Obviously Sheldon will have to address the build questions, but I'm wondering about your concerns over a 30" scale and short/small hands. have you really try to play a standard 34" scale bass? is it that much of a stretch? or just uncomfortable? Next as you know the smaller scale instruments tend to loose some of the bottom end that Sheldon tries to build into these bass by using a superlong scale. While I've played a 32" scale Urge bass, it was no comparision to a 37" scale AB bass, so while no doubt you'll get a great instrument from Sheldon, it might be lacking some of the omph. Don't know for sure-but if anyne can make an amazing 30" scale bass, I'd bet its Sheldon

I agree that it wouldn't be remotely the same as the "voice of god" low B or the piano-like clarity you get from the extra long scale basses, but short scale basses have their place. I don't know that Sheldon would have the time to tool up for a 32" - 30" fanned fret bass, but I have no doubts that if he did it would be one phenominal short scale bass. The real issue, I feel, is that a shorter scale fanned-fret bass could require a complete redesign of the body and bridge, in order to make it work. Sheldon's bridges are custom-manufactured at the angle they are because of the specific scales that he uses, and changing those scales would change the bridge angle and placement.

Hello and thanks for your replies. I am in no way able to play a 34" scale bass. My hands and fingers are too short. In my short hands, a 30" scale neck just barely fits. Which is why all my basses are shortscale. I understand there is a very small difference in the sound but not enough to stop me from playing my favorite instrument. I also understand that to build a shortscale Dingwall would mean a smaller body and bridge. But - oh what a fabulous shortscale bass that would be - don't you think? There are very few pro shortscale basses available - unless you have them built custom order and even then some luthiers won't even go there. Which is a shame. There are many small handed men/women out there who cannot play their basses because no one builds them. I've been on a trek for quite a few years now. I've found builders like Birdsong, Landing Bass and a few others but I was really hoping to find a Canadian luthier. I have a beautiful custom shortscale Fish Bass from a luthier in Kelowna, B.C. and now I'm looking for another. After having tried a Super J I realized that I really liked the fanned frets and I was just dreaming that "wouldn't it be fantastic if it were a shortscale"? Anyway, it never hurts to ask. Maybe one day Sheldon will dream one up. One can only hope. Louise

Have you checked out the Canadian-made Kinal Kompact? http://64.180.97.138/kinal/bass.htm Mark

hi louise. i've played one of jeff's fretless fish basses and found it to be a very nice instrument. good luck with your quest for a short scale dingwall.... for what it's worth i never in a million years thought i'd ever play anything longer than a 34" scale and now i also play an abII and absolutely love it....

Hi Loopee, This is the first time I've been asked to go shorter than the Super J scale. If there's enough demand to tool up for it, it will get done. We'd have to have at least 12 orders to make it affordable.

[quote="Sheldon Dingwall":za86k46y]Hi Loopee, This is the first time I've been asked to go shorter than the Super J scale. [/quote:za86k46y] Well, maybe not. Some of us asked for a travel bass a while back. http://www.dingwallguitars.com/forum/vi ... hort+scale I think the Babyburner/BabyJ is still a great idea. Now, Sheldon, about that 3 string Afterburner I mentioned I the past... Mark

Hi Loopee39. I think the SJ would be perfect for you. I was having to shift slightly in the 1st position on a 34" scale. I was actually looking into 32" scale Warwicks before going with Dingwall. I only play ABII-5's now. One thing that helped me in the lower frets was to committ to 1 2 4 (fingers) = 1 2 3 in the 1st 3 frets.

Hi guys I appreciate all your replies, keep 'em coming. Sheldon, If you ever build a shortscale Super J, can you put my name as No. 1 on your list? As for Kinal, I did call him a couple of times over 4 years ago (about the time I decided to get Jeff to build my Fish Bass) and left a message asking him building me a shortscale, unfortunately I never received a reply. I guess he was busy at the time or not into building shortscales. I can always try it again....At the moment I have one LDS2 Landing Bass on order since I won't get my Dingwall for a while.....I almost ordered a Cortobase from Birdsong but that will be for my next project - if Sheldon hasn't built by Super J shortscale yet that is...lol.... There also this new luthier, Bassone Guitars (remember the beer commercial at the Super Bowl) who is in Vancouver. I checked him out too, definitely impressive considering the short time he's been at it but I think he still needs a bit more experience in woodworking (i.e. pockect fit, etc) before I get him to build me one although that would be fantastic as I could visit the shop every few weeks as he's building it. Maybe not fantastic for him though - lol......I am a perfectionist after all.....lol A definitely "up and coming" luthier with a good future ahead. By the way, I bet you my index finger is the shortest one on this site!! Can you beat 2 1/2 inches? Now you know why I can't play a 34" bass. LOL - question of the week - Does size really matter? Loopee

I've got short fingers too. index is 2 3/4 barely. I'm playing an AB-II 5-string with no problem. I think the fanned frets help with the 'reach' in most cases. (F on the E and octave F on the D is a stretch for me.) I'd like to try a dingwall 6-string sometime. You know what they say..."Small hands....small gloves."

loopee- Since your already dealing w/ Landing bass, you might want to check out the fact that they make a 30" scale P bass clones . http://www.landingbass.com/L32P.html Does size matter, well I've played some really good 32" scale basses (Kubicki, Fender Urge), but i found they never had the oomph of a longer scale bass, even after you add in all kinds of fancy electronics.

a short scale dingwall would be very cool but you'd be giving up so much with the short scale. having said that, if the short scale mouse by rob allen can get such good reviews, i suspect sheldon can 'one up him' no sweat. my money's on sheldon.

$$$ Mine too.

I had a chance to play an Ibanez Mikro 4 string, 28.5 " scale, I think. It looks just like their SR basses. It made me look 8 feet tall! I was very impressed with this little bass, and I may even snag one to plunk around on. Then I imagined it as a little Afterburner. I think a short scale Dingwall would be the bomb. At that scale length you could also make a piccolo bass out of it (and never gig with it, but what the heck) Mark

Hi loopee39. Unfortunately you are not close enough to me to try a 6str Dingwall!!!. Jokes aside, trying the 4 high stings of a 6str Dingwall it would probably give a good reference as to the comfort of both the fanning and the scale of the 4 strings. That would be fine either for a compact bass (E-G) or tuned as a picollo (A-C) for the rest of the guys.

Hi Reddavid Just read about your finger being 2 3/4 long. Don't forget that if your finger is longer, so is your palm and that would add another 1/4 inch meaning you now have a 1/2 inch more which can make a big difference. Anyway, it's neither here nor there. LOL with my arthritis and short hands and fingers, a 30" scale makes my day....especially after 3 or 4 hours of playing. But I'm happy you are able to play a 34", it makes it a lot easier to find a pro bass. Loopee

Hi guitared Thanks for the info, I'll have a look at the Ibanez Mikro.... Loopee

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