Best short-scale basses 2024: the ultimate guide to the greatest pint-sized bass guitars at all price points

Best short-scale basses 2023: the ultimate guide to the greatest pint-sized basses at all price points
(Image credit: Future)

The short-scale bass – underappreciated, misunderstood and damn fun to play! Now, I think we can all agree that the bass guitar as we know it owes everything to its founding father, the Fender Precision Bass. This revolutionary instrument forever changed the face of popular music when it was released back in 1951, and it's still being mimicked today – with its 34″ scale length, arguably the most copied element of its iconic design. That said, not all basses follow in the footsteps of the P-Bass as this guide to the best short-scale basses proves. 

Before getting into our top picks for the best short-scale bass guitars on the market, it's essential to understand what makes the short-scale bass such a different animal. Over the years, 'short-scale' has come to mean any bass with a scale length of 31″ and under, with the average being 30″ or thereabouts. 

Daryl Robertson playing bass on stage
Daryl Robertson

As a Senior Deals Writer on Guitar World, I write about guitars for a living, but in a past life, I worked in music retail for seven years, advising customers on the right guitars, basses, drums, pianos and PA systems for their needs. During this time, I played bass in a classic rock covers band, performing songs from the likes of Rush, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and more. 

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

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