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Basses fitting for players with small hands?

#61
Guys, the man didn't ask for a lecture on hand vs. neck size. Just answer his question. He wants a slender neck.

I have a Warmoth short scale P, an Epiphone viola, a Hofner Icon that are all great "small hand" basses. They are short scale and not everybody likes fiddles.
80's and 90's U.S. Peaveys are great slender necked basses, excluding the T-series which are wide.
As already mentioned, there are several nice Squiers in that range with slender necks.
There are used Jazz and P Bass Specials which have J width necks all over the place in your price range, Squier and Fender. GC used has some great deals if you don't mind taking a shot at unplayed.
ibanez' are known for their slender necks.
 
#62
It's funny, occasionally you'll see a thread titled something like "Why are short/medium scale basses frowned upon around here?" and everyone jumps in to claim they're not. Then you see a thread like this where the OP is asking about a shorter scale neck and everyone piles on to question why he would want such a thing, after all they too have small hands and can easily play a 37" scale bass, etc. etc.

I don't get it. Is scale size in the guitar world this much of a debate? I don't think so.

Personally, I have average-sized hands. Yet I still prefer to avoid the wrist gymnastics and orangutan-like arm extension required by a long-scale bass, not to mention the additional back/neck/shoulder strain of that long lever with a heavy headstock hanging off the end. Long scale is not fun for me. It's not comfortable. There's nothing wrong with seeking out optimized ergonomics, even in the bass guitar world. I'm surprised no one bashes contoured-body basses for being unmanly.
 
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#65
RED J said:
I can play a 2x6 with garden hose sized strings !! Top that you weenies !
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It's not about being tough. It's about keeping your options open. More than a few guitarists and bassists have technique that closes the door on a lot of different guitars and basses. Why limit yourself?
 
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#66
Once again thanks for all the replies. I didn't actually ask for a short scale in particular tho. I can play a long scale no problem, it's the thickness of the neck, not the lenght that is the problem. I don't have super tiny hands, but they are small and i got short fingers. The Epi T-bird feels fine, so maybe a profile/thickness like that. It's a 2009 model so should be slim tapper?

I have never tried a short scale, the necks on them seems to usually be very thin tho? Would be interesting to try a short or medium scale, maybe Mustang, tho i'm kinda interested in an Gibson EB-0/EB-3 too.
Also try a Fender Jazz sized bass. Anyone know anything about the Necks on Jackson/Charvel Basses?
They are selling an 90's Charvel in my price range that i might be interested in, but i don't know anything about thease basses and seems to be very little info on them.
 
#67
Avezzano said:
It is a false problem: any standard bass will fit. I am 5,5 with small hands but having no issues at all.
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I'm also 5'5 with small hands and I agree that a person with small hands should be able to play any instrument. I have a 35" scale Modulus Q5 that has been my "go to" bass for a years and I also have a 34" scale Carvin SB5000 that I have no issue with. I'm pretty sure my overall talent level is more of a limiting factor in my playing than my hand size! ;)

Seriously, I will say I believe the neck profile and lighter string gauges make it easier for small hands to play on a longer scale basses. For me, my small hands seem to be much more nimble and in control when I use 40-60-80-100-128 strings over 45-64-85-100-130 strings. But that's just me. YMMV.
 
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#68
I'm with ya man,you are absolutely right ! I was just trying to point out in a humorous way, that it's not the subject of the thread. I have basses of all shapes sizes and lengths.

The man wants suggestions for small, narrow necks. Specifically. That's all.

It seems whenever someone does ask for narrow necks or short scales, it turns into a hijack of abilities, options, I can so you should too, and you should be able tos all of which are valid points of discussion. However, that is not what the OP was asking for, which makes me wonder how many people really read and comprehended the O.P's question.

