I’m a small guy in a wheelchair, so I prefer the size of short scale basses, particularly for the body size, I recently bought myself a Gretsch G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet Bass II, and it’s the best bass I’ve ever played
The comments seem to indicate that short scale basses are not only alive and kicking, but well loved for their many advantages. Please, Scott, make another video with the title: "Are Long Scale Bass Players SNOBS?" And a blind-test comparisons, Scott, please: "Whas this played on a long scale bass or a short scale bass?" - complete with ratings from 1 to 10.
And not a solo bass track but in a mix with bass tracks played with different instruments. Nobody cares about solo bass other than a small number of bass players.
@@C0urne Right: and let the same player play the same short piece with his band, several times, switching basses. Or not switching basses and using the "Leland Sklar switch trick" to change the sound. Also - instead of switching instruments, switch from two fingers to one finger to thumb to pick. Or let several wellknown bass RUclipsrs play both with their most hated and their most loved instruments to the same backing track. Would be highly entertaining to watch a bunch of "gear snobs" as they listen to such a blind test and try to find out what was what.
I play upright bass as my main gig. When it comes to my electric bass, I have nothing to prove to anyone, and I have a blast playing my little short scale squier jaguar bass. Baby's got some THUMP.
The bass player in the band I'm in turned up at our most recent gig with his stand up string bass, his Epiphone acoustic bass (which is rather lovely - it looks like an acoustic guitar), his Gretsch short scale, and his Ashbory mega-short bass - the one with the rubber strings, and they all got a look-in. I'm the guitarist - I'm supposed to be the one with the rack of instruments!
From a player's perspective, I think short-scale acoustic bass guitars sound better than full-scale. There's a little more pinpoint mid-range that sticks out, while full-scale loses some tone into the air. Not sure if this is the case to someone listening, or how they record, but just from the player's perspective.
I wish I went short scale sooner. So much more comfortable to play. I have back issues and occasional pins and needles in my left hand due to a bad back. I won't let ego punish my body unnecessarily.
Isn't it just the opposite? I've noticed that short scale basses have become MORE trendy in recent years, not LESS. And it's not for the ease of play. It's for the sound.
@@studiodsr That's true. But A LOT of session players use them regularly now, and not just for indie tracks. They use them for a certain vintage vibe but with a little more character than your standard P bass.
Those guys were so silly I stopped watching and went to the comments. I bought the Fiesta red ss stingray with the roasted maple neck and love it. I also bought a great 32" scale bass by Offbeat guitars and sold my 34" scale basses.
Scott did a great job of kind of making fun of people that want to play a smaller bass because it's more comfortable for.them...duh! Maybe time to take a course on not potentially turning off a group of potential customers.
I’ve been thinking about adding online lessons to my practicing as I’m only self taught and honestly his intro monologue/rant kinda really turned me off to the notion of using SBL.
@@Joe.Copalman awesome! I had a different one (same model) that the previous owner had customized and upgraded. The current one was a few lbs lighter so I swapped out all the customization and ended up with a silver bass that is just a hair under 8 lbs 😂
Tall with long arms and fingers here, and I spend way more time playing my short scales. 34" generally feels needlessly cumbersome and awkward by comparison.
I am a new bass player (less than 3yrs in - coming from guitar), & I wonder how my Ibanez Mikro compares to the Jaguar. I’ve never even played a full size bass yet (I’m 5’1…under 100lbs 😂) but I’m sure it will be an experience to play what these guys here call a “real bass” some day. 🤭😂 *I’m less than 10 mins in & wondering if this whole thing is just an hour long video of these dudes bashing short scale basses & players. 🥱🙃😂
Scott's opening comment about big people playing a short scale bass could be considered highly insulting. I have sustained serious injuries in both shoulders. Reaching out to even tune a 34" (or more) bass is just not possible. Frankly, I have found it more possible to play a 32" headless bass because of damage limiting my reach. Reaching down to the butt of the bass to tune works well for me. Oh, I'm 5'10" and 220 pounds, definitely not small.
Wow I’m surprised by the negative judgement at the beginning of this. For a bass informational and “appreciation” channel. Sorta bummed by it. I have and play short scale AND full scale. They have their pros and cons. I know they got to that, but just surprised Scott would be so down on them and the people that play them.
It's not a surprise. These are the guys that make endless videos on P- and J-basses as they were the only proper instruments. Plus the other guy not Scott likes a Thunderbird because of its design flaws.
I don't know why people didn't get that Scott was just making fun of Ian, because Ian is very tall and has and plays many short scale basses. It had nothing to do with making fun of anyone else who plays short scale basses or short scale basses at all.
I got my left wrist broken 2 years ago and, while recovering from the injury, I bought a great Marcus Miller Sire U5 short scale bass because the pain when playing my old reliable Fender Jazz Bass was terrible, and with a short scale bass I could play almost perfectly. The sound was extremely good and, even today, I use it almost every day! :-D
In case that seemed defensive, I don’t even play short scale basses. I’m a cheap p-bass knockoff lover. But come on; they have a sound, they look great, they’re on records you probably love.
Thom Yorke is one of my idols, I got a PJ Mustang short scale this year and love it (I'm a 5'6" woman with small hands, it's been nice to learn on something I can maneuver more easily than my bf's full-scale bass I was learning on prior). This vid was such a bummer to hear from these dudes I look up to so much. They should definitely do a blind test, if they're gonna be snobby about it 😵💫
They have sucked the F out of Leo for so long they can't afford (Scott's words) an Alembic. Stanley plays short scale. The Brown Bass was his when his was stolen. His signature model is based on its size and shape.
The thump of a Mustang with flats and a pick is unfuckwithable. And the deep drone of an EB-O neck pickup produce vibrations that break down the contents of your bowels aiding in digestion.
Got a PJ Mustang this year, been playing on flats and LOVE it. It's perfect for what I need. Surprisingly snobby takes from this channel I usually love
@@jschaetz This channel has its hits and misses like any, but for the most part has been steadily increasing in quality. But this episode was just a huge misstep from them. Any time you're going discuss or review something, it should be fair and take the subject on its own merits, and here it just felt like snobbery, mockery, lame attempts at humor, and lazy dismissivenes.
@@jschaetz I think they were taking the good cop bad cop approach, I think Scott is very aware that the point of view he portrayed is shared by a percentage of bass players.
I have an old starfire II also and the thing is an absolute low-down, dirty whore of a bass. It does soul, RnB and funk so good! My ears are salivating at thought of spanking the old girl Scrumptious!
I don't know of any records Scott has played on 😝😝😝 but I bet almost evrybody knows a record made by short scalers such as Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman and Jack Bruce.
I’ve one huge issue with this video. They fixate on the retro short scale and at one point it is said that there’s no modern active short scales. Spector has the bantam, which is active. Warwick has an active short scale corvette and there’s the stingray short. Though the stingrays not active, it does sound close to a regular stingray. I feel that they have misled the viewer, maybe through bias but there is definitely a more modern option if you’re looking for a short scale.
Lots of Vulfpeck recorded on a super-shortscale 28" mini Pbass (eg. Birds of a Feather, Running Away, My First Car, a lot of Sauna). My son has the Squier version and it's truly incredible, sounds and feels better than a lot of much more expensive instruments, go figure.
Same, got a JMJ as I'm coming from a guitar back ground and it's been a really fun bass to play with. It just needed a set up because out of the box the intonation and string hight was off
I think you guys missed a MAJOR pro of short scale basses. Here it is. You can have the best gear in the world, but if your performance sucks then you sound bad. It isn't the gear, it's the performance that counts. If an instrument is easier to play, then your performance is better. Short scale for the win.
I find long scales easier to play sometimes because the extra tension on the strings makes them respond quicker for faster finger style playing, but not always
@@reelchef67 I could try that, but I don’t really find the long scale a hinderance of any sort playability or sound wise tbh, the moor tubby sound a short scale makes just doesn’t sound as good with my aggressive right hand technique making notes sharp at the transients, at least not thru a bass amp where the low end is more revealing, but if all I really needed was heaps of high bass and low mids to cut in a mellow context I’d try it
It definitely is THE reason I advocate for short scales. One can manage to get pretty much any sound he/she wants with all the string and pickup options available nowadays.
Really surprised by Scott's take on this, almost kind of disappointing. Been waiting for a really awesome short scale video being as I just got back into bass playing again partly because of the smaller scale, and I'm not a smaller sized person.
a lot of big guys play electric guitars as well, and they're as big as a short scale basses. I don't think anyone ridicules guitar players for playing 'smaller' instruments
It was a great vid on short scales on my opinion....at least Scott is honest about his opinion, he does like to tease but that's just how British people are haha. Gotta remember everyone has different taste.
@@FromTheMosh I think it would have been a lot more helpful and interesting if he had tried to be less humorous/jokey/mean and more objective for those who seeking useful info. You can dislike something and still make an effort to discuss it intelligently, factually, and objectively. And if you can't, recuse yourself and let the other guy handle the video solo.
