A short scale guitar can be any guitar: bass guitars, acoustic guitars, scale electric guitar, acoustic-electric bass guitar – you name it, and there is probably a short scale version of the guitar on the market.
These types of bass guitars are more compact than your average bass guitar and make an excellent choice if you’re looking to purchase the best short scale bass if you’re shopping around for young guitar players.
Short scale basses are also great instruments for people will smaller statures to play on, especially if you are someone who has smaller arms or smaller hands.
Bottom Line Up Front: My overall top recommendation here is the Gretsch G2220 Junior available at GuitarCenter.com here. Excellent overall sound, affordable price range, and comfortable to hold & play.
Excellent sound, affordable price, accessible to all levels of players. This is THE best short scale bass I've tried relative to the price point. Exceptional value for the money.
Many bass guitar players find that the compact spacing on the bass guitars makes the musical instrument much more comfortable to play.
Short scale basses are also easier to tune because of the shorter bass guitar string set on the instrument, as shorter strings don’t require as much tension to maintain a proper tuning and it’s easy to manipulate the tune knob.
That’s also part of the reason why short scale basses make great instruments for younger children, OR alternately just for anyone who wants the sweet sounds of short scale basses.
Spending a long time tuning a stringed instrument can be boring, so if you happen to have a child that isn’t exactly super patient, having a short scale bass guitar that’s easy to tune can help to limit your child’s frustration levels when learning how to play a new instrument and fiddle with string settings.
BEST Short Scale Bass Guitars
1. Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet Electric Bass Guitar II
Excellent sound, affordable price, accessible to all levels of players. This is THE best short scale bass I've tried relative to the price point. Exceptional value for the money.
The Junior Jet Electric Bass Guitar II is another short scale bass guitar that’s extremely popular in the guitar community and for a good reason.
If you are someone who has been involved in the guitar community for a while, you may have heard of the brand Gretsch. However, if you’re new to the world of guitars, you should probably know that Gretsch is a guitar manufacturer that’s extremely popular and well-known for producing guitars of the highest quality regarding durability and sound.
If you’re on the hunt for the best short scale base guitar neck that’s easy to make transitions on, the neck on this short scale bass is at 30-inches, which makes it perfect for quick transitions.
The volume and tone control on this guitar will provide your instrument with nearly flawless sound. On Amazon, Gretsch G2224 Junior Jet Electric Bass Guitar II is around $300.
Pros of the Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet Electric Bass Guitar II
- Affordable, considering the brand that this guitar is manufactured by.
- Excellent quality sound, especially if you’re looking for a deep bass sound.
- Pleasant feel, very comfortable to hold.
Cons of the Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet Electric Bass II
- Some of the models produced have loose controls, but this can be easily fixed by adjusting the screws on the back.
- Minor fret buzzing when you’re first learning how to play, but this is easy to overcome once you have better control of the guitar.
Where to Buy the Gretsch G2220 Junior Online
There are a few good places to check for the best deals on the G2220 online:
- On Amazon: Fast shipping, free returns, and reliable pricing make Amazon worth a check.
- On GuitarCenter.com: GuitarCenter has guitar specialists and experts on call, plus same day shipping and the option for curbside pickup. Check the Gretsch G2220 GuitarCenter listing here.
2. Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro ¾ Size Bass Guitar
The Ibanez Mikro electric bass offers anyone who needs a compact axe or the comfort of a smaller neck (most especially young rockers) a real alternative to small bass guitars that are really only toys.
The Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro ¾ size bass guitar is said to be one of the best entry-level short scale bass guitars to beginners to choose from and I have to say- I disagree. The Ibanez GSR M20 Mikro ¾ Size Bass Guitar is not only a great entry-level short scale bass guitar for beginners to choose from, but as an experienced guitar player, I swear by the Ibanez GSR M20 Mikro bass for performances.
You can find the Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro ¾ Size Bass Guitar for under $200. Check out the latest price!
I love playing on this short scale bass guitar because I absolutely love the sound that this instrument produces; this short scale produces an incredibly full sound that’s not only versatile, but a lot of fun to listen to. The thing that I disliked most about this guitar is the pickups that come installed with this short scale.
Thankfully, the pickups installed on the GSRM20, J-style and P-style pickups, don’t damage the sound of the instrument. The sound that the short scale produces is still incredibly substantial and if you adjust the tone and the volume controls properly, you will be able to get a decent variation in your sound. However, my dislike for the pickups on this instrument is just me being extremely picky in the taste I have for my sound.
Besides my personal dislike for the pickups on this bass short scale electric guitar, the rest of this short scale bass guitar is a dream. Aesthetically, the visual appearance of this guitar is absolutely amazing. The physical feel of this musical instrument leaves you with no sharp ends and no fret sprouts, which means you aren’t going to worry about accidentally cutting your hand while you’re playing.
