Just started play bass and practicing with a band. I have a normal scale Ibanez but I feel like the 34 scale length is too big for my small hands.
I have pretty flexible finger and can make long stretches but I have limitation and I want to cause strain too my finger. I recently found out about medium scale length basses (32" length) but there are limited options so I was wondering if they are even worth it or should i go for a short scale (30" length) bass?
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There are many here who play short scale basses. Historically, there have been stars who played/play shorties because they’re easier to play than long scale or because of their inherent tone. Short scales have a thumpy character to their tone as they don’t have the overtones of longer scale basses.
I started playing bass on shorties (three, in fact). They’re overall lighter and easier fretting than longer scales.
That said, I switched to long scale years ago as I prefer their tone, but that’s just me. Try out some shorties and see how they fit you. 
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Here’s Josh’s take about “small hands”…
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What kind of physical limitations? If you are new to bass it takes sometime to get settled into.
It is your money and your decision at the end of the day but this is something I learn. You can scale down to 30” from 34” and all of your skills will transfer with it but not the other way around. Starting with short scale and when you are ready to move up you have to relearn your touch before you can utilize your tool bag.
Here’s a 23” scale. Kala solid body Ubass in action.
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I bought a Gibson SG shorty after I injured my left shoulder falling on ice and found that the reach to the first fret was a little uncomfortable. I now have about 15 shorties, including 3 fretless. I just got used to the 30" scale. There’s a ton of choice in basses and strings.
Not so for 32" medium scale. Limited choices. I tried an inexpensive 32" Ibanez. I hated it. Active only. No passive option. HORRIBLE preamp. Super touchy. Never sounded good to me, no matter how I configured the tone controls. Sold.
If you can afford around $525-$550, look for a Sire U5 (I have both the fretted and fretless versions). Great short scale bass for the money. Punches way above its cost. I had to wait for both after ordering, but worth it.
Here’s a review from Low End Lobster.
Here are mine.
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Hmmm, not necessarily “lighter”. My long scale is, like @michael585360, an Ibanez, my short scale is a Sterling MusicMan, which (slight exaggeration?) is (seemingly) twice the weight. But that’s just the wood.
My recommendation, if you can financially, get a short (or medium) scale and KEEP your Long scale. I love having the option.
Over time, as you get better if you find yourself avoiding one, then you found your preference and can trade/sell the other.
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I also have small hands/fingers and some dexterity issues so I went with short scale bass guitars from the start. Started with a Blackstar Carry on travel bass which is ultra short just to do initial learning. I still use it. Then got the 30" Ibanez TMB30 Talman which I really like but now find really heavy and difficult to reach. I plan to sell it. So my go to bass is now a 28.6" Ibanez GSRM20B GIO miKro which I also really like. For nostalgia reasons I also got a Hofner violin bass but find reach difficult and use it occasionally.
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Short scales can be fun, and as @MikeC said, they sound different to a long scale. I have an Ibanez EHB1000S, the S stands for short scale. It’s a great bass and you can really throw it around in a way that you can’t with a long scale … as in with a shortie, you are less likely to hit something or someone with the headstock! To be fair, you can’t hit anyone with the Ibanez headstock, it doesn’t have one 
I move between the Ibanez and my long scale basses with easy - no adjustment time required - but then I started on a long scale.
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I’ve owned four short scale basses, each a different brand. One is a Sterling Ray short scale.
Each one of these basses has been lighter than any of my long scales. YMMV
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Recently got myself a Kala Solid body U Bass and I am very impressed with it. Though it doesn’t have as much sustain. We move seaonally, so that will be easier to travel with. The rest of the time I use a Squier Jaguar (32 inch scale).
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I went full mod on it and it sounds so awesome. The problem is with the strings. You can’t really use the regular string even the Kala version on such a small scale. I use Dogal, it’s pricy but it sounds just like another full scale bass string and that’s a feast.
Here’s one installed on my custom 23" 5 string.
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I prefer my basses to be about this long at a minimum
Thats the Fender Compensator. It was a legendary but commercially disastrous model.
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Might seem hard to play at first glance, but try with a little compression.
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I’m 4’11" with hyper flexibility in my joints and bad discs in my back to add my experiences with this.
When I started playing last fall I purchased a cheap secondhand Ibanez Mikro thinking that would be the best option and then a couple days later was given a free Ibanez Soundgear Gio jazz of unknown make. I suspect originally it was a Cort made 2011 GSR320 but it was made of spare parts, multiple paint jobs, and I’ve since done some modding of my own. Initially the 28.6" Mikro felt easier to play but after about a month I found myself consistently reaching for the 34" Gio. Something about the neck just feel right. It’s a good place to be if that makes sense? I barely ever picked up the Mikro to the point when an unexpected bill came up I ended up selling the Mikro even though I quite liked it.
I’ve since tried out a ton of different basses of different scales, brands, models, styles, both vintage and new. Fallen in love with more than a few but ultimately I keep coming back to my long scale as what feels right for me if I’m only going to have one bass.
Is it always easy playing a heavy long scale? Oh god no. Octaves low on the neck are my current struggle. BUT even with needing to microshift more and working on my fret hand flexibility and strength I look forward every day to getting some practice time in. I made myself a really nice foam padded strap that has prevented any back issues.
So is getting a medium scale the right choice? Hard to say. I know that I love playing a long scale even with the challenges it poses. Try out a bunch see what feels like home. Ultimately the bass that makes you want to play every day is the one that’s worth it.
Photos attached to for scale (har har har)
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I just bumped into another bass player at our gig. He completed my bass and we talked a bit. He was playing short scale exclusively, since he has ligament problems in his finger and also a bum shoulder. Short scale saved his life, he said.
Personally I love the full scale, despite not having overly big hands, but it’s not proven much of a problem as I can still do one finger per fret. But if my left shoulder becomes as bad as my right, I’d probably go for a short scale as well.
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What @Al1885 said is spot on. I started on a 32” scale and moved to a 34” and it took weeks of retraining my muscle memory to adjust.
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This does not compute!!
Wait til you try the 35" scale, it’s so much fun to play. The Red Modulus Quantum 5 is a 35" scale.
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Nice ladybug you have there in the background 
lmao in a picture of a next-level Modulus of COURSE I spot the cult classic Yamaha.
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lol well there’s what I “want” and what I can “afford” and “have room for”
also it’s a good thing that the Guitar Center I’m gonna be at in a couple hours (just to kill time and wait out traffic 
) does not have any of those used in stock cuz holy crap that neck is beautiful
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