Getting used to a bigger neck?

There are quite a few Precisions with A necks, essentially a Jazz bass neck. Find one of those or slap a A neck on a Precision that you like. Maybe build a P? That wide 60's board isn't for me either.

 

IMHO if you wear your bass high and practice not really pushing on the back of the neck with your thumb, no neck is too thick, the hand size is not an important part of an equation. Of course, the same might be true for the opposite situation.

 

I think along these lines, when dealing with the playability of a four string bass it's more about effective hand positioning than it is about sheer hand size, within reason of course.

If your bass is at a height that encourages fingerboard access, and you do not wrap you hand around the neck. There no reason why you would find the p bass neck unplayable. Think about the physical relationship between you and your bass and try and make it easier for yourself to play.

 

I had a 50's reissue P bass that sounded great, but I couldn't hack the thick, rounded, 1.75 width. Some folks love it.

 

Learn proper technique. I’ve known two exceptional bass players with short stubby fingers who would blow you away on electric or upright.

 

I second this. I can't be sure of your limitations, but I would say that any person with healthy grip can easily adjust to any of series production bass guitars. Its just that some folk have very strong personal preferences.
I have played or play 4-5-6 stringers, short, long and 35" scale, flat or vintage fretboard, double bass and EUB. If you have decent technique, none of those is out of your reach.

 

1) Of course, I have to say it. Practice. You'll be fine. Victor Wooten has TINY hands. My fingers are literally almost an INCH longer than his. He can literally walk under my stretched out arm without having to duck much. (I attended his camp in 2000 and he did it while we were goofing off on opening day. And I'm 6'1", not ridiculously tall.) Steve Bailey is equally as short and has small hands too. And he can KILL on both upright and 6 string electric.

Lecture over...

2) This is the best time ever to be a bass player. Get yourself a P bass. If you can't stand the neck, get yourself a Jazz neck to put on it. Or get yourself any number of high-end P bass clones that come with J-style necks. There's no need to be miserable with so many choices out there.

Short version: Take a balanced approach. You "should" be able to navigate a regular P neck, even with small hands. But, if it doesn't go well, get a neck you can work with. There's just too much quality gear out there right now to stress over this.

 

My hands are on the smaller side. I don't own a P bass currently, but when i tried one at the music store i didn't find it *that* hard to adjust to it. As someone who only played with Soundgears for nearly two decades, i did find the neck considerably larger than that of my SRs yet definitely playable. Not so much for faster passages, but i guess that would come through practice & proper technique. And if there's something i can't quite explain, the bigger neck felt quite comfortable though in a different way than the necks of the SRs.

In any case, i wouldn't shop without trying one first, but there's always a return policy that you can take advantage of. Do check what the terms are, if you decide to order one.

 

You say small hands, I hear bad technique!
Go check Instagram, full of 7 years old kids with a fiver and they play very hard lines.

 

I kinda agree, people with small hands can play 6 strings or upright bass. Don't see issue with a pbass, but with that being said, there are many options for thinner necks, Just got to try them out.

 

Technique can help, but if you prefer a smaller neck maybe that's just your thing. I keep trying to bond with a 1.75 but if I'm honest with myself it's just a bit too wide for me. I'm an average size guy(5' 9") with average size hands and 1.625 is just home for me. No extra effort required to be comfortable, it just fits. Could I strive for perfect technique and use a 1.75? Probably but seems like common sense to just go with what works.

 

I can share my experience, I'd say I have average hands and fingers, not too big or small. I had only played a Deluxe Jazz Bass for the last 20 years! With its awesome comfortable neck. Lately I really wanted a Fender P and I could test at the local store the Am Professional, the Vintera and The AO. The professional's neck was a bit easier to play, but the sound and feel was nowhere near of the AO. And it was surprisingly easy for me to adapt, I went to the store a couple of times, and only the first the neck felt a bit weird; it is "wide" meaning tall, but the "depth" is very manageable. The second time I played it I was cool with it, now I'm loving it as I've ever loved any bass...

I am so happy with it, it's an awesome instrument, and in my case the difference in price with the Am Pro was little more than 200€, I didn't give it a second thought.

 

i prefer narrow, skinny necks. but i can play any of them. i think that's true of everyone: play 'em all, prefer what you like. also: p-basses don't get you studio work. chops get you the callbacks!

it's good to get what you want. it's better to play what you get. good luck with your hand size!


FWIW: you can build the 'perfect' ax, on a budget, from choice parts (your preferences!), shipped to your door, and all you need for assembly is a few common tools! if you can do your own setups = you're there!

 

+1

Watch anyone really good play a string bass and you'll realize that size doesn't matter - for basses anyway.

 

Don't most P/J basses have J necks?

Maybe that's just been my experience.
My squier P/J does.




T$

 

Same. I have average-sized hands and "can" play on fatter or wider necks, but I see no reason to do so when average-to-small necks are more comfortable for me. Life's too short to waste time on solving a problem that is not a problem.

Specific to the OP's question, when I decided that I wanted to have a p-bass, I built a parts bass out of a Fender body and a replacement jazz-style neck, and it works great for me.

 

There are some nice p's with j necks out there - G&L LB-100 comes with a j-sized neck option, AFAIR. It's so tedious when someone asks a legit question about gear, and people start yelling JUST PRACTICE MORE. Get something you feel comfy on and makes you play your best, and practice on that

 

Look for a MTD CRB. It is a Precision bass as far as electronics, etc. but has an asymmetrical neck, which makes a world of difference. Many people simply swap necks and use a Jazz neck with its slimmer profile.