Some more of my 'low frequency' toys

I never knew there was such a thing as a short-scale Jazz Bass. Part of me wishes I had one right now, because three of us are trying to recreate the music we wrote and played 50 years ago. The parts are complex and fast. I originally played them on a Gibson Triumph (Les Paul) with flatwounds. It was super-easy to play, but the original recordings have a bass tone about as appealing as a plywood double bass made for students. I'm playing the parts on my "longhorn" JB, but I can't hack the tempo yet. :oops:
 
3 months into short scale changeover..no way i can go back. Took a min to get the right basses set up but my how nice it is especially if you are not normal height lol

Been reading about Bill Wyman lately & his mustang & liking small necks. Flats on his mustang,

Getting to try them all in a proper band mix has been a blast. Def psyched to get the JMJ Mustang w/flats into the studio sessions. Special thud in the right ways it seems. The VB4 overdriving 2 SVT210av cabs is pure tone heaven at band level. That cab being less depth than my reg Ampegs. It just does things when recording so naturally, always did. My rig could be vb4 & 2 of them for live work if not wanting to bring the Berg 610nv.
 
I never knew there was such a thing as a short-scale Jazz Bass.
Fender Japan only offers them to the Japanese domestic market, not for export. It's not a 'student model' either.
it's a high quality instrument, just smaller all around (almost the same size as a Strat, actually). i sourced mine from a seller in Japan.
I wouldn't necessarily consider most of those low end.
Instead of 'low end' i probably should have said 'low frequency', or simply said, 'some more basses', instead of trying to be cute, LOL.
i've corrected that now.
 
Last edited:
3 months into short scale changeover..no way i can go back. Took a min to get the right basses set up but my how nice it is especially if you are not normal height lol

Been reading about Bill Wyman lately & his mustang & liking small necks. Flats on his mustang,

Getting to try them all in a proper band mix has been a blast. Def psyched to get the JMJ Mustang w/flats into the studio sessions. Special thud in the right ways it seems. The VB4 overdriving 2 SVT210av cabs is pure tone heaven at band level. That cab being less depth than my reg Ampegs. It just does things when recording so naturally, always did. My rig could be vb4 & 2 of them for live work if not wanting to bring the Berg 610nv.
i hope i get to hear some studio recordings of the JMJ eventually!
 
i hope i get to hear some studio recordings of the JMJ eventually!
I posted it recorded today for first time. Strait into Reaper, didn't mix it yet.. Into Ampeg VR micro head & using the DI out into GAP 73 pre. It recorded nice
 
The Ibanez GSRM20 is the least pricey bass in the quiver; this one is at the opposite end. of things:

View attachment 100417

Fodera Imperial Mini MG 5 string.

Somehow it always just seems to sit perfectly in a mix (well, imo anyhow).
That looks awesome and Fodera is basically the Rolls Royce of basses! Never seen a sorta headless one; reminds me of a Steinberger... How is it to play with that big middle pup taking up so much real estate? As a bassist myself I have a feeling that would be hard to get used to unless the action is high enough there so you can dig in a bit.
 
Btw neat lazy jazz fusion track with the Fodera, very melodic and nice woody bass tone even though my phone speakers. Sounds like 2 Strat tracks, one with chorus?
 
That looks awesome and Fodera is basically the Rolls Royce of basses! Never seen a sorta headless one; reminds me of a Steinberger... How is it to play with that big middle pup taking up so much real estate? As a bassist myself I have a feeling that would be hard to get used to unless the action is high enough there so you can dig in a bit.
TY!
Pretty much, yeah.
The Mini MG is headless, but there's a Hipshot Xtender on the lowest string that accurately drops pitch a whole step with the flip of a lever.
That's not a middle pickup you're seeing either; it's a ramp.
i also have one on my Surf Green Ibanez EHB1000S.
If you either already have a fairly light touch or are trying to develop one, using a ramp can be beneficial.

It basically replicates the feeling of playing directly over a pickup with more choices in hand placement along the strings.

When i first got the Mini MG, i was wondering how much i'd need to alter my plucking hand technique.
As it turned out, i really didn't have to change anything since i was already able to play with a light touch.
i do have a few other basses without ramps fitted for those times when i need to dig in a bit.
Horses for courses, as the old saying goes.
 
Last edited:
Btw neat lazy jazz fusion track with the Fodera, very melodic and nice woody bass tone even though my phone speakers. Sounds like 2 Strat tracks, one with chorus?
TYSVM!
Actually, i used a .strandberg* Boden OS 7 fitted with EMG 707x pickups for both guitar parts, but there's definitely some chorus and delay on there.
 
Fender Japan only offers them to the Japanese domestic market, not for export. It's not a 'student model' either.
it's a high quality instrument, just smaller all around (almost the same size as a Strat, actually). i sourced mine from a seller in Japan.

Thanks for the info. I've just checked what they cost from Japanese dealers. Unfortunately, by the time I paid shipping, duty and tax, that would be pretty expensive. What I might try is tuning a bass down a step and playing the parts two frets up. I have a nasty feeling that might reveal the problem is I recorded the parts aged 17 and I'll be 68-years-old in a couple of weeks… :confused:
 
Put a capo on it at the 2nd fret after tuning down a whole step.
You'll basically have a short scale bass for just the price of the capo.
(This is one situation where NOT having fret markers on the fingerboard can really be helpful, LOL)
In these particular parts, there are no open strings, so all I had to do was tune down. Tried it last night and it worked quite well. Plus, I've got a low D that wasn't there before.
 
Back
Top