I started playing short scale when my shoulders began to really fail me. I play a Sire U5. I also use a Boss OC-5 to add just a touch of up octave. I really enjoy the tone.
Yes, this is true. I owned a EB0 once as my second bass of all (first one was a Framus J-Bass replica - and that one really sucked!). Must have been in the mid-70s and even then folks alreary made fun of short-scale bass-players: real bass-players play long-scale. So after a year or so I traded it in for an Aria Pro II Rickenbacker 4001 replica (which was not a real long-scale, either). Until today I deeply regret having gotten rid of the Gibson then.
I played a Jazz bass for decades but as I got older my hands started to hurt more, perhaps early arthritis, and my shoulders began to hurt more if I played long periods of time. Then I switched to short scale and that all went away & playing was fun again 🙂
Mannn thanks I’m dealing with the same thing. I saw this one bass player just flowing so easily on short scale bass on some really fast swing . It was like is was way easier for him he’s a big guy to like 6’5 can u send links to good short scale basses? I play for church black church at that lol so needa good one haha
He says they look stupid. This is the guy that wears that glove saying something looks stupid. Lack of self awareness or pitiful troll, you be the judge
I’ve been playing bass for like 20 years. I’m decent but nothing special I just enjoy playing. I’ve recently fell in love with short scale basses! I have a squire rascal now I’m getting a sire u5 next. I may switch my entire setup to short scale. And I’m 6’3 300 pound gentleman. Do I look a little funny…yes lol. But it feels good and that’s all that matters!
@@Davey-Boyd the fedax guys walked across my box so I did need to setup my rascal a little bit. But after that a great bass with a super fat sound! And yes I’m shock by the size, it won’t even fit into most of my cases
@@GrandadTinkerer Wow. There are a lot of bass players out there who, in their "basic" playing, have, along with the drummers, really made the solid core of the band. You can't have a good band with just flashy riffs, or a singer with a strong personality, no matter how good they are. It's fair to say if someone is basic player or not, if that is your opinion, but there is an additional dismissive and grossly sexist layer when you lead with the whole ""nice pin up" comment. Guys don't get crap like that when their skills are being criticized.
@@GrandadTinkerer Tina is a bad ass, her “basic” playing helped define two amazing bands with countless hits. Being unnecessarily complex and overplaying is for wankers.
@@Icecream_ghost Amen. Kim Deal of the Pixies is similar: even simpler lines than Weymouth, but they help define the sound of an original, super-influential rock band. Crazy chops are for lead guitarists (he says only half in jest).
Scott couldn't be any wronger with his cons. Seriously.... They don't feel crap, they don't sound only tubby, there are modern active shorties (Alembic, Ibanez, etc).... And they fucking don't look stupid. Get of your high horse, will ya?
I think it is kind of funny, that someone could think, that going with shorter scale you would loose "bass" from your sound. But it is actually opposite. You would loose clarity and high end definition. For me it turned out, that this is what I need. JMJ Mustang with flats is what I need for my music. And since I did not play a bass for 6 months before buying one, there is no weird feeling. Sure, if you play 34 scale every day for 15 years, it short scale could feel weird.
I started on a used 1963 EB-0 in 1978 as a high school freshman. It had a beautiful neck, typical of the Gibsons of its day. I turned it into my own version of Lee Sklar's Frankenstein - hacking in a DiMarzio Model-P, adding a Badass II bridge and replacing the nylon wrapped flats with Rotosounds, all to get some treble and mid into that thing. I am probably guilty of desecration in all of that. The day I bought my first long-scale bass, in 2001, was a day of pure joy.
Pfffft... I'm 6'5" and I love my short-scale. Some people care more about appearances though, like an idiot who would pay a ton of $$$ to have something reliced.
I bought one because I saw him playing it, I picked mine up for just under $200. It's an amazing instrument, and not just for the price. It has a very unique sound but it works great in many contexts
@@thierry18 Same and I like it a lot. Would only change some of the hardware. I’d like to upgrade the bridge first because that gives me some problems.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with playing an inexpensive instrument. People need to get over the price of things, and use their ears and their sense of musicianship. That's why he plays it. It looks cool, it feels good, and it sounds really good. Its cost is unimportant - to everyone but you guys.
JMJ was pivotal on many fronts... short scales, effects (WAY into massive pedalboards on the scene in Beck's band WAY before Tim Lefevbre rose to the prominence he has now), using flatwound strings... the list goes on. And yes, I remember seeing him on SNL post -Mutations and Midnight Vultures playing his Starfire and Coronado... shredding on the Coronado with a pick playing some of the busiest yet in-the-pocket Jamerson/Carol Kaye-esque shit ever. He's massively underrated by the RUclips bass nerds.
A fun hack, if you detune a standard scale length bass a whole step and then capo at the 2nd fret, you end up back at standard tuning and are very close to a 30" scale length for the more compact fret spacing but you can use whatever bass you want. I've been using a Mustang as my main bass for about a year now and while I love the shorter spacing between frets and the comfortable reach everywhere on the neck, what's actually been a real annoyance is finding strings that fit right for the short scale length. I've tried several different brands who offer specific short scale string sets and it's really hit or miss if the taper at the end of the strings will actually line up properly and I usually end up having to unwind it myself to get the strings to work, mostly the low E. That tends to result in less than ideal tuning stability which I wasn't expecting before the purchase.
This is an awesome trick I just discovered the other day! It's a great way to see what a short scale would sound like with no other variables changed. When I did it to my bass, it sounded great and played way easier, slapped easier too because the strings were more slack. It made me really want to get a short scale bass. Personally I think my slap bass sounded way better when I made the scale shorter, at least on my bass.
It really depends what kind of Mustang you're playing. If it's a string-thru-body like the JMJ, MIJs or vintage models you should pick medium scale strings - personally I like flats and use LaBella 760F-MUS and Thomastik-Infeld JF-324 on my Mustangs. With non-string-thru-body models you should be good to go with short scale strings.
This is the 1st of your videos that I've disagreed about almost everything. 2 men that share a face and know very little about the Beatles. I'll continue to search for the upper 'horn' on my violin bass so I can attach the sticker that came with my Fender Bassman
A shoulder issue is what got me into short scales. Btw they don't all sound tubby. A reverse P pickup will do wonders when it comes to a tighter sound more like a normal P bass.
Honorable mention to bass RUclipsr/pro Philip Conrad. He plays a mustang in Rhett Shull's band. He also has some really great short scale bass content.
Stanley Clarke. He plays a short scale bass. An Alembic short scale. And I don't think he looks stupid. As for the sheer tone and style of playing he gets out of that thing...
I'm a 53 year old 6'3" person who has physical disabilities and mobility issues. I'm trying to learn bass through SBL acadamy. I have a very cheap 34" jazz style bass and it's k1lling me. It's too heavy to set up by myself and exhausting to use, even though I'm always seated, so I've been thinking that perhaps if I win lotto, something like a fender kingman might be better. Please don't boot me from the academy Scott for considering the double whammy, short scale AND acoustic haha.
My dad moved to a Squier Mustang after 40+ years playing long scale basses professionally. That change bought him another 10 years of playing before post-polio syndrome finally drove him to retirement.
This video is very disappointing, narrow-minded and quite frankly disrespectful coming from you Scott... not your normal balanced view. If the esteemed, super tall, Stanley Clarke chose to play an Alembic short scale bass as his main bass, speaks for itself.
Pros: * Generally smaller and lighter, so easier on the shoulder/thigh, and well suited to anyone with a smaller stature, though perfectly playable by larger folks. I've heard lots of players with arthritis or other physical setbacks say that short-scales are easier for them, too. * Different sound: more thump, less chime * Easier for guitarists doubling on bass or switching to bass * Easier/more comfortable to play because of the narrower fret spacing and reduced string tension (easier to bend strings, too) Cons: * Harder to detune without string flop or intonation issues * Fewer options to choose from in a world (sadly) dominated by 34"s * If you build muscle memory on a 30", switching to a 34" and back again can be weird, but that has nothing to do with the short scale per se Not a con: how it looks. Unless you have some weird self-esteem hangup, where you have to play a huge instrument, playing a slightly smaller bass won't look strange--certainly no stranger than the millions playing electric guitars, which are even smaller--let alone mandolins, ukuleles, violins, etc.
I’m a beginner bass player only been playing for a year and a half. I am only 5’1” tall my arms are proportionate to my height I have short scale bass due to my physical stature and small hands. I have a Hofner bass and Squire Bronco bass. I also have a full size p-bass which I also love because of the variety of tones which are so different from my short scale basses. Please don’t discount the short scales they have their place for people like me.
I play long, short and ultrashort(Kala Ubass) and love them all. I’m 6’1” about 210 lbs. I really don’t care what I look like when I’m playing. They all have good points and differences. Just play what you like and don’t listen to what others think, especially folks with swollen egos!
