Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

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Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by Nelson Instruments »

I am well aware that short scale basses are a niche market but I wanted to poll the audience and see if you wonderful folks think it is worth it to offer a short scale bass?

I did have the old style Coquette in a short scale bass variation which has been supplanted by the new Coquette bass which is a long scale instrument.

I'm not sure that the relative failure of the old style was due to the short scale-ness of the instrument but moreso the tulip shape of it.

I have a design in mind but as stated I thought I'd see what everyone thought about short scale basses in general?
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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by kbit »

I love them and own short scales exclusively, but I'm not sure how they would sell as the internet has destroyed my sense of what's popular with gear.
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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by ChetMagongalo »

it's just preference i suppose, I don't prefer short scale, but I've owned and enjoyed playing many of them. I enjoy that the bass is a huge instrument, I don't gain much from making it smaller. what i don't like about the tulip shape is that it seems like it would be uncomfortable to play on the higher frets, the paramount also has a much cooler aesthetic.
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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by Nelson Instruments »

I feel kinda silly hijacking my own thread but how about in addition to my initial inquiry I'll add:
So what do we think of the reimagined Coquette bass?
Long scale, set neck, heavily chambered body?

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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by coldbrightsunlight »

I like short scale basses, they definitely have their market even if it is slightly niche.

As for that coquette above, hubba bubba. :love: I think it looks lovely.
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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by colin »

I prefer short scale, but I'm primarily a guitarist and I have fairly small hands. That said, I'm sure I could get used to full scale easily enough, and the new Coquette bass is gorgeous.

I think you'll do better with your main bass model being full scale, but having short scale as an option would be awesome.
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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by Jero »

That bass is :drool:
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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by ChetMagongalo »

man that pickguard is so cool, looks great, I bet it sounds amazing as well! how much does it weigh? my bass is insanely light and it's not chambered.
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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by Nelson Instruments »

Well I was in such a hurry to finish it that I never weighed it. It was a marathon where I was up hours after bedtime because it had to get sent out.

It wasn't feather weight but certainly not heavy.

Someone saw those pics on facebook and they want one just like it. They're still deciding if they want long scale or short scale. That's the nice thing about the way I'm building now, those kind of changes are far more doable.
With the old models that had the big pickguard it would have been a big hassle.
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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by theAntihero »

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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by Derelict78 »

That bass is beautiful!
If I thought I might have the money for it I would order one immediately.
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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by Nelson Instruments »

Well just a heads up, part of my 2016 reboot is that I'm going to offer everything as a stripped down, satin finished base model, and then any options/upgrades will be listed.
So if you just want a solid instrument and, for example, don't care about paying extra for a glossy finish then you'll save some money!
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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by Mudfuzz »

Nelson Instruments wrote:I feel kinda silly hijacking my own thread but how about in addition to my initial inquiry I'll add:
So what do we think of the reimagined Coquette bass?
Long scale, set neck, heavily chambered body?

Image

Image
I love that color :thumb:
like others have said, SS bases have their place, I own 3 I think but the scale really wasn't a determining factor in getting them it was more or I wanted those sounds that they had… but they will never be main gigging basses for me because I need a five string bass most of the time… really my BIG complaint about almost all bass builders and pickup builders is there are very few options if you want to play something that covers more bases and don't want the generic "modern" sound and look...
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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by kosta »

Nelson Instruments wrote:I feel kinda silly hijacking my own thread but how about in addition to my initial inquiry I'll add:
So what do we think of the reimagined Coquette bass?
Long scale, set neck, heavily chambered body?

Image

Image
I bet that thing sounds and plays fantastic Bobby. My 2¢ is purely stylistic – I'd love a simpler 1-color pickguard and a smaller logo on the headstock to streamline the look of the whole thing to make it a little bit more elegant.
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Re: Short scale basses: "So good" or "no good"??

Post by PetZounds »

I love short scale basses, they're so fun to play.
I have a Rondo short scale fretless with a super tiny body that I'm obsessed with.
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