The 7 Bass Guitars For Small Hands in 2023

Very few companies have shaped the fabric of modern music like Fender has.

The guitar bears a simple yet iconic design dating back to the start of the last century. The guitar is unmistakable from afar, and its design reflects an era when rebellious music was at its peak. The visual aesthetics of the guitar have stood the test of time.

With great attention to detail, this Fender guitar’s vintage exterior hosts a realm of features that feel very futuristic. The guitar’s body is constructed of alder, a wood known for balanced tonal qualities.

Key Features:

Hardware
This Fender bass guitar incorporates a unique short-scale design, smaller than the average traditional bass guitar. The instrument has a more accessible neck. The “C”-shaped neck is constructed of maple, and its design profile makes it easy to grip and navigate. The shorter gap between frets assists intricate fingerstyle techniques and chord changes. The smaller neck and scale of the guitar make it very comfortable to hold. The combination of the guitar’s fingerboard design and neck profile boosts the player’s learning and overall ability.
Build Quality & Finish
The guitar features a robust build quality. The body is constructed from alder, a tonewood attributed to the guitar’s character and sound. Alder is also famous for the balanced tonal properties it brings to the guitar, with rich lows, mids, and highs. The tonewood establishes the perfect balance between brightness and warmth. The shorter body shape is iconic and, coupled with the vintage finish, gives a sense of nostalgia. The guitar’s state-of-the-art construction ensures comfort and durability.
Range & Precision
Versatility has played a significant role in the guitar’s popularity. This means the bass guitar can transcend genre boundaries, allowing players to explore various playing styles. The guitar allows targeted tonal adjustments, and this level of customization ensures players may alter the instrument to fit their specific musical needs.

Pros:

The guitar’s pickup configuration encourages a wide array of tonal possibilities. This makes it suitable for several musical genres. The guitar’s vintage design makes it stand out from the crowd. The design also adds comfort and prolongs playability.

Cons:

Some musicians prefer the regular guitar’s length, which allows for greater string tension and tonal characteristics. The short-scale design also takes time to get used to, and it simply isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. For some playing styles, the bass can’t match the tonal range of regular-sized guitars.

2. Gibson SG Standard

Perhaps one of the most iconic guitars from the Gibson catalog, the Gibson SG is a beast.

With its double cutaway devil horns and the contrasting red and back color combination, the SG’s shape is ageless. Electric guitar players may remember headbanging to some jaw-dropping guitar riffs from Angus Young’s Gibson SG.

The SG Bass is just as capable and well-balanced to become the preferred axe for the modern bass players of today. Contrary to most Gibson Les Pauls, the SG variant has a thinner/flatter body and is much lighter and more comfortable to play.

Key Features:

Smaller Size
This particular bass guitar is more suited for younger players or musicians with smaller hands because it also has a shorter scale length. The 30.5-inch scale and the medium jumbo-sized frets make hitting the correct notes a breeze without much of a stretch for the fingers. Combine that with the 12-inch neck radius, and you have a rocking machine that’s easy on the hands and lets you jam effortlessly for hours.
The Neck
The rounded mahogany neck on the SG bass allows you to glide your hands seamlessly as you play those intricate bass runs. The fingerboard is made of rosewood and is adorned with acrylic trapezoid inlays commonly seen on most Gibson and Epiphone instruments. The 20 nicely sized medium jumbo frets are enough to help you express yourself in every way.
The Hardware
Being a higher-end instrument, you can expect some premium features on the SG bass, like a GraphTech nut. Not only does the material provide improved tuning stability and string spacing, but it is also great for the added sustain. You’ll also experience a lesser chance of string breakage because of the reduced friction. The nut has a width of 1.5 inches. The strap buttons are placed slightly differently on the SG guitar. Apart from the conventional placement at the base of the guitar, the other strap button is placed where the neck connects to the body.
Headstock & Strings
The trademark “open book” Gibson headstock is fitted with four Grover tuners. A name synonymous with stability and quality. The headstock also features the infamous bell-shaped cover that can be removed to gain access to the truss rod. In addition, the SG bass comes with 0.045 – 0.105 Gibson strings set over a 3-point adjustable bridge.
The Body
Speaking of the body construction, the SG bass is made of mahogany. The Heritage Cherry coloration combined with the black pickguard makes you feel like a rock star when you pick this axe up. For a more vintage sound and feel, the Gibson has gone for a nitrocellulose lacquer finish on the instrument, which is much thinner than the polyurethane option. The SG is also carved to perfection with delicate contours and curves to enhance playability.
Electronics
The bass delivers its versatile tones through the two SG Bass Humbuckers installed in the body cavity. The Lead SG Bass Humbucker in the bridge position is much sleeker, while the one placed near the neck looks more like a conventional humbucker. To shape your sound, you get two master volumes and a single-tone control. Finally, as with SG guitars, the output jack is placed directly on the body.

