SHORT SCALE
HOT WIRE SM-AXE
The Short Scale for the Big Sound!
Short and Sweet
Looking for a compact bass with easy handling? Try our SM-AXE! Instead of 86.4 cm, the Short Scale has 76 cm of sounding string length - long enough to produce a rich E, and short enough to guarantee a super comfortable playing feel.
It's also the right choice for the guitarist who occasionally picks up a bass.
In the Sixties, Short Scale basses were marketed as inexpensive student or beginner models, made of cheap woods and not particularly well made. But when a Short Scale bass is built from high quality parts, it's a real good piece!
Let it all hang out
The strings are ten cm shorter at 76 cm, which makes it not only easier to play, but also projects more power, fewer overtones and thus a darker tone. And if woods, hardware, pickups and electronics are of high quality, you get a rich tone. We can supply any Hot Wire model in any configuration in short scale. With an E-string that leaves nothing to be desired!
With the Hot Wire SM-AXE bass, the solid body and slim neck already lay the foundation for a big sound. The player chooses the woods for the desired sound: swamp ash, alder or mahogany for the body, a fingerboard of maple, rosewood or ebony on the maple neck. A full mahogany neck is also possible. Lacquer finish according to the customer's wishes.
In addition, hardware from Schaller and/or Hipshot, and for pickups and electronics, everyone can choose exactly what he needs for his sound. Also wishes like special neck width and narrow string spacing are gladly fulfilled.
So the SM-AXE is on the one hand a groove tool for the all-rounder, in the right hands on the other hand the optimal playing stuff for the bass player who loves fast solo passages, tapping escapades and chord work. For those who like to experiment, the solo tuning A-D-G-C is ideal for firing off melodic phrases in the style of a Stanley Clarke. As a piccolo bass (tuning E-A-D-G), the SM-AXE ventures into guitarist realms.
Oh yeah… we can do any bass (or guitar) as a leftie!