Very short scale bass for a very short scale dude

[tommy]

I recently played a medium scale series 1 and I'm disappointed by the fact that I'm only 4 foot 11 and couldn't fit into it!  The look and sound was amazing! its a medium scale. And it was extremely heavy.  I'm Wondering if I can have a custom built spoiler shape short scale with about a 21 inch neck length  (dimensions of a fender mustang}
The body would be in proportion to the neck of course. How much would something like this cost?

[tbrannon]

Interesting idea- they customize 'em all kinds of ways, I don't see why they couldn't do this.
 
Would you be looking for a spoiler shape series I or just a spoiler shaped bass w/ to be determined electronics?

[tommy]

I like the spoiler shaped bass. Even better I would like a stanley Clarke shaped body with the pointed tail end like a spoiler. The finish, the pin striping and everything would be like the series 1 I don't need all those rare woods. As for the electronics, I really loved the series 1 except I could do without the old three pronged XLR power supply. I have about 4500,00. I wonder if they could do it for that. I also wonder if the Stanley Clark electronics are like series one. Then maybe I'll go with a used Stanley Clarke. I also wonder about the Stanley Clarke sound, are you married only o that high popping twangy Stanley Clarke sound?

[keith_h]

If you are thinking about a new Series 1 $4500 will not be enough. The base retail for a Series 1 is $13,500. If you go through a dealer the best you can do is 25% off retail. Also you really do need the XLR on a Series instrument as it supplies power from the power supply. You can use batteries but they drain quickly.  
 
I have Anniversary electronics in my Brown Bass. These are about as close to Series electronics as you can get. If you hear the two side by side there is a definite difference.  
 
With the Anniversary electronics I can get the Stanley Clarke sound. I am not tied to it however.
The Anniversary  has a volume and filter for each pickup and can be used in stereo or mono. The Signature has a filter for each pickup and has a volume and pan control for blending. It is mono only. They both have Q-switches (9db as I recall).
Either electronics option is very versatile. You can search the site for discussions on the use of a pan or separate volume controls.  
 
I don't follow used prices very closely but I would think for $4500 you should be able to get a used Stanley Signature standard or deluxe. You should also consider a Brown Bass. You could definitely get a used Series 1 as they hover in the 3K-4K range give or a take a couple of hundred. However small standard bodies (i.e. Stanley body) do not come up very often.  
 
If you really want to know about a custom the best thing to do is call Alembic directly. They can tell you what they will or won't do and give you idea of price. With all of the years they have been doing this they have a very good handle on what things work well and what things cause problems. I found them very helpful in this regard with both of my customs.  
 
Keith

[keith_h]

... and I forgot to mention they are just downright nice folks.  
 
Keith

[hieronymous]

A short scale bass has a scale length of about 30 - if you really want a 21 scale bass then it is definitely going to have to be custom. Even the Supro Pocket Bass was 24. Maybe you mean 31? The Mustang Bass was short scale - about 30. If that's what you mean, then it shouldn't be too hard to find a used short scale Alembic.
 
(Scale length is usually measured from the nut to the twelfth fret, then doubled. Alembic short scales are usually 30.75.)
 
As for sound, I've got a Stanley Clarke Signature Standard, and I can get a variety of sounds out of it - you are definitely not locked into one sound.
 
(Message edited by hieronymous on September 20, 2008)

[tommy]

Thanks, you guys are wonderful. Maybe I should keep my eyes on a used short scale Stanley.  What do new Stanley basses go for these days??

[tommy]

I checked out the Alembic small standard on this sight. That's a great size bass. Besides going the custom route, what Alembic short scale bass out there is the smallest?

[keith_h]

The standard short scale neck is 30.75. This is calculated by measuring the distance between the nut and 12th fret then doubling it. You should be able to get this on just about any body style. Note that the small standard body can only be ordered in a short scale.  
 
Keith

[tommy]

Which has the smaller body, the standard small body or the Stanley Clarke small body brown bass?

[tommy]

...Also for hieronyous, I measured my mustang from the nut to the last fret and it's 21 inches. Pretty small.

[dfung60]

tommy -  
 
The scale length is the nominal length from the nut to the bridge.  It sounds like the 21 you are measuring is the neck length which isn't really very meaningful (it is what you said you measured in your original post).  As a checkpoint, the scale length of a Stratocaster is 25.5, so a 21 scale bass is small indeed!
 
The easiest way to measure the scale length is to measure from the nut to the center of the 12th fret wire and double that dimension.  The reason that you measure it this way is that a properly set intonation adjustment at the bridge will measure longer than the true scale.
 
For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure that a Mustang bass IS shorter than 30.75 - 29 seems to stick in my head.
 
If you want the smallest overall length, the small body, Stanley shape will probably be the shortest.  Many of the Alembic body styles put the bridge closer to the middle of the body than a Fender bass.  Since there's a separate tailpiece as well, that's at least a couple of additional inches of body width.  The problem with that body shape is that it tends to balance poorly because of the very short cutaways.  If you had a custom built, perhaps you can have them do a special placement of the bridge and tailpiece to reduce overall length.
 
David Fung

[hieronymous]

The current Mustang Bass reissue is 30, and I'm pretty sure the originals were too.  
 
David is right about the bridge placement in relation to the body - I find that with my Stanley Clarke I have to reach a bit more for the lower frets than I expected. But it's not uncomfortable by any means. I haven't had any balance problems either, but I'm wearing it higher than my other basses and have a wide Alembic suede backed strap for it.

[tommy]

Thanks that answers everything. dfung60 explained how to measure scale for me. Yeah, the mustang is small. And it is a 30, I was measuring just the neck. If hieronymous has to reach a bit further for the lower frets,  my arm length would have to reach a lot further. I wish I could try one out before I take the plunge and find a used one. If someone can measure the distance of their Alembic small body bass from the top of the head stock to the bottom and also measure  the neck itself from nut to the last fret I can try and put together a little template to formulate it's size. I  would love a custom Stanley small body short scale with Anniversary electronics but I know it would be well over 10 grand.

[keith_h]

My Brown Bass measures a little over 44 from tip of headstock to end of body. The fretboard length is roughly 23.5. From the top of headstock to bottom of nut is 8.5. As has been said the scale length is 30.75.
 
Small standard body is the official name for the Stanley body shape.  
 
I have no balance issues. However the natural balancing point of the neck is lower than you have on Fender style bodies. I also find that the bass need to be held up higher on the body to be comfortable. This doesn't bother as I've always played my basses higher on my body.
 
Keith
(added another measurement)
 
(Message edited by keith_h on September 22, 2008)