New player looking for a shortscale

newplayerkc · Post by **newplayerkc** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:05 pm

Hello guys and gals. I am new to the forum and a beginner guitar player. I have smallish hands and I am having trouble with my 25.5in scale guitar so I am looking into a shortscale(besides they are just cool anyway). I have read alot about all the fender shortscales and would really like a vintage Duo-Sonic, but it is not in the budget. Anyone have any sudjections for a shortscale fender or otherwise that would not break the bank?

Yarko · Post by **Yarko** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:09 pm

What is your budget?

mickie08 · Post by **mickie08** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:10 pm

the squier classic vibe duos are great. They are about 329 new (maybe a few less with holiday sales) and are great guitars for the money.

newplayerkc · Post by **newplayerkc** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:19 pm

My budget it $350 or less. I tried out the Squire at a local best buy store, but the factory setup was so bad it was almost unplayable. It seemed fairly solid, but I don't know if I could justify $350 for it. Maybe I am just spoil by the quaity of my Yamaha Pacifica 112j($200 and it is built like an american strat)

mickie08 · Post by **mickie08** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:23 pm

thats funny (an no offense meant) but I have played to pacificas and they were crap. Worse than the $100 strats you can buy.

Shortscales ten to be a bit more expensive on an entry level becuase there is just not the large scale interest in them that strats and teles have so there are just not the mass market of them.

You can search ebay for a squier or mexi duo's they made a few years ago. Also, have you tries gibson style guitars. They are shorter scale than a strat.

newplayerkc · Post by **newplayerkc** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:44 pm

Thanks for the tips.
I think its funny myself that you didn't like the quality of the Pacificas. I have play the Fend squeirs and they all felt like they where going to come apart in my hands. My pacifica feels solid. It is the 112 series not the 012 series that is a little cheaper, but still very solid. The 112 has a one piece alder body and feels as good as my brother in laws clapton strat to me.(as fair as build quality goes anyway) I like the neck on his better and of course his has active pickups, but I have no problem saying the pacifica is the best guitar you can buy for the money. I guess we are all entitled to our own opinions though. Do you or anyone else know of many non fender shortscales. I saw the Ibenaz orm1, but not much other than that and of course the gibson 24.75 scale stuff.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:51 pm

newplayerkc wrote:I saw the Ibenaz orm1

I've got an ORM-1 and it's a great little guitar. Really well made, sounds great.
Thread when I got it HERE

newplayerkc · Post by **newplayerkc** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:04 pm

I have thought about picking up a loaded strat body on ebay and having a custome neck made in a 24inch scale. That would put me over my budget though, but it woud be damn cool. I also saw a thread on here about a guy that bought several of the squire duo sonics for $99 but then could not ship them overseas. I might see if he would be willing to ship one to kc. I would be willing to try one out for that kind of price.

newplayerkc · Post by **newplayerkc** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:24 pm

After further research that guy was you mickie. I guess if you had any to sell you would have mentioned it. Anyway thanks for all the tips guys I will keep my eye out for a good deal on a shortscale.

newplayerkc · Post by **newplayerkc** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:44 pm

After further research that guy was you mickie. I guess if you had any to sell you would have mentioned it. Anyway thanks for all the tips guys I will keep my eye out for a good deal on a shortscale.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:32 pm

I wouldn't get stuck into anything too complicated if you're starting out - just get one of the lower priced shortscales already mentioned and gets someone with a good rep to set it up for you to make things nice to play (or even better learn how to set it up yourself). If you still have the passion down the line you could look into customizing something but don't mistake the cart for the horse and don't make things hard for yourself.

