The Short scale bass guitar is an amazingly cool part of the electric bass family tree that is often criminally overlooked. We usually think of basses as large, long instruments, which they are, but a short scale bass has its own unique set of charms to offer.
Comparison Table of Best Short Scale Bass Guitars
Shorties are great for bass players of smaller size who aren’t physically comfortable on a full-scale instrument. They are much easier to play than something modeled on an old P-Bass with a neck like a felled tree! This also makes them an excellent choice for guitarists who need to play or track bass parts.
While not the best basses for those using drop tunings, there isn’t much of a sonic difference compared to a longer bass when tuned to E.
Today, we are going to help you find the best short scale bass guitar for your needs and applications. Ready? Here we go!
Best Short Scale Bass Guitar Review
Table of Contents
Epiphone EB-O
The styling and sound of this short scale bass guitar is a total throwback to yesteryear and instantly gives off that warm and fuzzy bass sound from your favorite old records.
The EB-O features a carved Mahogany body with a bolt-on Mahogany neck with a Rosewood fingerboard. That wood combination, coupled with the single SideWinder bass humbucker in the neck position, is where all that warmth gets created. Hardware is chrome all the way around and includes a fully-adjustable bridge.
The EB-O short scale bass guitar is light and easy to play, thanks to its 30.5-inch scale length (which is the distance from the nut to the bridge saddle) and the timeless SG body style makes high fret access a beautiful thing. Guitar players doubling on bass may find one of these to be all they will ever need.
PROS
- Super playability!
- Easy on the shoulder and back!
- Classic sound and styling!
CONS
- Not much treble to be had.
- May be too simple for ultra-modern players.
- Affordable electric bass in cherry red with classic Epiphone SG shape
- Carved mahogany body with bolted mahogany neck
- Rosewood fretboard with dotted inlay; 30.5-inch scale
Squier by Fender
It positively oozes that classic coolness that makes pulses pound. The timeless classic body style will look at home in any genre of band.
The Bronco sports a Maple neck and fretboard connected to a solid-wood body.
Pickups are of the Special Design Single-Coil variety and that makes this little beast capable of dialing in any required bass tone this side of modern metal.
There are master volume and master tone knobs. Nice and simple. These things are a blast to play, sound great, look cool, and Squier needs to send me one now.
PROS
- Rockstar good looks!
- Lots of sounds on tap!
- Good value!
- Lightweight and playable!
CONS
- Not great for metal and heavier styles.
- Slim and comfortable “C”-shaped neck profile
- Single-coil Bronco Bass pickup
- Short 30“ scale length
Ibanez GSRM20BS
The Ibanez GSRM20BS Short Scale Bass is a total runt with a scale length of only 28.6 inches! That is just a little longer than an average electric guitar and makes this blaster deliver a whole lot of heat in a tiny package.
This is a bass guitar perfectly suited for smaller or younger players, guitarists, those in small studio spaces, or anybody else who wants a featherweight instrument that still packs a punch. It rocks a Poplar body with a normal Maple/Rosewood neck, chrome hardware, and that P/J pickup configuration we all love so much.
This short scale bass guitar is going to be a dream instrument for a lot of people. It puts outstanding bass sounds in small hands, on bad backs, and in-home studios at an unbeatable price. Many short scale basses are based on vintage designs but this Ibanez is a modern shorty that will appeal to the tiny-but-current crowd. Hot stuff, indeed.
PROS
- Super small!
- P/J pickup set!
- Featherweight!
CONS
- Could possibly be TOO small for some people.
- Fast, slim Maple neck
- Compact, light-weight Body
- Dynamic P pickup
Hofner HOF-HI-BB-SB-O 4-String
The Hofner HOF-HI-BB-SB-O short scale bass is an instant ticket to the tried-and-true but can also create new sounds in the right hands. It has a hollow Maple body with a Spruce top, a Maple neck with a Rosewood fretboard, and two 70s-style Hofner “staple” pickups. Of course, it also has the legendary Hofner control panel that includes On/Off switches for each pick-up, a Solo/Rhythm switch, and individual Volume controls.
This is a perfect short scale bass for anyone seeking the vintage Hofner sound, charm and look made popular by Paul McCartney. This is another instrument with major garage band/indie coolness built in and makes a worthy contender for anyone looking for something a little past average.
PROS
- Light and hollow!
- Two pickups!
- Garage band cred for days!
CONS
- Looks: love ‘em or leave ‘em!
- Another one not really suited to metal styles.
- One of the World's Iconic Guitars
- Fully Hollow Body
- Hofner Style Tailpiece
Dean Evo XM
The Evo is another Mahogany-bodied short scale bass guitar but with two high-output humbucking pickups that will pump plenty of wattage into your cottage. The 30-inch scale makes it easy to get around on and, once again, makes this a perfect bass for rock guitarists needing to go lower.
The look of the Evo is strictly rock and roll, with a satin finish and black hardware. This is one serious-looking short scale bass instrument that will boost your stage presence immeasurably. The Dean brand has been associated with rock’n’roll since the day it was born and the Evo XM certainly carries on that family tradition.
Looking for a short metal axe to grind then this is the best short scale bass for you.
PROS
- A full-on rock machine!
- Very lightweight!
- Two humbuckers!
CONS
- All metal, all the time.
- Mahogany Body^Mahogany Top^Bolt-On Neck^Rosewood Fingerboard^Black Hardware
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Source: Amazon
Oh yeah. Squier Vintage Modified. Love this shorty. Perfect for my guitar fingers and sounds great.
Great picks! Just wondering if you’re planning to add a few higher-end shorties too?