Since we're on the topic of Long/Short scaled basses, I found this to be interesting:
 
https://www.fender.com/articles/tech-talk/is-a-short-scale-bass-right-for-you
 
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/long-short-scale-bass-differences-explained/

Good find, Mesh, especially the Sweetwater article. One thing that I'd add is that it's more difficult to play fast (1/16 notes, e.g.) on a shorty due to the looser string tension.

Voda La Void
To me, and this is just my opinion and personal experience, that's a small adjustment rather than a real issue.  I never even really thought about it.  Just played the bass and adjusted.  I probably sound like an a-hole, but I promise I'm genuinely mystified why that would be a big deal to anyone. 

I switch between Fender and Gibson guitars all the time and don’t find it an issue. But I know some people do. I use heavier strings on the Teles and lighter ones on the SG and don’t find that a problem. But I know some would do things the other way round to get the lower tension on the longer Fender scale length.

My current bass is a Fender Precision Cabronita. Long scale with a 50s style fat neck. I don’t find much of an issue swapping to that from guitar after a few minutes familiarisation. And I find the frets near the head end of a Fender guitar can be a bit of a stretch sometimes, the bass even more. So I ended up developing a technique that copes with that.

But some people are really thrown when an instrument isn’t quite how they expect it to be. Same thing with keyboard players - people very used to an acoustic piano’s long heavy action and adjusting and applying the force needed to get the hammers moving often find a synth keyboard very strange and awkward. For me it’s the other way round, piano keyboards are too heavy and the stretches involved too far for me ever to be a pianist. A synth or controller board with slim keys suits me much better. I even like mini keys :-)

We’re all different.

mettelus
I will admit that the Mikro was initially very appealing to me but then I realized the reason why -- the intent to play it like a guitar.

Two words.

Lemmy Kilmister.

tlw

mettelus
I will admit that the Mikro was initially very appealing to me but then I realized the reason why -- the intent to play it like a guitar.

Two words.

Lemmy Kilmister.

Or even better, Colin Hodgkinson
 

I would add a couple points (although I use a squire bass.) I have a MXR Bass Octave Deluxe which, with the mix at full sounds pretty bass-like. It's also a pretty bad-ass sub octave effect for guitar with the mix set lower.
The other thing I've been trying lately is to only use one finger for finger picking the bass. I use just my index and it helps me not over-play the bass (at least I think it does)

RSMCGUITAR
The other thing I've been trying lately is to only use one finger for finger picking the bass. I use just my index and it helps me not over-play the bass (at least I think it does)

+1 on technique.  It feels awkward at first, but I did sit down and force myself to learn how to play bass with my fingers in the "correct" position.  The interesting thing about playing bass is you spend as much time learning how to *not* create sound as you do in making sound.  Learning how to position and play with your right hand goes a long way toward mastering that end.  
 
Then when you start getting into slapping and thumping you start feeling the rhythmic side of the instrument. That has changed how I approach playing bass in general.  I like busy bass lines, in the pocket and contributory. I'm still learning, but I'm playing bass less and less like a guitar player.  
 
 

I've never noticed a big difference between Fender and Gibson scales, and I've always been comfortable between short- and long-scale basses. 
For some reason, those Steinberger headless basses seem to be too much of a stretch though, especially closer to the nut.  Those first few fret distances seem HUGE.  Has anyone else noticed this?

Interesting thread, thanks for starting it Mesh.


I have used various methods - Bass patches on my Roland GR-55 (which I no longer have) and now the GI-10 to drive virtual instruments, a Guitar to Bass patch on my old BR800 (also no longer have) and more recently I just play it in on keyboard or the GI-10. My go to bass instrument is OTS Rick as it's so versatile.
 
That said I had a lot of fun recently playing a friend's long scale Squire Precision Bass and it made me think about getting a real bass. Will definitely try the short scale Ibanez among others.
 
ZT