Pros of the Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro ¾ Size Bass Guitar
- Great ergonomics
- Affordable
- Magnificent sound
- 22 frets (jumbo frets) which is great if you’re looking to have those additional two frets
Cons of the Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro ¾ size bass guitar
- Comes installed with your average pickups, which isn’t too exciting.
Further Reading:
3. Fender Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Special Short Scale Bass Guitar
The Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Guitar (try saying that five times fast) is a great choice if you’re looking for an entry-level bass guitar, but would make a great addition to the collection of any experienced bass guitarist.
If you happen to be one of the bass players or guitarists that’s on the hunt for a bass guitar that’s going to provide you with a warm tone, with a softer low end combined with muted highs, you’re going to want to get your hands on this short scale bass guitar.
Now, finding the best short scale base guitar that’s comfortable to play can be a difficult task (vs finding a standard bass), as there are a lot of short scale bass guitars out there that are just cheap bass guitars and aren’t very comfy to play.
However, the Fender Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Special Short Scale Bass guitar is very easy to handle, as it has a perfectly shaped maple fingerboard and maple neck that is covered with a rosewood basewood fretboard (rosewood fingerboard and maple in-laid elegantly).
On Amazon, the Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Guitar is $200. Check out the latest price!
This is a 30-inch shortscale bass guitar, just in case you were wondering! The neck radius is 9.5-inches, which makes it great for hands of all sizes. The inlays on the fingerboard of this short scale are dotted. This short scale model does have 20 frets instead of 22. This doesn’t affect the sound of this instrument at all, but it does limit the range of the instrument by two frets (still, not a fretless guitar).
The biggest downside that comes along with the purchase of this bass guitar is that its kind of difficult to keep the tone of your instrument under lock and key, even as an experienced musician. I found that this was especially a problem with the lower end of the bass guitar, so if you’re someone who depends heavily on the low end of a bass guitar to play your music and you hate having to constantly re-tune your instrument, you may want to consider switching to a different short scale.
Single-Coil Pickup? As for the pickups that are installed on this short scale bass guitar, you’re going to getting your hands on a single coil jazz bass neck pickup and a split coil P-bass pickup. To customize your sound, you will have access to the standard dual volume knobs and a master tone control knob (tune knob).
Pros of the Fender Squier Modified Jaguar Short Scale bass guitar
- Smooth design
- High-quality sound
- Comfortable to play for long periods of time
- Wallet-friendly
Cons of the Fender Squier Modified Jaguar Short Scale bass guitar
- Sometimes, the tone can be too loose sounding.
At the end of the day, the Fender Squier Modified Jaguar Short Scale Bass Guitar is still an incredible short scale bass guitar in part to the versatility that this instrument has to offer, but also because of the quality workmanship that went into crafting this beautiful short scale bass guitar.
Further Reading:
4. Epiphone EB-0 Electric Bass Guitar
Though small and light, the Epiphone EB-0 Bass has huge sound, and full-size people can play it too.
The Epiphone EB-0 Electric Bass Guitar has an extremely similar cosmetic appearance to the Gibson SG electric bass guitar. The SG was one of Gibson’s most famous guitars and still holds a great amount of respect from bass musicians all around the world.
While the EpiphoneEB-0 Electric Bass Guitar may not describe itself as a short scale bass guitar, the scale length of this instrument is 30.5-inches. This short scale bass guitar only has 20 frets, which means that if you’re really looking to experiment with higher sounds, you’re not going to be able to play around too much.
This short scale bass guitar is cut out of solid mahogany body and is paired with a bolted mahogany neck (bolt-on neck) and a rosewood fretboard with dotted inlay (rosewood fingerboard). The neck on this bass guitar is extremely fast and smooth feeling to play on! Your sound will be produced from a single humbucker pickup, and you will be able to customize your sound through one master volume knob and one master tone control knob.
If you’re a
Pros of the Epiphone EB-0 electric bass guitar
- Budget-friendly alternative to the Gibson SG.
- Comes with a humbucker pickups.
Cons of the Epiphone EB-0 electric bass guitar
- Since there isn’t another pickup on this bass guitar, you aren’t really going to be able to experiment too much with the precision of your sound.
Is Playing Short Scale Electric Guitar Right for You?
When someone is talking about the scale length on stringed instruments, they are talking about the distance between the bridge pickup and the nut on the guitar. The scale length does not represent the length of the neck of the guitar! Remember, bridge and nut!
Generally, the average bass guitar will have a 34-inch scale length, while short scale bass guitars will have a 31-inch scale length.
Physically comparing short scale bass guitars to long scale bass guitars, you will see that short scale bass guitars have shorter necks, a smaller amount of distance between frets, and are generally more compact than long scale bass guitar.
