Short Love

:rofl:

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It stayed in the store.
$1200 dollars came home with me.

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Hi ,You change the string tension by using different strings. For instance flats have higher tension than roundwounds esp stock .096 strings used most often on SS. I used med .106 GHS balanced nickels on my short scale tele bass project to bring the tension up as new owner did not like how floppy the .096 strings were. Worked perfect…

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Yep yep you have two levers for string tension - scale length and string gauge. Still, I strongly prefer .100 over .105 for an E string and the idea of a 5 string shortie simply amuses me because I already prefer .135 for a B on 34" :rofl:

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Welcome to the fold! I’d be curious how you build these shorties, I’m a big fan myself and might look into this.

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Oh yeah, short scale all the way. Started on a Yamaha TRBX304, then bought a Yamaha BB734. Both are 34" scale. Played those for 2 years then stumbled on to a G&L Fallout Tribute short scale on the used market for $530.00. Strung it up with LaBella deep talking flat wounds and it’s the only one I play now.

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Oh wild, I’d missed you’d given up on the BB. I remember you saying you had liked it a lot.

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Oh indeed I do. But once I discovered short scale basses, the 734 went to the guitar rack. If I could find a BB734 in short scale I’d be in heaven. C’mon folks, spend my money! :slight_smile:

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What if I told you that in the '80s, Yamaha made a range of very nice MIJ 32" basses, which are now beloved, iconic, and also can be had for cheap?

I owned one and loved it but just didn’t gel as much with medium scale as I thought I would from jamming on them in stores. Fun little things though!

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There are also the BB’s from the 80s that were short scale. BBIV or VI (I can’t remember which). Those can be had fairly inexpensively also I think.

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sbl had one on their show (i don’t remember which one sorry, i think it had something to do with 80s basses). but anyhoo they raved about this bass.

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They are super good.

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Wanna see a grown man cry? :slight_smile: Now the hunt is on!

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Hi I have found that squier bronco necks can be really nice with a little work. Since they are considered beginner basses by many I buy them used for cheap usually near new in condition and start from there. The blue tele bass has a scratch built body (myfirst from routing to paint) and bronco neck. I mmod the necks (headstock shape) profile new nut , fret jobs etc. I build all my pickguards from scratch etc .Sometimes I use the bronco bodies like the two red ones , depends on my needs and wants

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not my thing, and I have no idea what makes this “punk” :roll_eyes: (why do I get the feeling they’re thinking short scale bass, royal blood, they’re punk right?).

but this might be somebody’s jam. flamed neck is beautiful.

https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2025/05/05/built-for-punk-players-ferner-guitars-cadet-bass-is-our-bass-of-the-week/

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I agree on the bronco necks. I picked this one up new during a Black Friday sale. Sanded and refinished the neck, also worked on the frets, didn’t do anything with the headstock, but I really like the way the neck came out. I did the same thing with a sonic p bass and it came out great as well. With a little work those cheap sonic basses can be awesome.


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Yeah I’m not really feeling the punk vibe from it but that is a fine looking piece of wood :+1:

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I honestly don’t think I posted this, I forgot. probably because I don’t think I’ve ever wanted something so much that I couldn’t possibly afford :sob:

https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2025/02/08/short-scale-spector-basses-are-finally-here-custom-shop-expands-ns-series/

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These look amazing but from experience I would suggest playing one before buying sight unseen. I used to be in love with Warwick Streamers (a clone of the Spector Euro LX) and bought two, failing to gel with both body shapes.

Its body and bridge position does this weird thing that shifts the reach out to the left by about an inch for me. Didn’t ever fit me well.

I have always loved that look though. So cool.

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I have had a Spector for about a year and I love it. as much (not more but as much) as my music man’s. and also don’t get me wrong, this isn’t my usual “I’ll never get one and then get one” thing. I literally cannot and actually would not afford a $7K bass.