Pros:

The smaller scale length and thinner body keep the weight off your shoulders to prevent fatigue. The pickups can dish out an impressive mid-range, depth, and even brightness when needed. All in all, it is a great choice for most rock-based genres.

Cons:

With its vintage tones and affordability, what’s not to like about the SG bass? Perhaps the only deal breaker for some may be the placement of the output jack that causes the cable to get in the way during aggressive performance. However, it’s nothing that an angled jack can’t fix.

3. Ibanez miKro GSRM20

Formerly known as Hoshino Gakki, Ibanez has been around since the 1950s.

However, it was not until the late 60s that the brand ventured into the world of bass guitar production. The brand is known for producing quality instruments that sound great and look phenomenal. Ask Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, and they’ll endorse that fact in a hurry.

Some of the more notable bassists who prefer the Ibanez bass guitar include John Myung from Dream Theater, Fieldy from Korn, and Robert Trujillo from Metallica, among others. The miKro GSRM20 is another great example of why Ibanez basses are so popular worldwide.

Key Features:

Color & Finish
You’ll surely find a color that suits your personality and style regardless of your preference. Not only does the miKro GSRM20 come in gloss and satin polyurethane finishes, but you can also choose from a myriad of color options, including Walnut Flat, Root Beer Metallic, Pearl White, Black, Brown Sunburst, Transparent Red, and Weathered Black.
Why The Name?
Seasoned musicians will quickly notice that this instrument doesn’t quite size up when put next to a regular-sized bass guitar. That’s simply because of the 28.6-inch scale length, which is also why the GSRM20 has made it to the top of this list. While it has other advantages, the shorter scale is ideal for people with small hands. Other benefits include portability and weight relief. The lesser neck reduces the weight compared to the standard-sized bass and makes it easy to carry the miKro bass.
Choice of Tonewood?
No matter which finishes you fancy, the body is made of poplar and has a double cutaway design to enable access down to the last fret. Speaking of frets, you’ll find as many as 22 frets on the GSRM20, all hosted on a jotoba fingerboard combined with a maple neck. Even though the scale length is much smaller, the medium-sized frets are easy on the hand, and the white dot inlays make navigation a cinch.
Neck Characteristics
Being a more budget family, the bass guitar comes fitted with a plastic nut with a width of 1.496 inches. As you dig deep into the specs of the neck, you’ll notice that the 12-inch radius is great for smaller hands as the strings seem adequately spaced, and the medium frets make it easy to hit nearby notes. Moving over to the headstock, you’ll find four die-cast tuners that do a decent job keeping the instrument in tune.
Bridge & Strings
The 0.045 – 0.105 strings the miKro bass comes installed with are threaded through Ibanez’s B1o fixed bridge. Much like the tuners, all the hardware on the instrument is black, including the pickups and the controls.
Electronics
The GSRM20 has a Dynamic J Single Coil pickup for the bridge position and a Dynamic P Split Single Coil pickup for the neck. The bass is designed so that each pickup gets a dedicated volume control. There’s also a universal tone knob to further shape your sound.

Pros:

Firstly, for what it offers, the instrument is extremely affordable. The pickup combination is great for achieving a plethora of sounds, and the color choices are immense. The smaller scale length makes it easier to play, more lightweight, and extra compact.

Cons:

Getting a smaller bass with a smaller scale means you may lose some of the resonance otherwise associated with full-sized instruments. Also, the pickups lack adequate low-end response for heavier genres and struggle to deliver depth and girth when used with distortion.

4. Epiphone SG EB-0

The EB-0 is a slightly stripped-down version of the Gibson SG bass.

However, at a glance, they look pretty much identical. The great thing about this offering from Epiphone is its immensely affordable price tag. You can get the EB-0 at a fraction of the price compared to the Gibson version.

