anyone else left a short scale bass than had problems going back?

[glocke]

For almost a decade my SCSD was my primary bass.  I had actually sold everything else I owned but that.  I really loved that bass for the period time i owned it.


Than a little over a year ago I got the jazz bass bug and haven't gone back.  For me, at this point in time I essentially mind jazz basses to be perfect in terms of scale, neck ( i am playing elites and a custom shop 60s). 


Now when I go back to the SCSD, I have finally realized what is meant by "neck dive", and the short scale length is becoming an issue for me...


I know I probably need to just spend more time with it, but it's getting to be a struggle.

[peoplechipper]

yeah, I've had this a bit-I bought a Ricky when my Distallate had to be refretted (no more stainless strings for me!) and it's got rather quirky ergonomics, but fun...I then got a '51 Precision reissue and it has it's own quirks, like how the E string will sometimes actually get hooked into the pickup bobbin (if I wasn't such a ham-fisted bastard it wouldn't be a problem, but then I wouldn't sound like me...)

the funny part is I play them all with the neck at 3:00 like the way the Alembic sits, but changing scale length and ergonomics is a bit weird and hard on my brain (Geddy Lee talks about this on tour in his book - it's awesome by the way)

I kinda wish I could put the 3 basses in a wood chipper and get the perfect mix out the back...

[glocke]

yeah, I've had this a bit-I bought a Ricky when my Distallate had to be refretted (no more stainless strings for me!) and it's got rather quirky ergonomics, but fun...I then got a '51 Precision reissue and it has it's own quirks, like how the E string will sometimes actually get hooked into the pickup bobbin (if I wasn't such a ham-fisted bastard it wouldn't be a problem, but then I wouldn't sound like me...)

the funny part is I play them all with the neck at 3:00 like the way the Alembic sits, but changing scale length and ergonomics is a bit weird and hard on my brain (Geddy Lee talks about this on tour in his book - it's awesome by the way)

I kinda wish I could put the 3 basses in a wood chipper and get the perfect mix out the back...

Bolded...thats why I am afraid to bring the SD back out in gigs, Im afraid scale length change and ergos will trip me up..I don't have enough practice time available to me to get more comfortable with it.


What I really need is an Alembic with a jazz bass neck and 2x2 headstock.

At one point I almost did just that also..I had a 64 jazz with the best neck ever and was going to send that into Alembic for them to model a custom build after..That never happened though

[pauldo]

my .02.

Alembics are the creme de la creme.  They are the nearest thing to perfection.

Back when I was gigging a lot with Sun Machine I would play about 20% of our material with a fretless that had an after market jazz bass neck, longer scale and what not.  Sometimes at rehearsal I would only bring the fretless to workout parts of songs.  Every time, repeat, every time I went back to my Distillate it was like coming home, everything is right where it always was - kinda like walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night with the lights off.  You know how to get there and nobody gets hurt.

[edwardofhuncote]

Not to overstate the obvious, but you could just put a set of Alembic activators in a Jazz bass. It would cost a little bit extra but Mica could easily fix you up with Signature electronics for them, so it would function like your SCSD too. Either that or start shopping a trade for an Essence or one of the more ergonomic, long-scale models.

[jazzyvee]

Have you thought sbout trading your scsd for a used europa or elan 4 with signature electronics. That may suit you. They balance perfectly.

[Glynn]

Yes - my Orion 4 balances perfectly and has all the sounds I will ever need. Standard electronics.  It will be 20 years old on 23rd March this year.  When I bought it new, I tried a lovely SC quilted maple in Bass Centre Birmingham UK but the neck dive put me off so I bought the Orion.
Glynn

[glocke]

Not to overstate the obvious, but you could just put a set of Alembic activators in a Jazz bass. It would cost a little bit extra but Mica could easily fix you up with Signature electronics for them, so it would function like your SCSD too. Either that or start shopping a trade for an Essence or one of the more ergonomic, long-scale models.

I've thought about having the activators added to a jazz...

Im also trying to remember, do LS/MS series basses have a neck dive problem? 

As for getting rid of SD as someone else suggested, I hate to part with a bass. 

[peoplechipper]

I second the not getting rid of a bass. I know I'm just going through a phase, the 'seven year itch' of basses if you will...it'll likely become #1 again, just not right now...