Very Small Hands

[amandolin]

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Man, that left wrist looks awful. Maybe it's fine for her, but I'd be in hell.

My one bass is a short-scale SX. I just bought (and promptly returned) a long-scale SX Jazz. To play comfortably, I had to compromise technique and wrap my thumb around the bass side of the neck. Holding octaves without kinking my wrist meant throwing my left arm waaay out to the side -- it worked, but it was exhausting.

My shortie fits like a glove. The lowest register isn't half a mile away, and octaves are a breeze. I love this forum, it's full of great advice, but don't feel like you should have to play an uncomfortable bass because the Internet told you to.

If you can't try out any short-scale basses in town, you could always order one from Rondo Music and see if it works for you. They take returns for just about any reason, but if the bass isn't faulty you will have to pay for shipping.

EDIT: ahh nevermind, sounds like she wants a double bass?

 

[Lady_Mame]

Thanks for the advice on the short scale basses-- that's really helpful, and it appears to be just what I'm looking for, if I indeed go for a bass guitar as opposed to to a double bass. I'm not decided on which would provide more playing enjoyment in the long run for me, but at least I feel better armed to go out there and make some sort of decision.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Ibanez Mikro? Has a 28.6 inch scale and a mahogany body. supposedly doesn't sound half bad. And CHEEEP!

 

[realbadgroove]

Ok enough about short scale.... do you have really short arms too. if you have small hands I would go with something with close string spacing like 16mm heck maybe 15mm. Also getting your bass setup with low action will help also because your string tension will go down and thus will be easy to play.

 

[sedan_dad]

Here I go again ,waveing the Danelectro flag.
Short scale, very light, killer tone and inexpensive.( under $300 used)

 

[Slaine01]

Lakland 44-02 is extremely light and the necks are really easy to play - I've got a female friend of mine with small very hands who plays mine now and again and absolutely loves it.

 

[loopee]

Small hands may NOT be a reason even though Tal's hands are slightly bigger than mine, but, it's short fingers that really cause the problem with a 34" scale. No amount of stretching will allow me to span 4 frets, even in the uppper reaches of the neck. Hence, shortscales, and I love them because now I can actually play a bass.....without my hand and fingers killing me ..... Also, if you have small hands, you usually have short arms. Well, it's pretty hard to reach to 1st fret on a 34" scale, let alone reach the tuners. Within a few minutes of playing a long scale, I hurt everywhere....OK, I'm not a youngster anymore but I couldn't do it then either.....

Small hands are not necessarily a reason to go for a small scale bass. Assuming you do not suffer from dwarfism or some other affliction that cause you to have abnormally small hands, the secret to playing with smaller hands is correct technique.

Having your fingers and thumb in the C posture with your thumb in the middle of the neck and fingers parallel to the frets, you will be able to feel comfortable on the chunkiest P-bass after a while. Have a look at Tal Wilkenfeld playing her Sadowsky Jazz, are your hands smaller then hers?

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I assume your are talking about electric bass guitars. Shen is a Chinese maker of Double basses....