ISO: Thread about short-scale basses

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Thu May 10, 2007 11:12 am

This is a problem with getting old and reading about four different forums.

I believe I remember that there might have been a thread somewhere here that eventually discussed short-scale basses. And a couple of people suggested some makes. One was Bird Song Guitars. Ring a bell with anyone?

Well, the point is I might be in the market for a new short scale bass. I'm pretty much a traditionalist when it comes to design and natural or brown when it comes to color. If anyone has any suggestions, thanks.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu May 10, 2007 12:59 pm

How about the new Gibson SG bass? It looks like an EB-3 but has different pickups and no vari-switch.

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Thu May 10, 2007 2:06 pm

Hi Mark, I just picked up one of these and love the little rascal. Seems much more alive than my old EB-3. It's a member of Gibson's "Guitar Of The Week" club.

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Thu May 10, 2007 2:08 pm

Waterstone makes a few short scale models.
http://www.waterstoneguitars.com/bass.shtml
My favorite is this one:

This is a 30 inch Brighton, but it also comes in 32 (not in natural, though). They also have a Tom Petersson "designed" short scale that is more Hofner-like.

I have a TP-34, and it's a very nice bass.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Thu May 10, 2007 2:36 pm

Thanks guys.
Sorry, I should have mentioned that I'm only considering the 'budget' route.
To me, budget means < $600 or $700.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu May 10, 2007 2:43 pm

I think the Gibson SG basses run around 1000.00, could probably get them cheaper, I'm not sure if that's list or not. I just bought a brand new Gibson Thunderbird and it's quality is top notch.
Gary, is that an Epiphone or a Gibson? The SG basses I'm talking about don't have the big humbucker near the neck like an EB-3.

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Fri May 11, 2007 3:02 am

Mark, that Waterstone runs $679.95. There is also a Fender Mustang, which is $559.98 at AMS
http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-FEN-253900-541.html
The flame top Gibson that Gary showed runs $1,429.00; it's a limited edition run of 400. The Epiphone version of the EB-3 runs $299.97, but it's not available in maple.
There's a short scale Hamer Slammer, the SB4F:
http://www.8thstreet.com/prod.asp?pid=27673

blueflamerick · Post by **blueflamerick** » Fri May 11, 2007 4:29 am

May I suggest some Eastwood models? You can find each of these for under $700.

http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/Bass/airline/airlineBass_frm.htm

http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/Bass/airline-Map/airlineMapBass_frm.htm

http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/Bass/hi-flyer/hiflyerBass_frm.htm

http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/Bass/rocket/rocketBass_frm.htm

http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/Bass/classic4/classic4Bass_frm.htm

teb · Post by **teb** » Fri May 11, 2007 8:05 am

I have to chuckle every time I see those Airline reproductions. Back when I was about twelve years old, my Saturday ritual was walking about a six mile loop and hitting all the music stores in town. First was Emerson's. They stocked Gibsons, Epiphones and Fenders and were pretty cool about letting us play them even though they knew we didn't have a dime to spend. The next stop was C.V. Lloyd's, where they stocked Vox, Hagstrom, Hofner and Mosrite, but old mister Lloyd seldom let us touch them. Across the street, was the House of Baldwin and for a short time, Baldwin tried to get into the rock biz. The first bass amp I ever blew-up was a Baldwin. Then there was a pawn shop that stocked imported knock-offs. That's where I played my first Ricken-faker 360/12 (terrible action, but as close as we could come to a real Rickenbacker). Sears had a few Silvertones and then we would hit Monkey Wards. The Airline guitars were sold in the same department as the washers and dryers - and by the same nerdy guys (who actually dressed kind of like the Blues Brothers, like any other nerds of the day). Basically, we went there to laugh at them, because they were just as funky and out-of-place-looking back then as they are today. I can still see the bald, geeky looking dryer salesman with his poorly-fitting black suit, white socks and skinny black tie holding one and telling us what "groovy" guitars they were. It's hard to believe that after all these years, somebody actually makes reproductions of them and people are playing them.

...sorry for the drift, we now return you to your regularly scheduled thread. I'd find an old EBO and add a P-bass pickup at the bridge - worked for me for 30 years.

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Fri May 11, 2007 11:03 am

Hi Bob, just saw your question. As Lindsay pointed out, she is a Gibson LTD.

I got beat up a little on the price, but I was not leaving the store without her. I got sucker written across my forehead.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri May 11, 2007 11:45 am

Nice looking bass Gary, I just bought a 68 (that's what the serial # says anyway) slothead for 1600.00 and I bet your's does play better, although mine isn't bad either. Are you able to get more sounds with VVT?

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Fri May 11, 2007 12:24 pm

Hi Bob,

My first real bass was an EB3 I bought new around 1966. I paid about $300, felt like a million at the time. Played her for years & no worries till Sir Paul and his 4001 showed up.

The jump from the EB to a 4001 was dramatic at the time. Now I play this SG next to a 4003 and the difference is more subtle. The SG seems more bright and airy than I remember. Of course much of that could be the round wounds on the SG. I had flats on the EB, and played em till they broke.

$1600 for a 68 sounds like a great deal. You might need another zero for a 68 4001. I had a RI EB that I did not like, seemed invisible. My old EB definitely left a footprint when you walked.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Fri May 11, 2007 2:26 pm

I still own a 1972 Gibson EB-0 that I've had since the late 70s.
I've been meaning to sell it (since I never play it) but I've never gotten around to it.

But since I've finally gotten to sell my first items on eBay I just might do it.

blazer · Post by **blazer** » Fri May 11, 2007 3:20 pm

Bob Young: "Gary, is that an Epiphone or a Gibson? The SG basses I'm talking about don't have the big humbucker near the neck like an EB-3."

It's a Gibson, the SG bass you're referring to is the SG Z bass. which looks like this.

But that one has been discontinued. The Current Gibson SG Bass has a lot more in common with the old EB3, and it DOES have a Mudbucker as standard equipped.
http://www.velvetsound.com/gibson_sg_bass_front.jpg

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri May 11, 2007 4:00 pm

Wouter, I've never seen the SG Z bass before, so I must have been mistaken. Are the the new mudbuckers wound as much as the old ones, or in other words, are they still mudbuckers?