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Short Scale Bass Guitars

A short scale bass has a shorter scale length, meaning the distance from the nut to the bridge: usually 30" (762 mm) instead of the standard 34" (864 mm). The frets sit closer together, the neck is shorter and the whole instrument is lighter, so it is comfortable to play even with smaller hands. Here you will find electric and acoustic bass guitars with short scales, from the Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro and Squier Mini Precision Bass with a 28.6" scale to 30" models such as the Sire Marcus Miller U5, Squier Sonic Bronco Bass and Fender Mustang Bass. There are also six-string Bass VI models and HILS headless basses.

Who is a short scale bass guitar for?

A short scale suits players with smaller hands, teenagers who find a standard bass too big, and guitarists moving over to bass who are used to a guitar scale length of around 25". A shorter, lighter instrument is also handy for travelling and for a small rehearsal room. For the youngest players, you will also find the smallest models on the bass guitars for kids page.

Does a short scale bass sound different from a 34" bass?

A little, yes. At the same tuning, strings on a shorter scale have lower tension, so they are easier to fret and the tone is warmer and rounder, with a pronounced attack. It is the sound you know from 1960s basses such as the Fender Mustang Bass. On a 34" scale the lowest notes sound tighter, which you will appreciate most when tuning lower than E.

Which scale lengths will you find here?

ScaleLengthExamples
Micro28.6" (726 mm)Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro, Squier Mini Precision Bass, Jackson JS1X Minion
Short scale30–30.75" (762–781 mm)Sire Marcus Miller U5, Squier Sonic Bronco Bass, Fender Mustang Bass, Gretsch Streamliner Jet Club Bass, Hagstrom Viking Bass, Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI
Travel23.5–24.7" (596–628 mm)Blackstar Carry On ST Bass, Ibanez PNB14E, Ortega KT-WALKER-V3, Bromo BAT8E

What strings and case does a short scale bass need?

Choose strings by the distance from the ball end to the nut and where the winding tapers before the tuning post; the Short Scale label alone is not enough. Some short-scale basses need longer or special sets. When choosing from our bass guitar strings, check the set length in the product name. A short scale bass will fit in a standard gig bag, but it will move around inside; a bag made for short scale basses holds it more securely, and you will find one among our bass guitar bags and cases.

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