Thanks for all suggestions and info. I settled on a short scale Fender Japan '62Jazz bass. An eBay find, it is called JB62SS FOR "Smart size" Body and neck are 15% smaller than reg JB, while scale is 29.5" I'll review after it arrives and I get playing time. So I'm selling my 1983 MI...

See below

Wow, great reviews. And the car analogy works for me. I've actually heard lots of good things about the Gretsch Jets, both the one-and-two-pickup versions. I noodled around a bit on a Hofner Beatle bass a bit today. It was super light and had nice tone. Tuners seemed cheap. I also played a Squier Ja...

That's a cool bass. When will it be available? the new gary jarman cribs bass is 32" which is between fender's short (30") and full scale (34"), and the sleeker jazz bass style of neck with a narrower nut. quite like the look of it myself http://cdn.mos.musicradar.com/images/aaaroot/g...

I'm thinking about finding a 70s Musicmaster. My first guitar was a '59 Musicmaster. I took lessons from a Hopi Indian woman who had an awesome Surf band in California in the 1960s and owned a music store. Check out her music here: Devil Surf -Chiyo and the Crescents http://www.skwaller.com/cgcd/ban...

Thanks for all the info. One that I've seen a couple of times is a Fender P-Bass Jr. I'm at bit confused because some say short scale, others 'shorter than 30".' Are these student basses, or for kids? Anyone play one?

Thanks for the information. I've looked about for the B-30, but they seem rare. Lots more B-34s for sale. I've also noticed lots of 1970s-era Fender Musicmasters and then more recent "Squier" Musicmasters. How do these compare?

I am relatively new to this forum. I am a guitar player (blues, some fingerpicking) with small hands. For the occasions when I need a bass to play with my sons (who are much better than I ever will) I bought a 1983 Fender Squire Bullet Bass with 34" scale. It sounds great, and has the right ton...