Höfner CT series violin bass with LaBella low tension flats.
Google “Beatle Bass Dealer” - they’ll get you set up. Easiest bass to play of all time. Short scale, strings are super low tension, sounds good with a pick even.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Geezer looking for bass
- Thread starter Beepaj
- Start date
Höfner CT series violin bass with LaBella low tension flats.
Google “Beatle Bass Dealer” - they’ll get you set up. Easiest bass to play of all time. Short scale, strings are super low tension, sounds good with a pick even.
In addition to the Mikro (28.5") and the Mezzo (32") already suggested by others, I will add a recommendation for the Ibanez Talman basses TMB30 (30") and TMB100 (34" full/long scale). Basically, Ibanez has you covered with very nice, lightweight, electric basses in all sizes for $300 and under. Add a Rumble 40 amp to the shopping cart, and you're all set!
Kala U Bass? Has that been suggested yet? If you have physical limitations playing guitar this might be ticket.
I beat you to it.
You probably skipped because I'm, as my wife reminds me often, a bit "verbose."
Ha! or I just read until I needed coffee.I beat you to it.
You probably skipped because I'm, as my wife reminds me often, a bit "verbose."
Cave Puppy
"Humph Bo, he's wond!" - John Lennon
+2 on the Danelectro Long Horn. Super light, short scale - Most basses are 34" scale, Danos are 30" scale - and at least on mine a full two octaves of frets (24).
Have you thought of a Uke bass? They have a very short scale (20” or so), very light, and I understand sound reasonable when played through and amp, and they aren’t that awfully expensive. I’ve only played one once with no amp and it didn’t impress me sound wise. I also found the strings pretty floppy.
That said, for noodling around on, considering I have enough amplification to cover the Hollywood Bowl, one of those would be my first choice. They had quite a few of them at my local Guitar Center.
I second this. I have one and it's brilliant. Super-light (I think about 6 lbs), sounds great, plays great, fit & finish are on par with much more expensive basses.
In the classifieds section, there are/were a couple of The Grand by Jake Serek, which are xcellent guitars. I have no affiliation with either of the vendors and I am just putting it out there.
Squier Vintage Modern Short Scale Jaguar...they are discontinued now but I see them for sale used a lot. They were pretty popular and were very nice basses!
If you come across an Epiphone Embassy, that might work for you, light and easy to play.
Last edited:
Beepaj, good luck with your search. Lots of good suggestions above, but I doubt you'll find too many of them in your local shops. By the way, several of the posts referred to a "P bass." If you are brand new to bass and don't know what that is, it's a reference to the Fender Precision bass (which is not short-scale). I don't have any other suggestions to pass along, beyond those already given. Best of luck and welcome to the bass world.
I'd just pick up an Ibanez Mikro. It's going to be as comfortable as any others, reasonably priced, usually easy to find and you have a few choices of colors if that matters to you.
I am in the same boat, arthritis has made me a bass player. I went through many short scale budget basses. The one I kept it the Ibanez TMB30. It just fits me, it plays well, sounds good, and not too ugly. 
I have a 34" as well, I just can't play it below the 5th fret, my reach is not there.
I have a 34" as well, I just can't play it below the 5th fret, my reach is not there.
Höfner would be a good option IMO. They're light and have a very thin neck, great if you're a guitarist.
They're also loud enough to play at home acoustically, which is nice. Put some flats on it and you'll never need to change the strings either.
If you want something a little more versatile, the Ibanez Mikro's are great for the money. Ibanez is all about ergonomics, so it should be comfortable for you.
They're also loud enough to play at home acoustically, which is nice. Put some flats on it and you'll never need to change the strings either.
If you want something a little more versatile, the Ibanez Mikro's are great for the money. Ibanez is all about ergonomics, so it should be comfortable for you.
D
