bass shopping: small bodied basses?

[parksung]

I'm looking for a bass and since I'm 5'2" and 112lbs. I am looking for something that isn't as heavy or huge as a Rickenbacker or Fender P Bass. Although I have read that larger bodies and weight contribute to different tones (and probably the tones I might prefer), I am also interested in getting a bass that doesn't look absolutely ridiculous on stage or weigh a ton when I'm toting it around town! Call me vain, but c'mon I love how those basses look but they're just too large and unwieldy to handle for me (though I have seen some older Jazz's with smaller bodies that would work out nicely).

So I've seen Ibanez's that are slim bodied, slim necks but damn, the cutaways are really not my cup o' tea.

Any other suggestions? I would go used before new and also open to vintage if it's not over $800.

 

[santucci218]

try to find a used birdsong bass?

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Steinberger.

Also, the Warwick Thumb has a very small body, but they often have a plethora of other issues that make them not ideal (neck dive, etc.).

 

[Mental Octopus]

sounds like you're looking for a used MusicMan Sterling

 

[Freddels]

+1 on the MM Sterling or even a Fender Jazz.

 

[birdie num nums]

Lakland 01 and 02's have small bodies (don't they?). In your price range I would say 44 or 55-01 (new or used)...

 

[parksung]

sounds like you're looking for a used MusicMan Sterling

YESSSS! they're gorgeous

 

[syciprider]

Wait for the Sterling by Music Man to come out. That's in your price range.

 

[adamrobertt]

Fender Mustang bass.

 

[parksung]

Wait for the Sterling by Music Man to come out. That's in your price range.

any idea when they will be out?

 

[BUNGA56]

Cort Curbow

 

[oldrookie]

Fender Precision Lyte.

 

[RickenBoogie]

The American Deluxe P has a slimmed down body size, and neck, and you still have (virtually) a P bass. Win-win.

 

[Baryonyx]

What about Spector? Steinberger? Status? They all make basses with small bodies. I'm 6' tall and I love small bodied basses!

 

[Luke19Boarder]

Cort Curbow

that's what immediately came to mind when i read the thread title.

 

[GregC]

Lakland Skyline DJ has a downsized body and looks great, IMO. You can probably get one for around $800 used.

 

[spade2you]

If sticking with standard scale lenghts, avoid short horn basses, the neck dive is harder on hands than playing a really large bass. Plus, having a long top horn is beneficial to bring the nut closer to left hand reach.

My main recommendation is the Fender Urge I or Urge standard. They're much easier than most Fenders, but light and small. I had one for a several years but someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

 

[Eythorion]

A yamaha RBX A2? I havent actually played one but i tried my stepdads RBX 5 string and it was super light. I guess any RBX will work but the RBX A2 has those cool LED lights in the volume controls.

 

[oldrookie]

A yamaha RBX A2? I havent actually played one but i tried my stepdads RBX 5 string and it was super light. I guess any RBX will work but the RBX A2 has those cool LED lights in the volume controls.

Not a bad suggestion.

 

[ondaone]

My main recommendation is the Fender Urge I or Urge standard. They're much easier than most Fenders, but light and small. I had one for a several years but someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

+1 for the urge, I played one for years also, guys in the band use to call it my kids bass, Kinda funny to see I am a bigger guy(6,2 255) and it looked so small on me, but it played and sounded awsome .

I had a blue one , wish I still had it.

cya
jimi