Short Scale

[Akami]

...this one is just for me sitting on the couch watching a ball game or noodling...

I've got two Ibanez Mikro models and had thought they were a horrible idea until I happened on one in a pawn shop.
Just bought my second one a month or so ago and for sitting on a couch it would be hard to think of anything easier to play from a compromised sitting position.

 

[JIO]

I have a few cool vintage short-scales but I just recently got one that I would highly recommend - a Dano Long-Horn. You can still buy them new and there are used ones from many iterations available for various price-points on eBay & Reverb. As long as they are in good condition (neck straight, good frets etc) it is easy to play (24 frets) light weight, sounds great (big sound/tone from the lipstick pu's) and they are pretty affordable other than really old/vintage ones. The one I just got ('99 -MIK) was really affordable and with a bit of cleaning-up/new strings etc - it's a keeper!

 

[JIO]

I have a Talman , I dropped a Tbird pickup in it. Fat chunky neck , bit of neck dive , has some weight , but it sounds good.View attachment 7014070

A T-bird pu can make any bass sound good!

 

[msb]

When I first got the Longhorn it was pretty bright sounding , played with a pick , soloed bridge pickup it sounded like a baritone guitar. I was mostly looking for an old school thump , it could also do that. But I began to notice that the thump kept getting stronger as the strings aged and I left them on.
I never changed them , they’re still on. In case I lose a winding or break a string I always have a set of LaBella flats ready , just in case.
It lost that bright baritone sound many years ago , and the thump is huge. Intonation is fine. It’s just got a deep woody thump.

Sounds like a bass.

 

[tdvt]

Old & tired, yes.

I had gotten the grandkids a Squier mini-Strat a year or so ago, & while it was fun to play, it was really a novelty/starter instrument that they will eventually leave behind.

Last month I decided to get them a bass & thought about the mini-P. But with the "novelty" thing in mind, I ended up getting them the Squier Bronco instead as it will be indefinitely usable & is nearly the same price.

Long story short, I enjoyed playing the little Bronco enough that I bought my own a few days later & I played it at a date this past week, totally stock other than setup for intonation & action. It more than held it's own & will likely go into regular rotation for dates.

My other basses are all 34", but as others have already mentioned, I don't find changing scale lengths to be an issue

The little Bronco is light, stayed in tune/plays in tune & sounded full with good bottom & punch, which seems crazy for a bass using a guitar pickup.

The only issue was it is somewhat noisy & needs to be shielded, but since it uses a Strat PU, I plan to swap in a Lace Sensor that I already have on hand, which will also mitigate noise. There is a series of Bronco bass vids on YT showing multiple mods that is worth checking out.

The fit & finish is really good & for $209 shipped (before the 10% off that most dealers are offering) it is a really inexpensive & fun instrument.