jimbartlett Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Hi guys, I'm starting to teach my eldest boy and wondered your thoughts on a decent Bass to buy him. I don't want anything too heavy but at the same time I still want a full size Bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) I started at 12 with an awful awful squier P bass... It had a tort guard that looked like jagerbomb vomit... If you're not sure if he'll stick with it, I'd get a cheap and cheerful Harley Benton P to start with, then if he decides bass is for him you can get something better depending on what he likes / dislikes about the P Edited February 23, 2016 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbartlett Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share Posted February 23, 2016 Good advice, thanks! He's got small hands so I might go down the Jazz route as the neck won't be as big for him. This looks good [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_75_sb_vintage_serie.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_75_sb_vintage_serie.htm[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 [quote name='jimbartlett' timestamp='1456236783' post='2986884'] Good advice, thanks! He's got small hands so I might go down the Jazz route as the neck won't be as big for him. This looks good [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_75_sb_vintage_serie.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...ntage_serie.htm[/url] [/quote] I had a deco version of that and it was an excellent bass in every way. Great fit and finish, Wilkinson pups and d'addario strings as standard. It's a hell of a lot of bass for £100. I think my deco one was about £40 if you're prepared to wait for one to come up and take the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Bought young master discreet a Harley Benton P Bass a while back and it's perfect for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luulox Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 The old japanese bass collection basses are nice and light and will do him for years. They are not a lot of money secondhand either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbartlett Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share Posted February 23, 2016 Thanks for all the replies guys. £100 (ish) and all those suggestions are great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 [quote name='Luulox' timestamp='1456242425' post='2986954'] The old japanese bass collection basses are nice and light and will do him for years. They are not a lot of money secondhand either. [/quote] Totally agree...I've got 3, they're keeping my Ritter, ACG and GB Rumour in their cases.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I'd go the "used" route and find a good Westfield, Gear4Music or Squier. You should be able to get something good for about £100. I'd keep clear of Encore as they're a bit weighty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Almost anything these days is good enough to learn on as long as it's comfortable and can be adjusted to suit My first bass (also at 12) was a Marlin Slammer complete with peeling chrome on the bridge and I plugged into a Squier 15w guitar combo via a yellow curly cable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 [quote name='Delberthot' timestamp='1456250562' post='2987112'] Almost anything these days is good enough to learn on as long as it's comfortable and can be adjusted to suit My first bass (also at 12) was a Marlin Slammer complete with peeling chrome on the bridge and I plugged into a Squier 15w guitar combo via a yellow curly cable [/quote] WOW! I would have dreamed of a Slammer! I was about 14 when I borrowed my first bass; a Vox Clubman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colgraff Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) Get him a Roscoe. Some of those are nice and light! I started with a dreadful Satellite short scale. Edited February 24, 2016 by colgraff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 [quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1456272182' post='2987377'] Get him a Roscoe. Some of those are nice and light! [/quote] Or a Dingwall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorsetBlue Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Bought my 15yo daughter a HB Shorty P Bass, as she was moving over from a guitar. She loves it and it has a really nice tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthaside Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) I think a full size Harley Benton Jazz would definitely be the order of the day . Or perhaps an Ibanez, which has more "metal Cred" If they are drifting towards that pointy "alternative " phase , I started with an Aria SB loaned off a neighbor about 11 Shame because that bass was far better than I deserved and there known for being a little shorter of neck . I strongly lusted after an explorer bass .. Took me growing up a bit before I realised that being able to play the thing really well is far cooler than stabbing at chords with the thing around your knee's and having corners that could take an eye out . Edited February 24, 2016 by synthaside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1456250126' post='2987103'] I'd keep clear of Encore as they're a bit weighty. [/quote] You have s different experience from me - bought my 12 yo lefty an LH Encore P bass to learn on - came with a practice amp strap and cable - he did learn to play and he still has it after 15 years - as back up to various other basses including a Stingray. Sounds like a Precision but I think the neck's more of a Jazz width and it's really light - mind you it's only us oldies who worry about bass weights I think. It was never a consideration for me in my youth!! Encore, Vintage etc etc all make great entry level basses and you can often get them in local shops so can try them out etc etc. Edited February 24, 2016 by drTStingray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 In fairness, the Encors I've had have been old ones with the truss rod adjustment at the heel end. Things change and I'm sure all manufacturers change their products all the time. TBH I don't think the OP can go far wrong with any bass that the lad likes the look and tone of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbartlett Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 Thanks guys, sound advice from everyone. I'll do my own setups so I'll get it playing nice for him if needed and stick a nice set of strings on for the little fella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbanbass Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 I first learnt on a peavey milestone 1 Jazz Bass which has a lovely skinny v neck. Great bass and that was when I was 9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Take him to a couple of big shops and see what he likes. The 'cooler' he thinks his new bass is the more he'll play it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 A Squier Jazz would be my recommendation, though have to admit the Harley Benton basses look to be pretty good, and probably cheaper new than a decent 2nd hand Squier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrene Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 My lad used a Squier Short scale Jaguar with P and J pickups. You can get them 2nd hand for around 120. Slim necks, robust, soumd good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 If he's 12 and with smallish hands, I'd go the short-scale route rather than full size. If image/cred is an issue, there's a few out there that don't look like toys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjos Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 My advise is don't buy him a starter bass. Buy your son a good quality instrument that sounds the dogs and if it costs a bit more he will pay you back a thousand fold when he spends hours doing something educational and useful with his time rather than playing a video game with a starter bass standing in the corner. Seriously, when I was a kid my family was skint. My uncle bought me and my two brothers a guitar each and two of us play to this day 35 years later because he gave us a good instrument. If its good enough for your to play its good enough for him. Wish you all the best starting your son out, invest in his potential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Ibanez SR all the way. Light as a feather, full-scale but skinny neck ideal for growing hands, properly well made with decent hardware, electronics & pups - easily good enough that there's no need to upgrade if he really gets into it. And they look cool. Pretty cheap used, you can pick up a nearly new SR300 for a little over a ton, or an older higher-range model for about the same. I recently got a rough but perfectly playable SR500 for £87. Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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