Guitars / Short Scale Bass Guitars

Short Scale Bass Guitars

A short scale bass guitar is usually considered to be a bass with a 30" scale, although some have a scale as short as 28 inches. Short scale basses have several advantages over medium and long scale basses:

  • The small overall size of a short scale bass makes it ideal for travel, gigs in small quarters, or as a portable practice instrument
  • Short scale bass guitars are well suited for children, women, those with small hands
  • Beginning bass players who have not mastered the neck often hurt their fretting hand by trying too stretch to far. The short scale helps prevent this.
  • Guitarists who occasionally cross over to bass find the short scale feels more like the standard six string guitars they are accustomed to
  • Those with hand problems or recovering from tendonitis often switch to a short scale bass
  • Short scale bass guitars have a bright "plinky" tone that some bassists prefer over the thuddy sound of a standard bass buitar

Disadvantages of short scale are few and mostly a matter of preference. Playing down the neck can get cramped, and some actually dislike the plinky sound of a short scale bass. Finding short scale bass strings to suit your particular style can also be a problem.

Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman, Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads), and Carl Wilson (Beach Boys) have all used short scale bass guitars on stage and on their albums.

Fender Short Scale Bass

Fender Mustang Electric Bass Guitar
Low cost alternative to the Fender Mustang:
Squier by Fender Affinity Series Bronco Bass Guitar Torino Red

Ibanez Short Scale Bass

Ibanez GSRM20 Gio Mikro Left Handed Electric Bass Guitar
Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Electric Bass Guitar
Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Electric Bass Guitar

Epiphone Short Scale Bass

Epiphone Basses are Made by Gibson

Epiphone EB0 Electric Bass Guitar
Epiphone EB0 Electric Bass Guitar
Epiphone VIOLA BASS VS

Gretsch Short Scale Bass

Gretsch Guitars G2202 Electromatic Junior Jet Bass Guitar Ebony Burst

Hofner Semi-Acoustic Short Scale Bass

Hofner 500/1 Vintage ’62 Electric Violin Bass Guitar with Case
Hofner 500/1 Vintage ’63 Electric Violin Bass Guitar with Case
Hofner H500/2 Club Bass LTD Dark Violin
Hofner Icon Series Vintage Violin Bass Transparent Black
Hofner Icon Series Left-Handed Vintage Violin Bass Vintage Sunburst

Short Scale Acoustic Bass

Alvarez used to make the Masterworks MSB1 Short Scale Acoustic Bass but it has been discontinued.

At the present time, the only short scale acoustic bass guitar in production is the Regal RD-05 Dobro Resonator Bass. The resonator creates a somewhat metalic tone but at the same time helps it achieve enough volume to be heard unamplified with other instruments - a common problem with acoustic bass guitars.
You can get the Regal Dobro bass at Birdland Music

Short Scale Bass Alternatives

A baritone guitar can be used as an alternative with the correct strings.