Short Scale Recommendations

S

SandyG

Mar 15, 2024
16
6
31
#1
Hi, I’ve been playing bass for about a year and really love it (I’m still playing guitar, too). I bought a Fender Mustang PJ MIM to get started and am considering an upgrade. Given my short stature and small hands I’m thinking I should stick to short scale. I’d love to hear thoughts from everyone. Let me know what you recommend and why. Why do you love one vs another?

Sandberg Cali II Lionel Vs4
Spector Bantam 4
Maruszczyk Jake 4P
Wombat JB4 Form Factor
Birdsong
Serek Midwestern 2
G&L

some others I’ve seen:
Wattplower
alembic
Wilcock in London
Mayones
 
#3
Sharko said:
What don’t you like about the mustang? Knowing that would help you to know what you want to be different about your new bass.
Click to expand...

Exactly! There is no upgrade unless you feel there is a problem to solve. However, there are alternatives.

My answer is: Gretsch. They have some of the best short scales on the market, and they're really well made. If you're willing to step up, the Gretsch Thunderjet is one of the finest professional basses on the market. If you want a more reasonable price, the Junior Jet is the trick.
 
  • Like
Reactions: B-Mac and Adagietto
#4
Pilgrim said:
Exactly! There is no upgrade unless you feel there is a problem to solve. However, there are alternatives.

My answer is: Gretsch. They have some of the best short scales on the market, and they're really well made. If you're willing to step up, the Gretsch Thunderjet is one of the finest professional basses on the market. If you want a more reasonable price, the Junior Jet is the trick.
Click to expand...
I agree, I feel like so many bass “upgrades” are just lateral moves. Which is fine, sometimes it’s fun to try something different, but I’ve given up expecting a more expensive bass to sound “better” to my ears.
That’s partly why I’m still playing my Squier Jag SS: I keep trying to replace it with other fresh short scales, but I keep coming back to it because I just love the sound and the ergonomics and I already own it.

Also can’t believe how cheap the Jr Jet is, they look and feel way better than you’d expect at that price. I like the old 1 pickup version too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: joeLowB, Pilgrim, sabre79 and 1 other person
#5
SandyG said:
Hi, I’ve been playing bass for about a year and really love it (I’m still playing guitar, too). I bought a Fender Mustang PJ MIM to get started and am considering an upgrade. Given my short stature and small hands I’m thinking I should stick to short scale. I’d love to hear thoughts from everyone. Let me know what you recommend and why. Why do you love one vs another?

Sandberg Cali II Lionel Vs4
Spector Bantam 4
Maruszczyk Jake 4P
Wombat JB4 Form Factor
Birdsong
Serek Midwestern 2
G&L

some others I’ve seen:
Wattplower
alembic
Wilcock in London
Mayones
Click to expand...

Well...
It's not that I love "one vs. another" so much as "not every one of those companies makes a left handed one". And, even if they make a long scale lefty, they quite often don't make a shorty...:( And, besides; there are only 2 unfilled spots in my bass herd, which currently stands at 27. A "Short Scale Lined Fretless" and a "Short Scale Neck-Thru" are the only unfilled spots - and basses to fill those spots are currently being built. Birdsong is building a Fusion lined fretless (#1103 on their Under Construction page), and Serek is building a semi-hollow Sacramento bass for me. Both should be done in late April... As far as I know, the only 2 companies that will make a lefty short scale neck-thru bass are Serek - and Alembic. And, the Alembic starts at a little over $15,000... So, yes; quite often, it does suck to be a lefty...:meh:
Still, I currently own 9 short scale basses; none are on your list, though. One thing I have to tell you, though; don't think that, just because a bass is a shorty, it's going to make your small hands happy. Some certainly will, but... I have some that have pretty chunky necks. The neck on my Warmoth Mini-Precision Bass, for example, has a neck that is just about at the limit of what I prefer in a neck, thickness-wise. And, I have pretty large hands - but the fingers are kind of short... My German Hofner 500/2 Club Bass - and my 2 non-Hofner violin basses - have necks that would make your small hands happy. They certainly make mine happy. But, for "small hands"? The Warmoth; the headless Kramer Duke; or the Gretsch Broadkaster? Probably not so much...
Were I you? I'd measure the neck of a bass I liked, and then try really hard to look up the neck dimensions of those basses. A lot of companies do publish that sort of stuff... Better yet? Play them, if you can...:cool:
 
  • Like
Reactions: B-Mac
#7
I have several including an am mustang and a sire u5. The sire crushes everything up to 3x its cost.

