to. I’m thinking a Fender Mustang might work good for me.
Short Scale is just easier to play. I truly enjoy playing them more.
Me too..
Jedson short scale, left my reply and opinion too.
Troof.
I am 72 and have arthritis in my L.H. middle finger large knuckle joint-short scale doesn't hurt so much..
Just my opinion but I went to a music store today (they do sanitize the instruments and make you use hand sanitizer at the door) and got to try some Ibanez basses, a music man, and a Rickenbacker (I obviously can't afford a Rick because I'm 13 but I had a chance to play it so who wouldn't pass up that opportunity) but there was one bass I played that felt really good to play and was a Jackson x spectra IV if I am correct. And when I first came to the store I was thinking It would be difficult to play a longscale bass because my only other experience with basses was the ones at my school and my Squier jaguar shortscale. But to my surprise I actually found it a lot nicer and now picking up my Squier feels wierd, but I now know what my second bass will be.
Edit: just wanted to share it with everyone because I thought it weird that the bigger frets are more comfortable to me, I guess it just shows how everyone has different preferences.
@@wannabecliffburton4275 yea schecter makes jumbo frets and I love them, supposed to help with expressiveness bending and such. I want to play a Jackson bass too but last time I was at guitar center they were about ready to crap their pants after asking to see three Basses so eventually I’ll check out a Jackson pj bass maybe
Thanks for not slapping the whole video like most bass demos
I’m a new bass player. Got a mini P bass because the reviews are great and didn’t want to break the bank for my first instrument/attempt.
I have fallen in love with my purchase and with playing bass in general. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge.
Couple of months later and I keep falling more and more in love with my mini P bass and bass playing in general. If you’re a noobie like me trying to start from scratch: this is your sign to take that chance.
I LOVE my Fender Mustang PJ short scale. It was worth every dollar.
I have one and I love it.
I have one too nice variety of sounds. It's MIM, not American.
Same here. If I'm having issues with a certain song, I pull out the Mustang.
I don’t know if anyone else may have mentioned this, but the 3rd, Tele-style bass was made by Aria. I’ve got one that looks just like it, I mean exactly. Same color, everything, but it’s got the Aria sticker on the headstock. He was right about it being made in Japan in the 70s. I believe mine is a ‘74. It’s a great sounding bass!
Ah--no wonder the quality is great!
You missed one of the most important ones.......the Danelectro Long Horn. My wife has played one for 20 years now. Awesome unit.
kombi k - so true
My favorite
I bought my Dano Longhorn reissue owing to my venerated, highly customized JB and my snazzy red Epi T-bird being too heavy to stand and play them slung over my 60+ yr old shoulder all night. It came strung with Chinese generic round wounds that I swapped for the ten year old Rotosound flats I had on my Gretsch Jet Jr. and I've never looked back tonally.The explanation of harmonic series made a lot of sense. I play through a Fender Rumble 100 which delivers plenty of low end for the venues I play. now. If I need more support there's a MB 400+ into a cab loaded with an 18'' Black Widow in reserve. Being an ''old school'' guy I recall the Shindogs' bass player used one, also the Traveling Wilbury's Tom Petty. I read Entwhistle recorded that crashing solo on "My Generation'' with a Long Horn. Many notable musicians able to afford any high end bass they fancied chose the Masonite Marvel!
important addition, my generation was recorded on one of those
I thought it was a jazz bass with "1954" labella flats. Aka. the "Jamerson" set.
Great to hear someone speak about flat wounds. It's all I've ever used and love the sound and FEEL of them, under my fingers and through my body. Just such a great vibe!
SOUNDS:
Hofner 3:08 ------ Gibson EB-0 4:43 ----- Tele Funky 5:49 ------
Fender 7:03 ------- Gibson LPJ 8:11 ----- Supro 9:24 ----- Serek 10:55
I just bought the Squier short-scale mini-Precision bass. It's very impressive for around £130. I've always played guitar, but wanted to try bass and this instrument has proved perfect as an intro.
Started playing the mini P bass without any prior instrument experience (aside from musical training from music production on DAW) and I’m beyond impressed by the quality of the sound for the price range. I tried a full scale bass at a friend’s house before going into the market and realized I could only afford short scale and a couple of days into it I’m very happy.
