5/8 size

[JamesSunney]

Good day all

This is my first post on this forum glad to be here to learn, and now my story.

i (stand 5.4ft) currently play a 3/4 size ply wood bass fairly old i think but no clue as to its origin. string length of about 41 and 3/4" and its killing me.

i have lowered the strings to nearly inaudible heights tried different gauges. but still my left hand and wrist are in pain.

mainly due to the fact that i had an accident as a teenager where my hand was " separated " from my forearm , ouch the wrist was never properly set in surgery but hey what can you do.

now i have been thinking a smaller size bass may help my problem. but i am worried about a few things.
1. will i sacrifice volume and tone with a smaller shorter scale.
2. will the string tension be to floppy.
3 and most important will i have to sell a kidney to afford a small bass of decent enough quality to survive the rigors of coffee shop trio gigs.

thank in advance for your advice
greetings from sunny South Africa