Someday a new shortscale

[partime]

This post is to Mr. Hall and anyone else interested. Hopefully this subject resonates among more people than myself. I have four Rick Basses and play them all. Each is unique and brings me lots of enjoyment. But I have to say, I grew up playing shortscale basses. This is one reason why I have four gibsons too. I know all the tonal arguments about long scales, I agree to some points. All the talk and descriptions about players with short fingers and small hands is the dumbest thing I have read. I waited over thirty five years for Gibson to make a shortscale T-bird, (always admired their sound, but did not like them in my hands for several reasons) they finally designed one and I jumped all over it. It is a fantastic instrument, love it, of course it is now discontinued. I play the you know what out of my Rickenbacker 3000, it is a classic, and it is easy to play. A Redesigned and modern shortscale Rick with updated (2 different) pickups, would sell like mad, with me being the first to buy. I admire the companies production strategies as it is obviously working well. Please give it some thought, if I have to wait another thirty five years, the people in the retirement home won't like the noise I will bring.

[sloop_john_b]

My hope is for a short-scale hollowbody someday.

[jps]

My hope is for a short-scale hollowbody someday.

So, I guess the Starfire isn't enough?

[jps]

...if I have to wait another thirty five years, the people in the retirement home won't like the noise I will bring.

Don't worry, they won't be able to hear you, anyway.

[jdogric12]

This post is to Mr. Hall and anyone else interested. Hopefully this subject resonates among more people than myself. I have four Rick Basses and play them all. Each is unique and brings me lots of enjoyment. But I have to say, I grew up playing shortscale basses. This is one reason why I have four gibsons too. I know all the tonal arguments about long scales, I agree to some points. All the talk and descriptions about players with short fingers and small hands is the dumbest thing I have read. I waited over thirty five years for Gibson to make a shortscale T-bird, (always admired their sound, but did not like them in my hands for several reasons) they finally designed one and I jumped all over it. It is a fantastic instrument, love it, of course it is now discontinued. I play the you know what out of my Rickenbacker 3000, it is a classic, and it is easy to play. A Redesigned and modern shortscale Rick with updated (2 different) pickups, would sell like mad, with me being the first to buy. I admire the companies production strategies as it is obviously working well. Please give it some thought, if I have to wait another thirty five years, the people in the retirement home won't like the noise I will bring.

I'd say the reason they don't make it is a direct result of them "giving it some thought." And you having to wait 35 years on Gibson, only to have them discontinue it again, provides more food for said thought.

Hope springs eternal!

[partime]

I knew someone would pick up on the discontinued line. A couple of comments on that. I think they made the 400 basses thing and moved on to some other designs, which is what happened. I watch ebay fairly regular and with the exception of maybe 2 or 3 in the last year, you cannot find them as the people who own them are keeping them. There is a following for these, I am confident of that. And if the people in the retirement home can't hear it, I'll bet their going to feel it!

[JakeK]

Besides the 3000, did RIC have any other short scale basses? I would've thought there'd be a short scale in the 4000 series...?

[partime]

If I am not mistaken, I saw a TV program that showed John Entwisle having a 4000 or 4001 in short scale, special made for his son. OR I might have read somewhere a while back of the existence of one. You gotta be somebody. Maybe I dreamed it? Otherwise information from old posts says No. I'll bet Rickenbacker knows. A little history would be enlightning.

[johnhall]

I'll be at the nursing home when that bass shows up. I won't complain . . .

[teb]

My hope is for a short-scale hollowbody someday.

I used to have one....... fretless too, with a varnished rosewood fingerboard.
All I had to do was take an old Mapleglow Capri and have my tech at the time build a new neck for it and refinish it. It was a really pretty bass without the "overinflated" look that the 4005 has. Of course, had I just left the Capri alone and slid it under the bed it would be worth a bundle today, but at the timeI only had about $350 ivested in the entire project. I eventually sold it when I was broke and the worst part is that I don't even have a decent picture of it. The body is barely visible on the extreme right of this shot. Also notice the headstock on the "Tele" at left.

[weemac]

There was at least one short scale 4003 made some years ago, it was jetglo and may have been an S bass.
It was on EBay about five or six years back..

Eden.

[partime]

Hahahahahahaha, Thank you Mr. Hall for responding, it is very cool that you participate in this forum, its always interesting hearing your opinions. So then, I guess I will wait till I get to the nursing home. But in the meantime I still want one.

[jps]

And if the people in the retirement home can't hear it, I'll bet their going to feel it!

They would certainly like that!

[bassduke49]

There is a custom-made (by RIC, apparently), short-scale, Jetglo, lefty 4003S pictured in the book.

[chefothefuture]

My 381 to bass project will be 30.5" scale..
Going to put BiSonics in it as well....