Bass for small hands?

[Larry Grenier]

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

Unknowingly

 

[B-Mac]

Trying < $250. Sorry, I should have said this up front. Yes, I know I'm being cheap.

You should be able to get a decent used Epiphone EB-0 or EB-3 for that. Not a Gibson though.

 

[Stix2Strings]

Surprised it took so long to mention. Talk about an ez playing bass. The Ignition BB or Club.

Have yet to find a Club in any retail outlet to give it a test drive, but really would like to give it a whirl.

 

[Ghook]

Have yet to find a Club in any retail outlet to give it a test drive, but really would like to give it a whirl.

You could do a buy and return if you didn't like it or bond with it. I'm assuming you would own one. They (the club) are mostly available on line , I am surprised, GC would sell them if they stocked them.

 

[Stix2Strings]

GC
changed their policy on special order, charge a re-stocking if you return.

 

[ixlramp]

Scale length is only relevant to your height, having small hands is only relevant to neck width and thickness, how about an Ibanez SR?
EDIT: Concerning 1 finger per fret stretching, don't do that it's unhealthy, shift instead.

 

[Bassamatic]

Get a Squier VM SS Jaguar strung with half rounds, and you can thank me later.

057912

This is an AMAZING bass with great sound, low price and easy to play. A no-brainer. Would not do half-rounds though. Sunbeams for rounds and TI jazz flats for the flat sound.

If you want to spend a little more, the new Mustang P/J is quite fantastic with a small, fast neck. I would avoid the older Mustangs - they are string-through only and have severely limited string selection. They are also WAY overpriced - the new P/Js are so well made and sound great!

 

[Devarika Woulf]

I have an Ibanez TMB30, one of the basses you name in your post, and recommend it highly. The neck is slightly chunkier than I'd prefer, but that's not a deal-breaker for me, even though my hands are not large. One of these days, if I'm ever feeling particularly impulsive, I might try sanding down the neck a bit, but for now I'm inclined to leave well enough alone.

As mentioned above, the Ibanez TMB30 is a very nice bass, I love these Ibanez Talman basses but it does have a chunky neck. A Mustang or a Squier VM SS Jaguar (short scale) might be a better choice.

The easiest to play are the Jag and the EB-0. Love the necks on those two.

I've been planning to pickup a TMB30 as it has a slightly better build quality vs. the Squier VM Jaguar. But I'm a complete newbie to bass and my arms/hands are on the shorter side. Whatever can make learning a bit easier would be helpful. Perhaps a Silver VM SS will be on the horizon instead.

 

[BassHappy]

I would like to chime in with my 2 cents worth. Feel free to take it with a grain of salt if it doesn't strike a chord with you.

I was taught and used samandi - but the last I looked it's called bass "guitar" and I found that I was much more fluent after developing my one-fret-per-finger technique. To me, it only makes sense that you should most certainly consider getting the scale length that allows you to play your OFPF technique in the first position too. I admit it - my hand is on the smaller size of average - and I can't play my OFPF technique in the first position on a 34" scale bass. Why should I play a bass that limits and "handicaps" my abilities in the first position? The fact is - my DB teacher was an amazing player, but he couldn't keep up with my OFPF technique on some of the "chops" parts I was playing down low. So you are flying all over the fingerboard with your masterful OFPF technique and yet when you get down to the first position you are stuck using some kind of compromise clumsy hybrid technique? Sorry, makes no sense at all to me. Using identical technique on the entire fingerboard breeds a ton of side benefits - increased mobility and stamina being among them. Of course, it also depends on what your playing goals are - and the kind of music you are making.

I stick by it, play the bass that fits you and maximizes your playing abilities. It's different for everyone, but my suggestion is to search until you find that bass and scale length that promotes your playing potential all over the neck, including down low.

 

[felis]

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

If they were there for the taking. You can still get the VM Jaguar SS new.

The VM Mustang was only made for a couple years, was discontinued several years ago,
and they don't show up used very often.

You can tell from this post that I'm kind of partial to the Jaguar SS: Squier Jaguar Short Scale Club Part 3
I play short scales but it has nothing to do with hand size.

 

[symbolic_acts]

the hand size thing is the biggest myth/excuse in bass playing history

doesnt matter at all. But 30" scales sound great and feel great so try one out

 

[Bassheart365]

Proof that having small hands does not disqualify you from excelling a normal scale bass: Mohini Dey.