The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!

[scrumpymike]

4 hours ago, Obrienp said:

Interesting config!

Certainly is!!

[BassApprentice]

Ashdown put the Capri on the hot wash and shrunk it a bit. 

23" scale now

 

https://ashdownmusic.com/collections/basses-22/products/roasted-capri-23

[Chienmortbb]

On 15/12/2025 at 00:10, Chienmortbb said:

 Re Hartwood Delta arriving tomorrow. 

 Already posted on the main thread under NSSBD. So far absolutely delighted. 

 Next, purchase some real Short Scale Strings from Newtone.

[ped]

I might have just bought this and some labellas 🥳 

[ezbass]

11 hours ago, ped said:

I might have just bought this

What is this might? Intriguing 🤔 

[Stub Mandrel]

Looks Mustangy...

[ezbass]

3 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Looks Mustangy...

I think it’s a Musicmaster with that bridge and control plate.

[Clarky]

4 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Looks Mustangy...

Musicmastery (the scratchplate is the giveaway)

[SimonK]

...never been a massive fan of short scale basses for gigging so normally overlook this thread, until realising that my Ibanez Talman is almost always on my lap when sitting in front of the computer for random noodling as the size makes it perfect for around the house!

[ped]

Yeah it’s a 73 Musicmaster. I think k they sound really cool with flats. Unfortunately most YouTube demos are recorded very poorly though there are some decent ones out there:

 

 

[ped]

This one with flats 

 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

25 minutes ago, ped said:

Yeah it’s a 73 Musicmaster. I think k they sound really cool with flats. Unfortunately most YouTube demos are recorded very poorly though there are some decent ones out there:

 

 

 

D'oh.

 

First shortscale I ever played was a Musicmaster in a recording studio somewhere in mid-Wales where I had a bit of a jam  some 40 years ago. For decades the name 'Musicaster' was in my head.

 

I left my solid gold bodied Sekonda there that was my great-uncle's 

 

In 2018 I discovered my Squier Jaguar SS that brought back the memory of it.

 

Would still fancy one, pretty sure it was off-white.

 

 

[ped]

1 hour ago, SimonK said:

...never been a massive fan of short scale basses for gigging so normally overlook this thread, until realising that my Ibanez Talman is almost always on my lap when sitting in front of the computer for random noodling as the size makes it perfect for around the house!

I didn’t really give them the time of day until I randomly bought my Mustang. A/B-ing with my two main basses at the time (Celinder J update and L2000) I found it consistently cut through the mix better, sounded fatter, more expressive, more comfortable and lighter weight! I’m really enjoying them now, and like you say, they’re easier to have around the house, noodling in front of the TV or in the office. 
 

With different strings and pickup options they can sound every bit as growly and alive as a normal scale bass, ime. I had written them off as dead and plonky but I must admit that the Musicmaster will be pointed towards that sound which I have come to appreciate more and more for certain music. I’ve gone from roundwounds and graphite sizzle to tone rolled back warmth with occasional toan bombs poking through when pushed. 

[Lozz196]

Yeah I never really thought about short-scale basses, even though I leaned to play on one, til my back dictated the need. I was expecting a situation of "well that`s what I need to put up with" but was pleasantly surprised at how well they work for me.

[SimonK]

36 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Yeah I never really thought about short-scale basses, even though I leaned to play on one, til my back dictated the need. I was expecting a situation of "well that`s what I need to put up with" but was pleasantly surprised at how well they work for me.

 

I bought the Ibanez Talman for my kids to learn to play, but after they cast it aside have found it to be a nice round the house bass, also because being quite cheap I don't worry about keeping it in a case to avoid knocks and scrapes (unlike my other instruments). It is very playable but I think the cheap electronics do not do it any favours (as multiple failed jack sockets over a relatively short time have proved). Indeed I now most often play it just acoustically.

 

I suspect one of the main problems with short scale basses is the fact that the majority are fairly low end to cater for children/beginners, and hence they have a reputation for being low end.

Edited 5 hours ago by SimonK

[Chienmortbb]

I tried a number of shorties at one point but did not find them comfortable for some reason, a shoulder injury meant I had to go down to a U Bass, and it was surprisingly good, as in usable. As it improved a bit, I tried my 34" and could reach the third fret, I calculated that to be like the first fret on a 30". Hence the arrival of a Hartwood Delta. I love it and will use it in anger for the first time at rehearsal on Sunday.

[Obrienp]

2 hours ago, ped said:

With different strings and pickup options they can sound every bit as growly and alive as a normal scale bass, ime. 

I was going to ask about the pickup in the original Fender Musicmasters. Was it a proper bass pickup, or just a Strat pickup, like in the recent Squier re-releases? There seems to be a healthy market in proper bass pickup replacements that will fit without modification.

 

I just put a Tone Rider split P in the Squier I had a few years back. It sounded great but it required quite a lot of modification to the body and a custom made scratchplate to accommodate it.

Edited 3 hours ago by Obrienp

[ped]

1 hour ago, Obrienp said:

I was going to ask about the pickup in the original Fender Musicmasters. Was it a proper bass pickup, or just a Strat pickup, like in the recent Squier re-releases? There seems to be a healthy market in proper bass pickup replacements that will fit without modification.

 

I just put a Tone Rider split P in the Squier I had a few years back. It sounded great but it required quite a lot of modification to the body and a custom made scratchplate to accommodate it.

Yeah it’s a guitar pickup, 6 pole. There’s a lot of aftermarket options with 4 poles but personally I don’t think many of them sound better and having 6 poles makes no difference over four. 
 

I believe there are two caps in the circuit to enhance the low end response. 
 

The aftermarket jobs look interesting but hearing lots of comparisons online I usually prefer the stock pickup. With a bit of EQ you get all the lows but a more stringy midrange which sounds great imo. 

[Woodinblack]

20 minutes ago, ped said:

I believe there are two caps in the circuit to enhance the low end response. 

 

Not in a standard musicmaster - one tone, one volume, one tone cap, one pickup, one socket, and thats the lot - built the cheapest it could be.

[ped]

2 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

 

Not in a standard musicmaster - one tone, one volume, one tone cap, one pickup, one socket, and thats the lot - built the cheapest it could be.

Surprised you still get four strings… I bet they thought about it!

[Woodinblack]

3 minutes ago, ped said:

Surprised you still get four strings… I bet they thought about it!

 

I am sure they did - anything they could sell!