While the short-scale bass has obvious benefits for students and kids, it’s been used by plenty of bass greats as well: Paul McCartney, Jack Bruce (Cream), Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), Andy Fraser (Free), Glenn Cornick (Jethro Tull), Trevor Bolder (Spiders From Mars, Uriah Heep), Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads), Garry
Is the Hofner Beatle Bass Short scale?
The Beatles’ Paul McCartney played on a short-scale Hofner 500/1 Violin Bass Guitar during most of his Beatles career.
Who plays a short scale bass?
But countless legendary bass players representing numerous genres are in the short-scale club. Classic short-scale bass players from the 1960s and 1970s include Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane), Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead), Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones), and Jack Bruce (Cream).
What type of bass did Paul McCartney play?
Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass
The Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass (sometimes nicknamed the “Beatle Bass” or “Cavern Bass”) is a model of electric bass manufactured by Höfner under several varieties. It was introduced in 1955 and gained celebrity status during the 1960s as one of the primary basses used by Paul McCartney of The Beatles.
What scale is Hofner bass?
Also the very popular 500/7 Verythin Bass which is much sought after by rock, mod and 60s bands, with its 1.25″ depth body and is now available in two scale lengths, 30″ short scale and 34″ long scale.
Is it OK to play a short scale bass?
Yes, definitely. For one thing, short-scale bass guitars sometimes use a slightly heavier string gauge than their long-scale brothers, which imparts a thicker tone.
Can you slap a short scale bass?
I own 2 shortscale (30in scale ) basses and I’ve found that inn both of them they simply aren’t very responsive to a slap play style, especially the e string just sounds like a dull thud and lacks the clear ringing sounds I’m able to achieve while slapping and popping on a 34in or 32in scale bass.
Are short scale basses better for small hands?
basses are typically built to a 34-inch scale. A string should be of a shorter pitch if you want it to last longer. Guitars with higher pitch levels are shorter than basses. Because they are shorter, the smallest bass guitars are excellent for people with small hands.
What is the lowest note a bass can play?
Bass has the lowest vocal range of all voice types, with the lowest tessitura. The low extreme for basses is generally C2 (two Cs below middle C).
Was Paul McCartney considered a good bass player?
One of the Most Influential Bass Players
Paul’s own evolution as a bass player and, since he influenced the bass world in such an incredible way, on the evolution of bass music into rock.
What bass was used on Graceland?
Bakithi Kumalo
Bakithi Kumalo (/bɑːˈɡiːˈtiː kuːˈmɑːloʊ/; born 10 May 1956) is a South African bassist, composer, and vocalist. Kumalo is most known for his fretless bass playing on Paul Simon’s 1986 album Graceland, in particular the bass run on “You Can Call Me Al”.
| Bakithi Kumalo | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar |
Who is Paul McCartney’s favorite bass player?
James Jamerson
“James Jamerson became just my hero, really. I didn’t actually know his name until quite recently. James was very melodic, and that got me more interested.” And the other bassist who McCartney took inspiration from was Brian Wilson.
Is a short scale bass better for beginners?
Short-scale basses are great for beginners. They are also great for intermediate and professional bassists. While starting on a short-scale bass can make it easier to pick up the bass, it is generally better to start with a standard-sized bass if you intend to switch to a 34″ later on anyway.
What strings did Paul use on his Hofner?
Black Nylon Tapewound strings are a popular choice for the Hofner Bass too with Sir Paul McCartney known to have played Rotosound Tru Bass strings during the Abbey Road sessions. He can also be seen playing these strings during their performance on the top of the Apple Building in 1969.
Is bass easier or harder than guitar?
Playing the bass requires a different knowledge base and skill set, so to speak. So no, the bass isn’t necessarily easier to play than the electric guitar. If you can’t play the guitar, then just play bass. This is somewhat connected to the myth above.
Can you Downtune a short scale bass?
You can downtune them if you’re willing to spend time tampering with the truss rod and saddles, and possibly filing down the nut for thicker strings. Detuning them isn’t the problem. Sounding good is the deal breaker.
Do you need special strings for short scale bass?
So, short-scale basses need strings that fit and perhaps a heavier gauge, although most short-scale instruments are pretty close to standard. You’d notice the difference between short-scale and something extra-long, like a multiscale Dingwall.
Is a short scale or a long scale bass better?
Short scales are often used for bass tracks that need a big, booming, mellow tone. Standard and long scales are often used where a tighter and punchier sound is needed. This difference in tone is due to how the instrument’s scale length affects the harmonics and timbre of the notes.
What bass is best for slapping?
5 Best Bass Guitars for Slap
- Fender Player Jazz Bass.
- Squier Classic Vibe ’70s.
- Squier Contemporary Active Jazz.
- Schecter Stiletto Extreme.
- Jackson Spectra JS3.
What bass scales to learn first?
Scale 1 – The Major Scale
The major scale is the backbone of all Western Music and it’s the number one scale all beginner bassists should know. Here’s what you need to know: The Major Scale contains 8 notes and has a ‘happy’ sound to it. The Major Scale will work over any Major Chord.
Why do old basses sound better?
Wood dries out and resonates more, pickups age and become warmer, more organic sounding. The entire instrument fuses as one whole entity instead of just a jumble of parts. These are just some of the things I’ve heard over the years about why vintage basses sound, play, and feel better than newer axes.