Baby-sized Hands - Short-scale bass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter whyseye
  • Start date Start date
whyseye

whyseye

Well-known member
OK.....I have hands the size of a very small child, but I really want to learn to play bass..... :o
I've been looking at short-scale and 3/4 scale basses; what is the difference? I read someplace that short-scale is tuned differently, but somebody else told me that wasn't true.....
.....surely I'm not the only tiny-handed wannabe (or player) - what would be your approach to getting an instrument small enough to get my chubby lil fingers around, that still plays like a real bass?
I don't actually care if the tuning is different - I just don't want to feel like quite such a clueless newb when I'm looking - I want to be able to ask quasi-intelligent questions.... :o :rolleyes: :confused:
 
That's not a weird question at all.

Ok, first off, the tuning is the same. You can ofcourse tune any bass differently if you use the right strings, but in essence, they are not designed for a different tuning.

Short scales can be excellent basses. The only real difference is the tention on the strings. Since they are shorter, they are tuned less tight, which feels and sounds a little bit different from a full scale. It's still a bass though. Try one out in a store and see you like them.

On a side note, I know fender sells a small size (smaller than short scale I think, but could be short scale) precision bass. I've heard and it sounded great. Might wanna check it out.
 
....yeah, that junior P-bass is beautiful - quite the object of lust..... :D
Good to hear that it's not just a toy!

......time to start saving my nickels and dimes..... :cool:
 
You might also check on the Cort Curbow. They smell, but a good bass.
 
....am still open to any other short-scale stories, experiences, or wisdom tidbits, however.... :D
 
whyseye said:
....am still open to any other short-scale stories, experiences, or wisdom tidbits, however.... :D
Click to expand...

Epiphone Viola, 30.5" scale, lightweight, looks groovy :cool: OK it's a Hofner copy, but a good one :o I love mine :)
 
mshilarious said:
Epiphone Viola, 30.5" scale, lightweight, looks groovy :cool: OK it's a Hofner copy, but a good one :o I love mine :)
Click to expand...

I have the musicians friend "rogue" version of that bass and after i changed the strings its a wonderful bass. it play and records AWESOME. i sold my USA P-Bass because i didnt need it anymore. im a big beatles fan so that helps too but it really is a great bass.
 
No real advice, Whyse, but good luck on your quest. If you have a store nearby, con't be afraid, and go in and try a few. That's what they are there for. Just don't necessarily take a salesmans word for gospel. See what feels good, and then come back here and ask these guys if they know anything about what you see.
 
mshilarious said:
Epiphone Viola, 30.5" scale, lightweight, looks groovy :cool: OK it's a Hofner copy, but a good one :o I love mine :)
Click to expand...
Only if I'm gonna play it vertically....which could happen.... :D
 
Actually Whyse, I bought my granddaughter an Ibanez short scale for Christmas. It is in my studio now, and I have been playing on it. I like it real well. My grandaughter has no problem with it.

Dog tells ya right, when he says to go in and try them on for size and feel. Buying a guitar is such a personal thing. Nothing worse than owning a guitar someone else likes, that you don't wanna play because you don't.

Good luck on your adventure! Man, what an adventure! Kinda wish I could go too!! :D :D :D
 
The Ibanez GAXB150 is a nice short scale bass.

........... ;)
 

Attachments

  • Ibanez_GAXB150_red.webp
    Ibanez_GAXB150_red.webp
    19 KB · Views: 98
Of course, you must do "what works for you," but having gone through similar problems I came to a different conclusion -- aside from whether or not short-scale basses actually have inferior sound, as many experts assert.

I'm a big guy who has somewhat stunted hands as a result of childhood illness.

Though they're not that small, they're not typical "bassist" hands. I dithered around about this smaller bass thing until I got to be around Tina Weymouth a bit years ago (well, OK, decades ago) when she was touring. She's a little one. She was playing a very wide-neck Precision nonetheless, and playing it well.

After that, I realized the problem was with me, not the bass. You adapt to the circumstances and move on.

My current main bass is a huge-neck '54 RI, and the #2 is a fat-necked MM. My small-neck basses, such as my '63 Thunderbird II, don't feel real to me.

[That said, I have loads of fun with my Ashbory, which I adore! :p ]

 
Thanks bongo!! :D
....yeah, I figured I'd wind up putting my own skewed adaptive technique on whatever I wind up playing, anyways....you should see me type! :rolleyes:
As an under-five-foot person in a grownup world, you just find ways to make it work, and make it your own, hopefully with a bit of creative style... :cool:
 
And, True - I think you beat me to exploring that trail.... :D
Thanks to you and Reel for more ideas to play with....
 
Whyse, don't be afraid to try a full sized model. It just might play ok. Give them all a fair shot. A good neck on a full sized model, will probably feel much nicer than a smaller neck, that isn't good. I tried a few that to me, were "sticky". The finish just was odd. My Godin has a smooth neck, and even though it's way wider than my 4 string cheapy, it plays much nicer.


Just a thought girl..... :D
 
short scale bass

I have a Gretsch short scale Les Paul shaped bass, and I never put this thing down. The shorter neck makes it a lot easier to get through bathroom doors so you can sit on the can and play.

I recorded it against a Washburn standard neck, and the Gretsch held up just fine!!

I am going to record with it today.

Dont forget to check the Gretsch out. Got mine at GC for I think like $190.00 or so.

clevodrummer
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top