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Does hand size matter with what bass you play?
- Thread starter azfryguy
- Start date
It really depends on the individual. I have the scourge of arthritis and play mainly short scales these days, but for some reason when I play my 54 reissue Fender P with that big wide neck it feels really comfortable to me. I had a smaller Ibanez SGR that really wasn't comfortable. I have a theory that it may have a lot more to do with the radius of the neck instead of the scale that makes a bass "feel good" to us when we play it.
Getting used to my first 4-string with a 35" scale took a few weeks to get used to, but I now feel comfortable playing my 35" 6-sring. For me, the bass can't have neck-dive problems; other than that, I'm fine. BTW I'm 6'0", 210, and have medium sized hands. I took string bass lessons in college, and my Instructor was about 5'9" with smaller hands. He had a full size string bass for symphony work, a 5-string, and a 3/4 for jazz gigs. He never complained about scale length. But he was also a stickler about what he felt was proper tecnique. My 2 cents and IMO.
Surely this is all about personal preference? One man's food etc etc?
My first 5er was a Yamaha RBX375 - wide neck with 19mm string spacing. Having played this for 3 nights in a row I was getting pains across my left hand, due to my having quite small hands. I have no probs with a 4.
I moved to a Hohner B Bass which has a narrow fretboard for a 5 with a shallow neck & I'm fine with that, and, like someone above, I have a Peavey Cirrus BXP which is also fine - just a smidgen wider. It's fretboard width which is my problem, not scale length. It took me about 5 mins to go from 34" to 35" scale. I move between them now without issue.
I have an OLP Stingray which has a *deep* chubby neck & it entails a greater reach around. I don't find that too comfy either.
Earlier I used 4 stringers strung BEAD & that worked for me too.
My first 5er was a Yamaha RBX375 - wide neck with 19mm string spacing. Having played this for 3 nights in a row I was getting pains across my left hand, due to my having quite small hands. I have no probs with a 4.
I moved to a Hohner B Bass which has a narrow fretboard for a 5 with a shallow neck & I'm fine with that, and, like someone above, I have a Peavey Cirrus BXP which is also fine - just a smidgen wider. It's fretboard width which is my problem, not scale length. It took me about 5 mins to go from 34" to 35" scale. I move between them now without issue.
I have an OLP Stingray which has a *deep* chubby neck & it entails a greater reach around. I don't find that too comfy either.
Earlier I used 4 stringers strung BEAD & that worked for me too.
i have this as well. i do find it probably makes a small difference. more difficult kinda thing.
this thread reminds me of the burger commercial of the guy with tiny hands.
I don't really notice the neck width or thickness. Maybe it's my technique; not sure, but I can hop between basses and it doesn't faze me in the least. The 'P' neck feels good, so does the 'J' or Ibanez, Alembic or whatever.
When in grade school the music teacher came around and declared what eveyones instrument ought to be based on their hand size. I was a violin.
I prefer fatter necks in my small hands, it's about support in the palm.
I prefer fatter necks in my small hands, it's about support in the palm.
I have big hands and much prefer a P bass neck than a jazz. Skinny necks make my hand cramp up after a while 
I'm a pretty small dude (5'7"), and i have little womanly hands... but i preffer P and EBMM necks to the smaller J and SR necks. It's just more comfortable for me. However, i think, personally, it has more to do with the string spacing than the actual neck dimensions..
I have small hands and I play a Warwick Corvette $$ and a EB Sting Ray. Love the feel of them. I once had a Geddy Lee and I thought it was kind of too tight on the string spacing at the first few frets.
Rickett Customs
Commercial User
6'4"
XXL gloves (the Mechanix gloves atleast)
I prefer smaller/narrower necks, just not used to having my hand around large things
...
XXL gloves (the Mechanix gloves atleast)
I prefer smaller/narrower necks, just not used to having my hand around large things
...
+1000
There are plenty of folks of less-than-average stature who play upright bass. Electric is a piece of cake in comparison!
I have smallish hands for my size (6'0"), but prefer four and five strings with big fat necks and wide string spacing. My old Warwick Streamer Stage I had the biggest neck I've ever played, but I got used to it easily enough.
I wouldn't want to play a bass with six or more strings, but the size of my hands has nothing to do with that.
I wouldn't want to play a bass with six or more strings, but the size of my hands has nothing to do with that.
Pretty much and within reason. More often than not, weaknesses in technique will limit choices. Generally speaking, complaints against 35" scale is generally from those who hang the bass too high, or aren't very good about 1-2-4 fingering, arthritis aside. Usually those who hate thin necks don't play with their thumb down the skunk line of the neck.
