Are you looking for the best short-scale electric guitars? Then, you’re in the right place.
So you love the sound of the bass guitar, but you’re not ready to commit to a full-sized instrument?
Or maybe the full-sized bass is just a little too overwhelming for you at the moment.
Whatever the case may be, a short-scale guitar is a perfect option to turn to if you’re interested in playing.
Top 5 Best Short Scale Electric Guitars:
| Product Name | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Ibanez GSRM20 Dual (Top Pick) | $ | Check Price |
| Laguna LE50 | $ | Check Price |
| Squier by Fender | $$$ | Check Price |
| SX RST 3/4 CAR | $$ | Check Price |
| Stagg BC300 | $$ | Check Price |
Ibanez GSRM20 – Best Short Scale Electric Guitar (Editor’s Choice)
The Ibanez is a great option if you need a smaller bass for touring or gigging or just plain convenience.
The Ibanez electric bass offers anyone who needs a compact ax or a smaller neck’s comfort a natural alternative to small bass guitars.
Sound
It has excellent smooth action and is very well finished. The tuners and other hardware are just fine too. The tone is decent, and the electronics work as they should.
The pickups are not as active as other models, and the bridge pickup is very noisy.
The tuning knobs are also not quite as stiff, so it is relatively easy to go out of tune when you move the instrument around.
Setup
The setup of the Ibanez is excellent and straightforward. Not too many surprises or quirks. The tiny neck has a very smooth feel to it and plays quite fast.
However, one issue is that the pickup height adjustment screws can become misaligned after a few days of playing. That is something that can be quickly addressed and overcome, though. The fret ends near the neck have a few rough edges too.
Range
As far as tone goes, the Ibanez displays an enormous amount of versatility. This bass is great for rock or jazz, plucking or slapping, ranging from deep reggae tones to bright, snappy ones.
All in all, its tonal versatility far surpasses that of other basses in this scale length and price range. Its playability is lovely, and the feel of the neck is excellent.
Weight
The light weight is genuinely a godsend with this model.
This bass has a solid, high-quality feel, and anyone who has small hands or is just starting will be pleased with it. It even fits nicely into a standard electric guitar gig bag, making it incredibly easy to travel with.
Granted, it is not of the same caliber as bigger jazz basses, but it is certainly good enough.
Pros
- Fantastic range
- Easy to travel with
Cons
- It falls out of tune easily
Laguna LE50
LE50 is the best short-scale electric guitar on our list.
The Laguna LE50 electric guitar is the “little brother” of the Laguna LE200 and is perfect for smaller hands. The LE50 rocks. For your first guitar, you can’t go wrong with it!
The slim-tapered neck and shallow C shape provide a comfortable feel, and the hard rock maple neck will stay straight and true. The basswood body and high-output ceramic magnet pickups offer a clean, biting tone.
Sound
The guitar sounds pretty good, primarily through the amp. The tone and volume controls work well and smoothly, and the frets are decent without any immediate intonation issues.
It has a Stratocaster-style adjustable bridge, so it is easy to adjust the height of each string.
One caveat is that the strings that come with it are not the best. They are a bit difficult to tune, but it becomes much more pleasant to play once you change the strings. Although this model has weak pickups, it is still an excellent instrument for beginners.
Setup
The Laguna has a great setup with many outstanding features. One of the best things about it is the neck: it’s substantial enough not to feel frail or glossy, so it doesn’t resist you when you slide your hand up and down.
The satin finish on the body is excellent, and the volume and tone pots don’t feel cheap. It has aluminum knurled knobs too. Once you change the strings on it and do a quick setup, it plays very nicely.
However, something to look out for is that the rear plastic cover plate is not quite the right shape and does not mount utterly flush with the guitar body.
The plastic nut that acts as a string guide near the tuners has some rough edges, too, but these are minor things that we can fix.
Range
While the Laguna is solidly built with great electronics and a pleasant sound, a hiccup slightly affects the range.
The nut is a bit too high to the point that making open chords or fretting on the 1st – 4th frets bends the strings out of tune. But you can fix this by taking it to a professional to eliminate the problem.
Weight
Weighing in at 10 pounds, the Laguna is heavier than most short-scale basis. But this is countered by the strong, durable build and the deep tone that it offers. So if you don’t mind a little extra weight, this guitar will not let you down.
Pros
- Wonderful sound
- Easy to use
- Durable
Cons
- Requires some adjusting
Squier Jaguar by Fender (Special Short Scale Edition)
It puts a classic Fender look into a distinctively sharp-looking and versatile bass model.
Features include a sleek offset waist body and a slim, fast-action neck. More than just a student model, this bass is perfect for players who will appreciate the comfort of a short-scale instrument.
Sound
The intonation of the Squier is spot on. It sounds great through an amp and is very clear when recorded. It even has excellent-sounding pickups that are a bit hot.
The EQ is relatively balanced for the most part, but the lows are a bit too pronounced. However, this bass does a great job staying in tune, requiring only slight adjustments as the strings begin to stretch from being played.
Overall, it has smooth playability and a unique sound.
Setup
The setup is perfect on this bass. It comes with the wrenches to adjust the bridge and truss rod, and the frets are done nicely with no sharp ends. The neck is finished with a satin sealer.
It has low action and no high frets. I had to make a small bridge saddle adjustment on the E string as it was slightly low.
The harmonics are subtle, but a small bridge saddle adjustment on the E string might need to be made slightly low. And the stock strings are not the best sounding.
Otherwise, the machine heads and the neck are excellently manufactured.
Range
The range of tones and the ease of playability are great with the Squier. Because the action is set so low, it is comfortable to fret any note, and the neck allows the hand to slide easily.
