travel bass

Maybe a short scale SX from Rondo or a Ministar Basstar?

 

How about an Ashbory bass? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashbory_bass

 

if your not specifically looking for a headless, try the Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro. Overall length is approximately 39 1/2 inches. It has a 28.6" scale length. I have the specifically made travel bag with mine and my Fender Jaguar GUITAR can't even come close to fitting in it. It may not be the most compact, but you won't sacrifice the ability to play it sitting, and it definately is worth the money in terms of build and sound quality.

EDIT: I wonder how well that Ashbory bass balances. I have a Martin Backpacker travel guitar which doesn't exactly get used as often as it should because it has massive neck dive and can only be played with a strap.

 

How about an Aria Sinsonido? Full scale length, weighs a couple of pounds. I play a P Bass but whenever I get out the Sinsonido the people around (the band or audience) immediately take an interest, and I wonder why I don't use it as my main bass.

 

Fernandes Nomad

 

+1 to SX short scale - and you wont have to spend much either

 

There's a strap position mode for the Ashbory to make it hang on its own. But given it's so light, in the year plus I've had mine I haven't found it to be an issue. The key with them is to get a NEW one - not an old one as the newest ones have a much better temperment and are much more usable. You have to remember to detune the bass before you put it away though or you will break strings in the gigbag...

I highly recommend them... Between my MTD and the Ashbory I can handle a lot of stuff... The Ashbory comes out mainly when an upright bass sound is needed... At the behest of the upright players in the audience (they have a distinct disdain for it)...

 

SX Short Scale!!!!!

 

I'd look for a headless such as a Steinberger or a knockoff. I've got a Westone Quantum and it's great. Compared to a short scale SX for example, my Westone is 4" shorter AND the scale length is 2" longer. Personally I have trouble playing 30" or shorter scale basses as I constantly overshoot my fingerings but the 32" scale is much closer to my standard 34".

 

I recently saw a Squier Mini Strat at GC for $99. It was so cute. Why don't they make a P-bass version?!?!?

(John Entwistle had two in his collection, so Fender used to make them.)