Also I wish I'd actually have been aware of shortscales when i first started as i have very small hands and have caused some pretty bad joint damage due to slamming away on thick 25.5 necks for 17 years. Oddly I only became aware of them a few years back.

newplayerkc · Post by **newplayerkc** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:50 pm

Thanks for the tip. I will probly end up with a squire 50s vibe. I will just wait for a good deal on one. I will also have to find one that is playable on display somewhere so I can try it out. I would love a vintage shortscale. My brother in law has a 61 strat and it is just too cool. I am scared just to hold the thing though(worth more than my life i think)

kypdurron · Post by **kypdurron** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:46 pm

newplayerkc wrote:My brother in law has a 61 strat and it is just too cool. I am scared just to hold the thing though(worth more than my life i think)

that's Strats. Mustangs, Duo Sonics, Broncos and Musicmasters are not that expensive. Modified / bastarded / beaten ones even show up to be pretty close to your budget from time to time. But it's sure fine to start with a cheaper model, and if you find you want another then time will tell ...

from here it seems that you americans can find an uglified, but playable old Fender shortscale everywhere for less than 500 $

DICHOTOMY · Post by **DICHOTOMY** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:06 am

Duos arent bad... odnt let serfx get a hold of it tho

DICHOTOMY · Post by **DICHOTOMY** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:15 am

Here's a Duo i found on the ebays.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Squier-Classic-Vibe ... 53ddc7012e

Also if you go to guitar center and seach used gear you can find some duos for about 150-250. might be worth checking out..

serfx · Post by **serfx** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:20 am

DICHOTOMY wrote:Duos arent bad... odnt let serfx get a hold of it tho

har har, i don't break shortscale guitars, just ones that are 25.5" scale..
i've never even tossed my mim duo sonic.

DICHOTOMY · Post by **DICHOTOMY** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:21 am

serfx wrote:
DICHOTOMY wrote:Duos arent bad... odnt let serfx get a hold of it tho
har har, i don't break shortscale guitars, just ones that are 25.5" scale..
i've never even tossed my mim duo sonic.

hahah touche. <3.

serfx · Post by **serfx** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:31 am

on topic
the squier CV duo's are really hit or miss on quality control from what ss.o has experienced, all the ones i've tried felt really nice, had a silky neck, no sharp fret ends, and were going for about $225 CDN

if you hunt ebay i'm sure you can find a 90's re-issue fender mim, or squier duo for around 200 - 300

keep an eye on your locl craigs list, some dudes keep giving away 70's mustangs for around the 300 range.. (never in my neighbourhood though)

the Ibanez ORM-1 is a fun fucking guitar, sounds very unique, great player, and has a good balance to it, also should fall in your price range.

Jaguars, well don't bother looking, but if you find one for under 350, just buy it, and ask no questions, you may or may not like it, but you'll get more then you paid for it if you decide to flip it.

gibsons, les paul, sg are both a 24 3/4" scale we don't call them short scales around here, but that is due to politics.. (i don't want to fucking hear it) but there are a million rip off les pauls out there, all verying in weight, quality, and everything else, find one that works for your sound, your style, and your budget.

cur · Post by **cur** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:33 am

rondomusic as a bit of a selection for 24" scale guitars. I have this one.

They now have a tele style short scale. And they also have the Douglas short scale strat. The Douglas strat has a 1 5/8 nut which is a more like the duo sonic. The others I listed are 1 1/2 inch. These guitars are a good deal and fairly nice. The company as a very good return policy. These guitars will need a set up and new strings and most likely some better machinery (can be had here.). If you are good with setting up and can tell a good one than this may be for you.

Mind needed some fret work to get rid of some of the buzzes. But even with a little work they will be a good guitar for around $200 including the cost of setup and minor upgrades.

aen · Post by **aen** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:35 am

I'd vote for a MIM CV duo, too. True, they are sometimes fucked up from the factory, but I think usually they just need a proper setup and STRINGS. Squier and MIM duos from a while back are decent guitars, too, but they are ULTRA short scale.

I've had a good experience with a current gen Squier Jagmaster, too.
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Pickups are a little muddy for my taste, but I had a great time working the feedback. Neck feels good, for the price. I'd prefer a neck with some FINISH ON IT. Trem is kind of unreliable though, but you can see how I made use of it.