Should I buy a short scale?

BeardyAndy

I'm a guitarist and I'm thinking about transitioning to bass, it wont be my first base but for now it'll be my only one. A short scale sounds like a good idea but every review is "great for kids/ladies/smaller guys" but i'm 6'2" and 13 stone so not petite!

I think i'm being put off by a cheap old P bass copy I had that would nose dive as soon as look at it.

Jason

No idea if this helps, but I'm 6'2" too, on Friday I was in a recording studio and I had taken my P Bass, I'm not really a bass player but I didn't have one to hand :-) , anyway it was dead, no idea why, fortunately the studio had a Squier offset shortscale bass I could borrow, it was bloody lovely, the P Bass always feels too big after playing guitar, so I wouldn't worry about it, it sounded great too

slacker

I went the other way from bass to guitar. I still have an EUB which is about 40 inch scale length. I also have an ashbory which is probably about 12 inch or something stupid. 

So on to the actual point if you are going to learn bass as a bassist and not someone who dabbles for recording etc get the bass that feels right regardless of scale length, string width and number. 

BeardyAndy

Jason said:

No idea if this helps, but I'm 6'2" too, on Friday I was in a recording studio and I had taken my P Bass, I'm not really a bass player but I didn't have one to hand :-) , anyway it was dead, no idea why, fortunately the studio had a Squier offset shortscale bass I could borrow, it was bloody lovely, the P Bass always feels too big after playing guitar, so I wouldn't worry about it, it sounded great too

Thanks. It's between the Squire Mustang (probably what you were using) and the Gretsch G2220, I should make the time to go and play a few but my local store has a sorry selection!

pintspiller

I would recommend getting a regular scaled bass with a J neck over a short scale. The difference in space between frets is so small it doesn't make much difference IMHO

wrinkleygit

I’ve been through a fair amount of basses in my time and finally settled on shorter scales, currently have a 31.5 fretless and a 30” fretted. As a guitar player I always felt a 34” scale put the nut just a bit too far away for comfort. Presently contemplating moving my ‘73 Gibson EB 0 on, so if you have a LP for trade, get in touch.

fretmeister

I've had 34, 35, 37 etc

But I've been blown away by Ibanez new 32 (medium) scale basses.
Modestly priced, sound amazing, and very easy to play. I have two 5 strings and the low B is excellent on both

I suspect I'm a convert to 32 scale now.

McSwaggerty

I needed a bass for home recording. Previously i had the use of my Sons Precision or Lakland when he was around or not using it / on the road etc.
Tried a few, but kept coming back to Short Scale Mustang and Gretsch Junior Club.
Eventually bought the Gretsch. 
It feels great to play, 
I'm a long armed 6 footer as well.... !!

McSwaggerty

Sorry. The above should read Gretsch Junior Jet - Not Junior Club.

paulnb57

Im 6 foot 2 and enjoy my Squier Bronco.....it just looks like a slightly larger than normal guitar....great fun and sounds fine...

crunchman

pintspiller said:

I would recommend getting a regular scaled bass with a J neck over a short scale. The difference in space between frets is so small it doesn't make much difference IMHO

I'd disagree.  It does make a difference.  I sold a Jazz and bought an 80's E Series Squier P Bass with a 32" scale.  The shorter scale definitely makes a difference.

I have very short fingers so the stretches on a 34" scale may be less of an issue for other people.

I find it a lot easier to get a P style to sit in a mix well than a Jazz as well.

32" (sometimes called medium scale) is a good compromise.  It's noticeably easier to play than a 34" scale, but seems to have some of the punch to the sound that a short scale loses.  Fender/Squier are missing a trick by not having anything like that in their catalogue at the moment.  The Ibanez Mezzo basses are inexpensive and good if you like that active thing, but I prefer a passive P sound.

BeardyAndy

McSwaggerty said:

Sorry. The above should read Gretsch Junior Jet - Not Junior Club.

That's good to hear. I've got my eye on one that's on eBay but if I miss it or it goes too high I'll probably just buy one new, against my Fender loving mates best advice!

Blueingreen

If you regard yourself as a guitarist who occasionally plays bass for a bit of recording etc I think a short scale is fine.  If you're thinking of making the transition to bass being your number one instrument I'd get a standard scale.  I think if you don't there's an extremely high probability you'll end up doing it later so you might as well do it in a oner.  Even if a lot of it is psychological, it will be hard to avoid the mind-set that what you're playing isn't a "proper" bass with the short scale, and you'll always be wondering if you'd sound better (and be taken a bit more seriously) with a "real" bass.  (Also some drummers are very finicky about this - again it may be more prejudice than substance but some drummers react badly to a non-Fender, never mind a short scale).

I switched to bass as my primary instrument for several years before switching back.  I still have standard scale basses (and a 35" Lakland) but I'm occasionally tempted by a short scale for recording because I so rarely pick up a bass these days and they feel huge.  But I'd definitely want full scale if I went back to bass more seriously.

ICBM

33.25"




The best of all bass scale lengths if you're coming from guitar.

When you work it out, you'll know why .

Funkfingers

I see what you did there. :-p

The £2.5K knockabout bass guitar!

fretmeister

ICBM said:

33.25"




The best of all bass scale lengths if you're coming from guitar.

When you work it out, you'll know why .

Didn’t need to work it out.

I can spot over priced firewood made by a litigious eijit a mile away! 

Balrog68

You play whichever bass you feel most comfortable with and ignore anyone that tells you what they think you should play. I'm 6 ft tall and have a long scale Jazz and a short scale Jaguar...i prefer the Jag and you can play anything on it, contrary to what everyone told me. 

Bowks

fretmeister said:

I've had 34, 35, 37 etc

But I've been blown away by Ibanez new 32 (medium) scale basses.
Modestly priced, sound amazing, and very easy to play. I have two 5 strings and the low B is excellent on both

I suspect I'm a convert to 32 scale now.

You'll be after one of those original Urge basses then!

fretmeister

Bowks said:

fretmeister said:

I've had 34, 35, 37 etc

But I've been blown away by Ibanez new 32 (medium) scale basses.
Modestly priced, sound amazing, and very easy to play. I have two 5 strings and the low B is excellent on both

I suspect I'm a convert to 32 scale now.

You'll be after one of those original Urge basses then!

I've got an Urge 2. It's nice!

I don't play it anymore though as it's too heavy for my injuries.

Bowks

I have a lovely light Cort Elrick & cash ;-)

Rigid_Digits

Balrog68 said:

You play whichever bass you feel most comfortable with and ignore anyone that tells you what they think you should play. I'm 6 ft tall and have a long scale Jazz and a short scale Jaguar...i prefer the Jag and you can play anything on it, contrary to what everyone told me. 

Spot on.