What are the best short-scale bass guitars for professional use?
This page compares 4 short-scale bass guitars with verified specifications and prices. Top options include Ibanez GSRM20 miKro Short-Scale Bass Guitar - Metallic Purple, Sterling by Music Man StingRay Short-Scale Bass Guitar, Guild Starfire I Bass Short Scale Semi-Hollow Electric Bass Guitar. Prices range from £162 to £553. All data is sourced from manufacturer documentation and specialist retailers.
| Product ⇅ | Price ⇅ | Scale Length (inch) ⇅ | Number of Strings (none) ⇅ | Body Material (none) ⇅ | Neck Material (none) ⇅ | Fingerboard Material (none) ⇅ | Pickup Configuration (none) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ibanez GSRM20 miKro Short-Scale Bass Guitar - Metallic Purple
US
|
£162.33 ≈ | 28.6 | 4 | Poplar | Maple | Purpleheart | Dynamix P neck pickup and Dynamix J bridge pickup |
|
The Ibanez miKro GSRM20 is a compact 4-string short-scale bass built for easy playability, featuring a poplar body with a maple neck and a purpleheart fingerboard. It uses passive Dynamix P (neck) and Dynamix J (bridge) pickups for versatile tone in a small, comfortable package. It's aimed at players needing a shorter scale and lighter feel, such as younger players or anyone working in tight spaces. ★ Ideal forFor professional short-scale use, the GSRM20 offers a real 28.6 in short scale with a stable bolt-on maple neck plus passive Dynamix P/J pickups, giving classic split-coil P warmth and J bite without needing a preamp.
Sources:
|
|||||||
|
Sterling by Music Man StingRay Short-Scale Bass Guitar
US
|
£506.20 ≈ | 30 in | 4 | Nyatoh | Roasted Maple | Rosewood | Single neodymium humbucker |
|
The StingRay Short-Scale is a lightweight 4-string bass with a comfortable 30 in scale, nyatoh body, roasted maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard. Its passive neodymium humbucker offers parallel, single-coil, and series modes, making it suitable for players who want classic StingRay punch with easier short-scale playability. ★ Ideal forIt suits professional use through its 30 in short scale, lightweight nyatoh body, roasted maple neck, passive neodymium humbucker, three pickup modes, and push-push volume boost for comfortable and adaptable gig or studio performance.
Sources:
|
|||||||
|
Guild Starfire I Bass Short Scale Semi-Hollow Electric Bass Guitar
US
|
£553.42 ≈ | 30.75 in | 4 | Maple | Mahogany | Rosewood | H |
|
This four-string semi-hollow bass has a short 30.75 in scale, set-in mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, and a Guild BC-1 BiCoil humbucking pickup. Its compact feel, vintage styling, push-pull vintage switch, and versatile semi-hollow tones suit players who want comfortable stage performance and classic rock or pop character. ★ Ideal forIt suits professional use for bassists who need a comfortable 30.75 in short scale, stable Tune-O-Matic bridge, balanced semi-hollow body, and flexible BC-1 BiCoil pickup with vintage switching for rock, pop, and vintage-oriented performances.
Sources:
|
|||||||
|
Danelectro 59 Short-Scale Bass Guitar
US
|
£464.14 ≈ | 29.75 in | 4 | Poplar and Masonite | Maple | Pau Ferro | 2 high-output Lipstick single-coil pickups |
|
The Danelectro 59 Short-Scale Bass Guitar is a semi-hollow, double-cutaway bass with a compact 29.75 in scale length, high-output Lipstick pickups, and a distinctive vintage-inspired design. It suits bassists who want comfortable short-scale playability and a focused, punchy tone for recording, live performance, rock, and retro-styled music. ★ Ideal forIt suits professional use through its comfortable 29.75 in scale, 4-string layout, adjustable bridge, 24-fret Pau Ferro fingerboard, and two high-output Lipstick pickups that provide a distinctive studio- and stage-ready tone.
Sources:
|
|||||||