I will eventually upgrade my pickups to take it up a notch whenever I can afford it but I’m not rushing. Same for the strings, although I have yet to get to know my instrument as is.
Watching TH-cam videos Its obvious seeing pros with freakishly long fingers I finally accepted that I have short sausage fingers and
at this moment an American Fender Mustang is on the way to me. Thank you to whomever started putting out quality shortscale bass again 🙌
This guy presents things so well. Was a pleasure to watch.
I picked up an Ibanez Mikro bass at Christmas on sale for $150ish. Pure joy to play! I have been dabbling with regular size basses for 20+ years and this is my first short scale. In a few months I have seen a major improvement in my skills because it just fits better.
*random angry comment about how you didn‘t mention my personal favourite particular bass player or shortscale bass model in a 12 minutes long video*
Random angry response about how u don't get it! And calling u names VERY LOUD AND ARROGANT.
You didn’t mention it either lol
Birdsong basses
Larry Monteleone you got me
@@larrymonteleone1789 I thought the exact same thing, when I read his comment. I guess, he was so angry, that he forgot to name the bass. He must not be very concerned that others might never discover his favorite shortscale bass. He's more focused on some other guy, who failed to mention it. People are so funny, but that's the internet for you. Always a magnifying glass and never a mirror.
Great Host. Didn’t get on my nerves like most
I STRONGLY agree/concur; hosts tend to be ANNOYING because they are often arrogant, rude, immature, petty, narcissistic and sociopathic, and very likely suffer from psychological issues. 🤢
I have a Supro Huntington ii. I absolutely love it! It’s not as versatile as some basses, but for vibe and mojo it’s tops! I love it as a secondary sound in the studio, always turns heads.
Looks like he had cobalt flats on that as well. Very nice tone.
A Fender Mustang seems a little naked without the Racing Stripe.
But you can add them to a Mustang fender.
@@JoeR203 You don't get the same look as when they come that way.
the Fender Short Scale Jazz bass is an amazing guitar. I was trying various basses in my LGS and this thing won me over. Only made in limited numbers I believe, but fab.
rule of thumb:
Short Scale = ~30"
Medium Scale = ~32"
Long Scale = 34"
Extra Long Scale = 35"
I would only see playing a 35 inch for lower tunings,I mean, you'd also need long ass fingers but you have an extra bit of tension so you can go lower than C standard and have clarity.
Is a 27 or 28 inch bass feasible?
@@wrencormier513 A tenor bass could work tuned ADGC but I think you would struggle with a low E
@@chriscuthbertson Why is that? (I'm new to basses, I play and build guitar) and would lighter gauge strings help?
@@chriscuthbertson Or alternatively I could push the scale length to about 29/29.5
I record a lot of bass, as does my wife for commercial work and we are not exactly hobbits but we are not against anything that will give us an advantage. We bought an ibanez shirt scale a year or so ago and it's phenomenal. I can play it for hours and it's just so much easier to get around on. Same for wife she's smaller than me and struggled on our old jazz bass, but could come up with great bass lines that she could barley play. I love short scale basses, and they deserve their moment.
jmgmarcus which model did she get?
Don’t forget the Danelectro Longhorn. Great Short-Scale. I have been playing my for 20+ years.
got a dano longhorn last xmas...took a while to find a lefty ( none to be found in canada ) , definately worth the wait .
I prefer the shorthorn
Correct!!
My buddy has one, its pretty fun to play.
dano longhorn is incredibly cheap, sounds super aggressive and unique. A great bass besides the horrendous tuners and lack of thumb rest
I love my Gretsch Electromatic short scale bass, I have it strung as a tenor bass A,D,G,C with round wounds
You gave me a great tuning idea!
I have a G2214 junior jet
Its humbucker is so powerful!
who cares you idiot?
Breezy Delacourt you do.
@@justinhowell3527 Breezy doesn't sound like a musician at all. A fellow bass player or guitarist would've immediately known that you were simply sharing an option to change the upper range and tones available on a short scale bass. This could give you both the hand comfort and playability of a shortscale bass, while maintaining the upper register of a longer scale bass. A beginner bass player might not have even considered this option and if their favorite bassist plays a lot of higher notes near the bottom of the neck, they might be disappointed in their choice of a shortscale bass. Don't worry, real musicians get it. Good tip, bro.