I still like the mustang but I’ve replaced pickups, had to file frets, fix electronics new out of the box, the neck is loose in the pocket so needs to be held when replacing the neck bolts so it is straight. Had to route a slot for the truss rod adjustment because I hate removing the next to adjust the rod (see aforementioned reason).
 
#10
Pilgrim said:
Exactly! There is no upgrade unless you feel there is a problem to solve. However, there are alternatives.

My answer is: Gretsch. They have some of the best short scales on the market, and they're really well made. If you're willing to step up, the Gretsch Thunderjet is one of the finest professional basses on the market. If you want a more reasonable price, the Junior Jet is the trick.
Click to expand...
OK! I haven't run across that one in my research. I'll take a look.
 
#11
GIBrat51 said:
Well...
It's not that I love "one vs. another" so much as "not every one of those companies makes a left handed one". And, even if they make a long scale lefty, they quite often don't make a shorty...:( And, besides; there are only 2 unfilled spots in my bass herd, which currently stands at 27. A "Short Scale Lined Fretless" and a "Short Scale Neck-Thru" are the only unfilled spots - and basses to fill those spots are currently being built. Birdsong is building a Fusion lined fretless (#1103 on their Under Construction page), and Serek is building a semi-hollow Sacramento bass for me. Both should be done in late April... As far as I know, the only 2 companies that will make a lefty short scale neck-thru bass are Serek - and Alembic. And, the Alembic starts at a little over $15,000... So, yes; quite often, it does suck to be a lefty...:meh:
Still, I currently own 9 short scale basses; none are on your list, though. One thing I have to tell you, though; don't think that, just because a bass is a shorty, it's going to make your small hands happy. Some certainly will, but... I have some that have pretty chunky necks. The neck on my Warmoth Mini-Precision Bass, for example, has a neck that is just about at the limit of what I prefer in a neck, thickness-wise. And, I have pretty large hands - but the fingers are kind of short... My German Hofner 500/2 Club Bass - and my 2 non-Hofner violin basses - have necks that would make your small hands happy. They certainly make mine happy. But, for "small hands"? The Warmoth; the headless Kramer Duke; or the Gretsch Broadkaster? Probably not so much...
Were I you? I'd measure the neck of a bass I liked, and then try really hard to look up the neck dimensions of those basses. A lot of companies do publish that sort of stuff... Better yet? Play them, if you can...:cool:
Click to expand...
Yes! I totally agree. Since the only SS I've played is the Mustang I'm unable to say what I like. I've tried a few full scale's and did notice that some were more playable for me than others. My problem is finding places to try them out - so few stores have them in stock to try out. Which is one of the reasons I posted here. Let me ask, why did you choose Birdsong and Serek to fill out the herd? And... what else do you have? Is there a fave?
 
#12
klattman said:
I have several including an am mustang and a sire u5. The sire crushes everything up to 3x its cost.

I still like the mustang but I’ve replaced pickups, had to file frets, fix electronics new out of the box, the neck is loose in the pocket so needs to be held when replacing the neck bolts so it is straight. Had to route a slot for the truss rod adjustment because I hate removing the next to adjust the rod (see aforementioned reason).
Click to expand...
I haven't tried a Sire - I'll see if there is one in stock in my area.
 
#13
One would think a Mustang is an upgrade compared to some other short scales on the market. But each to their own. Given a lot of the basses you've listed are expensive, price doesn't appear to be an impediment
Do you like the string spacing of the Mustang? Could you handle a narrower spacing or something wider still? What about headstock? Inline or 2x2? Would you prefer a top loading bridge? Passive vs active? Tail piece vs no tail piece. What about pickups? Gibson style or Fender or MM? Somethings to ponder in asking for tips and for your own decision making.
I'm sure you'd get some great ideas here https://www.talkbass.com/threads/the-official-short-scale-bass-club-part-4.970319/
 
Last edited:
#16
What you got in the Mustang is a really good shortie pj, so I might strike out any other p or pj basses if you are looking for something different. The Midwestern 2, Bantam, and Wombat are more on the J bass side - so maybe that is the kind of different you are looking for.