Every time Scott “says ‘small people’ and laughs” I cringe so bad, and I play a regular scale bass. But as a woman with smaller hands, it feels like shlt.
Glarry, known as a low-cost instrument maker, has a very short scale bass that has a 25.5" scale length. They call it a kids bass, but you can find many RUclips reviews of it by adult bass players who like it. I recently bought one for US$99 directly from Glarry, including shipping in the USA.
I just reworked a 60s Japanese 25.5 er and tuned it CGDA ( exact cello tuning) with real cello strings. Brutal string tension and low output.. But sooo lovely warm and dark. Especially cuz I never use a pick. Ibanez has a 27.5 incher that interests me. Pretty cheap too.
The EB3 had 2 pickups and a multi-position dial switch. Neck p/u was the same old “mud bucker”, and the bridge p/u was a “mini” humbucker much like the current SG Bass. It also had an adjustable bridge, unlike the EB0. I rebuilt one in 1982, rewound the p/us and found a better bridge. Got rid of that selector switch too; it was way too noisy. Mini toggles were quieter. I kick myself for having sold it.
It’s wild to me that neither of them knew the difference between the EB-0 and EB-3. Maybe it’s because I put a lot of research into the instrument I want 🤷🏾♂️
I feel disheartened by this conversation. As a mere covers band player in UK pubs, I got a short scale for the sheer physical reasons of having so little space, and not want to either "tap" my headstock on a wall, or smack the singer, etc. The 30" scale made it much more appropriate for those gigs where space was a premium. I went with a Vox Airstream Artist which comes with a Gotoh bridge and machine heads and a Aguilar active EQ and (musicman-style) humbucker pickup. It's been great to play. I did consider the Sterling short-scale, the Nordstrand "cat", Gretsch basses. But the Vox was a great price. I also know someone with the Sandberg Lionel - they are happy with that. On a negative that you didn't mention, was strings - there are much fewer choices of strings.
I am a 70 year old beginning guitar player who just got turned on to the idea of trying bass. Something about it just speaks to my soul. Soaking up knowledge - shopping soon. Thank you so much gentlemen!
EB-0 had only 1 pickup, and was first marketed in 1959 in response to the declining sales of Gibson's EB-1. (was also available as the EB-0L long scale and EB-0F with a built in passive fuzz) The EB-1 was a solid body shaped like a double bass The EB-2 was the semi hollow body es335 shaped bass with 2 pickups The EB-3 has 2 pickups with a 4 way rotary switch
I'm rather tall and my favorite is still a shortscale bass. I love my EHB SMS (short multiscale) series instruments from Ibanez. The basses are super light and extremely comfortable to play. Above all, there is not the slightest neck diving. When you're used to it, playing traditional instruments feels like self-mutilation.
Anyone that puts down short scale basses has never played a Squier Jaguar SS. The feel, the ergonomics, and the sound are all excellent. I'll never go back to 34". I don't know why Scott hates on the look. He must really think 6-string guitars "look crap" and are for kids, since they're significantly smaller than short scale basses. I have normal-sized hands with no injuries; I'm neither a beginner nor a kid. I only started playing a short scale a few years ago, and I regret not having played one long ago. It's much nicer to play than my clunky old P-Bass (which I since sold), and I love the sound. My Jag SS also has a contoured body. The slab body of the P-Bass was something I didn't appreciate for long, stand-up gigs. If I knew then what I know now, I would have played a Mustang from the start (there were no Jag SSs back then). The only issue is that they also have the slab body.
Gibson EB3: 2 humbuckers, 5 way rotary switch. Quite a range of rubbery, bottom end and a surprising amount of grit. Gibson EB0: 1 mudbucker with essentially one sound. Very big low end. Hardly any top! EDIT- The Gibson Triumph is easily the most sonically versatile bass I’ve ever owned (and HEAVIEST) and it’s a 30.3 scale length!
I've never liked the short scale bass thing until I played a Sire U5. I have to say it sounds closer to a long scale bass than other short scale basses I've played. Nice job guys!
Sounds great. Plays great. Well built. Overall amazing value. Looks completely stupid with that p-style headstock and tuning knobs. I love mine but it's destined to be modified.
To each, their own. Whatever makes great music. I really love bass talk and can even handle criticism that goes against my beliefs., but I would enjoy these videos so much more with way less forced laughter.
The Ibanez Mikro series of short scale basses are a lot of fun to play at 28.6" scale. They also do a medium scale series called Mezzo. But they are all very low-cost, budget-friendly instruments. Nothing on the higher end unless you looks at the SRC basses.
The Mikro is a lot of fun! The tone can be a bit grainy and coarse, but that can definitely suit some genres. The ergonomics are outstanding--it's ridiculously comfortable to play--and hits like a sledgehammer. Really good for such a low price. Great for a starter/travel/backup bass!
My Ibanez Mikro satisfies all my needs and wishes. When I tried a relative's full scale Fender, it felt very uncomfortable in comparison. Ibanez Mikro is so fun and easy and cool.
Who's this video for? It should be titled Scott sh#t's on short scale basses and bass players. Then oddly hucks the academy inbetween for people who dislike short scale basses? For the next one Ian should go solo.
That guitar guy playing the Jazzmaster in the JMJ St. Vincent video (Jason Falkner) does awesome work with short scale basses. And Chris Murphy from Sloan has made me want a Mustang since 1997. His playing, tone, and lines are fantastic.
I was longing so much for the Ibanez Mikro, but when I tested it, it sounded absollutely terrible! It was a model from 2024. My guess is, that they changed the pickups in the most recent model compared to older ones I have heard here on YT. The volume and sounds controls were technical absolute crap, too! I was sooo disappionted! I traveled 300 kilometers to the store for testing before buing, but finally I was glad I did, because I avoided a huge stinker. A real disappointment.
@@SisterRose Good to hear, Sister Rose! This gives me hope that the next batch @IbanezOfficial will produce, may have decent hardware again, not that crap they decided to put on the Mikro to save some Cent in production. Enjoy your bass!
I am 6’3 and I love short scales. I am getting rid of all my long scales. I find the opposite effect. They’re easier to shred around on. And I find it looks cooler live.
Good point. People tend to emphasize the extra-fat bottom end, but it's the upper register where basses in general sound the best and most unique compared to other stringed instruments, and short scales can sound really beautiful up there.
I love a short scale. outside of my stingray, my 2 most played basses are my mustang and my heavily modded bronco that has 2 t bird pickups in it lol. EDIT: also the short scale stingray still very much sounds like a stingray. where the fundamental isnt as strong across the board as it is on a mustang or other traditional SS.
I'll go farther and say that short scales are a bass player's secret weapon! I've always been a Fender P bass guy primarily (but also have some Warwicks, an MTD, etc) and a couple of years ago I picked up a Sandberg Lionel 30". It's been my main gigging bass ever since and I get tons of positive comments from fellow musicians and my bass player friends. It's truly an amazing bass, as are all Sandbergs. From garage rock to blues to reggae, it plays like a dream and sounds big and fat. Of course I string it with TI flats, but I can rock out with it, slap with it, play with a pick, or roll off the treble and thump it. The Lionel is a passive P bass short scale. I did a couple of pick up reggae gigs with it and even the drummer was like, woo! what IS that bass? I don't think y'all realize just how fat beefy and full the shorties sound. Well, maybe Ian does 😀. And hey on a typical constrained bar gig "stage", whoever is standing to your left is gonna really thank you for bringing a short scale. No more smacking the harp player in the face "accidentally"! I also recently picked up a custom made Sandberg PJ fretless with active electronics and it's bad ass too. Super light but very nice Jaco-ish bridge tone, fat P-bass neck tone and really nice mixed tone. I have a buddy with a couple of Wilcock basses and they're amazing too, but more expensive and value for $ I don't think you can beat a Sandberg. The Florence is another great Sandberg short scale, with the mudbucker and dirty tone-knob pulled tone shape. When I was buying my PJ, the Sandberg guy said you can actually custom order any of their basses in a short scale, though it might take a while. So yeah, short scales rule, and Sandbergs are absolutely stellar examples of them.
6'2'' 195#. 'm a big dude. My short scale is my favorite bass to play. Does it look small? Well, yes. But, not compared to a stratocaster. You ask why, or whom was the inspiration-- Muscular Dystrophy is the reason. My P-Bass is most of the time horrifically uncomfortable, and occasionally dangerous. However the Yamaha BB series is very comfortable.
I came to this video because I bought a Squier Bronco today. I already play a Squier Jazz bass, but I wanted something that I could throw around on stage a bit more easily. So far I'm loving it, but I have to say I wasn't expecting it to be quite so small. Something inbetween 30" and 34" would be great. Either way, it's a great value mod platform and I'm going to have a lot of fun with it. Appreciate the run down of short scale basses guys
Hey! Nice Starfire! I have a Starfire II that I got passed down to me, easily the coolest bass I own. I agree, it's not the one you play on everything, but when you break it out for the RIGHT thing, it's absolutely the star in the room.
