suzi 9mm

2 minutes ago, Frank Blank said:

Just as a comment on this, my main bass is now the Taylor Mini-e Bass, obviously it's a bit niche but it exactly what I need for my current band. The scale of this is actually 23.5 inches and, despite it being a huge change from my bigger basses it was an instant and significant improvement for me,  so much so I had one of those Oh dear, I should have been playing short scale for the last thirty years! I would suggest getting to some some shops and trying differing scale length basses out but most importantly, don't be put off by the It's too small / short / looks like a toy brigade, it's a boy thing, I'm sure Freud would have an answer to why men need big basses, same reason they need fast cars I expect.. just try everything rather than thinking to yourself that's not for me. The neck on mine is tiny but it has improved my playing hugely.

Ha! Thanks Frank Blank! Strangely, although i'm quite petite (and female) I also somehow feel that I need a 'large' bass to make me look cool. 

However even more than this I want to sound good, so if a shorter scale is going to help me then I'm right in there! Also I find the weight of the bass guitar is giving me problems these days - I get tired at practices when playing for a couple of hours or more. And my hands get tired which results in mistakes. 

Anyway I read that Tina Weymouth has used a short scale, and she is (predictably) my idol!

So thanks again for your comments and encouragement!

11 minutes ago, Marc S said:

If full scale 34" is a bit of a stretch for you, then perhaps 32" or 30" may be the way to go.
Personally, for me 34" scale is still fine - but I can appreciate how, as one gets older stretching can become more difficult as joints age. I've spoken to a few older bassists who have migrated to short scale

It's tricky to asses just how the 30" scale Jazz compares to a 34" Jazz, suzi9mm - as it has a P/J pickup arrangement. So it sounds more akin to my P/J Precisions than it does a 34" Jazz....
It's also wearing rather different strings to anything else I play. However, I think it's just a little bit "lighter" on the lows than my 34" P/J basses. The mids are a little more pronounced too, I think

Years ago, I had a US Musicmaster, which was a bit too "middy" for my liking, and it lacked a bit of bottom-end "heft", though at the time Fender fitted the Musicmaster bass with guitar pickups, not ones designed for bass. Also, these days there is more variety in string types readily available, so a bit of experimentation can help you find a better sound and feel, more suited to what you're after, and suited to your bass. Back in the day, local shops only stocked one brand, one gauge of string for my old short scale - and they usually only had one set! lol

My 30" Jazz certainly sounds much "bigger", "fuller" and has a wider range of tones than my old Musicmaster did - hope that helps

PS. I don't see many fretless basses around in shops, either new or used, and I don't think I've ever seen a 30" fretless in any shops near me - so you might be better off trying to find one on here, or perhaps get a 30" bass de-fretted
Either way, let us know what you decide, and how you find the switch from 34" to short scale....

Thanks very much Marc S, that's really helpful. It wounds like getting the right strings can make a difference.

I might try going fretted from now on ... a bit of a change but I'm ready for a change! I'm not sure I'm ready to pay for a Fender Jazz (yet), maybe I need to get a cheap-ish 30" first, just to see how it feels to play.  

Thanks again!

I read this thread with interest - I'm new to the forum, joined it to get some advice on short scale basses.

I've been playing  bass for 20 years on and off, but always found the bass guitar a big stretch for my hands, particularly when playing fast riffs or basslines that jump around a lot. Practice helps, but even with practice I can't play as fluidly as I'd like. Also I play fretless - hitting the notes in the right place is essential so that increases the challenge!

I'd always assumed that short scale basses wouldn't sound so good - but maybe ta 30" bass is is the answer. Marc S how do you find the 30" jazz, sound wise?

And Frank Blank I'd love to hear how you're getting on with the fretless SWB-1?