The original EB-0 model by Gibson was the weapon of choice for many famous names, including Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones, Mike Dirnt of Green Day, and even Paul McCartney. The Epiphone model pays homage to its predecessor through its vintage tone and classic looks.

Key Features:

The Body
You can’t go wrong with the aged cherry finish under the black pickguard, both hallmarks of the SG-shaped instrument. In addition, the gloss polyurethane finish looks amazing under stage lights. The double cutaway design provides easy access to the last frets. The body is made from mahogany, giving the SG EB-0 a warm sound.
The Neck
This impressive bass guitar features a bolt-on mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard. On closer inspection, you’ll notice that the neck has a SlimTaper D profile, which is easier on the hands because of its narrower feel. The shape offers a decent anchor point for the thumb, reducing fatigue and effort. The 12-inch radius is another aspect of the neck suitable for players with smaller hands. The 20 medium jumbo frets have white pearloid dot inlays, which get the job done, although they aren’t as fancy-looking as the trapezoid ones.
Scale Length & Nut
The Epiphone SG EB-0 has much to offer if you’re one of those players with smaller hands. Apart from the neck profile and radius, the bass also offers a shorter scale length, measuring just 30.5 inches, making the instrument all the more manageable to play. In place where the neck meets the fretboard is a Graph Tech Nu Bone nut measuring 1.5 inches. The self-lubricating nature of the nut helps the strings glide over it easily without losing tuning stability, even during the most aggressive string bends.
Headstock & Hardware
A pair of Nickel tuners are found on either side of the headstock that maintains tuning well. The truss rod cover has the classic “E” Epiphone logo on it and with three screws that hold it in place. The four 0.045 – 0.105 bass strings are threaded through an adjustable bridge that offers individual saddles for obtaining flawless intonation.
Electronics & Controls
Why is the Epiphone SG EB-0 a stripped-down version of the Gibson SG bass discussed earlier? Well, for starters, it has just one pickup. A Sidewinder Humbucker, to be exact, placed in the neck position. The solitary pickup can be controlled by a single master volume control and a tone knob for sound shaping. Depending on where the tone control is set, you can dull down or make the EB-0 sound brighter.

Pros:

This smaller-scale bass is simple but effective. The SlimTaper D profile facilitates players with shorter hands, as does the user-friendly 12-inch radius. The smaller scale length means that your hands need to stretch much. All this in such an affordable instrument is unheard of.

Cons:

Because of its limited electronics, one cannot experiment too much with the onboard controls. A single pickup, one volume, and one tone while can be great for some genres; there isn’t much tonal variety you can get from just the instrument itself.

5. Yamaha TRBX174EW

The TRBX147EW embodies a harmonious convergence of aesthetic allure, craftsmanship, and versatile sound.

This Yamaha offering features a stunning exotic wood finish that easily makes it stand out. The guitar’s allure is aided further by the exquisite design. The company has built this instrument like a tank. You won’t find a more solid-feeling guitar anywhere else.

The warmth and richness of the materials used in its construction, the resonance it produces, the crispness in sound, and the ergonomic yet artistic design all combine to make this guitar a force to be reckoned with.

Key Features:

Exotic Finish
Not only does the guitar’s finish significantly add to its appearance, but it also assists the sound produced. It serves as a reflection of Yamaha’s commitment to craftsmanship and artistry. The tone-woods used in the guitar’s construction make it stand out from other guitars, and the guitar’s appearance can serve as a real conversation starter.
Solid Build Quality
Yamaha has always maintained a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship, and this guitar is a testament to the brand’s commitment. The guitar is solid. Each element of the instrument has been meticulously put together, keeping durability, playability, and structural integrity in mind. The construction ensures that the guitar will easily withstand rigorous performances and the test of time. The premium construction will also enrich the playing experience.
Versatile Electronics
This guitar by Yamaha hosts a ceramic split single-coil neck pickup and a ceramic single-coil bridge pickup. Ceramic magnets produce a focused magnetic field. This field, in turn, captures vibrations from the strings. Single-coil pickups possess the ability to create prominent, articulate sound. The single-coil pickup near the guitar’s bridge adds significantly more to the percussive sound than the neck pickup. The bridge pickup also enhances treble frequencies.
Passive Electronics
The guitar possesses a tonal character that’s organic, warm, and rich, owing much to the tone produced by the passive pickups. The passive design inherits from the qualities of the tone-wood used in the guitar’s construction, and as a result, the sound is rich, resonant, and full-bodied. Passive pickups are also famous for vibrant responsiveness, so you’ll get an instant reaction to changes in strumming intensity. Passive pickups are simpler in design, so you’ll get increased reliability and won’t have to focus as much on maintenance as you would with active pickups. Passive pickups don’t need batteries to function either, so their use is pretty simple and free of hassle. These pickups are also famous for their character and vintage charm.