I’m 6’1”, 200lbs and I’m a short scale convert. My ‘76 Musicmaster with a swapped McNelly pickup and my ‘70 Ampeg Dan Armstrong are my current favorites. I agree the stigma is silly snobbishness. Reminds me of the picking Vs finger style stupidness. It’s just another way to play bass.
The Gibson EB-0 doesn't have 2 pickups, it has the one mudbucker in the neck position and that's it. There is a walnut version of the EB-0 that has the pickup positioned further back if you want a bit better mid response, but it's still a big fat humbucking pickup, so don't expect P-bass tones from it :) the EB-3 has a bridge pickup Both basses are very similar otherwise being that they're SG shaped.
This is either ragebait for clicks or simple disrespect. Seems self defeating if he is trying to promote his learning product to bass players; is he only promoting his product to long scale bass players? I need to play short scale for shoulder problems and I am looking to commit to more lessons. Do I pick the guy that would look down on the gear I use as "stupid" and refers to me as "loser" playing my short scale bass to teach me? I'm going to pass him by and go to a teacher that is enthusisastic to promote bass playing and isn't as obviously hung up on how my bass looks on me. It's all quite silly really. I guess likewise one could say Scott looks like a child behind a full size bass, but who cares? He plays great.
Ok, no longer a fan. You can say something is not for you without making fun of those of us who are 5'0" and can't even get our hands to the end of a 34". Scott, you really need to make a video apologizing for this video.
To me they are alive and kicking! Love short scale basses:) My Sterling Short Scale Stingray has become one of my favorites among my instruments. You laugh now...but if later in life you ever had to contend with arthritis in your neck or shoulder, you will welcome the option of something that's not so hard on the body:)
What about Owen Biddle, especially when he played with The Roots? 30” Callowhill 6 string, active with Nordstrand dual coils and a freakin tubescreamer circuit built into the bass. It sounds absolutely massive on that album they did with John Legend.
Of course, Scot and Ian expressed their thoughts, which are not necessarily the same as those of the rest of humanity (can you imagine how boring that would be?), trying to make a joke out of it and going from small people to kids… trying to fix. It is funny? it is not? Just imagine this, I'm 1.85mt tall for 100Kg. Do I feel stupid with a short scale bass? Yes and I’m also a little embarrassed (thanks for reminding me this grrrr ;) every time I feel like the BIG BEAR on the minibike 😅 But unfortunately I had to go from a 34' to 29' scale due to problems with my shoulders and the articulations of my wrist and hands. The only way I can play bass is thanks to the use of a short-scale bass, because, you see, beyond the fact that a person for problems (but also just for convenience) uses a stool... a short-scale bass... or a glove, the only important thing is to play.. Hey, this is my tough, i say it all with love (cit), of course. The real problem of this video in my opinion, are not the joking moments that, by the way, made me laugh, but the fact that in the end there was little talk about short scale basses... Only boutique products as commented stevebarnes7353. But maybe the problem is that I had other expectations about a short scale basses video
I just played a gig with my Spector Bantam 4, which is a 30" active short scale bass, and it sounded great. After the show, I got MANY compliments on the tone and looks of it. I have a decent collection of some very high-end basses and the Spector Bantam is my favorite by far. I have wrist and elbow injuries on my left side and the Bantam allows me to continue to play without being in constant pain or making my old injuries worse. Playing for more than a few seconds the lower frets on a full scale bass for me has become almost impossible.
Scott keeps making the same joke over and over, one that short scale players have encountered countless times. No mention of bassists with disabilities or injuries. Way to further stigmatize using short scales at the peak of their popularity! Love the toxic masculinity on full display here boys!
![[Limbus Company - Teaser] Season5 - Oblivion](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8anKuEeZLeI/mqdefault.jpg)
I’m a small guy in a wheelchair, so I prefer the size of short scale basses, particularly for the body size, I recently bought myself a Gretsch G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet Bass II, and it’s the best bass I’ve ever played
They also just sound different. They have a cool tone you can't get out of a long scale.
I picked up a Junior Jet at a pawn shop and pulled the frets to make a fretless. It's unique and very fast playing.
Have one too. bridge pickup only and plucking close to the neck you can really make it growl. 😎
I've got a G2220 as well and I love them with flats on.
Of all my basses (various scales and manufacturers), that's the one I love and play the most. Awesome bass!
The comments seem to indicate that short scale basses are not only alive and kicking, but well loved for their many advantages.
Please, Scott, make another video with the title: "Are Long Scale Bass Players SNOBS?"
And a blind-test comparisons, Scott, please: "Whas this played on a long scale bass or a short scale bass?" - complete with ratings from 1 to 10.
Retract and repent 😂
The comments display a certain "culture" of being offended, too.
I absolutely agree on the blind-test format - bring it, guys!
And not a solo bass track but in a mix with bass tracks played with different instruments. Nobody cares about solo bass other than a small number of bass players.
@@C0urne Right: and let the same player play the same short piece with his band, several times, switching basses. Or not switching basses and using the "Leland Sklar switch trick" to change the sound. Also - instead of switching instruments, switch from two fingers to one finger to thumb to pick. Or let several wellknown bass RUclipsrs play both with their most hated and their most loved instruments to the same backing track.
Would be highly entertaining to watch a bunch of "gear snobs" as they listen to such a blind test and try to find out what was what.
Only indie chicks plays short scale too look good
I play upright bass as my main gig. When it comes to my electric bass, I have nothing to prove to anyone, and I have a blast playing my little short scale squier jaguar bass. Baby's got some THUMP.
The bass player in the band I'm in turned up at our most recent gig with his stand up string bass, his Epiphone acoustic bass (which is rather lovely - it looks like an acoustic guitar), his Gretsch short scale, and his Ashbory mega-short bass - the one with the rubber strings, and they all got a look-in.
I'm the guitarist - I'm supposed to be the one with the rack of instruments!
@@BackToTheBluesAs a fellow bass guy with all the gear (2-3 basses, 10 pedal board, rack all come to every gig), some of us are coming for ya. 😆
@@WilDBeestMF 😄😄😄
From a player's perspective, I think short-scale acoustic bass guitars sound better than full-scale. There's a little more pinpoint mid-range that sticks out, while full-scale loses some tone into the air. Not sure if this is the case to someone listening, or how they record, but just from the player's perspective.
yea it's all thump is the problem. :) But if you just want to thump then yes it's the right bass.
I wish I went short scale sooner. So much more comfortable to play. I have back issues and occasional pins and needles in my left hand due to a bad back. I won't let ego punish my body unnecessarily.
Ibanez has a headless 4 string called ehb1000s. Its under 7 pounds a lot of the time
Isn't it just the opposite? I've noticed that short scale basses have become MORE trendy in recent years, not LESS. And it's not for the ease of play. It's for the sound.
Very true but mostly in the indie / alternative world. Less so apart from that
They've been trendy for like 8 years, they are likely going to be less in style in the coming years, they are approaching a decade of being hip.
@@studiodsr That's true. But A LOT of session players use them regularly now, and not just for indie tracks. They use them for a certain vintage vibe but with a little more character than your standard P bass.
The short scale trend has been around for over a decade
It's nboth, they sound different too.
You guys should check out this band called The Rolling Stones. Their bass player played short scale exclusively for his 30 year stint
Should also check out a very obscure group called the Beatles.
@@michaelhall9138 What!?! That's not even how you spell Beetle!
Long live the short scale! Reports of its death are highly exaggerated.
I decided to go with a Fender Mustang short scale for my first real bass and I couldn’t be happier
They are great ! I have had a Japanese one for a long time
Yeah my mustang is really nice! Not really enough tension to go below standard, but that just forces me to be more creative within my restraints
Music Man makes an amazing short scale Stingray with passive pickups that is as nice as any bass I've ever played.
My only bass, and I love it.
I have the active Tim Cummerford and a passive ….. these basses are fabulous !!
Those guys were so silly I stopped watching and went to the comments. I bought the Fiesta red ss stingray with the roasted maple neck and love it. I also bought a great 32" scale bass by Offbeat guitars and sold my 34" scale basses.
I'm not a fan of the Mustang design but I love a Stingray and hadn't heard of this! Thanks for mentioning!
Do Music Man still offer this short scale Stingray? I only saw sterling version on Reverb, but not the EBMM
Scott did a great job of kind of making fun of people that want to play a smaller bass because it's more comfortable for.them...duh! Maybe time to take a course on not potentially turning off a group of potential customers.
I’ve been thinking about adding online lessons to my practicing as I’m only self taught and honestly his intro monologue/rant kinda really turned me off to the notion of using SBL.
I'm 5' 11" and normal size hands. I play only a short scale. My Fender Squire Jaguar is affordable, playable, and sounds great!
👌🏽
Ha! Same height and hand size and I got a Squier Jaguar 32" bass last year. Haven't touched my P-Bass since.
