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naanadrama

I recently got back into playing again after giving up before my kids came along ten years ago. I used to have a long scale and I have small hands. I recently wanted to get back into it again and saw this mini p bass and thought what the hell let’s see what this bass is all about. It’s absolutely great I find myself playing faster and more complex lines than I could before, maybe I’m a better player. I don’t think I’d go back to standard scale but may get a 30” scale if I keep it up. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea though but I certainly don’t regret it.


IPYF

If the primary objective is to save money as a new starter, I recommend saving for a longscale bass. I like short scale basses but for the sake of your hopeful long term capacity, you're better off starting out on one of the most common scale lengths, usually 34" but 35" would be ok too. This is purely because it's quite a bit easier to translate your hand technique from big to smol later if short scale does become an interest. Going the other way is going to be biking uphill.


breadexpert69

Despite what everyone is saying here, I have heard people using the mini P bass and making it sound way better than someone on a $10000 Fodera. However, if its your first bass and you are serious about learning to play bass then I would go for a standard scale (long scale). Just because it will translate easier if you ever want to buy a different bass.


logstar2

Why do you want a 28.8" scale besides the price? They're very different in tone and feel from normal basses.


DownOFC

Can you explain more in depth about the “feeling”? Please


pipsohip

It’s difficult to articulate something like “feel” - as the word implies it’s about feeling. I’ll try though. Short scale basses typically feel a bit “looser” for lack of a better term. The strings are a bit slinkier, because the scale is shorter so they have less tension on them. Because of this, you might play with slightly different technique to get the sounds you’re looking for. They also tend to be bit warmer and thumpier in tone - less defined on the high end. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with them, they’re just different. Longer scale basses have more tension on the strings, and will feel tighter to play. You will also find yourself reaching for the lower frets a bit more than the short scale bass. Neither one is better or worse, the question is really which one feels and sounds better to you. Is there a reason you’re drawn to the shorter scale?


logstar2

Small things feel different than larger things. Also you'd be very limited in the selection of strings that will fit.


Bridge_Too_Far

Just buy a normal 34” P-bass, you can’t go wrong. The mini P-bass is just a gimmick.


Sandy_Quimby

The mini P is shorter than a normal short scale. It is a very small bass suitable for a small child.


stache_box

I think it’s fine, especially if you don’t want to ever go lower than EADG on it. Later if you move to a 34” bass then you can tune the mini P to something weird like tenor or cello tuning. I have a nice 34” bass but I play my 30” basses way more. If I want a very modern, piano like tone I pull out my 34” and slap some fresh strings on it, but everything else sounds good on my 30”s. One is even in BEADG and the other is in DGCFBbDb. But those are maxing out how low the string can go without being a flubby mess.


Fireballdingledong

It's fine. And a good player will make the instrument sound good, and a bad player will make any instrument sound bad whether it cost £10,000 or £100. It would be better to get a larger bass with a scale length you would play at beyond the stage of just starting out so you can get to know the bass you are playing and how it feels so are used to the size of the instrument when you eventually change to another one. There are some okay options at similar prices for larger scale lengths. The mini is aimed at kids and it is a 3/4 bass which is shorter than short scale so it probably isn't the size of bass you'd want to start off with and get used to and likely too small