I find the strings on my Mustang have a great tension. To me on a long scale LaBellas are a bit stiff, but on the short scale they are just right. I fear that a lighter gauge would feel too loose, but that’s just theory crafting as I have never tried a light set on a short.
To me they feel right so why change
I have tapewound on my Fretless SS Sterling stingray. I love the sound. If you like string tension on the firmer side the heavier gauge is for you.
I’m definitely a medium to light string player the lighter gauge feels better with articulations and bends. I can’t bend Steve Harris heavy gauge string for sure 
But what about when you tune down to drop c?
Yeah, well - I have tried to play with articulations (wobbling my finger at the fret ^^) and it did not articulate well!
Bending is no issue though, even with 105.
Maybe articulations is so next level for me, that I can practice to be better at anything else until the strings are done for … and I get lighter ones then (= in a few years).?
The TI string length is 35.5 for the short scale, if this source is accurate: Bass String Lengths
That’s a bit longer than most. I could only fit them on one of my short scales.
I couldn’t find anything that specific on the TI site.
I have three 34" scale basses and I seldom if ever play in other than standard tuning. If I do it would an Eb half step drop to accommodate vocals and I would typically play one of the 34" scale basses. My reasoning for buying the U5 is as I posted. It much easier to play while seated giving lessons or playing an unplugged type of gig where we’re all seated. The U5 could handle that tuned to Eb as well as is.
I don’t drop tune. If I practice a song with drop D for example I just transpose the song to E. When I do live I either go 5 string or transpose.
Next year sometime that would no long be an issue as I can just flick the lever on my Kubicki and instantly have my drop notes, 
The thing about tuning down a half step is that while guitarists have no problem with it at all and vocalists can find it helpful to create a bit more room at the top end of their range keyboard players as rule hate it especially those with perfect or near perfect pitch.
While it’s true most modern keyboards can easily be de-tuned as well it doesn’t sound the same to their ear and they hate having to play too much on the black keys. The one I played with for over 20 years wouldn’t allow it period so we always played in standard tuning. Eb tuning was reserved for the country rock band I played in where we had no keyboards and a ton of harmonies to perform.
New rack came in today, so here’s the “current” family pic:
Got new flats for them all too, so tomorrow is string day!
P.S. Ignore the odd fellow in the back. He’s not one of us.
Hofner Shorty Bass
I’m not sure that I have “love”‘for this short scale bass, but it’s the only bass I have with me this week!
This guy is such a kick he should be doing infomercials for Shamwow and Kitchen Magician.
Just posted on the “show us your bass” thread, but I figured this was an appropriate spot to post as well…
Very happy with this shorty! For those who play short, long, and anything in between, I’m curious about the experience of switching back and forth as a new player? Do you find it easy to adjust to the different scale lengths, or is it more of a struggle? After playing some basses in local shops, I decided to go with a short scale. I’m a tall guy with tall guy hands, so I think my decision had more to do with neck dive issues (I didn’t like that one bit) than actual scale length. But, I did really like the Mustangs as well, so perhaps it is about the scale. Either way, I’m happy with how things turned out!!
I switched to short scale last year and it feels more comfortable, after years on guitar. That said, when I grab my P-bass now, I really don’t notice a big difference in my playing. I do notice the size though.
Enjoy yours!
I’ll second this. From the same perspective of one who plays both guitar and bass a short scale is more comfortable to play when seated and just knocking around especially if you’re a guitarist as well. In fact I believe it’s guitarist buying them that have caused them to become as popular as they are.
And I have no more difficulty swapping around to different scale lengths on my basses than I do my guitars. It’s just takes a few scales or riffs to connect with what you’re playing and that’s it. I will say that certain guitar riffs or bass lines may be easier to pull off on a shorter scale instrument though.
i do tend to peek at the fretboard a lot when i play, so not a big deal for me at all.
I’ve found learning new, more complicated (for me) bass lines a little easier on my short scale Ibanez, compared to a 34”. I want / need to graduate to the longer scale though. An example was the Ready To Go cover I recently posted on the covers thread. When I first tried this song, there was no way I could even approach it on a 34”, so I learnt in on the 30”, got the song structure under my fingers, then moved to the Dingwall. Having practiced it on that instrument, I was then able to move to the fretless, something I was super proud of!
Same with Daddy Cool, learnt on the short scale, then graduated to the Dingwall. I’ve learnt another song, that I’ll post in a week or two, in the same way.
This doesn’t take away the fun element of my pink short scale, in fact, I’m considering taking to the next band rehearsal, just for a laugh 
Just picked this up but the brown-burst begs for gold hardware and I might as well swap the single-coils masquerading as mini-humbuckers for actual mini-humbuckers… so stay tuned. 
very classic look 
A little Gretsch just like that one was the first bass I bought to study B2B. Got it new from Sweetwater.
I liked the neck a lot but the small body was way too small for me. I returned it within a couple of weeks and bought a Sire U5. And so the trip down the slippery slope began.
