The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!

[Lozz196]

My JMJs are 3.6, 3.7 & 3.9. I’ve put Ultralites on the 3.6 to get it down a bit, more for balance really.

[Sté]

On the way to achieve my complete short scale transition, by offering a sister so my Sire U5: an Ibanez ehb1000s is heading to me. 😎

This duet will be my #1 arsenal from now on. 

Edited Sunday at 18:31 by Sté

[RichT]

9 hours ago, AlexDelores said:

I saw this on IG and thought it looked very nice too!

 

If you’re looking for a semi acoustic, i saw this on BD and it looks very nice, and a decent price i think compared to similar I’ve seen for sale in the past.

 

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/italia-maranello-cavo-bass-brown-pre-owned/

 

 

I admit I've looked at this one more than once... I eventually decided that the placement of the bridge and top strap button being at the 16th fret is going to push the nut further out, and make the 30" scale feel more like a 34". 

 

Don't know if it'd be much different in that respect to the way a Hofner HCT Club sits with regard to reach to the first fret. Anyone have any experience with the Italia bass or have any thoughts? 

 

Edited Sunday at 18:41 by RichT
clarity

[Sambrook]

4 hours ago, Maude said:

The Allen Woody has been on my radar but I've never played one, are they very thumpy or can you get a decent range of tones from them? 

I have one, and love it deeply. It is thumpy, particularly with my TI flats, but I use a high pass filter/splitter to get acceptable brightness...

I also added a 'bridge' pickup to get tighter tones, and now it's a monster.

[Stub Mandrel]

5 hours ago, ped said:

I’ve seen T shirts like this before but always assumed that they were knock offs. This looks like a genuine Fender product - how can they get the date wrong??

 

Lots of licenced Fender merch turns up in Tesco and Asda, decent quality at good prices. I just happen to be wearing this...

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 20:12 by Stub Mandrel
I just checked and 1946 is correct for my hoodie!

[ped]

Pedants are us! Ok yours checks out, though the grille cloth needs replacing. The Mustang one - I just noticed it has a maple fretboard. Tsk tsk. How do they sleep at night. 
 

At least it has a wonky bridge

[fretmeister]

6 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

My JMJs are 3.6, 3.7 & 3.9. I’ve put Ultralites on the 3.6 to get it down a bit, more for balance really.

ah. my TT4 is about 2.8 kg and my Lionel is 2.58.

 

Looks that idea is out the window then.  

[ezbass]

5 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

ah. my TT4 is about 2.8 kg and my Lionel is 2.58.

Plus the weight of the rope to stop them floating away .

 

Those really are light and I thought my other basses were light at 3.2kg or thereabouts.

[martthebass]

20 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

ah. my TT4 is about 2.8 kg and my Lionel is 2.58.

 

Looks that idea is out the window then.  

Is that an ultralight Lionel?

Ive had 4 Lionels, alder bodied and they’ve been remarkably consistent at 3.3-3.4Kg.

[fretmeister]

6 minutes ago, martthebass said:

Is that an ultralight Lionel?

Ive had 4 Lionels, alder bodied and they’ve been remarkably consistent at 3.3-3.4Kg.

Yes. Custom order for my birthday.

[fretmeister]

Thinking about it - my Lionel Superlight is actually a little heavier now - I had a J pickup put in it as well.

 

Not that I noticed the change!

[Lozz196]

13 hours ago, martthebass said:

Is that an ultralight Lionel?

Ive had 4 Lionels, alder bodied and they’ve been remarkably consistent at 3.3-3.4Kg.

 

13 hours ago, fretmeister said:

Yes. Custom order for my birthday.

I’ve got one being made at the moment. My current Lionel is 7lb/3.175kg so easy enough.

[MoonBassAlpha]

On 11/01/2026 at 14:24, Maude said:

 

I know I'm being super fussy, ideally I'd like something that doesn't look particularly 'electric'. The band is doublebass, and either two acoustic guitars, mandolin and ukulele, or a mix of them between the two GUITARISTS, plus singer and drums. 

The Rivolta is borderline 'too electric' looking and I think the Italia takes it's too far. I do like them though. 

 

 

The Allen Woody has been on my radar but I've never played one, are they very thumpy or can you get a decent range of tones from them? 

I've been using my Kay K162 at rehearsals but it is just pure thump, you cannot get anything remotely bright from it, I even put DR Hi Beams on it and nothing. I love it but I could do with some highs. I might look at changing the electrics as I love the bass itself. 

 

Edit, I've also got a Hofner Club, only an Ignition but it ticks the boxes, but the narrow spacing at the bridge feels sooo different jumping between it and upright. I know I know, first world problems. 

 

The truth is I love the look of that Rivolta 😁

The Woody Rumblekat I referred to was my best friend's. I  only played it when he first got it and I did a setup with half-round strings. He wasn't a fan of very bright tones. I  do know it was nice to play but if you need twangy tones, probably not the best choice. 

[Maude]

On 10/01/2026 at 23:07, Maude said:

I've just seen an email from Eastwood Guitars about Rivolta guitars, a separate brand/maker(?) but sold through Eastwood. The Duocata bass caught my eye. 

I'm kind of low key after a lightweight, acoustic styled shortscale to double with upright bass in an acoustic band and I nearly splurged my cash there and then. 

Only trouble is Eastwood are now based in America so there'll be high shipping and taxes. 

It doesn't state the weight but I'd love to be able to try one of these, I think they look fantastic, very Rickenbackeresque. 

 

 

https://www.rivoltaguitars.com/products/rivolta-duocata-bass?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&_kx=vG68xHWzTsaizKkGhKLlOsD0rYhHzD2CI48Nt4-TTUQ.MTbQ9E

 

Caught putting it in my basket to check shipping cost and offered 10% off. 

Nice email chat with 'Wes' about weights and timescales. 

No council tax or water rates for the next two months. 

Birthday next month. 

Forgive me for I am weak. 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

Tonight's rehearsal stufio had a special Kay holder.

 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

I brought it along as my Brother spotted it earlier and I ended up noodling on it and it was great fun.

 

Found a new song we are knocking into shape it really suits - think something in the same ballpark as Hey Hey My My (Into the Black).

 

It's so dŵty, but really good to play and sounds huge.

 

I paid about 50 times as much for the other  bass I was using...