And though I take you at you word you were not making an issue of the "macho-ness" aspect, that spirit really does come through in some posts. Let's face it, most of us on TB are men, and testosterone does rear its head and squash rational thought in any discussion among males, at least to some degree.






spade2you said:
DSC00268.jpg


It's not about being tough. It's about keeping your options open. More than a few guitarists and bassists have technique that closes the door on a lot of different guitars and basses. Why limit yourself?
Click to expand...
 
#69
My best recommendation, get into several music stores, and try out every bass they will let you lay hands on. Try wider necks, narrower necks, standard and short scale basses, and see what works best for you. I recently played 2 Squier basses in the store, with technically identical necks, but playability between the two was vastly different. One was a Jazz Bass, nice, but I couldn't keep from mashing 2 strings at the same time up by the nut. The other a Jaguar bass (uses a Jazz neck) and that one played like a dream for me...

Early on when I first started playing, I found the Ibanez Soundgear neck to be easy playing / lighting fast. However I do not have small hands, quite the contrary, although I don't have the longest fingers out there, I have rather large hands (I'm just big overall...), and found the narrower string spacing, and shallower neck profile to just be easier to navigate quickly... Not saying there weren't things about a P bass I didn't like though... There are plenty...
 
#71
I'm gonna echo everyone recommending the Ibanez SR series. I bought a new SR500 ($599) several years ago, and it was perfect. Super comfortable, even though at the time my hands were used to an acoustic guitar neck. You can go for a new slightly lower-end model and stay within your budget, but if you shop around you can probably find a used 500 or even 700 model (I think the only difference is the wood & finish) for under $500.
 
#72
PimasterPearson said:
I'm gonna echo everyone recommending the Ibanez SR series. I bought a new SR500 ($599) several years ago, and it was perfect. Super comfortable, even though at the time my hands were used to an acoustic guitar neck. You can go for a new slightly lower-end model and stay within your budget, but if you shop around you can probably find a used 500 or even 700 model (I think the only difference is the wood & finish) for under $500.
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The current SR500 model has been out a long time, most likely with some electronics tweaks, but it replaced the SR480 (The model I own) in around 2004-2005 time frame. Used ones come up on Ebay quite often, and even SR480s if you would prefer a P/J pickup configuration...

I have an early 90s SR500 which is actually a very different animal from the current one, Maple body / neck with PJ pickups, volume pot and tone pot for each pickup. I have swapped in EMG actives which I can't say enough good about. I recently went in and had the setup redone on it, and I can't say enough good about how this bass plays. A good setup and some hot pickups and all the sudden my playing takes a HUGE leap forward...

There are lower end models with the same neck configuration, some with the Bartolini pickups, some with Ibanez designed pickups... LOTS to chose from...

I am not 100% certain, but I believe the SR neck is somewhat narrower at the neck pocket / body joint than the Fender Jazz style neck...
 
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#73
RedHotFuzz said:
I don't understand this philosophy. Of course the size of your hands vs the scale of your bass matters! Can a small-handed person learn to deal with a 34" scale bass? Sure, just like a short person could learn to deal with skis that are too long. But why not use something that fits if it's available?

Long scale for me is ungainly and uncomfortable. Short scale is great but a tad small for me. Medium scale is perfect for me. So that's what I play.

OP, buy what fits, ignore the one-size-fits-all mentality!

(BTW, I have what I would consider average-size hands and 34" bass is still cumbersome for me.)
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I agree. I have abnormally small hands for a male. I own a Fender Jazz bass that is way to big for my hands. After playing my hands are sore and I always have to stretch them to an uncomfortable length. I just purchased an Ibanez sr505 that works so much better for me. The neck is so slick and playable and the scales are much shorter. Smaller basses don't look as cool but are much better to play
 
#75
I'm 5'3", and my hands are so small that I have to wear children's gloves so the fingers fit. That being said, I find that heavily tapered necks give me hand cramps. The jazz/Ibanez neck kills me. I prefer wider necks that are relatively shallow. My favorite necks are my current Ric 4003 (1.6875") and my Alembic/Tony Franklin (1.625"). I also regularly play a Steve Harris P-bass that has a C-shaped 1.75" neck.