@@Joe.Copalman awesome! I had a different one (same model) that the previous owner had customized and upgraded. The current one was a few lbs lighter so I swapped out all the customization and ended up with a silver bass that is just a hair under 8 lbs 😂
Tall with long arms and fingers here, and I spend way more time playing my short scales. 34" generally feels needlessly cumbersome and awkward by comparison.
I am a new bass player (less than 3yrs in - coming from guitar), & I wonder how my Ibanez Mikro compares to the Jaguar.
I’ve never even played a full size bass yet (I’m 5’1…under 100lbs 😂) but I’m sure it will be an experience to play what these guys here call a “real bass” some day. 🤭😂
*I’m less than 10 mins in & wondering if this whole thing is just an hour long video of these dudes bashing short scale basses & players.
🥱🙃😂
Scott's opening comment about big people playing a short scale bass could be considered highly insulting. I have sustained serious injuries in both shoulders. Reaching out to even tune a 34" (or more) bass is just not possible. Frankly, I have found it more possible to play a 32" headless bass because of damage limiting my reach. Reaching down to the butt of the bass to tune works well for me. Oh, I'm 5'10" and 220 pounds, definitely not small.
Offence is something you choose to create, it is not given to you.
Scott didn't make a statement about injuries, really. Listen like a musician. Closely.
@@mattcheckleybass absolute bullshit
You're digging a hole Scott and it seems to be getting deeper by the minute. Not good.
Wow I’m surprised by the negative judgement at the beginning of this. For a bass informational and “appreciation” channel. Sorta bummed by it. I have and play short scale AND full scale. They have their pros and cons. I know they got to that, but just surprised Scott would be so down on them and the people that play them.
It's not a surprise. These are the guys that make endless videos on P- and J-basses as they were the only proper instruments. Plus the other guy not Scott likes a Thunderbird because of its design flaws.
a long scale can also look ridic on the wrong person looks like someones picking fruit out the tree
was just a bit sexist at times this video even if indirectly
@@holliefitzzz I'd say it's better to ignore the instrument to person proportions.
I don't know why people didn't get that Scott was just making fun of Ian, because Ian is very tall and has and plays many short scale basses. It had nothing to do with making fun of anyone else who plays short scale basses or short scale basses at all.
I got my left wrist broken 2 years ago and, while recovering from the injury, I bought a great Marcus Miller Sire U5 short scale bass because the pain when playing my old reliable Fender Jazz Bass was terrible, and with a short scale bass I could play almost perfectly. The sound was extremely good and, even today, I use it almost every day! :-D
I did that with a u-bass after I had shoulder surgery
This is the only sbl video I’ve seen that I think is dumb. And I watch sbl ALL the time.
In case that seemed defensive, I don’t even play short scale basses. I’m a cheap p-bass knockoff lover. But come on; they have a sound, they look great, they’re on records you probably love.
How on earth can you talk about short scale basses and not name: Mike Watt, Tina Weymouth or Lonnie Marshall?
kim gordon
@@zippy8442I've never seen Kim Gordon play a short scale bass.
@@thomas79marshall musicmaster & ebo
@@zippy8442 Kim Gordon is more associated with a Gibson Thunderbird definitely.
Hello? Or Stanley Clarke? Or Evan Marien?
Thom Yorke has been rocking short scales with The Smile for the last few years.
Thom Yorke is one of my idols, I got a PJ Mustang short scale this year and love it (I'm a 5'6" woman with small hands, it's been nice to learn on something I can maneuver more easily than my bf's full-scale bass I was learning on prior). This vid was such a bummer to hear from these dudes I look up to so much. They should definitely do a blind test, if they're gonna be snobby about it 😵💫
@@jschaetz Ian loves and plays short scale basses. And with Scott, it's just a personal preference. Don't take it so hard.
So are we just gonna forget about Stanley Clark?
They would have needed to buy an Alembic. Not gonna happen
They have sucked the F out of Leo for so long they can't afford (Scott's words) an Alembic. Stanley plays short scale. The Brown Bass was his when his was stolen. His signature model is based on its size and shape.
Is he really an important player ?!?? Don't think so ...
@@callingchristiano are u joking??
@@WillXPower99 yes !! I love his work on Romantic Warrior
That godamn hofner sounds like actual magic every time Ian pulls it out. It might not be versatile, but that is still my favorite bass sound period.
I have a Hofner 1962 reissue (German built) and the woody tone is magical. Strung eith Pyramid flats.
Love the sound of the Hofner.
9 shortscale basses here. No toys, for me, there's absolutely no reason to play longscales anymore, allthough I own some pretty good ones too.
9 for me too!
The thump of a Mustang with flats and a pick is unfuckwithable. And the deep drone of an EB-O neck pickup produce vibrations that break down the contents of your bowels aiding in digestion.
Love it! That's ad copy that would actually get me to buy something!
Got a PJ Mustang this year, been playing on flats and LOVE it. It's perfect for what I need. Surprisingly snobby takes from this channel I usually love
@@jschaetz This channel has its hits and misses like any, but for the most part has been steadily increasing in quality. But this episode was just a huge misstep from them. Any time you're going discuss or review something, it should be fair and take the subject on its own merits, and here it just felt like snobbery, mockery, lame attempts at humor, and lazy dismissivenes.
@@jschaetz I think they were taking the good cop bad cop approach, I think Scott is very aware that the point of view he portrayed is shared by a percentage of bass players.
That right there about the Mustang. You couldn't be more right.
ruclips.net/video/1B1uf121ULw/видео.html
No way. A lot of bassists I know gig with short scales, and I have a short scale p bass, and a Guild Starfire II which is 31.5" I think.
I have an old starfire II also and the thing is an absolute low-down, dirty whore of a bass. It does soul, RnB and funk so good! My ears are salivating at thought of spanking the old girl Scrumptious!
I've been looking for a pbass Jr.
Close minded nonsense based on vanity,
It's so uppity and crappy for him to say that nonsense.
I don't know of any records Scott has played on 😝😝😝 but I bet almost evrybody knows a record made by short scalers such as Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman and Jack Bruce.
Yep and Tina Weymouth and Stanley Clarke,Allen Woody, Mike Kerr, Mike Watt, Death From Above. Et Cetera
@@geraldfriend256 Mike Watt!
@andreedipo6356 Yes, the spiel-meister himself. I listened to tbe entire fIREHOSE catalog again a few days ago...fantastic!
Apparently they’re “losers”….pffft time to find another bass channel.
I’ve one huge issue with this video. They fixate on the retro short scale and at one point it is said that there’s no modern active short scales. Spector has the bantam, which is active. Warwick has an active short scale corvette and there’s the stingray short. Though the stingrays not active, it does sound close to a regular stingray. I feel that they have misled the viewer, maybe through bias but there is definitely a more modern option if you’re looking for a short scale.
Lots of Vulfpeck recorded on a super-shortscale 28" mini Pbass (eg. Birds of a Feather, Running Away, My First Car, a lot of Sauna). My son has the Squier version and it's truly incredible, sounds and feels better than a lot of much more expensive instruments, go figure.
Yes I’m 5’2 ft (157cm) and I’m thankful we have short scale basses. I has made it so easier for me to play and better for my hands.
I just got a JMJ and it's quickly becoming my go-to bass.
Same, got a JMJ as I'm coming from a guitar back ground and it's been a really fun bass to play with. It just needed a set up because out of the box the intonation and string hight was off
It‘s on my shortlist. Just has more oomph than the more precise 34“.
Just got a PJ Mustang, I love it so far!
I think you guys missed a MAJOR pro of short scale basses. Here it is. You can have the best gear in the world, but if your performance sucks then you sound bad. It isn't the gear, it's the performance that counts. If an instrument is easier to play, then your performance is better. Short scale for the win.
I find long scales easier to play sometimes because the extra tension on the strings makes them respond quicker for faster finger style playing, but not always
@@mattster693 it is easy to put on higher tensions strings to get rid of floppy strings ie labella dtf's or ghs balanced nickels.
@@reelchef67 I could try that, but I don’t really find the long scale a hinderance of any sort playability or sound wise tbh, the moor tubby sound a short scale makes just doesn’t sound as good with my aggressive right hand technique making notes sharp at the transients, at least not thru a bass amp where the low end is more revealing, but if all I really needed was heaps of high bass and low mids to cut in a mellow context I’d try it
It definitely is THE reason I advocate for short scales. One can manage to get pretty much any sound he/she wants with all the string and pickup options available nowadays.
Really surprised by Scott's take on this, almost kind of disappointing. Been waiting for a really awesome short scale video being as I just got back into bass playing again partly because of the smaller scale, and I'm not a smaller sized person.
a lot of big guys play electric guitars as well, and they're as big as a short scale basses. I don't think anyone ridicules guitar players for playing 'smaller' instruments
Yeah, he definitely loses a lot of points here.
