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#1
02-29-2012, 11:30 AM
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Short Scale Bass
Can anyone recommend a good, inexpensive, short-scale bass? My daughter would like to learn to play and given her diminutive size I thought a short-scale would work well for her. My long scale 5 string is definitely too much for her smaller hands. I checked all the big-box stores but haven't had a chance to play any. If you guys have had good experiences with a particular bass let ms know.
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Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else - J.M. Barrie 
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#2
02-29-2012, 11:48 AM
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Wally,
I can heartily, and strongly, endorse the Kala UBass as a natural for anyone looking for a short-scale bass. Despite their diminutive size (20.5" scale and baritone uke body), these are definitely NOT toys. Plug one in and they're as good as it gets...get one of the acoustic (not solid) body ones and she could even practice without having to plug in. I bought the acoustic all-solid-mahogany model, over the solid spruce, mahogany-laminate model, for the real hipshot tuners and the solid case. The fact that it's all solid wood is a nice bonus but acoustically it probably matters little, if at all. Nonetheless, it's a lovely instrument, tuned as any typical EADG 4-string bass. If you decide to go this route (and I personally can't see any reason why you wouldn't), be prepared that it will take a week or two for the special "rubber" strings to stretch out...mine finally stabilized after almost two weeks (and having to reset the A twice and the D once)...and note that, if she has any previous bass experience, the strings are different enough to take some getting used to (so it's said -- I had no problems at all). Phil
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Solo Fingerstyle CDs: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back (2021) One Size Does Not Fit All (2018) I play Crosby, Emerald, Larrivée, Lowden, Rainsong & Tacoma guitars. Check out my Guitar Website. See guitar photos & info at my Guitars page.
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#3
02-29-2012, 12:00 PM
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I think that some of the danelctro basses are short scale. My wife played a blue Dano Rumor bass for a few years before moving on to her 5-string washburn XB-125, which also has a skinnier neck. She doesn't have a difficult time reaching.
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#4
02-29-2012, 12:08 PM
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Sqire have Bronco : http://www.fender.com/products/searc...tno=0310902506
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#5
02-29-2012, 12:08 PM
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Depending on exactly what you're looking for..
the UBass is great. I think you would even think playing it is just a kick in the pants. If you are looking for a 'real' bass, you might look at the Epiphone Allen Woody model. it is a short scale, 30 in. Jack
__________________
The Princess looked at her more closely. "Tell me," she resumed, "are you of royal blood?" "Better than that, ma'am," said Dorothy. "I came from Kansas." --Ozma of Oz, by Frank L. Baum, 1907 1975 Mossman Great 1995 Taylor LKSM-12 2008 Taylor Fall Ltd GC 2008 Applegate C Nylon Crossover Fender Stratocaster - Eric Johnson Model Nyberg Cittern 2011 Eastman AC508M 2012 Epiphone ES339
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#6
03-01-2012, 11:18 AM
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The U-Bass is a novelty instrument, and not one I'd recommend for a beginning bassist. Just goes to show that people recommend whatever they own, regardless of its applicability ... keep this in mind when looking for recommendations. Here are some suggestions from the major manufacturers:
Epiphone - EB-0, Allen Woody Gibson - EB-0, LP Junior DC Ibanez - Artcore AFB200 Fender - Mustang Squier - Mustang
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#7
03-01-2012, 11:36 AM
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The Ubass is way cool - I'll have to check the local Sam Ash to see if they have one in stock. Thanks for the recommendation. Thanks to RustyAxe certainly won't buy one without trying it first.
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Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else - J.M. Barrie Last edited by Wally; 03-01-2012 at 11:44 AM.
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#8
03-01-2012, 12:50 PM
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You might search out an Ampeg AMB-1, a short scale bass made for a few years about ten years ago. Based on the Dan Armstrong model, with a basswood body instead of plexiglas. Light in weight, excellent build quality (Japanese). I liked mine so much that I bought one for my daughter.
My previous bass was an Epiphone EB-O, which I found heavy and unbalanced; neck wanted to dive. Not an ideal instrument for a beginner, IMO.
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#9
03-01-2012, 03:54 PM
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Quote:
Yes, it's a really short scale (but better than an Ashbory by a good country mile) but that does not mean that it's a toy. Sure, the acoustic baritone ukulele body is just about useless for anything other than personal practice, but if that doesn't float your boat, then check out the solid body versions. I urge anyone who is intrigued to check them out...check out the many Youtube (or should that be UTube?) videos. Play one...PLUG IT IN and crank it up. People need to get past their expectations. The UBass is no more a novelty than a ukulele is a "novelty" guitar... Phil
__________________
Solo Fingerstyle CDs: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back (2021) One Size Does Not Fit All (2018) I play Crosby, Emerald, Larrivée, Lowden, Rainsong & Tacoma guitars. Check out my Guitar Website. See guitar photos & info at my Guitars page. Last edited by philjs; 03-01-2012 at 04:33 PM.
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#11
03-01-2012, 06:01 PM
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I think about buying a short-scale bass guitar from time to time for recording purposes and I like the Gibson/Epiphone models. While I've tried the German made Hofner bass guitars and found them suitable, I haven't tried the cheaper Asian-made versions. You can see the various Hofner models here:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/New-Gear...rc=Hofner+bass
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#12
03-01-2012, 06:03 PM
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Quote:
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#14
03-01-2012, 09:29 PM
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My wife plays a Fender Mustang bass. Small hands, and she loves it.
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#15
03-02-2012, 06:20 AM
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Quote:
Wally, I LIKE my UBass. I've only had it for a few weeks and have no connection whatsover with the manufacturer. All I can tell you is that it plays well and easily, especially for anyone with small-ish hands (me, and by your description, your daughter), and it's fun to play to boot. I do hope that being fun to play isn't a novel concept. It sounds great plugged in (and despite contrary opinion I'd put it up against just about anything in a BLIND (ie. no preconceptions, a nice way to say prejudiced) test) and, run through a nice tube mic pre, it records wonderfully. That's why I bought mine and I realized an additional benefit this morning...I can record my own basslines without having to hire an opinionated bassist  Phil
__________________
Solo Fingerstyle CDs: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back (2021) One Size Does Not Fit All (2018) I play Crosby, Emerald, Larrivée, Lowden, Rainsong & Tacoma guitars. Check out my Guitar Website. See guitar photos & info at my Guitars page.
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