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So I'm in the market for a cheaper short scale bass. I'm starting to do some recording and I need a bass that will fit my short body and small hands. I was thinking about a Jaguar bass, but it's pretty expensive for one and I'm afraid it will be a bit thin sounding. What do you guys recommend?

Radiohead625 wrote:So I'm in the market for a cheaper short scale bass. I'm starting to do some recording and I need a bass that will fit my short body and small hands. I was thinking about a Jaguar bass, but it's pretty expensive for one and I'm afraid it will be a bit thin sounding. What do you guys recommend?

Gretsch Junior Jet. I have the single pickup version and I love it. They're in the same price range as the jaguar. Maybe a little cheaper.

FWIW I have the Squier SS jag bass too, and it doesn't sound thin at all with the P pickup. The J pickup is kinda thin, but I just don't use it.

I'm always on the lookout for a nice, affordable short scale.

Radiohead625 wrote:So I'm in the market for a cheaper short scale bass. I'm starting to do some recording and I need a bass that will fit my short body and small hands. I was thinking about a Jaguar bass, but it's pretty expensive for one and I'm afraid it will be a bit thin sounding. What do you guys recommend?

all these things aside… first what type or sound do you actually want to get?

Oooo I didn't thinks about a Junior Jet.

As for a sound? I mean I'm a huge fan of Colin Greenwood's tone and I'm absolutely in love with Kid A and Amnesiac. I like a good dirty tone too like Tim Commerford or Nick Oliveri. I'm recording music that is heavily influenced by trip hop and industrial music like NIN and Massive Attack as well.

Most of those Jaguar basses are a full 34". However Squier makes a short version, and maybe fender, too. IIRC the shorty squier is realllll cheap.
Yep! $180 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/squ ... ss&index=1

I've had great luck with re-issue Mustang basses. In fact, if I had no bass, and a chunk of change i would run right out and get one.
I would not worry about a "thin" tone from any of the fender Short scales. The mustangs all have "THE" duncan mustang bass pickup. At least with people I've talked to that Pbass/mustang pickup is a bad-ass bass sound standard. Put thick strings on it, put it in a good amp, play with care and you'll be set.

Radiohead625 wrote:I'm recording music that is heavily influenced by trip hop and industrial music like NIN and Massive Attack as well.

Ok, then first I have to say you want a bass with good loud pickups and not underpowered things like in mustangs [no love lost on these just for the sound you are talking about… no..] and gretsches, unless you want to boost it. I think squire makes two mustangs with more powerful bucker type pickups in them. Also the Squire Jag has normal type PJ pickups which is cool because if you don't like them you can swap for all kinds of stuff. The Hagstrom Model HB4-WCT looks nifty.

aen wrote:Most of those Jaguar basses are a full 34". However Squier makes a short version, and maybe fender, too. IIRC the shorty squier is realllll cheap.
Yep! $180 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/squ ... ss&index=1

I've had great luck with re-issue Mustang basses. In fact, if I had no bass, and a chunk of change i would run right out and get one.
I would not worry about a "thin" tone from any of the fender Short scales. The mustangs all have "THE" duncan mustang bass pickup. At least with people I've talked to that Pbass/mustang pickup is a bad-ass bass sound standard. Put thick strings on it, put it in a good amp, play with care and you'll be set.

How weird that the Jags are full length for bass. Well, I'll definitely be checking out the mustang. Thanks!

Mudfuzz wrote:

Radiohead625 wrote:I'm recording music that is heavily influenced by trip hop and industrial music like NIN and Massive Attack as well.

Ok, then first I have to say you want a bass with good loud pickups and not underpowered things like in mustangs [no love lost on these just for the sound you are talking about… no..] and gretsches, unless you want to boost it. I think squire makes two mustangs with more powerful bucker type pickups in them. Also the Squire Jag has normal type PJ pickups which is cool because if you don't like them you can swap for all kinds of stuff. The Hagstrom Model HB4-WCT looks nifty.

By underpowered are you saying they are more vintage sounding? A lot of vintage sounding pickups can sound huge with flat wounds. Just curious because I've tried very few basses. I guess that's where I should start.

Radiohead625 wrote:

Mudfuzz wrote:

Radiohead625 wrote:I'm recording music that is heavily influenced by trip hop and industrial music like NIN and Massive Attack as well.

Ok, then first I have to say you want a bass with good loud pickups and not underpowered things like in mustangs [no love lost on these just for the sound you are talking about… no..] and gretsches, unless you want to boost it. I think squire makes two mustangs with more powerful bucker type pickups in them. Also the Squire Jag has normal type PJ pickups which is cool because if you don't like them you can swap for all kinds of stuff. The Hagstrom Model HB4-WCT looks nifty.

By underpowered are you saying they are more vintage sounding? A lot of vintage sounding pickups can sound huge with flat wounds. Just curious because I've tried very few basses. I guess that's where I should start.

No, there there are lots of "vintage sounding" and vintage pickups that are loud, meaning they have a high output… the round wound vs flat wound doesn't mean much to me because I use flats on almost all my basses like I said you can always boost it or add a pre am to the bass but then you can get issues with fuzzes…

If you want some hot n sweet pick ups, Hondo Short Scale P bass from the 80s sounds so good and have a great neck shape to boot. They are made of plywood though

What about the Epiphone EB0? That's got a big fat 'bucker on it and it's a 30" scale for 200 bucks

bigchiefbc wrote:What about the Epiphone EB0? That's got a big fat 'bucker on it and it's a 30" scale for 200 bucks

This is relevant to my interests. I want an SG bass but until they stop putting that dumb anniversary inlay on there, I'll pass.

Radiohead625 wrote:

Mudfuzz wrote:

Radiohead625 wrote:I'm recording music that is heavily influenced by trip hop and industrial music like NIN and Massive Attack as well.

Ok, then first I have to say you want a bass with good loud pickups and not underpowered things like in mustangs [no love lost on these just for the sound you are talking about… no..] and gretsches, unless you want to boost it. I think squire makes two mustangs with more powerful bucker type pickups in them. Also the Squire Jag has normal type PJ pickups which is cool because if you don't like them you can swap for all kinds of stuff. The Hagstrom Model HB4-WCT looks nifty.

By underpowered are you saying they are more vintage sounding? A lot of vintage sounding pickups can sound huge with flat wounds. Just curious because I've tried very few basses. I guess that's where I should start.

Oh ok got it.

neonblack wrote:

bigchiefbc wrote:What about the Epiphone EB0? That's got a big fat 'bucker on it and it's a 30" scale for 200 bucks

This is relevant to my interests. I want an SG bass but until they stop putting that dumb anniversary inlay on there, I'll pass.

Ya I'm going to have to try one. My dad used to be a bassist and always bashed them, but he's old and swears by a Jazz bass. I have to say I love the Jazz bass sound, but it's just too damn big. I mean I'm 5'6" and it makes moving around on one very tough.

They are not terrible sounding. they have a nice shaped neck. Personally if I bought one the pickup would be gone in minutes [I have a 90's Rivoli [the 335 shaped one…] with a old gibson pickup and it KILLZ] but.. I played one against one of the new gibson SGs basses and in a way I liked the shitty plywood epi better