I recently played the Gretsch G2220 electromatic short scale and I absolutely loved it. It was only $300 but felt better than the +$1500 bass I tried
I bought one a couple of weeks ago. I enjoy playing it.
fun fact the guy from royal blood uses a Gretsch G2220 i’m tempted to get one
I've had one for almost 4 years now, and besides having damaged/replaced the pickup switch after a bad fall, it still plays great. If I wasn't starting to consider going to a 5-string in the future, I don't think I'd have much reason to consider buying a new bass guitar.
I play 2012 Gibson SG Special bass without reservation, going through a Marshall 400 watt valve amp. But i must say that that Supro sounded so good. Wouldn't play one though, because none of my heroes ever did. Just the way my world works.
I bought a Squier VM Jaguar Bass Special Short Scale few months ago and it was one of the best decisions i made.
A great bargain buy, has a pretty good tone to it and sounds brilliant if you give it a Carol Kaye treatment with the foam. I’ve used it a few times for live performances and recording, it’s great for the melodic parts. Travelling is also a bit easier than a standard scaled bass.
It has some quirks to it, the tuning can be a bit dodgy but all in all, it’s worth the buy.
Bought an Eastwood Warren Ellis about a month ago. Loving it so far.
My favorite bass is the violin type, currently have a Rogue Violin bass. Had 2 others like it over the last 20 years and decided to come back to it. I love the mellower low end on it, love the short scale on it, and it's lightweight. I had a Gibson EB3 for a while but my shoulder would get tired with it hanging off of me. Same with the Epiphone EB0 version I had, liked both a lot but are heavy. I can play with the violin bass for hours without a problem. I am intrigued by the Gretsch 2220 Jr, may check that one out.
I use short scales out of necessity: i had a deep cut between my pinky & ring finger on the left hand that, once healed, reduced my reach. I love the Squier Jaguars. Mod it with a high mass bridge and get new pickups ( Seymour Duncan on two of them) and you got a good instrument. I also have an Epi SG that sounds pretty good stock. One day i will have to get a third Jaguar and try out Geezer's signature pickups from EMG.
Better fundamental? Maybe the perception of a fuller sound because you have less of those upper harmonics, but the fundamentals of each note will be much more wobbly and your strings will flop around like crazy if you try to play with any kind of gusto.
Short scale basses have a place, particularly for people who don’t play very hard (check his fingers in the video) or have fatigued hands from age/work. They also have a specific sound with a more relaxed energy. While the cool factor is through the roof, I don’t think they can replace the power and broad spectrum sound of longer scale instruments like everyone has been saying. Don’t sell your 34” basses, your band’s lead section will appreciate the continued support.
PS Nothing but love for this video and Reverb. Just wanted to weigh in! ✌️
Usually people use heavier strings to compensate for the floppiness. The original Mustang bass also has the strings go through the body for extra tension. But you're right that they have less highs, and to my ears, also less lows. That leads to a more focused sound which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The biggest issue for me though, has been the highs. It's harder to make a short scale bass "poke out" of a mix compared to a full scale one.
I don’t notice any loss of highs. I play plenty hard and have no issues with string wobble. I love that there’s more flexibility in the strings and with the shorter distance on the frets I’m a smoother bassist.
I had a Gibson SG special bass. Sounded great, but I'm a hard hitter and the bass couldn't take that.
nonsense. Used a Musicmaster in 2 Hardcore bands. lives were taken
When I first started playing bass I had switched over from playing guitar. I had a couple of Aria Pro 2’s that were 32” scale and I loved them! Great big bass tone and easier to play going from the guitar
Some guy named Bill Wyman played bass for an outfit called the Rolling Stones for some years back in the day. Short scale bases almost exclusively. They seem to have worked out well for them...
I love short scales, they are seriously easier to play.
Reverb's content is 10/10
Yeah I've been moving towards them and I'm about 50/50 now. I've got 2 birdsongs and the JMJ mustang. The supro sounds pretty good too here.
Lakland makes a gorgeous semi-hollow short-scale bass.
Enjoyed the video. The Hofner is the bomb- that tone is my favorite. That Serek is awesome and wow on the 5-string!