@@SO-ym3zs agreed. As a owner of two, I am disappointed
It was a great vid on short scales on my opinion....at least Scott is honest about his opinion, he does like to tease but that's just how British people are haha. Gotta remember everyone has different taste.
@@FromTheMosh I think it would have been a lot more helpful and interesting if he had tried to be less humorous/jokey/mean and more objective for those who seeking useful info. You can dislike something and still make an effort to discuss it intelligently, factually, and objectively. And if you can't, recuse yourself and let the other guy handle the video solo.
I started playing short scale when my shoulders began to really fail me.
I play a Sire U5. I also use a Boss OC-5 to add just a touch of up octave. I really enjoy the tone.
EB-0 has a Mudbucker pickup in neck position alone. EB-3 has the bridge mini humbucker as well.
Also, the eb0 is a short scale, eb3 is a full scale
@@juanjreyes4230 No ; there was a long-scale version of the EB-3 called the EB-3L but they didn't sell well and are very rare.
Yes, this is true. I owned a EB0 once as my second bass of all (first one was a Framus J-Bass replica - and that one really sucked!). Must have been in the mid-70s and even then folks alreary made fun of short-scale bass-players: real bass-players play long-scale. So after a year or so I traded it in for an Aria Pro II Rickenbacker 4001 replica (which was not a real long-scale, either). Until today I deeply regret having gotten rid of the Gibson then.
I played a Jazz bass for decades but as I got older my hands started to hurt more, perhaps early arthritis, and my shoulders began to hurt more if I played long periods of time. Then I switched to short scale and that all went away & playing was fun again 🙂
Mannn thanks I’m dealing with the same thing. I saw this one bass player just flowing so easily on short scale bass on some really fast swing . It was like is was way easier for him he’s a big guy to like 6’5 can u send links to good short scale basses? I play for church black church at that lol so needa good one haha
Video should be titled "Scott hates short scale basses and will ridicule anyone who enjoys playing them".
..including McCartney and Stanley Clarke...
He says they look stupid. This is the guy that wears that glove saying something looks stupid. Lack of self awareness or pitiful troll, you be the judge
He's just having a laugh. Relax.
I’ve been playing bass for like 20 years. I’m decent but nothing special I just enjoy playing. I’ve recently fell in love with short scale basses! I have a squire rascal now I’m getting a sire u5 next. I may switch my entire setup to short scale. And I’m 6’3 300 pound gentleman. Do I look a little funny…yes lol. But it feels good and that’s all that matters!
I have a Squire Rascal, it's my current fave bass. And size wise it's huge for a short scale!
@@Davey-Boyd the fedax guys walked across my box so I did need to setup my rascal a little bit. But after that a great bass with a super fat sound! And yes I’m shock by the size, it won’t even fit into most of my cases
Surprised Tina Weymouth didn't make the top 5.5 list!
Nice pin up, pretty basic player though.
@@GrandadTinkerer Wow. There are a lot of bass players out there who, in their "basic" playing, have, along with the drummers, really made the solid core of the band. You can't have a good band with just flashy riffs, or a singer with a strong personality, no matter how good they are.
It's fair to say if someone is basic player or not, if that is your opinion, but there is an additional dismissive and grossly sexist layer when you lead with the whole ""nice pin up" comment. Guys don't get crap like that when their skills are being criticized.
@@GrandadTinkerer Bullocks.
@@GrandadTinkerer
Tina is a bad ass, her “basic” playing helped define two amazing bands with countless hits. Being unnecessarily complex and overplaying is for wankers.
@@Icecream_ghost Amen. Kim Deal of the Pixies is similar: even simpler lines than Weymouth, but they help define the sound of an original, super-influential rock band. Crazy chops are for lead guitarists (he says only half in jest).
Love you guys, and this was terrible. Did no one prepare for this topic?
Scott couldn't be any wronger with his cons. Seriously.... They don't feel crap, they don't sound only tubby, there are modern active shorties (Alembic, Ibanez, etc).... And they fucking don't look stupid. Get of your high horse, will ya?
The P-bass Mafia
30” scale basses do indeed “feel crap” and “sound tubby”. Lol
I think it is kind of funny, that someone could think, that going with shorter scale you would loose "bass" from your sound. But it is actually opposite. You would loose clarity and high end definition. For me it turned out, that this is what I need. JMJ Mustang with flats is what I need for my music. And since I did not play a bass for 6 months before buying one, there is no weird feeling. Sure, if you play 34 scale every day for 15 years, it short scale could feel weird.
I started on a used 1963 EB-0 in 1978 as a high school freshman. It had a beautiful neck, typical of the Gibsons of its day. I turned it into my own version of Lee Sklar's Frankenstein - hacking in a DiMarzio Model-P, adding a Badass II bridge and replacing the nylon wrapped flats with Rotosounds, all to get some treble and mid into that thing. I am probably guilty of desecration in all of that.
The day I bought my first long-scale bass, in 2001, was a day of pure joy.
Learned on a bronco and always stuck with short scale. The dads love telling me to get a proper bass but rock is rock.
Pfffft... I'm 6'5" and I love my short-scale. Some people care more about appearances though, like an idiot who would pay a ton of $$$ to have something reliced.
Rumored for the next NAMM - Fander Monster Mega King Kömpenzætör Gigantor Bass.
Body: old growth redwood stump cross sections, lightly rasped, not sanded. Neck: reclaimed telephone poles, half sawn, unfinished, with original, relic, creosote still present. Low E string: actual reworked suspension bridge cable. Frets: 30d nails. 84" scale. 154lbs (without strings). Tuners: Repurposed Nautical Winches. 12 HammerBucker pickups. 44 strings play subsonically.
Guaranteed to help anyone's shaky self esteem, provided they can lift it!
I’ll never get over Mike Kerr playing a $300 bass in front of huge crowds. (I mean this positively. It’s awesome.)
I bought one because I saw him playing it, I picked mine up for just under $200. It's an amazing instrument, and not just for the price. It has a very unique sound but it works great in many contexts
@@thierry18 Same and I like it a lot. Would only change some of the hardware. I’d like to upgrade the bridge first because that gives me some problems.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with playing an inexpensive instrument. People need to get over the price of things, and use their ears and their sense of musicianship. That's why he plays it. It looks cool, it feels good, and it sounds really good. Its cost is unimportant - to everyone but you guys.
@@WilDBeestMF I think it’s awesome he does it. Didn’t mean it in a negative way. Most players would act too good for it.
If it’s a good one then it is. A $3,000 basses can be dogs too. $30K basses-same.
JMJ was pivotal on many fronts... short scales, effects (WAY into massive pedalboards on the scene in Beck's band WAY before Tim Lefevbre rose to the prominence he has now), using flatwound strings... the list goes on. And yes, I remember seeing him on SNL post -Mutations and Midnight Vultures playing his Starfire and Coronado... shredding on the Coronado with a pick playing some of the busiest yet in-the-pocket Jamerson/Carol Kaye-esque shit ever. He's massively underrated by the RUclips bass nerds.
A fun hack, if you detune a standard scale length bass a whole step and then capo at the 2nd fret, you end up back at standard tuning and are very close to a 30" scale length for the more compact fret spacing but you can use whatever bass you want.
I've been using a Mustang as my main bass for about a year now and while I love the shorter spacing between frets and the comfortable reach everywhere on the neck, what's actually been a real annoyance is finding strings that fit right for the short scale length. I've tried several different brands who offer specific short scale string sets and it's really hit or miss if the taper at the end of the strings will actually line up properly and I usually end up having to unwind it myself to get the strings to work, mostly the low E. That tends to result in less than ideal tuning stability which I wasn't expecting before the purchase.
Try LaBella Deep-Talking flats specifically for Mustang short scales.
This is an awesome trick I just discovered the other day! It's a great way to see what a short scale would sound like with no other variables changed. When I did it to my bass, it sounded great and played way easier, slapped easier too because the strings were more slack. It made me really want to get a short scale bass. Personally I think my slap bass sounded way better when I made the scale shorter, at least on my bass.
It really depends what kind of Mustang you're playing. If it's a string-thru-body like the JMJ, MIJs or vintage models you should pick medium scale strings - personally I like flats and use LaBella 760F-MUS and Thomastik-Infeld JF-324 on my Mustangs. With non-string-thru-body models you should be good to go with short scale strings.
This is the 1st of your videos that I've disagreed about almost everything. 2 men that share a face and know very little about the Beatles. I'll continue to search for the upper 'horn' on my violin bass so I can attach the sticker that came with my Fender Bassman
A shoulder issue is what got me into short scales. Btw they don't all sound tubby. A reverse P pickup will do wonders when it comes to a tighter sound more like a normal P bass.
Honorable mention to bass RUclipsr/pro Philip Conrad. He plays a mustang in Rhett Shull's band. He also has some really great short scale bass content.
Stanley Clarke. He plays a short scale bass. An Alembic short scale. And I don't think he looks stupid. As for the sheer tone and style of playing he gets out of that thing...