I don't think you can make any hard-fast rules about playing with small hands. Play what you find comfortable. You should be able to find an Ibanez/jazz to play and pretty easily tell if that neck type is going to work for you.
 
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#76
I have smallish hands, as well, and I concur about the Ibanez SR series. I also have a Fender P and I feel a bit more adept when playing around with the Ibanez. I just really can't stretch my hands across the board all that far/well, so I've resorted to playing my basslines whichever way is the most comfortable, even if that requires me to slide a lot more than most folks. I don't think it negatively impacts my sound and I'm okay with the idea that I'll never be a virtuoso.
 
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#78
fjadams said:
And once again we have a thread where somebody is asking about short scales and more than half the posts are of the
"I've never played a short scale bass, but here are the reasons you shouldn't either!"

Why not just tell the OP to try as many basses as he can get his hands on. Bring it down to the best 3 to 5. Pare that down to the best 2, then choose the one that you think you will use and be comfortable with considering tone, playability, looks.

Why not just give the OP some useful help instead of the usual sausage fest of the longer scale you play the more manly you are.
Why keep perpetuating simple minded "facts" about basses that are short scale.
1: You can't intonate short scale basses properly, patently false. I have about 20 SS,s and every one one of them is set up properly.
2: Short scale basses are just cheap copies of "real basses". I'd put most of mine up against any standard scales from the same company or comparable company.
3: Real Men don't play short scales as they are for kids or beginners. Well, I'm pretty sure that most of us are aware that some pretty good bassists have and do play short scales.

But really, why not just give the OP some real ideas on how to go about looking for a bass that fits him, plays easily, is the proper size for his body including hands, fingers, arms, is aesthetically pleasing, gives him the tone he wants, etc? It shouldn't be too much to ask from a newcomer to a lot of very experienced bassists.
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RedHotFuzz said:
It's funny, occasionally you'll see a thread titled something like "Why are short/medium scale basses frowned upon around here?" and everyone jumps in to claim they're not. Then you see a thread like this where the OP is asking about a shorter scale neck and everyone piles on to question why he would want such a thing, after all they too have small hands and can easily play a 37" scale bass, etc. etc.

I don't get it. Is scale size in the guitar world this much of a debate? I don't think so.

Personally, I have average-sized hands. Yet I still prefer to avoid the wrist gymnastics and orangutan-like arm extension required by a long-scale bass, not to mention the additional back/neck/shoulder strain of that long lever with a heavy headstock hanging off the end. Long scale is not fun for me. It's not comfortable. There's nothing wrong with seeking out optimized ergonomics, even in the bass guitar world. I'm surprised no one bashes contoured-body basses for being unmanly.
Click to expand...

If either of you had actually read the OP you might have noticed that it didn't mention short scale basses at all. It was asking for suitable basses for people with small hands. Some people chimed in to suggest trying short scale basses, and others countered, saying that with good technique, any scale length is playable.
 
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#79
Happynoj said:
If either of you had actually read the OP you might have noticed that it didn't mention short scale basses at all. It was asking for suitable basses for people with small hands. Some people chimed in to suggest trying short scale basses, and others countered, saying that with good technique, any scale length is playable.
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I did read the OP, but thank you very much for the nannying.

If small hands are part of the equation, alternative scale lengths should be worth serious consideration and part of the conversation, despite the cries of the Real Men Play Long Scale crowd.

And no one here said a person with small hands can't play long scale. Just like I could learn to ride one of those 6-foot-tall old timey bicycles if I wanted to, I could also play a long scale bass. I'd rather ride a bicycle that fits me comfortably, just like I'd rather play a bass that fits me comfortably. I prefer medium scale (I've tried 34", 32" and 30"). And I don't even have small hands.
 

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