I picked up a Jedson short scale bass a week or so ago, apparently known as 'Japcrap' in the 70s. It has a Tele shape and a very distinctive sound and was £85 (in a shocking state). Now I've cleaned it all up I really like it. I'm not playing my P bass copy at all.
My bass is a short-scale fretless Beatle bass made by Douglas. It was cheap, beautiful, and sounds huge. I have black nylon tape-wound strings on it and it sounds like an acoustic upright bass.
The string tension is lower on short-scale basses because people use the wrong gauges. The "short-scale" sets that most brands offer are usually the same gauges that a long-scale would use, just tapered at the necessary point to fit into the tuning pegs. The shorter the scale length, the heavier the gauge needs to be to achieve the same tension. If you select your own gauges from a company like StringJoy or others, you'll have much better results - it can actually sound better than a long scale bass, because you're able to use strings with more mass. Also, the fret spacing is a non-issue: Fender's short scales were derived by removing two blades from the gang saw they used to fret the long-scale necks...it's exactly the same as playing a P-Bass with a capo on the 2nd fret! Leo Fender was not a musician, and the 34" scale length is just what he was able to come up with that sounded good using the strings that were available at the time.
I'm a short guy and when I was playing bass with my band (we broke up a couple of years ago now) there weren't that many many short/medium scale options, well, not many serious ones anyway. So I built my own. Shorties are the best!
dont forget Mike Watt's reverend wattplower. modeled after the EB-0 but completely original and awesome looking/sounding.
Tele style bass sounds (to my ears) like an acoustic upright
I bought a Jackson Minion bass and love it. I changed the heads as the stock ones were terrible. I also changed the bridge "jazz" style pickup because it was single coil. But for little money it's a nice playing bass!
Switched to shorties a while ago because of hand/wrist issues. Only wish I discovered them sooner...so much fun to play.
Just got my Mustang PJ today. I love it!
This guy is both awesome, and at the same time, ubiquitous.
Dude! Jake!!! That was amazing man!! Exactly what I was searching for. TH-cam got me back into playing my bass, and I NEVER KNEW about these short-scale puppies!! Gotta have one of those! Thanks again man, you CRUSH IT on cam!
I like how everyone agrees that this is best speaker for the bass stuff
Only short scale I’ve ever liked was a Goya Panther II bass.
Made in Italy. Really beautiful looking instrument too.
5:31 this Jolana bass is actually not from Japan, but from Czechoslovakia!
I own a Jolana bass myself, a blue tele- style with "f" shaped cutout, the model name is "iris".
I'm also hearing a lot of (what sounds like) short scale bass work in singles on the radio. It's a cool sound.
Oh my goodness!!! I love the Fender Mustang and the Supro Huntington III. They are just gorgeous. That Supro took the cake
I personally just got a Mikro bass from Ibanez and wow for the price they really nailed it, it sounds awesome in my last video with barely no processing and the playability is also neat !
I was looking for a bass about 2 weeks ago and the Ibanez Mikro caught my attention. I debated for about an hour between the Mikro and a P Bass but I went with the Ibanez because it just felt so comfortable and smooth
How do you like it since buying it?
You forgot to include the most scintillatingly epic short scale bass - the U-bass, which sounds generally indistinguishable from the double bass.
i disagree for the most part. The only similarities between the u bass and double bass would be with regard to their sustain and acousitic sound.
I play U-Bass and love it. 😀
I bought my first shortscale this early spring....an easy, no bullshit reissue Danelectro longhorn....sounds great and i love it!!
super fun vid! I really love short scale basses. They don't do everything but I tend to get cooler tones from them. Host is quite a good player. I enjoyed letting my ears drop into each of those basses. I've got a modified Hagstrom MkII sunburst bass...probably late 60's. Electronics were replaced with Pbass style EMG pickup. Sounds fabulous!
Another interesting addition: Danelectro Longhorn. The new models are very affordable (made in Indonesia or China) and offer a 60's vibe. Not a short scale exactle, but a mixture between a regular and a short scale.
I have a Gretsch short. The sound was never too appealing sort of dull and lifeless. After having the neck reset on it and new strings.....kinda prefer it over my full Squier. It Really thumps.
Thanks for the clear and info rich video.
