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Short Scales


Jean-Luc Pickguard
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[quote name='7string' post='127966' date='Jan 25 2008, 07:06 PM']I've got a Fender Urge Mk1. 32" scale and I love the thing !!



It's in Burgundy Mist, NOT PINK :)[/quote]


Me too, I've got a Mexican in a Turquoise/bluey colour (just the two Jazz pickups, not strung through, less versatile electrics) and the US one in black. I love them both.

In fact I was in a couple of music shops in Northampton at the week end and decided to try out a few basses. I tried out a classic Fender Jazz, a Precision, and a Jaguar (all 34"), and I've got to say I wouldn't have swapped either of my Urges for any of them. Not only do I like the scale on the Urges, but I also like the small body.

The Urges aren't perfect however (what is?): Ideally I would the outer strings a little further in from the edge of the fret board, but this would mean a new bridge and nut. Also, on the US one I would like a bit more difference between the sound of the P pickup and an equal combination of the two J pups. Also the US one goes a bit thin when I drop D tune it (the mex one doesn't, so it might just be a string issue).


I also have my first ever bass, with a 31.5" scale, which I built for myself about 30 years ago. This has a single piece utile body and a set sapele neck with a rosewood fretboard. It has a really dark sound compared to the Urges, and the E detunes to a D, or even a C without losing tone, but to be honest I don't play it much since getting the urges.


7string, is yours the one that was on E-bay about 10 months ago - I remember the distinctive colour?



Clive

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[quote name='Clive Thorne' post='129296' date='Jan 28 2008, 02:24 PM']Me too, I've got a Mexican in a Turquoise/bluey colour (just the two Jazz pickups, not strung through, less versatile electrics) and the US one in black. I love them both.

In fact I was in a couple of music shops in Northampton at the week end and decided to try out a few basses. I tried out a classic Fender Jazz, a Precision, and a Jaguar (all 34"), and I've got to say I wouldn't have swapped either of my Urges for any of them. Not only do I like the scale on the Urges, but I also like the small body.

The Urges aren't perfect however (what is?): Ideally I would the outer strings a little further in from the edge of the fret board, but this would mean a new bridge and nut. Also, on the US one I would like a bit more difference between the sound of the P pickup and an equal combination of the two J pups. Also the US one goes a bit thin when I drop D tune it (the mex one doesn't, so it might just be a string issue).


I also have my first ever bass, with a 31.5" scale, which I built for myself about 30 years ago. This has a single piece utile body and a set sapele neck with a rosewood fretboard. It has a really dark sound compared to the Urges, and the E detunes to a D, or even a C without losing tone, but to be honest I don't play it much since getting the urges.


7string, is yours the one that was on E-bay about 10 months ago - I remember the distinctive colour?



Clive[/quote]

Might have been... I bought it from a guy in the US.

It's the only bass I have that looks "normal". My Jackson is too rock and my Sei and Conklin have too many strings. :)

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  • 1 year later...

Here's my hot rodded EB-0. A real monster and a world away from my lifetime JV Precision. The only problem is now I need another two - one for roundwounds and one fretless. I'm thinking of making a couple of EB-2 / Guild Starfire semi hollow basses to appease my Gear Acquisition Syndrome.

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Lovin' all these short scales. I have 2 headless basses which I am so used to.
Before I got my Telebass, I was gonna go for a competition stripe mustang.
In the future ,I may pursue one .

I think the best thing about shortscale/headless is that they always seem to fit into the most cramped rehearsal rooms :)

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Love them!!

I have two MK1 (32") Fender Urge's and they are the badger's nadgers! Plus the Kubicki X-Factor is 32" (although it somehow feels 34" in comparison to my Urge's).

