Face palm moment RE short scale basses

Okay, so I've been bemoaning the fact that my deteriorating hands (well, that raises an ugly picture - it's not THAT bad) are forcing me to give up my beloved Conklin Groove Tools 5-string in favor of a short scale bass. Also bemoaning the difficulty of finding a really nice short scale bass without spending a couple of grand for a custom.

Last night I'm drifting off to sleep when I realized that I ALREADY have a great short scale bass. If, instead of thinking of the GT-5 as a rumble monster I instead stay at the fifth fret and above, I've basically got a bass with great action and the same range as a 4-string bass with a mere 25" scale!

I just have to rethink the way I approach certain runs and do more stuff laterally across the fretboard instead of sliding up and down.

My next major project is to give up chasing parked cars...

John

Well, that's not quite true... with a regular bass, playing from the fifth fret up the neck, your lowest note will be an A. On a real short-scale bass, it will be an E. I'm a fan of short scale basses, but am having a problem finding one up here in Canada. What I REALLY want is a 25" scale six-string bass...

I'm guessing the GT-5 is a five string bass with a low B?

Ambient Doughnut said:

I'm guessing the GT-5 is a five string bass with a low B?

Click to expand...

Right. Guess I should have been clearer on that.

I wish that Conklin had a Groove Tools 6-string. Unfortunately, they jump from 5 to 7 - and the seven string is just too heavy and the strings are too close together. A GT-6 would be perfect. (Well, even better would be if I could afford a Conklin custom shop bass.) I've been in his shop in MO and some of the stuff he makes is just incredible.

John

I have also strung my fours in BEAD just for the ease of playing from the fifth fret and up. Very comfortable