Birdsong short scale, 31 inches. Not cheap, but gorgeous hand crafted great sounding basses. Playing mine for 14 years.
With the modern home recording needs a lot of guitarists are now liking to record their own bass tracks, but they don't have toe adjust to the longer scale. Oh, and Höfner came back, and somehow people realized that they sound fantastic.
Picked up a squire bronco 2nd hand for about 65$ US and dropped a seymour duncan SCPB hot 2 and put on Flatwounds. Love it. Ultra round and gritty. Did require some pick guard modding.
I have a handmade 30" scale neck thru that has really hit the spot for me - once I changed to pickups to dimarzio. It has oak centre and kauri wings. It is very light and easy to play
As someone who plays bass as a 3rd instrument (which means mostly never), I own the cheapest short-scale bass ever, the squier bronco. No complaints after i put some small hand tools to the fret ends.
Love the Serek. Encouraging the B is not completely floppy and useless with the lower tension. Gonna seriously check this short scale out 🤙🏼🎸
I finally got my dream bass with a fretless Rob Allen Mouse. It sounds and looks gorgeous.
How do you like it? What kind of music are you using it on.. I've been super intrigued by that bass.
The third bass (yellow tele) in an Ibanez. I had the same one.
wow.. haven't heard Greenlight Girl in years. Love that song!
The Gibson LP DC Short scale is so cool in the blue finish. I TOTALLY want a matching set of LP DC Tributes (in guitar and bass)...both in Blue, of course!
The Gibson Les Paul DC bass is the best sounding short scale I've heard. Definitely have my eye on one.
Hofner is just the coolest among these guys but ohhhh *goosebumps* when Jack Bruce was mentioned
same here.. you cant find much people talking about cream and bruce
@@ouzmu of course they only appreciate those they see and hear ahahahaha people are shit just so you know my friend.
I love cream. Ive always appreciated Clapton's thirst. It's before he started being totally comfortable in his greatness, which made him way less great imo. And Jack bruce is the man.
@bflo1000 that's because everyone wants to sound like paul. Rounds salvage a bit of the tone, still a hofner though. It won't be shaking that stigma anytime soon.
6:25 Love the shoutout to the Squier VM Jaguars! They are amazing basses that were recently discontinued!! I love mine so much
Me as well, just grabbed one recently when I saw they were discontinued. Did you have any tuning issues with yours? My E is hard to tune and goes out easily and my A has a harsh ring when played open.
@@Reloaded44 Have you tried replacing strings?
@@nicoanony I'm actually sitting on a replacement set. I need to bring it back to the shop I picked it up at to have them take a look at it still.
@@Reloaded44 tighten the screws on tuning peg. Also watch Dave's World of Fun Stuff on how he set up Jaguar Short Scale. The nut is not cut right for stock strings and might get worse if you go for thicker strings - the brand Dave strung. Cut the nut, do a setup (you don't need super set of tools) and it will not get low end out of tune when you fret Bb on G string or F on E string. Set intonation - and height for curvature. I stopped playing mine for a while (really like my Harley Benton P450 fretless) but after setup.and restring plus added new Jazz pickup it's a really fun bass again. Have been looking for a 2nd hand one to convert to fretless. They are getting rare at decent price.
@@stephenhookings1985 thanks for the info, unfortunately it's been sitting as I haven't had time to set it up and play it. One day sigh...
32 inch is medium scale. Great video.
The yellow one is a copy of the KAPA made in Maryland . They were totally awesome. It had a Hofner pick up. They were made a short time. I have been looking for one since 1973 when it got stolen. Still my first choice is another KAPA.
Danelectro Longhorn is by far my favorite bass I've ever played. It converted me to short scale
That “Funky Vintage Model” is a Sears and Roebuck from 69 - early 70s. Right after they stopped calling them “Silvertone.” I have one with dual lipstick pups and it’s amazing.
Yea and Jedson??
70:s vintage telecaster body...
It's a Jedson.. Look it up...
The Reverend Wattplower is a great short-scale choice.
Watt rules!
I got a Samick short scale P-bass and it's awesome, easy to play, nice tones, and also very lightweight
I like short scale basses. As a guitar player my hands are not accustomed to the 34 or 35 inch scale of a Fender. But a 30 in scale is a lot more manageable. The Supro bass that came out about 3-4 years ago was the perfect short scale. They even came with flatwounds already on them! It’s a shame they were discontinued.