If I can suggest something even more different than what is on you list, check out the Ibanez EHB1005SMS and new EHB1505SMS. They are super dope, highly recommend, will change your life.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hooky_marr and RocknRay
#17
SandyG said:
Yes! I totally agree. Since the only SS I've played is the Mustang I'm unable to say what I like. I've tried a few full scale's and did notice that some were more playable for me than others. My problem is finding places to try them out - so few stores have them in stock to try out. Which is one of the reasons I posted here. Let me ask, why did you choose Birdsong and Serek to fill out the herd? And... what else do you have? Is there a fave?
Click to expand...
I chose the Birdsong for a couple of reasons. One was that I'd thought hard about getting one to fill the spot in my herd that the Warmoth Mini-Precision fills; "Short Scale Bolt-on Neck". In the end, I chose the Warmoth, mainly because I decided I wanted a "Baby Brother" to my '78 Fender P-Bass (except for the Fender's bridge cover, they look - and sound - identical). Also, even though I could afford the Birdsong, the Warmoth was, in the end, about $600 less expensive. But, since I recently got my first lined fretless bass (a 32" (medium) scale '93 Fury Anthem), I decided I needed a long and a short scale fretless, too. The long scale one was fairly easy (a '24 G&L Kiloton lined fretless), but a short scale? I had to have one made. I happened to see a lined fretless Birdsong Fusion Bass on Reverb a few months ago, and fell in love. Sadly, it was a righty; but Scott Beckwith assured me that he'd love to make another Fusion - and making a lefty was no problem at all. Which, sad to say, is not always the case with custom makers. Over the years, I've had a lot of them tell me "NO lefty basses"...
As for the Serek? Not many companies make short scale neck-thru basses - right or left handed. It took me over 30 years to get my bass herd together, and I looked - in vain - for a lefty neck-thru shorty for most of those years. Alembic does make one - the Stanley Clarke Signature Bass. They make 2 versions - a Standard and a Deluxe - along with more, extra cost custom features than you can imagine. And, Alembic makes a lefty version of everything, too. But, like I said; the base model of the "cheap" Stanley Clark Signature Standard Bass starts at about $15,500.00. Maybe if I was a world class, performing bassist... but, I'm not. However... about a year ago, somebody here on TB tipped me off about Serek; that they did make lefties; and they made a short scale neck-thru, as well. As soon as I filled out a built sheet to see how much the thing would cost (roughly 1/3 the price of the Alembic)? I ordered it; and, my blue, semi-hollow, short scale Sacramento Bass should be done by the end of April (Serek has a long waiting list). Those 2 basses will complete my herd, and my 30+ year odyssey will be finished. So...
What other short scale basses do I have? This is all of the ones I have currently:
- '93 Gretsch Broadkaster (the only lefty Gretsch Bass I've ever seen, that wasn't a '50s custom one);
- '17 Hofner 500/2 Club Bass (A German one; there are no lefty Chinese Club Basses);
- '18 Danelectro Longhorn;
- '17 Warmoth Mini-Precision;
- '23 Guild Starfire I;
- '81 Kramer "The Duke" (an aluminum-necked copy of a headless Steinberger XT-2);
- '91 Rogue VB-100 (a very nice, Korean one);
- '96 Starfire violin bass (a cheap Chinese one; it plays... ok...); and
- '18 Eastwood "Flying Vee" Bass.
Is there a "Fave"? Well, I don't own anything that doesn't get used - or played, in this case. With so many (I also have a few guitars, too) I rotate 3 instruments out of their cases, up to the living room each month - and play the snot out of them. Then, they get cleaned and put away, while another 3 take their place for a month. But, there is one shorty that spends most of it's time out on a stand, next to the amp. It's the Rogue VB-100 violin bass, strung with Roto 88 Tape wounds - like a certain other left handed bass player has on his violin bass. My '73 Rickenbacker 4001 - with clones of the original Rick factory flat wounds on it - sits out next to it. But, I like all my other short scale basses a lot, too. Although, every time I get it out, the Dano Longhorn is a strong contender for that spot next to the amp...:cool:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Prodigus Filius
#18
SandyG said:
Hi, I’ve been playing bass for about a year and really love it (I’m still playing guitar, too). I bought a Fender Mustang PJ MIM to get started and am considering an upgrade. Given my short stature and small hands I’m thinking I should stick to short scale. I’d love to hear thoughts from everyone. Let me know what you recommend and why. Why do you love one vs another?

Sandberg Cali II Lionel Vs4
Spector Bantam 4
Maruszczyk Jake 4P
Wombat JB4 Form Factor
Birdsong
Serek Midwestern 2
G&L

some others I’ve seen:
Wattplower
alembic
Wilcock in London
Mayones
Click to expand...

Florence Bass Series - Sandberg Guitars
 
#19
I haven’t played a lot of short scales but I will say that I’ve yet to play any bass of any scale that is as CRAZY easy to play as my 2013 Birdsong fretless Cortobass (31”)
 
#20
lug said:
Another vote for Sire U5. Love mine!
Click to expand...

Agreed! The Sire U5 is just a perfect little bass. Well built, and strung with TI Jazz Flats it sounds huge - mellow, yet focused. Engineers love it.

The new Squier Paranormal Rascal could be another interesting contender in this league.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Geogio
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back