I'm a 53 year old 6'3" person who has physical disabilities and mobility issues. I'm trying to learn bass through SBL acadamy. I have a very cheap 34" jazz style bass and it's k1lling me. It's too heavy to set up by myself and exhausting to use, even though I'm always seated, so I've been thinking that perhaps if I win lotto, something like a fender kingman might be better. Please don't boot me from the academy Scott for considering the double whammy, short scale AND acoustic haha.
My dad moved to a Squier Mustang after 40+ years playing long scale basses professionally. That change bought him another 10 years of playing before post-polio syndrome finally drove him to retirement.
I had to switch to a lightweight short scale for mobility issues and am so happy I did. Headless short scales are even easier to play.
This video is very disappointing, narrow-minded and quite frankly disrespectful coming from you Scott... not your normal balanced view. If the esteemed, super tall, Stanley Clarke chose to play an Alembic short scale bass as his main bass, speaks for itself.
Listen to "Crossroads" live at Winterland 1968 or Frank Zappa's "Apostrophe' and tell me that Jack Bruce can't play. I DARE you Scott!
Stanley Clarke plays a short scale bass
Yeah, I thought he was going to be on the list for sure.
Indeed. Although should mention he has often been playing "Piccolo Bass" along with a "Low Bass" player.
His main bass is a short scale Alembic is a short scale
Scott is so self conscious that he can’t even bring himself to wear a short scale bass for this video.😝🎸
Pros:
* Generally smaller and lighter, so easier on the shoulder/thigh, and well suited to anyone with a smaller stature, though perfectly playable by larger folks. I've heard lots of players with arthritis or other physical setbacks say that short-scales are easier for them, too.
* Different sound: more thump, less chime
* Easier for guitarists doubling on bass or switching to bass
* Easier/more comfortable to play because of the narrower fret spacing and reduced string tension (easier to bend strings, too)
Cons:
* Harder to detune without string flop or intonation issues
* Fewer options to choose from in a world (sadly) dominated by 34"s
* If you build muscle memory on a 30", switching to a 34" and back again can be weird, but that has nothing to do with the short scale per se
Not a con: how it looks. Unless you have some weird self-esteem hangup, where you have to play a huge instrument, playing a slightly smaller bass won't look strange--certainly no stranger than the millions playing electric guitars, which are even smaller--let alone mandolins, ukuleles, violins, etc.
I’m a beginner bass player only been playing for a year and a half. I am only 5’1” tall my arms are proportionate to my height I have short scale bass due to my physical stature and small hands. I have a Hofner bass and Squire Bronco bass. I also have a full size p-bass which I also love because of the variety of tones which are so different from my short scale basses. Please don’t discount the short scales they have their place for people like me.
I play long, short and ultrashort(Kala Ubass) and love them all. I’m 6’1” about 210 lbs. I really don’t care what I look like when I’m playing. They all have good points and differences. Just play what you like and don’t listen to what others think, especially folks with swollen egos!
Every time Scott “says ‘small people’ and laughs” I cringe so bad, and I play a regular scale bass. But as a woman with smaller hands, it feels like shlt.
Glarry, known as a low-cost instrument maker, has a very short scale bass that has a 25.5" scale length. They call it a kids bass, but you can find many RUclips reviews of it by adult bass players who like it. I recently bought one for US$99 directly from Glarry, including shipping in the USA.
I just reworked a 60s Japanese 25.5 er and tuned it CGDA ( exact cello tuning) with real cello strings. Brutal string tension and low output.. But sooo lovely warm and dark. Especially cuz I never use a pick. Ibanez has a 27.5 incher that interests me. Pretty cheap too.
Oh and thanx for the tip; I need one of those
Ibanez even has a 5-string in 28.6" scale (two actually, in the Talman style and the GSRM25), I tuned my GSRM25 as a piccolo bass, ADGCF.
The EB3 had 2 pickups and a multi-position dial switch. Neck p/u was the same old “mud bucker”, and the bridge p/u was a “mini” humbucker much like the current SG Bass. It also had an adjustable bridge, unlike the EB0. I rebuilt one in 1982, rewound the p/us and found a better bridge. Got rid of that selector switch too; it was way too noisy. Mini toggles were quieter. I kick myself for having sold it.
It’s wild to me that neither of them knew the difference between the EB-0 and EB-3. Maybe it’s because I put a lot of research into the instrument I want 🤷🏾♂️
I'm surprised that Nick Campbell isn't on the list. He's the reason I started looking at short scale basses and he's and absolute MONSTER player.
At the start of the video I was looking in chapters on timeline if Nick is mentioned :D First thing I did.
Is this in addition to his Radio 5 duties 🤣
I feel disheartened by this conversation.
As a mere covers band player in UK pubs, I got a short scale for the sheer physical reasons of having so little space, and not want to either "tap" my headstock on a wall, or smack the singer, etc. The 30" scale made it much more appropriate for those gigs where space was a premium.
I went with a Vox Airstream Artist which comes with a Gotoh bridge and machine heads and a Aguilar active EQ and (musicman-style) humbucker pickup. It's been great to play. I did consider the Sterling short-scale, the Nordstrand "cat", Gretsch basses. But the Vox was a great price. I also know someone with the Sandberg Lionel - they are happy with that.
On a negative that you didn't mention, was strings - there are much fewer choices of strings.
Dang. Way to lose support
I am a 70 year old beginning guitar player who just got turned on to the idea of trying bass. Something about it just speaks to my soul. Soaking up knowledge - shopping soon. Thank you so much gentlemen!
Stanley Clarke plays a 30.75" scale. Macca's Hofner is 30". Get over it. Shall I go on?
EB-0 had only 1 pickup, and was first marketed in 1959 in response to the declining sales of Gibson's EB-1.
(was also available as the EB-0L long scale and EB-0F with a built in passive fuzz)
The EB-1 was a solid body shaped like a double bass
The EB-2 was the semi hollow body es335 shaped bass with 2 pickups
The EB-3 has 2 pickups with a 4 way rotary switch
Ian is so pure and good. Scott is a tool
I'm rather tall and my favorite is still a shortscale bass. I love my EHB SMS (short multiscale) series instruments from Ibanez. The basses are super light and extremely comfortable to play. Above all, there is not the slightest neck diving. When you're used to it, playing traditional instruments feels like self-mutilation.
Anyone that puts down short scale basses has never played a Squier Jaguar SS. The feel, the ergonomics, and the sound are all excellent. I'll never go back to 34".
I don't know why Scott hates on the look. He must really think 6-string guitars "look crap" and are for kids, since they're significantly smaller than short scale basses.
I have normal-sized hands with no injuries; I'm neither a beginner nor a kid. I only started playing a short scale a few years ago, and I regret not having played one long ago. It's much nicer to play than my clunky old P-Bass (which I since sold), and I love the sound. My Jag SS also has a contoured body. The slab body of the P-Bass was something I didn't appreciate for long, stand-up gigs.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have played a Mustang from the start (there were no Jag SSs back then). The only issue is that they also have the slab body.
Gibson EB3: 2 humbuckers, 5 way rotary switch. Quite a range of rubbery, bottom end and a surprising amount of grit.
Gibson EB0: 1 mudbucker with essentially one sound. Very big low end. Hardly any top!
EDIT- The Gibson Triumph is easily the most sonically versatile bass I’ve ever owned (and HEAVIEST) and it’s a 30.3 scale length!
Mudbucker! Oh my, yes!
I've never liked the short scale bass thing until I played a Sire U5. I have to say it sounds closer to a long scale bass than other short scale basses I've played. Nice job guys!
Sounds great. Plays great. Well built. Overall amazing value. Looks completely stupid with that p-style headstock and tuning knobs. I love mine but it's destined to be modified.
My parents bought me a short scale bass when I was 11 years old. 10 years and tons of gigs later I still play it and love it.
To each, their own. Whatever makes great music.
I really love bass talk and can even handle criticism that goes against my beliefs., but I would enjoy these videos so much more with way less forced laughter.
The Ibanez Mikro series of short scale basses are a lot of fun to play at 28.6" scale. They also do a medium scale series called Mezzo. But they are all very low-cost, budget-friendly instruments. Nothing on the higher end unless you looks at the SRC basses.
The Mikro is a lot of fun! The tone can be a bit grainy and coarse, but that can definitely suit some genres. The ergonomics are outstanding--it's ridiculously comfortable to play--and hits like a sledgehammer. Really good for such a low price. Great for a starter/travel/backup bass!
My Ibanez Mikro satisfies all my needs and wishes. When I tried a relative's full scale Fender, it felt very uncomfortable in comparison. Ibanez Mikro is so fun and easy and cool.
@@jensbomholt4529 It's the bass that got me back into bass playing after a long hiatus and made me switch from guitar to bass permanenly.
Who's this video for? It should be titled Scott sh#t's on short scale basses and bass players. Then oddly hucks the academy inbetween for people who dislike short scale basses? For the next one Ian should go solo.