Great vid man, very clear without any sillyness…..good work
I have Jaguar Squier with Pj set up . The short scale and jaguar body make it fun and comfortable to play . P bass tone is good. Both pick ups have a nice bouncy sound but not as “burpy” sounding as jazz bass but definitely feels more punchy.
Jake-good topic. I've been interested in short-scale basses for awhile now, because I frequently have to travel by plane to shows and I much prefer carrying on my instrument. Unfortunately, most airlines while require that you check a standard (long) scale bass. Not so with a short scale! I got a Vietnamese-made "LTD" for around $200, and it performs just as you described. Very solid primary notes, and few/no overtones. Plus it's easy to play. For a live show with most standard blues/rock bands, that combination is perfect. You can even plug it straight in to the house PA via a DI(I use a multi-effect pedal also) and it sounds good-you just have to make sure the sound guy puts it in your monitor at a volume you can clearly hear onstage. Later on, I bought a Epiphone Violin or "Beatle" bass for about $350 new, after trying out a Hofner(which was going for around $450-500) for a few gigs. The Epiphone is more durable and lower maintenance than an actual Hofner, and I'd swear the pickups are hotter and give it more versatility.
At 5'2" I started on a 1974 Rickenbacker in 1984, great sound, fast and small neck for a bass. Having 2 jack out puts was quite useful. When I signed the record contract and got some equipment money, I ran to buy the headless Steinberger bass in 1987. It looked smaller and is. I couldn't afford the price that Sam Ash was selling them for and they were all used..so a Hohner B2 fretless with the Steinberger tuning components, EMG pick ups was $400 cheaper and all black, especially the neck. I needed a tool and this worked for me. Much easier to carry on subways and vehicles. It was pretty great for live gigs and my small hands...I went with the fret-less because of Jaco and I still play it as often as possible.
I've got my eye on Ibanez' Talman TMB30, looks/sounds great and is very reasonably priced, too
Get it, I love mine!
My bro and I play Ibanez basses. His is a talman and he loves it
Particle board body
The Japanese unbranded one has the best tone for my ears!
True.... Look up Jedson short scale..
I learned on one wen I was a teenager..
And coz it got stolen..
Only just now got the same replaced for £150,!!!
Outrageously cheap for what it is....
I ditched the noisy round wounds on my Fender Mustang and put on a set of tape-wounds. Cuts out a lot of irritating 'brightness' as well. Gives a cool sound and looks cool with the black strings.
I just recently learned about short scale basses. Had to have one. Lovin it. Wish I'd found get long ago. Love my P bass and now Lovin my short scale bass.
I love the sound of the Hofner bass here, though they don't always sound as good. I wonder if the difference is due to the amp or interface you're plugged into, the flatwounds and the pick, or the fact that it's a higher-end model.
Thank you. This is the perfect ad for my Eastwood Classic 4 short scale. It looks like a Gretsch country gentleman and sounds like a bass and is for sale for just under $500.
BIRDSONG C5.... best bass I've ever played. Scott Beckwith is a gem of a human being too.
I like short scale because I’m a guitarist rather than a bassist and short scales just feel more like what I’m used too. I want to get a Bass VII style one.
Got a cherry red fender jaguar bass with a black pickboard for $250 and I love it
Wot, no Bass VI?!
As a guitarist with small hands, my world changed for the better when Fender launched the Squier Bass VI reissue. And so versatile with the pick-up on/off switches.
I have a squier bass vi, it is honestly a terrible instrument. The general concept is awesome, but the execution on that particular instrument is horrible. The bridge is garbage that can't be intonated and adds strange overtones, the pickups sound terrible, and the fretwork is so bad that I get fret buzz everywhere even though I have the action a mile high, and it's super noisy. It's a shame really.
I bought one after 10 years of bass and I love it.
A vintage Gibson EB0 is my dream bass.
Got a short scale Rickenbacker 3000 for £350 back in 2004, love it
I also like this host. His voice and delivery are perfect for this type of video.
My fav. Ibanez Talman short scale. Better pickups than the Squire short scale jags. Wider fretboard and a little more solid feeling.
Awesome overview of short scale basses!