Pros:

The wood finish is very exotic and gives the guitar an impressive look. The active electronics offer an array of diverse tones, ideal for various musical styles. This well-constructed guitar is very comfortable to hold.

Cons:

The guitar is available mainly in wood finish colors. These may appeal to some but not so much to others. You’ll only get a basic gig bag that won’t offer much protection. The guitar has much going its way, but more experienced players may want more advanced electronics instead.

6. Sterling By Music Man StingRay RAY4

This guitar is remarkable as it offers many features at a fraction of the price of other guitars.

With this guitar, it’s clear that the brand’s focus was on combining excellence with accessibility. The design has been influenced heavily by Music Man’s iconic StingRay bass, and the guitar truly lives up to the high expectations.

It’s been crafted meticulously from a solid hardwood body that enhances resonance for each note, significantly increasing the depth of the instrument’s tonal palette. The guitar’s active electronics and humbucking passive pickups introduce a wide array of playing possibilities.

Key Features:

Scale Length & Neck Radius
Although the guitar is standard-sized, its neck radius measures just 9.5 inches, making it surprisingly comfortable to hold and just as easy to play, especially for people with smaller hands. Comfort in playability, string tension, and the guitar’s tonal characteristics make it an ideal match for beginners and seasoned players.
Design & Build Quality
Inspired and built as a homage to the original StingRay, this guitar shares the design and aesthetic appeal. The instrument is meticulously crafted with an eye for precision. The well-constructed hardwood body is very durable and shapes the device’s resonance perfectly. This guitar’s tonal character adds presence and depth to the guitar’s sound. The ergonomic design allows ease and comfort of use.
Hardware
This StingRay guitar’s hardware comprises several meticulously selected components put together perfectly as a testament to the brand’s commitment to detail, precision, and craftsmanship. The bridge serves as an integral component for sustain and intonation. It provides accuracy in tuning throughout the fretboard, improving consistency, clarity, and the overall playing experience. The neck is made of maple and is secured to the body with a six-bolt joint. The tuners also play a vital role as they do a fantastic job of maintaining stability in tuning.
Active 2-Band EQ System
The guitar’s active 2-band EQ system is one of its key components. Although the humbucker pickup is passive and not active, the EQ 2-Band system is active. This introduces impressive tone-shaping precision. The EQ segment hosts treble and bass controls, which may be used to cut or boost frequencies, adding a realm of customizable options. This versatility allows the player to tailor the guitar as per requirement. This feature will be especially useful if you transition between genres and playing styles frequently.

Pros:

The guitar brings much value for money with a highly affordable price tag. You’ll also get a premium playing experience that can match several more expensive bass guitar models. It’s simple to use, and the design makes this instrument ideal for beginners and adults with smaller hands.

Cons:

Although the guitar has a lot going for it, the solid hardwood material used to construct the body adds some weight to the guitar. The guitar is heavier than most guitars that follow a similar form factor. This may be a point to consider for players who are used to longer playing sessions.

7. Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet Bass II

Here’s another great guitar to try out if you’re a player with smaller hands.

Since its inception in 1883, Gretsch has come a long way. The company started as a drums and banjo manufacturer, and it wasn’t until the 1930s that it produced its first guitar. However, things have shifted to a higher gear now that Fender has acquired the company.

The Gretsch product line includes exceptional instruments well-suited for genres like jazz, rockabilly, blues, rock, and country. The brand caters to the needs of musicians from all skill levels and delivers affordable, high-quality instruments.