When you’re physically handling a short scale bass guitar, these types of guitars have a very different feel to them in comparison to long scale bass guitar. This difference in feeling is noticeable if you’re used to handling long scale bass guitars, but will feel completely normal in your hands if you’ve never touched a long scale bass.
Short scale bass guitars have unique tonal characteristics when compared to long scale bass guitar. When you play a note on a bass guitar, that individual note comes with a series of harmonics that provide each instrument with a unique sound. As the length of the strings changes, the volume and the sound of the harmonics will change. The shorter the length of the string becomes, the higher harmonics will have a smaller amount of volume.
If you happen to tune a short scale bass guitar with a pair of normal bass strings, the strings will have a lower tension than if you were to place the same strings on a regular bass guitar. Using a pair of normal bass strings on a short scale bass will provide you with a looser feeling to the strings, which will also have an effect on the dynamical range of the instrument, as well as the attack and sustain of the guitar. However, finding short scale bass guitar strings that will fit your short scale bass won’t be too difficult!
Short Scale vs Long Scale Bass Guitars: Do They Sound Different?
For a short answer: yes, long scale bass guitars and short scale bass guitars do sound different.
If you’re looking for a longer answer: short scale bass guitars will sometimes use a heavier string gauge than long scale bass guitar, which provides the short scale bass guitars with a thicker, more robust tone volume control that many guitarists might be looking for.
This also means that short scale guitars require a low string tension to maintain a proper intonation, which will provide the guitar strings with a loose feel to the strings. Having a lower string tension will provide the instrument with a larger sounding low register.
Fun fact! Did you know that famous bass players such as Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman, Glenn Cornick, Tin Weymouth, and Trevor Bolder often used short scale bass guitars?
Short Scale vs Medium Scale Bass Guitars
The main difference between a Short Scale vs Medium Scale Bass is that a “medium scale” bass generally comes in at 32 inches, versus 30 inches for a short scale and 34 for a long scale.
If a short scale is too far on the intonation spectrum, consider a medium scale bass as a compromise between the two.
Hint: One way to mimic a short or medium scale on a long scale is to simply add a capo on the 2nd bridge fret and the tune the capo’d fret to EADG.
Final Note: So What Should Base Players Choose?
In case you’re just looking for a quick review of each of these short scale basses, here’s a quick little chart for you to look at:
Top 4 Best Short Scale Bass Guitars: Is Playing Short Scale Guitar Right for You?
| Guitar | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
Fender Squier | – Offers several different features, which makes the learning possibilities on this short scale nearly endless. | The tone can be very loose sounding, especially if you’re used to play full scale bass guitars. |
| Epiphone EB-0 | The humbucker pickup on this short scale bass guitar is what sets it apart from the other high-quality short scales on this list. The humbucker picks up a lot more signals than other pickups on this list. | Only comes with a humbucker pickup, so you’re not going to be able to experiment too much with a unique or different sound. |
| Gretsch G2220 | Comfortable to play on, especially if you’re not used to playing on heavy guitars. Also provides users with a deep bass sound that sounds more like a long scale bass guitar than it does a short scale bass. | When you’re first learning how to play, you will probably experience minor fret buzzing until you get used to play on the guitar. |
Ibanez GSRM20 | – Even though this is a short scale bass guitar, you’re still going to be able to get your hands on 22 frets. | Doesn’t come with any sort of unique pickup to make a different sound than its competition. |
At the end of the day, you have to figure out what short scale bass guitar is best for you by deciding what your personal needs are. What works for your bass guitar buddy may not be the best short scale bass guitar for you.
Finding a high-quality short scale bass guitar on today’s market can be very difficult, as a lot of the short scale bass guitars that are available are produced with poor quality materials. Using cheap materials to build an instrument is going to result in sub-par sound and an instrument that isn’t going to be able to withstand any wear and tear.
As I always say, before you make any final purchases, do your best to go in the store and test out some short sale basses to see which one you like the best. Have fun finding your new short scale bass guitar!
Bottom Line: My overall top recommendation here is the Gretsch G2220 Junior available at GuitarCenter.com here. Excellent overall sound, affordable, and comfortable to hold & play.
Excellent sound, affordable price, accessible to all levels of players. This is THE best short scale bass I've tried relative to the price point. Exceptional value for the money.
Further Reads:
- Looking for a Full Bass? Check out these top bass guitars for this year.
- Best Beginner Bass Songs: Get started with the optimal songs to master the craft in the shortest period of time.
- Best 5-String Bass Guitars
- Best Bass Guitar Strings
- Differences Between 4 String vs 4 String Bass Guitar
- How to Play Guitar with Short Hands
- Single Coil vs Humbucker Pickups
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