30" Bass, Thoughts? Suggestions?

[AndrewIcex]

So basically.. I have played bass for quite sometime now.. but have always played on a traditional 34" length bass neck.. but I was looking on the internet and was thinking about switching to a 30" length bass neck.

I was wondering if anyone has played with a 30" neck bass? And if so, what do you recommend? I know there is limited brands that offer this (at least that is what I have researched and have not found but a couple). But I know they are out there and I know a few big time musicians (mainly Paul McCartney) that have used one, so I was wondering what everyone thought of them? (if you have played with one or used one before at anytime)

I know they are made for people with smaller hands, girls, guitarists that want to use a bass sometimes but don't want to have a heavier and larger instrument, and people who just enjoy smaller instruments in general.

But..

Anyone have any suggestions/thoughts about them?

[xmicxcorex]

I played one ages ago (a friend got one as his first bass). It wasn't bad. You were pretty much spot on as far as being for smaller people. I'm an average sized guy, and honestly it felt a bit too small on me. I will say though, what it didn't have in neck length it made up for mostly in the amount of tone it produced, however, I don't know if that is a factor with all of them; no two les pauls sound the same in my opinion, for example. I would say go to some local guitar shops and see if they have one and try it out before you consider buying one.

[smorgy]

nothing wrong with them, i have big hands and usually play a fender jazz but i love vintage fender music masters. really easy to play and have great tone. it seems like every guitar center i go into have a used one for sale. ive never played the newer mustangs though. they are the only experience with a smaller bass that ive had.

[AndrewIcex]

Thanks guys, anyone else have any suggestions, I will be looking at some this coming weekend, I hope to possibly purchase one.. even if I don't spend a lot of money on it, I want one regardless.

[AndrewIcex]

Bump

Anyone else have suggestions or thoughts? I am yet to purchase it, I am still wanting more personal experiences.

(I had bought a new amp instead at the time of this thread.. but my next purchase will be the bass most likely)

[smorgy]

Bump

Anyone else have suggestions or thoughts? I am yet to purchase it, I am still wanting more personal experiences.

(I had bought a new amp instead at the time of this thread.. but my next purchase will be the bass most likely)


what amp did you buy?
and did you try out any basses

[AndrewIcex]

what amp did you buy?
and did you try out any basses
I tried out a lot of different amps, I only wanted to spend about 500-800 dollars cause of my budget and I found an awesome amp.

Its a Hartke 350 watt combo, (some of the other electronics I forget as of now cause its at our practice space) and I only spent 600 for it (the guy got me 100 off of it cause of some deal that was going on) and that thing sounds so awesome, and it hits so hard too.. the thing was shaking pictures on the wall.. I love it.

And I didn't try too many basses that day... they had no 30" neck basses in stock.. so I am going somewhere else to see if another store might have one.. they are hard to find in person, most have to be ordered online from what I have found out, but if I can try one out somewhere, I will have no issue buying it online, its just a matter of playing around with one.

[AndrewIcex]

Update: I actually bought one about a month ago (maybe a little longer, I don't know the date exactly) and its working out really really well. Its easy to play, and very smooth sounding, along with it having an excellent sound and great tone. Not only that, but it is very very light weight, its light enough to notice a significant difference from when I pick up my 34" bass as to when I pick up the 30". I have played 12 shows with it since I bought it and its been awesome every show... and people always seem to notice its different than a normal one, which is kinda cool in itself. And I have also recorded 4 songs with it too, and I honestly cannot tell too much of a difference... and that is me even being a bass player listening to the recordings compared to the 34", my band definitely cannot tell the difference, so that is also a big plus to it as well.

So overall, I like it a lot better than my 34", its just easier to play and overall better, I definitely suggest it to anyone who is interesting in trying out one.

Enjoy!

[patrickhowell]

What 30" bass did you end up getting ?

[AndrewIcex]

What 30" bass did you end up getting ?
I did not want to spend an extreme amount of money, just in case I was not fond of it... so I went with a Fender Squire Bronco, but I am in the process of saving up for a Fender Mustang, which is like a 500-700 dollar difference from the Bronco.

But for now, the Bronco is definitely serving its purpose.