These characteristics offer a great range and allow for hours of play without fatigue. It is a plus for this model.
Weight
It’s much lighter than many other basses. In addition, the material and hardware are very well put together so that the instrument will last for a long time.
Another advantage is that the neck profile feels like a jazz bass, but it is also slightly slimmer. A plus if you’re looking for something similar to jazz bass, with a fraction of the heaviness.
Pros
- Excellent range
- Easy playability
Cons
- Stock strings are not the best
- The sound is a little too low
SX RST 3/4 CAR Short Scale Electric Guitar
The SX RST boasts a package that includes everything you need to start playing: guitar, guitar amp, online lessons, guitar bag, strap, and a cable! In addition, it is a sturdy model that is excellent for beginners.
Sound
The SX RST offers a classic bass sound with bass and treble control and a clean/overdrive switch. Both modes of the amplifier seem to function very well and offer a powerfully projected sound.
The guitar is very well-made and of good quality and will offer beginners all the necessary functions needed to learn and become more familiar with future guitars.
Setup
The guitar appears to hold standard tuning reasonably well once the intonation is set. We keep in mind that this guitar is detuned and not set up straight out of the box.
While this provides the opportunity to learn how to do a basic setup and set the intonation, it’s essential to know that you might have to seek outside assistance before starting playing.
Otherwise, the setup of this model generally takes about 20 minutes.
The guitar has a vintage fulcrum bridge with six adjustable saddles and a truss rod adjustable neck on the plus side. The maple neck and the solid basswood body add stability.
Range
The dual cutaway and solid basswood body allow access to the highest frets, ensuring an excellent full range. It has three single-coil pickups, one volume, and two-tone controls, plus a five-way pickup selector switch to create all of
It has three single-coil pickups, one volume and two tone controls, plus a five-way pickup selector switch to create all of today’s greatest sounds. Additionally, the body is contoured for hours of comfortable play, so fatigue is minimized.
Weight
This scaled-down 3/4 size guitar is about 3″ shorter and narrower than a full-size guitar. As a result, it is excellent for a person with smaller hands or a larger person who wants a smaller instrument.
Although it weighs in at about 9 pounds, this might be a bit heavier than expected. While it is a fraction of a regular guitar’s size, it is every bit as heavy as many full-sized instruments.
Pros
- Strong sound
- Very full range
Cons
- It needs to be professionally setup
Stagg BC300 Short Scale Electric Guitar
The Stagg BC300 is a four-string, 3/4 size fusion electric bass guitar. It has a natural semi-gloss finish and a rosewood fingerboard with 24 frets.
Sound
The Stagg is a good starter instrument with a deep and well-defined sound. The tuners and bridge are of lovely quality, and the pickups have a very smooth, mellow tone.
The pickups’ output is a little low compared to other bases, lacking a bit of kick. But of course, this is based on personal preference. But if you’re looking for a decent, nice-sounding bass, you can’t go wrong with this model.
Setup
All of the hardware on this model is of good quality. It has solid tuning machine heads that function smoothly, and the neck is thin and has nice large frets.
The neck is straight and thin enough for small hands to get around, making this instrument great for young kids. The control knobs are solid and turn smoothly, and you can bring down the action quite a bit without excessive and distracting buzzing.
However, you might have to do some adjusting to the saddles and the nut to get the string height adequately adjusted.
Range
The Stagg has quite an impressive range that doesn’t skimp on quality. The intonations can fluctuate between rock and funk and lends themselves to ease of both plucking and slapping.
Also, the electronics seem to be correctly wired since there isn’t any buzzing or interference when recording, which is a huge plus.
Weight
It’s comfortable to play and has the right balance; not too heavy at all. This model is suitable for anyone who wants to get into the bass but is worried that a full-sized guitar might be too big for them.
With the Stagg 3/4 bass, you do not need to have huge strong fingers to play it, so you can enjoy the bass without the frustration of not reaching frets.
Because of its size, it is also excellent for anyone who travels or takes their instrument on many gigs.
Pros
- Solid hardware
- Impressive range
Cons
- Requires some adjusting
How to Find the Best Short Scale Electric Guitars
Here are a few things to look for when considering which short-scale guitar would be the best fit for you.
Sound
The sound of the instrument is, of course, the reason for choosing a short-scale guitar.
You’re looking for something that will still give you that clear and crisp guitar sound, but that will also be just unique enough to enhance your repertoire. Consider the different tonalities and depths of resonance when looking for a suitable model.
Setup
The manufacturer setup of the instrument is crucial. If you’re starting with the instrument or don’t want to spend a lot of money to play, it is essential to consider how it will play right out of the box.
Will you need to buy better strings? Does the instrument feel right for you specifically? All of these things are important to consider when choosing which short-scale guitar is the best.
Range
Even though you’re purchasing an instrument with a shorter scale, you don’t want the instrument’s range to suffer.
Consider what kind of tone and quality you can get out of this short-scale instrument and if it would be a good match for what you are looking for.
Weight
The instrument’s weight is significant when discussing the scaled guitar because it is one of the main reasons for purchasing it.
You want an instrument that is lighter and more manageable than one of a larger size. So consider what size requirements you need and what would personally be a good fit for you.
So, Which Short Scale Electric Guitar is the Best?
The Laguna LE50 is the leader in the best short-scale guitars.
It has a beautiful sound and a fantastic, sleek look. It is super easy to play and great for beginners.
While its range and full potential might be a little off right out of the box, once you have it set up, you’ll be playing for hours on end with an instrument that is comparable to full-size basses, with a fraction of the bulk.