Key Features:

Scale Length & Neck
The smaller Junior Jet Bass II has a scale length of 30.3 inches, which helps players with smaller hands adapt easily. Another plus point of the bass is its neck, which has a 12-inch radius, allowing comfort to younger players. The 20 medium jumbo frets are spread over a walnut fingerboard combined with a maple neck. For quick reference, the frets are marked with white pearloid inlays.
Body, Color & Finish
The G2220 Jet Bass comes in a gloss finish and offers four color options: Shell Pink, Tobacco Sunburst, Imperial Satin, and Walnut Satin. The instrument is shaped like a Les Paul with a single cutaway design, but Gretsch has added subtle differences to make the shape their own. In addition, the body is made of basswood and has a black pickguard with the “Gretsch” logo on it.
Hardware
Four die-cast tuners and a cover that conceals the truss rod are featured on the headstock. The bass comes fitted with nickel-plated steel strings (0.045 – 0.105) and an adjustable bridge that has four individual saddles for intonation correction. Also, at the top end of the neck is a synthetic bone nut with a width of 1.56 inches.
Pickups & Mechanics
You’ll find two mini bass single coil pickups on the Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet Bass II. The bass has a single volume and tone control to provide more control over what the electronics sound like. There’s also a three-way selector switch that can combine both pickups or activate each separately.

Pros:

If you want to break the barriers of conventionality, the Gretsch Junior Jet II looks unique and sounds impressive. This affordable bass has a much smaller scale length, and the 12-inch radius makes it even more comfortable to play.

Cons:

Two single-coil pickups with limit controls are all you get on this modest instrument. You may need to look elsewhere if you’re looking for some active pickup wizardry or humbuckers for more low-end projection. Other slightly more pricey Gretsch basses truly shine in this regard.

Bonus

1. Höfner Ignition

Perhaps the most unique-looking bass on today’s list is the Hofner Ignition SE.

Made famous by Paul McCartney of the Beatles, the Hofner Violin bass is stunning and will surely turn heads when you’re on stage with one of these bad boys in your hands. Hofner basses can be worth thousands of dollars, but the ignition series is quite affordable.

Even though the price tag is negligible, the Ignition series violin bass does a phenomenal job of getting you to sound remarkably close to the more expensive versions. The build quality is great, the sound is exceptional, and the aesthetics speak for themselves.

Key Features:

The Body
Perhaps the most eye-catching feature of the bass is its shape. The Hofner Ignition has a violin-shaped presence with a top made of spruce, while the back and sides are constructed with flamed maple. The bass’s white pickguard truly stands out over the beautiful sunburst finish. An unusual attribute of the Hofner Ignition bass is its hollow body, which provides substantial weight relief and helps the guitar resonate more.
The Neck
On this violin bass is a one-piece maple neck incorporated with a jatoba fretboard. The fretboard supports 22 frets, which are easily accessible down to the end of the neck, thanks to the rounded shoulders on this instrument. The frets are perfectly sized to complement the shorter 30-inch scale length, making it easier to play without stretching your fingers too much. The “C” shaped neck profile is also a great addition for people with smaller hands.
Hardware
Right at the top of the neck, the Hofner headstock supports four pearloid plastic tuners that go well with the white pickguard. The bridge is delicately carved out of wood and has fully adjustable metal saddles for setting the instrument’s intonation. The strings are placed over the bridge with a trapeze metal tailpiece.
The Pickups
The violin bass is loaded with 2 vintage “Hofner Ignition Staple” pickups that deliver awe-inspiring smooth highs for slap-style playing and warm lows for deeply subtle bass runs. To control the electronics, Hofner violin basses have always been seen with an intricate control panel that steers clear of the more conventional blade switch pickup selector mechanism.
The Control Panel
On this panel are two original teacup potentiometer knobs which serve as volume controls for each pickup, but that’s not all. Between the pair of knobs, three switches can be found. The solo/rhythm switch boosts the signal in “solo” mode, while the “rhythm” setting attenuates the signal. The other two switches are labeled “Treble on” and “Bass on.” When the “Treble” switch is on, it turns off the bass or neck pickup. Conversely, the bridge pickup is switched off when the “Bass” switch is active.

Pros:

This particular version of the iconic violin bass from Hofner delivers premium aesthetics, vintage vibes, and all the tonal goodness that Hofner basses are known and loved for. The hollow body resonates like crazy and provides a very comfortable playing experience.

Cons:

While the shorter scale length has its advantages, the increased string tension can be troublesome for some players. Also, since Hofner is going for a more vintage tonal outcome with its violin bass, it may fall short for some modern genres like rock and metal.

2. Squier Sonic Bronco