New Blackstar Carry-on ST Travel Bass Guitar

This miniature travel bass guitar has amazing tone for its size. A half scale / half sized bass guitar tuned to E which I wasn't expecting for it's length. Blackstar did a really good job, this is just what I have been looking for to take with me on a plane for the December holidays, an electric bass for the hotel room while you are on vacation. So small it fits into the carry-on overhead compartment of an airplane.
I am testing this bass guitar over three tunes, The Chicken by Jaco Pastorius, Autumn Leaves Jazz standard, and Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder. Hope it helps you decide if this music instrument is for you.
#travelbassguitar
#blackstarbassguitar
#bassguitar

[@bucknbronx13]

Very cool demo. I’d love to get one for my grandson. Is it tuned like a full size bass ( EADG)?

[@injuredtechman]

Yes it is which is the thing that surprised me the most.

[@Richardgreenmusic.]

It sounds great and looks very cool.

[@MetalDetectoristMick]

I gotta get one of those

[@stevengraham5454]

Love it

[@angelmartinezgomez7175]

Hi, nice video, nice bass and playing. Does it come with a gig bag or case? Thanks, and congrats for the review!

[@injuredtechman]

Thanks Angel. No the bass guitar did not come with one. Luckily for me I have other miniature guitars that game with gig bags and used those. I believe there is a purchase option with the Blackstar Bass when you buy it at the shop.

[@gibb253]

It doesn’t come with one but Blackstar make a very nice gigbag for it you can buy separately

[@petertooth2831]

Thank you Andrew. A clear and straightforward demo, just the way I prefer them.

[@injuredtechman]

Thanks very much for the encouragement Peter 🙏🏻

[@RonChibnik]

Just got the guitar version of this. Can't find the bass anywhere - there's one on Reverb in UK. I'm in US. Love the smaller format.

[@marcdeckard7064]

By god, with that little gem, you're ready for your world tour.

[@Frolicks1]

Technically, it's not a half-scale bass, as the scale is 23,5in on this one. A regular (long scale) bass has 34in, a short scale 30. It's about the same size as the Kala Solid Body U-Basses, which also have the same scale length. Still, it's really nice and small, and sounds really great, not only for its size, but in a general way.

[@injuredtechman]

Thanks. I made the video excitedly just after picking it up from the store, and the guy at the store told me it was halfscale but I agree with you it's just shortscale technically. 🙏🏻🙏🏻. Yes very surprising tone for something so small. 😊

[@ericalba5756]

Sounds great, and everyone talks about how theirs sounds great, but I have yet to hear or read of anyone actually having taken one on a plane, hassle free.

[@injuredtechman]

I have taken mine overseas. I think it needs a harder case than a soft one. One of the tuning machine heads came loose from bumpy handling. I had no problems with the airline taking it as carry-on luggage. I flew budget on Scoot.

[@mredred5309]

Great! Nice video! Do you know how many kg does it wiegh? The plastic black element to rest the thumb has been added by you ? Thanks!

[@injuredtechman]

Hi it's 2.1kg and yes I added rhe thumb rest element myself.

[@creative_bakery]

Hm... Is it possible to make it sound good in Drop D tuning? (Of course, with another gauges of the strings)...

[@injuredtechman]

It wasn't too bad but yes a lil loose with some tuning run.

[@JoseGarcia-yk3dl]

Hello! Do you have table settings of this electric bass ? height ropes, truss, etc? Thank you!

[@iramcedeno4415]

Qué buen bass hermano.

[@SoftwareManiacLSM]

Nice, so where do we get one??? Great review.

[@injuredtechman]

Thanks for that. You should be able to find a distributor here: blackstaramps.com/distributors-all-countries/

[@ericalba5756]

Terrific, I see how it can even fit in a suitcase, but right now it seems no gear source on the planet is offering it for sale.

[@adrianch2527]

How much the price?

[@injuredtechman]

$215 USD

[@beckym8245]

Can you put flats on this?

[@injuredtechman]

So far I haven't found flatwounds in this scale. They would be hard to come by.

[@SecondaryHomunculus]

That looks and sounds great! I bought a MihaDo travel bass about a year ago & absolutely love it, but this Blackstar is so cool!

[@angputingpinoysalondon9300]

What size of case suitable for the Bass?

[@injuredtechman]

It doesn't come with but I believe there is an option at the shop. I didn't opt for it because I have other miniature guitars and already had cases that came with them that fit. E.g. the cases for the Pignose PGG-200, Yamaha APXT2 will fit, albeit not completely snuggly.