Hear, hear
That guitar guy playing the Jazzmaster in the JMJ St. Vincent video (Jason Falkner) does awesome work with short scale basses. And Chris Murphy from Sloan has made me want a Mustang since 1997. His playing, tone, and lines are fantastic.
St. Vincent borrowing like half of Beck's band here! And Jellyfish were the absolute best.
you can pry my PB Shorty and Ibanez Mikro out of my dead chubby hands lol
I have a micro too. I’m posting Player’s Path videos right now and it sounds great. I don’t have many basses, but this is my favorite
I was longing so much for the Ibanez Mikro, but when I tested it, it sounded absollutely terrible!
It was a model from 2024. My guess is, that they changed the pickups in the most recent model compared to older ones I have heard here on YT. The volume and sounds controls were technical absolute crap, too! I was sooo disappionted!
I traveled 300 kilometers to the store for testing before buing, but finally I was glad I did, because I avoided a huge stinker.
A real disappointment.
@@Kunibert_Knatter Mine's from 2023 and sounds great. not as high output as I'd like(I have a jazz bass that puts out more) but great sound
@@SisterRose Good to hear, Sister Rose! This gives me hope that the next batch @IbanezOfficial will produce, may have decent hardware again, not that crap they decided to put on the Mikro to save some Cent in production.
Enjoy your bass!
I am 6’3 and I love short scales. I am getting rid of all my long scales. I find the opposite effect. They’re easier to shred around on. And I find it looks cooler live.
(and my favorite thing about short scale basses is how they sound in their upper register - so pillowy and soft and rich)
Good point. People tend to emphasize the extra-fat bottom end, but it's the upper register where basses in general sound the best and most unique compared to other stringed instruments, and short scales can sound really beautiful up there.
I love a short scale. outside of my stingray, my 2 most played basses are my mustang and my heavily modded bronco that has 2 t bird pickups in it lol. EDIT: also the short scale stingray still very much sounds like a stingray. where the fundamental isnt as strong across the board as it is on a mustang or other traditional SS.
I sincerely hope Scott is just trolling us for comment count.
Simon Gallup (The Cure) has some of the most iconic bass lines over his 45 years with the Cure.. On stage presence is also top notch.
I'll go farther and say that short scales are a bass player's secret weapon! I've always been a Fender P bass guy primarily (but also have some Warwicks, an MTD, etc) and a couple of years ago I picked up a Sandberg Lionel 30". It's been my main gigging bass ever since and I get tons of positive comments from fellow musicians and my bass player friends. It's truly an amazing bass, as are all Sandbergs. From garage rock to blues to reggae, it plays like a dream and sounds big and fat. Of course I string it with TI flats, but I can rock out with it, slap with it, play with a pick, or roll off the treble and thump it. The Lionel is a passive P bass short scale. I did a couple of pick up reggae gigs with it and even the drummer was like, woo! what IS that bass? I don't think y'all realize just how fat beefy and full the shorties sound. Well, maybe Ian does 😀. And hey on a typical constrained bar gig "stage", whoever is standing to your left is gonna really thank you for bringing a short scale. No more smacking the harp player in the face "accidentally"! I also recently picked up a custom made Sandberg PJ fretless with active electronics and it's bad ass too. Super light but very nice Jaco-ish bridge tone, fat P-bass neck tone and really nice mixed tone. I have a buddy with a couple of Wilcock basses and they're amazing too, but more expensive and value for $ I don't think you can beat a Sandberg. The Florence is another great Sandberg short scale, with the mudbucker and dirty tone-knob pulled tone shape. When I was buying my PJ, the Sandberg guy said you can actually custom order any of their basses in a short scale, though it might take a while. So yeah, short scales rule, and Sandbergs are absolutely stellar examples of them.
Sire Marcus Miller U5, love it
6'2'' 195#. 'm a big dude. My short scale is my favorite bass to play. Does it look small? Well, yes. But, not compared to a stratocaster.
You ask why, or whom was the inspiration-- Muscular Dystrophy is the reason. My P-Bass is most of the time horrifically uncomfortable, and occasionally dangerous.
However the Yamaha BB series is very comfortable.
I came to this video because I bought a Squier Bronco today. I already play a Squier Jazz bass, but I wanted something that I could throw around on stage a bit more easily.
So far I'm loving it, but I have to say I wasn't expecting it to be quite so small. Something inbetween 30" and 34" would be great. Either way, it's a great value mod platform and I'm going to have a lot of fun with it. Appreciate the run down of short scale basses guys
Hey! Nice Starfire! I have a Starfire II that I got passed down to me, easily the coolest bass I own. I agree, it's not the one you play on everything, but when you break it out for the RIGHT thing, it's absolutely the star in the room.
I'm a long time lifetime SBLA member and you guys are usually entertaining but your opening comments are not funny
I’m 6’1”, 200lbs and I’m a short scale convert. My ‘76 Musicmaster with a swapped McNelly pickup and my ‘70 Ampeg Dan Armstrong are my current favorites. I agree the stigma is silly snobbishness. Reminds me of the picking Vs finger style stupidness. It’s just another way to play bass.
Musicman USA Sterling HH, often mixed up with the Stirling Sub.
The Gibson EB-0 doesn't have 2 pickups, it has the one mudbucker in the neck position and that's it. There is a walnut version of the EB-0 that has the pickup positioned further back if you want a bit better mid response, but it's still a big fat humbucking pickup, so don't expect P-bass tones from it :)
the EB-3 has a bridge pickup
Both basses are very similar otherwise being that they're SG shaped.
This is either ragebait for clicks or simple disrespect. Seems self defeating if he is trying to promote his learning product to bass players; is he only promoting his product to long scale bass players? I need to play short scale for shoulder problems and I am looking to commit to more lessons. Do I pick the guy that would look down on the gear I use as "stupid" and refers to me as "loser" playing my short scale bass to teach me? I'm going to pass him by and go to a teacher that is enthusisastic to promote bass playing and isn't as obviously hung up on how my bass looks on me. It's all quite silly really. I guess likewise one could say Scott looks like a child behind a full size bass, but who cares? He plays great.
I generally play standard 34" scale basses, but the VI is an exception. Love that thing so much.
Ok, no longer a fan. You can say something is not for you without making fun of those of us who are 5'0" and can't even get our hands to the end of a 34". Scott, you really need to make a video apologizing for this video.
He wasn’t. He was making fun of big people playing short scales.
I’m over 6ft and I only play short scales, so really he was coming after me.
I’m 5’5” and run a 35 in and I kinda hate it sometimes but I love it
5'6" lil lady with a PJ mustang, I love it sm, and look up to these guys.... 😭💔 this was such a bummer to hear. Man.
Petite one here too. Love my short scale!
Is this for real?
To me they are alive and kicking! Love short scale basses:) My Sterling Short Scale Stingray has become one of my favorites among my instruments. You laugh now...but if later in life you ever had to contend with arthritis in your neck or shoulder, you will welcome the option of something that's not so hard on the body:)
What about Owen Biddle, especially when he played with The Roots? 30” Callowhill 6 string, active with Nordstrand dual coils and a freakin tubescreamer circuit built into the bass. It sounds absolutely massive on that album they did with John Legend.
Of course, Scot and Ian expressed their thoughts, which are not necessarily the same as those of the rest of humanity (can you imagine how boring that would be?), trying to make a joke out of it and going from small people to kids… trying to fix. It is funny? it is not?
Just imagine this, I'm 1.85mt tall for 100Kg. Do I feel stupid with a short scale bass? Yes and I’m also a little embarrassed (thanks for reminding me this grrrr ;) every time I feel like the BIG BEAR on the minibike 😅
But unfortunately I had to go from a 34' to 29' scale due to problems with my shoulders and the articulations of my wrist and hands. The only way I can play bass is thanks to the use of a short-scale bass, because, you see, beyond the fact that a person for problems (but also just for convenience) uses a stool... a short-scale bass... or a glove, the only important thing is to play.. Hey, this is my tough, i say it all with love (cit), of course.
The real problem of this video in my opinion, are not the joking moments that, by the way, made me laugh, but the fact that in the end there was little talk about short scale basses... Only boutique products as commented stevebarnes7353.
But maybe the problem is that I had other expectations about a short scale basses video
I just played a gig with my Spector Bantam 4, which is a 30" active short scale bass, and it sounded great. After the show, I got MANY compliments on the tone and looks of it. I have a decent collection of some very high-end basses and the Spector Bantam is my favorite by far. I have wrist and elbow injuries on my left side and the Bantam allows me to continue to play without being in constant pain or making my old injuries worse. Playing for more than a few seconds the lower frets on a full scale bass for me has become almost impossible.
Scott keeps making the same joke over and over, one that short scale players have encountered countless times. No mention of bassists with disabilities or injuries. Way to further stigmatize using short scales at the peak of their popularity! Love the toxic masculinity on full display here boys!
Very toxic. Ughh.