Also have a Kramer 8 string which I believe to be short scale, plus a Kay KJP-1B (........awaits ridicule). I actually love my 30" Kay, it looks beautiful! Its the Les Paul type body (which is <2" thick!) in a deep mahogony colour with crisp chrome pup and ashtray. I've strung it BEAD with medium/heay gauge La Bella Flats and its my dub/reggae/occasionally motown bass! Not bad for a £80 experiment, I'm dead chuffed.

Still want a 30" Alembic, a 32" status and a vintage, battered mustang.

Oh, and I have an Ashbury!

Edited by RaNoFuNkY
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[quote name='guylewis' post='543036' date='Jul 17 2009, 11:05 AM']I love short-scale basses too - here's one I made earlier[/quote]

That looks interesting. Could you post some bigger photos and maybe details of how you made it - perhaps in the build diaries or gear porn sections? I'm sure I'm not the only person who would be interested to know more.

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[quote name='BigRedX' post='543876' date='Jul 18 2009, 11:30 AM']That looks interesting. Could you post some bigger photos and maybe details of how you made it - perhaps in the build diaries or gear porn sections? I'm sure I'm not the only person who would be interested to know more.[/quote]

Thanks - I'm glad you like it!

Briefly its got a maple/rosewood neck, semi-hollow poplar body and good quality hardware/electronics.

I wanted an instrument that was retro, good to play, light, unique, shortscale and wouldn't immediately shout "Steal me!" at gigs.

I haven't worked out how to post large photos yet but you can see a selection of "things" I've made by visiting my Flickr photostream [color="#0000FF"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/23213730@N03/page2/[/color]

I like making stuff that isn't commercially available - next project is an [i]improved[/i] copy of a late 60s Yamaha bass . . . in banana yellow of course (don't ask!)

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Here are some 30.25" headless short scales I prepared earlier...middle bass is a full 34" for comparison.



I find the shorter scale so much more comfortable and I'm hardly small and have sausage fingers.
If Leo Fender had gone for 30" or 32" originally then that would be the norm now.

I have a 27" scale project on the go that will be finished today hopefully.

Paul

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Oh, that Lakland is soooo gorgeous :wub:

Any idea when the Lakland shortie will be available?

*shuffles off to empty piggie bank*

oh no, just found this [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=548803&page=3"]Talkbass Lakland shortie thread[/url]

*puts coppers back into piggie bank*


[quote name='EssentialTension' post='545186' date='Jul 20 2009, 11:17 AM']Here's the shortscale 30" Lakland Decade prototype sitting next to Pino Palladino's 34" Decade:



And the [url="http://www.lakland.com/"]Lakland home page[/url] says the short scale is 'coming soon'.[/quote]

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[quote name='onehappybunny' post='545226' date='Jul 20 2009, 12:38 PM']Oh, that Lakland is soooo gorgeous :wub:

Any idea when the Lakland shortie will be available?

*shuffles off to empty piggie bank*

oh no, just found this [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=548803&page=3"]Talkbass Lakland shortie thread[/url]

*puts coppers back into piggie bank*[/quote]
My thoughts exactly.

I'm trying to tell myself its ugly and I don't like it - but its not working.

Just as well I can't afford to spend double the cost of my NS CR5M upright on it I s'pose.

I keep thinking it'd be cool to put a japanese mustang neck on a firebird guitar body. Either get a luthier to make one or buy a warmoth firebird body unrouted & route it for bass, possibly setting the neck a bit further back than the stock route to make a perfect mini fenderbird.

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[quote name='onehappybunny' post='545226' date='Jul 20 2009, 12:38 PM']Oh, that Lakland is soooo gorgeous :wub:

Any idea when the Lakland shortie will be available?

*shuffles off to empty piggie bank*

oh no, just found this [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=548803&page=3"]Talkbass Lakland shortie thread[/url]

*puts coppers back into piggie bank*[/quote]
US model only for the moment, sorry to get your hopes up.

Skyline version I guess if they get enough interest but it will still be £1200 or so by the time it's in the UK.

I'd like to see a short scale 30" Decade Bass VI.

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