The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!

[YellowLedBetterBass]

I had 15 minutes between Teams meetings so I've put the new £15 Chinese special pickup into the bronco. Still yet to adjust pickup height or anything yet but happy to report it slot right into place with no adjustment to the pickguard or the screw holes. Strings line up almost perfectly with the middle of each pole pieces too. Nice and easy job.

 

Will update with pictures and a write up later when I get chance to have a proper go but early signs are positive. Fingers crossed it can be a solid, recommendable upgrade (that isn't a hot rail or an expensive McNelly) for anyone with a Bronco.

[eude]

1 hour ago, Obrienp said:

I had been looking forward to the Acinonyx 5 because I thought it would be a 5 I could actually play without pain (arthritis in the hands). However, not at that price!  That’s too much pain!

Literally pick any UK luthier, well most of them at least, and they'll build you exactly what you want, by hand, not CNC, for a fair bit less.

You'll have a better bass, with way more input from yourself too.

I don't doubt they're good basses, but it seems a hell of a lot for what's a fairly basic bass.

I guess the Acinonyx basses will go the same way as the regular Nordstrand basses now, just a few made a year.

 

[Stub Mandrel]

2 hours ago, YellowLedBetterBass said:

That looks awesome. I really like the "not-offset Mustang"-esque body shape

 

It looks surprisingly cool to me, the body is a bit thin and small but it still weighs the same as my full scale Sire P10 😬

[Obrienp]

@eude couldn’t agree more. The original attraction of the Acinonyx was the Far Eastern price point but with some quality parts: Hipshot and Nordstrand, making it much cheaper than a luthier made custom bass. The attraction disappears if it’s going to be US made at US prices. Why accept a compromise when you can have exactly what you want for less?

[YellowLedBetterBass]

As promised, here's a little picture and write up of the Chinese Amazon special in the Bronco.

 

As I said previously, it fits in the stock pickguard and the mounting screw holes line up perfectly. The pole pieces almost line up perfectly, at most the strings are 1mm misaligned from the very middle of each pole piece. Also feels like a well made unit, cloth pushback wire and enough potting wax to keep a Yankee candle aflame for a few days.

 

Really quite impressed with it. Sounds a lot more balanced than the stock pickup, and is a lot quieter in regards to background hum. Also sounds like there's more low end in it than stock, almost as if it's a bass pickup and not a cheap guitar pickup.

 

Does sound similar-ish to a 51 P Bass style sound albeit with the thump of a short scale. Keen to try it out in a band mix at rehearsals tomorrow night.

 

All in all, I'd highly recommend it. Absolute bargain if you own a Bronco and don't want to put the normal cheapo hot rail in but don't also want to spunk £60-100 for a Toltec or McNelly or something.

 

Link to it is here if anyone is interested: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B06XQVZG72?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title