Hilarious. I'm the exact opposite--a bass player because I could never get the hang of playing guitar chords (small hands). I also can't play with a pick---all finger playing. 

Lot of information to go through. Thanks to all of you.
 
The Ibanez that Mesh mentioned is a good price and great reviews. Down side seems to be fret noise and may need better setup than shipped.
 
Was also toying with the idea of getting a set of strings for a 6 string bass and stringing a regular guitar. Would probably have to modify the nut and make some adjustments

You can adapt just fine, really.  I have short, fat fingers.  I mean, short and fat.  I don't have string instrument hands whatsoever.  And I didn't even think twice about a full size bass.  It's no trouble at all to just swap between bass and guitar, with all of their differences.  
 
 
 
 

It's probably as much in the mindset as lack of sustained practice. Got to get past the fatigue factor which I'm not making much progress with. Guess it goes back to sustained practice until I don't lose it after a minute and a half torture.

tlw
Gibson still make the EB0, only nowadays they call it the SG Bass.
http://www.gibson.com/products/electric-guitars/bass/gibson-usa/sg-standard-bass.aspx#disqus_thread
 
Also available in a "faded" finish (no top coat of clear lacquer) for less money.
 
Epiphone, Fender (and Squier), Ibanez, Gretsch, Hofner and others also make short scale basses.
 
Of course, a shorter scale does mean using heavier strings, or "standard" gauges with much less string tension.

I have an 2013 SG bass (still with the 3-post Babicz bridge; they switched to the full contact Babicz bridge in 2015) that I bought new and stupid cheap for $500 from Sweetwater. I also have a Fender repro of the '63 J bass. The SG is definitely easier to play, but it's got that famous neck mudbucker. And it is more sensitive to how it's played.
 
Some think the string tension on shorties is a bit mushy. It can be (you won't be playing extended 16th note runs), but you can bend the G string (NO pun intended) much easier than you can on a long scale.
 
I'm currently most interested in the new Supro Huntington as another shorty.
 
https://suprousa.com/guitars/huntington-bass/
 

That said, I'm going to have a really hard time buying anything other than a Dingwall D-Bird for my next bass. Saving up already. Perfect intonation. No neck dive. Great tonal range.
 
http://www.dingwallguitars.com/d-bird-standard
 

This is cool.
I got one concern about the pickup placement. Clueless jerk here because never played or heard one, so my thoughts with a grain of salt.
Not that it doesn't sound dynamite, but is it a one trick pony. On the positive side, all one maybe would ever need.
Pickups packed so close doesn't get the wider spectrum however. Like the downside of my Ibanez SDGR. Pickups too close to have options. Everything sounds about the same regardless of pickup balance.
 
Unlike a major disconnect with something like a Rickenbacker. Tight bridge placement with an artificial bass filter.  Way distanced neck pickup without a filter. Wider range of sounds.
 
John
 

Did someone say Rickenbacker......
 

 

For what is worth John, Bass is a different mind frame. I'm not of the belief that it's how you play it with your fingers. I can play with my fingers, but I prefer a very thick pick and have played that way for 16 years. To me, it's having an understanding of your role as the Bass player, having exceptional timing, locking into the drummer and laying down the groove to a song. You have incredible power in a band as to where you are taking the feeling and beat of a song.

It is not unusual for me to have another Bass player come up to me after live playing and ask me what amp I am using, want to check its tone settings and ask me how I am getting that tone. It's in the hands.

Mike,
Pix of the Rick sent chills. Carbon copy of the one I had and traded for something worthless a long time ago.
Right on about the timing thing. I got to overcome the laziness and slop that a guitar player has liberty to. Endurance and precision not easy to maintain for long periods. Also the tip on the pick is good. Trying to play both with fingers and a pick, but using the floppy nylon Van Halen guitar picks. A more rigid pick would probably lessen fatigue.
 
John