Good short scale beginner bass?

gordiji

Funkfingers said:

Squier VM Jaguar Bass Special short scale version.

ICBM said:

quier VM Jaguar Bass. Only £200 brand new, and astonishing value for money.

I bought one for xmas for my son following the advice here on the forum. I confirm it's astonishingly good value, easy to play & sounds like a bass (to my ears !).

victorludorum

Creed_Clicks said:

victorludorum said:

Squier Bronco. Change the pickup for a Lace Sensor and you're away.

What Lace pickup would you recommend. These are dirt cheap. What's the catch!? 

I used a Gold in mine. The Hot Golds are good too, but either will work well. You should be able to pick a Bronco up 2nd hand for cheap money. There is no catch really; you might have to change the tuners if you plan to gig it, but apart from that it's a bargain.

Creed_Clicks

These look like great fun. Don't see many second hand, but at new , they're still a bargain.

ICBM

victorludorum said:

I used a Gold in mine. The Hot Golds are good too, but either will work well. You should be able to pick a Bronco up 2nd hand for cheap money. There is no catch really; you might have to change the tuners if you plan to gig it, but apart from that it's a bargain.

Most other Strat-size bar/blade magnet pickups will work very well too. I’ve fitted a couple of original Musicmaster Basses (what the Bronco is based on) with them - one a Duncan Hot Strat Stack, the other with an EMG SA!

The advantages are a more even and punchy sound than the original pickup, and hum cancellation - more important for bass than guitar because you can’t dial out the offending frequency as it’s in the note range of the instrument.

lovestrat74

Son has the VM squier jag bass - great guitar. His teacher even wants one now

Creed_Clicks

Anyone ever gig the bronco bass reissue ? Apart from a pickup change would it hold up in a live scenario?

paulnb57

Creed_Clicks said:

Anyone ever gig the bronco bass reissue ? Apart from a pickup change would it hold up in a live scenario?

Yes and yes...

Creed_Clicks

paulnb57 said:

Creed_Clicks said:

Anyone ever gig the bronco bass reissue ? Apart from a pickup change would it hold up in a live scenario?

Yes and yes...

Nice! I will look into one. They seem suspiciously cheap though. I often feel like they might fall apart in my hands mid gig....

paulnb57

I think you will be surprised how good they are, lightweight and good fun...

Creed_Clicks

paulnb57 said:

I think you will be surprised how good they are, lightweight and good fun...

I think I'll take the punt, and use if for serious gigging...

Schnozz

Oof I dunno like - I heard they were pure doggo

MattBanshee

Creed_Clicks said:

victorludorum said:

Squier Bronco. Change the pickup for a Lace Sensor and you're away.

What Lace pickup would you recommend. These are dirt cheap. What's the catch!? 

The catch is that they are absolute garbage. 

Creed_Clicks

Oooffff. I'll rethink!! 

Creed_Clicks

What about those Gretsch junior basses? Probably a bit pricey for a beginner, but decent?

Or the Ibanez Talman?

paulnb57

Schnozz said:

Oof I dunno like - I heard they were pure doggo

Heard He, but never experienced first hand?

MattBanshee said:

Creed_Clicks said:

The catch is that they are absolute garbage. 

Except they are not, budget? yes, a multi toned, active Bass? No.....

A used one is worth a punt, if feels/plays ok, change the pickup, for the money, they are a bargain....

paulnb57

On a different tack, this popped up on my YouTube feed, not watched it but it might be worth a look?

Creed_Clicks

Good video, though they're more on the higher end. Anyone know if the Orange O Bass is a short scale. It looks like it is, but I don't think it is!

Funkfingers

The Fender American Performer Mustang Bass is a well made instrument. (There are some details that I would want to tweak but that is just me being a fussy bastard.)

Ideally, wait until these begin to become available ex-demo or pre-owned.

The Squier Mikey Way Mustang Bass has an EMG-35 sized soapbar pickup cavity and scratchplate cut-out. This makes it a doddle to upgrade.

Creed_Clicks

There's an Ibanez Talman short scale and a Dean short scale knocking around too, but no idea what they're like....

crunchman

Creed_Clicks said:

There's an Ibanez Talman short scale and a Dean short scale knocking around too, but no idea what they're like....

I've got the Ibanez one.  It's good.  I'm not sure I'd bother to spend more on the Fender Mustang.  I don't think the difference is worth the extra money.

I will probably sell mine at some point as I'd ideally like a 32" P style bass.