[@bigfluffypancake]

have you tried the Hofner Shorty? Wondering how it compares. I was not happy with the Hofner and hoping this is a better travel bass option.

[@injuredtechman]

I have not tried the Hofner no, looks good though. What's not good about it?

[@bigfluffypancake]

@@injuredtechman mainly the feel of the neck with frets that are not smooth enough for my taste.

[@injuredtechman]

@@bigfluffypancake don't think the Black Star would be much better if you are considering it but the size and price was really good for me.

[@nugrahawicaksana3174]

What tuning do you use on that?

[@injuredtechman]

Standard EADGBE

[@mi_kun45]

What does slap bass sound like on this?

[@injuredtechman]

I am not the best at this but tone wise definitely not as good as something full sized but I can get the slaps and pops, just not as loud or defined on the slaps.

[@user-sn1bh4cc2k]

Hi Can you tell me some details on what the walking bass line is that you play to show the sound it produces with the tone turned right back? PS I've just bought one!

[@injuredtechman]

Congratulations on the purchase =), excited for you. That was the walking bass for Autumn Leaves.

[@jeffreydino6977]

How much does it cost?

[@injuredtechman]

I got mine for USD200

[@jeffreydino6977]

@@injuredtechman Thanks for replying

[@MariUSukulele]

super cool instrument 🤍

[@rballesteros]

Nice demo. Standard bass tuning. Does it use special gauge bass strings? or any standard bass strings on the market will do.

[@injuredtechman]

The gauge is standard but the string length must be short scale because such strings taper off sooner. Else you could damage your machine heads.

[@Grumphuttock]

The strings that came with mine are very thick, Blackstar say theyre 37-90 but theyre miles out the E string is as thick as a low B on a 5 string bass, it would appear that the bottom 4 strings of a 5 string bass have been used, as a standard 4 string set would be like playing spaghetti, my question is where can I get a spare set of strings as I bought a set of D'darrio shortscale and there still way to long for this bass, even trimmed down to the non tapered part of the string they dont fit in the tuning peg hole on the E string

[@brigitted7530]

@@Grumphuttock I have the same problem and asked Blackstar. Here's the answer: „The strings fitted on the units are a custom fitting of 37-90 gauge. The manufacturer is Alice Strings. ​ We are looking to make these available in the near future to order. ​ In the meantime, the best we can advise is you can attempt to use an alternative brand of strings with a similar gauge for restringing.“

[@Grumphuttock]

@Brigitte D I spoke to Blackstar also and they said the same to me. I explained that the gauge that they claim to be is wrong, if they where 37-90 it would be unplayable in standard tuning (like spaghetti) I tried a cutdown set of 45-105 and they where still too loose, anyway they found a spare set and sent them out to me and I can confirm that theyre definitely the bottom 4 strings on a 5 string bass.

[@brigitted7530]

It's definitely not 37-90 gauge. I'm also sure it's the top 4 strings of a set of 5. I've asked Alice Strings but haven't gotten an answer yet.

[@waxguitarservices]

wow one take wonder!!

[@injuredtechman]

😂 I wish that were true Brother Wax 😂

[@iramcedeno4415]

Saludos desde México, me podrías decir que escala es?

[@tomvalle8042]

what strings does it have? thx

[@injuredtechman]

Currently these are the round wounds that came with the bass. You will definitely need shortscale bass strings.

[@globaltrekkerexplorer]

It is a Mini me 😂

[@injuredtechman]

Lol 😆

[@ralucarusu7392]

Hi! Very helpful review! Can you share where can i find one to buy? Searched everywhere but no luck. Delivery would be in Europe. Your help is highly appreciated

[@injuredtechman]

I got this www.citymusic.com.sg absolutely awesome guys who run the store

[@ralucarusu7392]

@@injuredtechman thank you⭐️

[@taz-b5m]

I don’t know why you call it “half-scale”. A full scale bass has a 34” scale length, this has a 23.45” scale length, nowhere near 17”. You can conceivably call it 1/2 sized since that is a poorly-defined term based on hand size, but not 1/2 scale.

[@injuredtechman]

I agree with you, I have two short scale bass guitars. Tried to correct/disclaimer it in the description. Was explained it was half scale at the shop when I bought it and shot the video shortly after.

[@SuperShecky]

Don't think too hard about fractional sizes in musical instruments.