Advices for a new bass

[BobKos]

Ibanez SR Series have slender necks that work well for my small hands. They are light, too.

This is the best answer. I have (2) Ibanez SR series basses - a 500 and a 1300E. They are both the easiest playing basses I own. Make no mistake - I'm a Jazz Bass fanboy and those are my true favorites, but the Ibanezes really are a joy to play - much easier than the Jazz Basses. The Nordie equipped 1300 sounds great and is one of my favorite of 30 or so basses. All SR series play / feel similar and differ only in tweaks and refinements. Materials and build quality are amazing in their price ranges. Bargains can be had in the used market. For the OP - you really should check one of these basses out.

 

[IamGroot]

For anyone who thinks their hands are too small to play full scale bass well:




If you like short scales, more power to you, but small hands aren't an insurmountable obstacle.

She had Mark Bass helping her.

 

[kevrex]

another vote for the gretsch g2220 junior jet. really a lot of (short scale) bass for the money, and they look so much better (to me) than the mikro.

I also love the neck on my 78 musicmaster. they've gotten pricey, though. and mine probably weighs as much as my p bass if that's a factor.

 

[Phil Lee]

Hello friends!
Thank you all for being here reading my post.
I am Emma, back as a bassist after 5 years, and wanting to get a new bass"!

But I come to get advices, I need to get "the most compact bass/brand" in market. Why is that?
I have small hands with short fingers and the most of basses are difficult to play to me!
Necks always too wide and thick, or the next its self too long when I hang it, so I need to know based in your experience which bass or brand produce short necks, thin and/or narrow necks.
Thanks!!!

 

[Phil Lee]

I absolutely recommend LowEnd jazz basses. You will "pay" for them but it would be the last bass you ever need to buy. Brian makes standard 34 inch scale basses. But he also will custom make them to 33, 32, or even 30 inch scale. The basses sound absolutely amazing. I'll say again though, they are premium in cost though. Check out the website....thelowend.net or contact him directly. He's a great guy and is always willing to help you find the right bass for you. I own an LEJ-5 and 6. Hope this helps.

 

[mikewalker]

Hofner SHORTY!

 

[lunarpollen]

Hofner Ignition series Violin or Club basses are short-scale, light in weight, and have narrow necks and string spacing.

 

[themickster]

This is the best answer. I have (2) Ibanez SR series basses - a 500 and a 1300E. They are both the easiest playing basses I own. Make no mistake - I'm a Jazz Bass fanboy and those are my true favorites, but the Ibanezes really are a joy to play - much easier than the Jazz Basses. The Nordie equipped 1300 sounds great and is one of my favorite of 30 or so basses. All SR series play / feel similar and differ only in tweaks and refinements. Materials and build quality are amazing in their price ranges. Bargains can be had in the used market. For the OP - you really should check one of these basses out.

Your making me all the more thankful I bought SRs. You're also right to say 'differences'. Most of them are in the woods. My 300Es are no less well-built than my 600E or even the 2600E I tried out. The Nordstrands have the lows of a humbucker with the highs of a single coil. The only ways I'd say the higher models are better are the 3way mids switch and the active EQ bypass switch.

I haven't tried out a 500E. My shop didn't have one at time I was looking buy.

 

[Drog]

I am in agreement that hand size should be less of a concern. How the neck is set into the body is usually more of a concern for arm length to reach first fret.
My recommendation Ibanez headless bass EHB, Fender Jbass, Ibanez SR series

 

[Greg75]

For short-scale basses: I like the Fender Mustang, Stingray 4H Short-Scale, or Nordstrand Acinonyx. The Nordy's neck profile is probably the slimmest and would likely be easiest for the OP. Also, it sounds and plays great.

Check out the Acinonyx thread:
Official Nordstrand Acinonyx Cat bass club

 

[SteveC]

Hello friends!
Thank you all for being here reading my post.
I am Emma, back as a bassist after 5 years, and wanting to get a new bass"!

But I come to get advices, I need to get "the most compact bass/brand" in market. Why is that?
I have small hands with short fingers and the most of basses are difficult to play to me!
Necks always too wide and thick, or the next its self too long when I hang it, so I need to know based in your experience which bass or brand produce short necks, thin and/or narrow necks.
Thanks!!!

As usual, you get advice to do what you don't want to do. Yes, we've all seen small kids play big basses. Great for them. Yeah, it could be a technique thing, or maybe you just want to play a short scale bass. We also know of "full size" players who choose to play short scale basses, like the Mustang.

Heck, I restrung and cleaned up an old 74 Fender Mustang we found in a closet at the high school at which I teach. New flats, a couple adjustments and bam, you have a bass that no one wanted to play before being played a lot. I thought about just keeping it myself as no one wanted to play it before I set it up.

I also had a Rob Allen Mouse 30 fretless bass many years ago. One of like 2 basses I wish I had back. That was a FANTASTIC bass and 30" scale.

I don't have a lot of experience with shot scale basses, but I know I've played and liked the new Fender Mustang basses. I know Ibanez is known for thin/narrow necks.