Short Scale Bass Options

[bluzdoctor]

I am relatively new to this forum. I am a guitar player (blues, some fingerpicking) with small hands. For the occasions when I need a bass to play with my sons (who are much better than I ever will) I bought a 1983 Fender Squire Bullet Bass with 34" scale. It sounds great, and has the right tone for blues and rock, but is a bit of a stretch for my diminutive hands. Could any expert bass players here suggest a short scale bass with similar sound? Mustang, Musicmaster, etc.? Thank you for any feedback and help.

[Nick]

They actually made the bullet bass in 30" config as well.. If you're otherwise happy with the bullet maybe find one of those.

Alternately, options I can think of offhand

Mustang/Musicmaster bass
Squier Bronco Bass
Fender Coronado Bass
Epiphone EB-0/EB-3.

The Bullet 30" is referred to as the B30, yours is a B34.

[Nick]

Also, as they're usually more readily available, try out a Jazz bass next time you're in a music shop. They're much more narrow at the nut, despite being 34" they're a little easier playing to some.

Edit: just remembered Hofner basses are most often 30". They have some decent entry level models now that aren't too bad. Sound and feel most definitely not Fenderesque but they can be fun to play and have a unique sound.

[bluzdoctor]

Thanks for the information. I've looked about for the B-30, but they seem rare. Lots more B-34s for sale. I've also noticed lots of 1970s-era Fender Musicmasters and then more recent "Squier" Musicmasters. How do these compare?

[Nick]

Bassist in my band just bought an all original 70's musicmaster, very easy to play and sounds great-the condition of the finish makes me think it was subjected to extreme temperature and humidity changes yet it plays amazing. The Squier ones are Vista but are made in China so probably not quite the same quality as the MIJ Vista guitars. I was looking into buying one recently but to be honest I feel like the prices have gotten a little out of hand, usually ~$350 which I feel is a bit much for a 20 year old Chinese bass that was probably half that new. I've seen 70's Fenders go for not much more, and that's probably a more solid way to go.


Don't know why it hadn't occured to me but check out the Squier Jaguar SS Special Bass. Know several people with them and all of them love it. They're less than $200 new; you get both P and J pickup options. Upgrade the pickups if you want and it's still a good deal.

[BearBoy]

Don't know why it hadn't occurred to me but check out the Squier Jaguar SS Special Bass. Know several people with them and all of them love it. They're less than $200 new; you get both P and J pickup options. Upgrade the pickups if you want and it's still a good deal.

I've got one of these and it's a great bass (bear in mind I am a guitarist who uses it for home recording rather than a "proper" bassist). The J pickup is a bit quiet compared to the P but you can balance them easily enough using the volume controls or, like Nick says, it is dead easy to upgrade the pickups as there are millions of options (P and J) that would fit.

[George]

the new gary jarman cribs bass is 32" which is between fender's short (30") and full scale (34"), and the sleeker jazz bass style of neck with a narrower nut.

quite like the look of it myself

[vojtasTS29]

I would look at the vintage Musicmaster basses. They look cool(especcially that seethru red with a black pg, oh man) and they are very good usa made instruments, and you get them for the price of a mexico JB/PB.

[Brandon W]

Don't know why it hadn't occured to me but check out the Squier Jaguar SS Special Bass. Know several people with them and all of them love it. They're less than $200 new; you get both P and J pickup options. Upgrade the pickups if you want and it's still a good deal.

I think i have that one.. ??? not sure

[Brandon W]

i have this one

Squier Standard P Bass Special Edition

[ultratwin]

You also might want to consider the now-discontinued Gretsch G2202, if you can find one. And although it's a bit farther from what you're used to in an old Bullet, the 2-pickup G2220 is a surprisingly flexible bass worth considering, that's also still being made.

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[Nick]

A few other considerations...

Fender Rascal Bass - 32"

Various Danelectro short scale basses. 30"

[NickS]

..and of course the Squier Bass VI at 30"....

[BearBoy]

A few other considerations...

Fender Rascal Bass - 32"

The Rascals are 30" aren't they?

Fender made a Pawn Shop reverse Jaguar bass a few years back, which was 32".

There's also the Starcaster bass, which is 30".

[Nick]

Ahhh right you are. I must have been confusing it with the one George posted.

[bluzdoctor]

Thanks for all the info. One that I've seen a couple of times is a Fender P-Bass Jr. I'm at bit confused because some say short scale, others 'shorter than 30".' Are these student basses, or for kids? Anyone play one?

[vojtasTS29]

It's only 28 inch scale, that is pretty shit on bass. and the thing does look really small. it's not like a mini strat, the PB-Jr is really a student/kid instrument. Get the jaguar SS or something vintage.

[Nick]

I've read 29" but prior to this post I hadn't heard of them.

TBH if you're just looking for something to jam on, these are not that bad at all, especially not for $115.

http://www.rondomusic.com/ursa1mn34vgn.html

[vojtasTS29]

he will look pretty funny with the thing if he ever brings it anywhere. I am 5 feet 7 inch and theese things still look tiny on me.

[bluzdoctor]

I'm thinking about finding a 70s Musicmaster. My first guitar was a '59 Musicmaster. I took lessons from a Hopi Indian woman who had an awesome Surf band in California in the 1960s and owned a music store. Check out her music here:
Devil Surf -Chiyo and the Crescents