Bass for small hands?

[MakoMan]

Any of the basses mentioned above would be a good place to start. The Squier Jaguar SS is particularly nice for small hands because the neck is so thin. The Mikro is also a good choice. Both are available new for under 200 bucks and can be gigged with no mods. If you can find a used Gretsch G2220 grab it.
One thing I will say, having been in almost your exact situation when I started playing bass 6 years ago: If you are already thinking of a short scale due to potential physical constraints then go with one. A lot of folks will try to convince you to play a 34". Don't listen to them

 

[pcake]

I like my Mustang...I think I just want to go smaller! Not because of hands or anything, just because I can!

there are smaller basses out there like the one on smallguitars.com - a TBer let me try his, and i fell in love with it. 24.75" scale vs the mikro's 28.6" scale. there's also the 26" scale raptor on ebay - a few guys on TB play them.

 

[LBS-bass]

Some great choices here. I'll just add that I don't think you want to dismiss a regular sized instrument completely. I have small hands, too. My first bass was a Gibson EB0. Hated everything about it. Then I watched a guy with smaller hands than mine absolutely tear up a standard scale bass and decided that if he could do it, I could too.

Granted, that was many years ago and there were nowhere near the choices in short scales as there are today. But I'm very happy that I went the route that I did because I can pick up just about any instrument and make it work.

All that said, someone else mentioned that whatever you do, it needs to be the right choice for you. Which might just be one of these shorties. Have fun with whatever you decide to purchase.

 

[B-Mac]

the 70s

Larry, thanks for replying. Someone else responded to this and I guess they thought they were you or something?

But anyway, we're probably close to the same age and what I was getting at is there are so many more basses to chose from compared to back then. I own basses of differing scale lengths and like playing them all. I tend to play simandl technique when playing a 34" scale bass and shift a bit more. For 32", 30" and mikro I usually play OFPF. It just works for me.

Heck even Stanley Clarke, who has huge hands, (I met him and shook his hand...very long fingers), tends to play short scale basses.

The Gretsch Junior Jet is a short scale favorite for quite a few here at TB and is not that $$ brand new. I own 4 Gretsch basses 3 of which are SS and 1 is MS, but none are the Junior Jet, but I enjoy playing them all. I also own the Ibanez Mikro Bass GSRM20 which I bought out of curiosity more than anything. It's fun to play, but I can't see it being something one would gig with, but I'm sure there is somebody out there that just might.

32" scale is a comfortable 'in between' scale, but the choices out there seem to come and go and you're usually looking at a used medium scale bass. @BassHappy has extensive knowledge on them and even has a great website about playing what fits you and medium scale basses. Here's the link if you want to look into them.
Why Not Play the Bass That Fits You Perfectly?

I currently own nine SS, seven MS, one Mikro, three 35", one 33.25" and thirty-one 34" scale basses.

Many people for whatever reason still think of ss basses as inferior instruments for students and while that might have been the case 'back in the day' for you and I it is hardly the case today.

Good luck with your search.

 

[KevinOn10]

The squire SS jaguar is definitely the best bet, in my opinion. There also the Gretsch G2220 that comes with mini-humbuckers. I'd still prefer the SS JAG, but the Gretsch is a close second.

 

[chris_b]

Not only is hand and finger size a consideration but so is hand shape, which I never heard anyone talk about. For example, I cannot make a four fret stretch on a 34”

Again, that's a technique issue.

Never stretch. Never!

Move your hand. Don't anchor that thumb. Your thumb should be constantly moving so you can place your hand where your fingers will fall over the notes you need to play.

 

[Stackpole]

To each his own but I’d take one of the original VM Mustang’s over a VM Jaguar.

 

[Richard Martin]

Unless you have child-sized hands, your hands are probably plenty big enough for standard 34" bass.

My index finger is 3.5" which would be considered on the small side. Yet I play not only 34" bass but also upright bass, no problem at all. At the end of the day, it is all about technique, not hand size.

My index finger comes in at 3-3/4". I have an Aerodyne at 34" but there are some movements that I can do but are much easier on my Squier SS.

 

[xaxxat]

No need to get shoes that fit, just work on the technique of walking in shoes that don't fit...

 

[Marc DLarosa]

OK... I'm gonna ask...
What sort of tone are You looking for? What type of music do You play? What's Your budget? Do You have an amp?

 

[macmanlou]

To each his own but I’d take one of the original VM Mustang’s over a VM Jaguar.

The VM Mustangs were excellent. Tone is very nearly the same as a Fender Precision (maybe a little bit "deeper" IMO). If you can't find one, save up for the Fender PJ Mustang. Both have less tendency for neck dive than the VM Jag SS. The PJ's bridge pickup is better than the Jag's. The most popular mods for the Jag are better bridge pickups and lighter tuners (the neck pickup is very good).

 

[David Jayne]

I'd think a Jazz of some sort- 1.5" nut with a C shaped neck, not too shallow. You'd think a deeper neck would be harder to play but I've found the opposite to be true. Fender C shape is nice, try one.

 

[BAG]

Any of the basses mentioned above would be a good place to start. The Squier Jaguar SS is particularly nice for small hands because the neck is so thin. The Mikro is also a good choice. Both are available new for under 200 bucks and can be gigged with no mods. If you can find a used Gretsch G2220 grab it.
One thing I will say, having been in almost your exact situation when I started playing bass 6 years ago: If you are already thinking of a short scale due to potential physical constraints then go with one. A lot of folks will try to convince you to play a 34". Don't listen to them

I agree..... and I disagree. I started on my Jag and still love it. So easy to get around the fretboard. But.... I got shamed into at least trying a full scale by a friend who is the best bass player I've ever known and she has the shortest, stumpiest fingers on any musician I've ever met and I do prefer the string tension and sound of my full scales these days.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Unless you have the hands of a toddler, you'll be fine on any bass.

Not only is hand and finger size a consideration but so is hand shape, which I never heard anyone talk about. For example, I cannot make a four fret stretch on a 34” to save myself

You should be shifting, not stretching!

 

[funkinbottom]

Can you make suggestions on something I should be looking at?

Rondo has these two. $150 with a bag. Rondo Music Bass Guitars

Also a few cool Japanese vintage shorties on Reverb.com

 

[packhowitzer]

 

[Bassist Jay]

In my opinion, Ibanez Soundgear basses, have the best thin necks. The basses have fantastic ergonomics and the necks feel very comfortable. I currently own 4 Ibanez Soundgear basses and have owned 4 other ones in the past and I love how they sound, look, feel and play. In my opinion, I also think that they are the best basses made that sell in the $500.00 - $800.00 range brand new.

 

[Katthestar]

I think the thickness of the neck matters. I prefer a thin neck, probably because I come from guitar. Also, my hands are small. I had a Fender PJ Special, but I wasn’t a fan of the neck. I recommend a Guild Pilot. You can find one for a good price because Guild made so many, it fits in all the regular cases. Mine is lighter than a Fender as well. They get the same kind of sound, and they came in a few different types. It’s a pretty 80’s looking bass, but still normal looking enough that you can play it anywhere.

 

[vvvmmm]

I just wanna thank the OP for a post combining gear and politics.

 

[devnulljp]

This kid seemed to do OK with a full size



And this little fella is 7