Discussion
My son is 11 and plays guitar a lot, in addition to playing he is also keen to get a bit of a collection going.
Has a cheap starter electric guitar a cheap acoustic guitar and a better real wood acoustic.
Think for xmas he would like another so Im going between a better electric, an electro acoustic or a bass guitar
I'm really not a musician so excuse the terms i may use, anyway the question for other guitar players and musicians is a Bass guitar a good addition ?
Have got him a digitech jam man stereo looper so am thinking that the bass may allow him to layer up better songs ??
Has a cheap starter electric guitar a cheap acoustic guitar and a better real wood acoustic.
Think for xmas he would like another so Im going between a better electric, an electro acoustic or a bass guitar
I'm really not a musician so excuse the terms i may use, anyway the question for other guitar players and musicians is a Bass guitar a good addition ?
Have got him a digitech jam man stereo looper so am thinking that the bass may allow him to layer up better songs ??
What he needs now is a Marshall stack, preferably 200 watts but 50 would do!
Seriously though you should be looking at a short-scale bass with a slim neck, someone will post up a recommendation soon I'm sure. Don't forget it will need a proper bass amp as a guitar speaker won't last until Christmas lunch when used with a bass.
Buy from a shop that will set it up properly as well, this is important you don't want to put the lad off with something hard to play.
Seriously though you should be looking at a short-scale bass with a slim neck, someone will post up a recommendation soon I'm sure. Don't forget it will need a proper bass amp as a guitar speaker won't last until Christmas lunch when used with a bass.
Buy from a shop that will set it up properly as well, this is important you don't want to put the lad off with something hard to play.
Kev makes an incredibly valid point here.
We were in this very situation with my lad a few years ago, when we bought him the "Encore" starter kit. It was about £100 all in, and included everything, like an amp, gig bag, tuner, strap and a fairly decent bass guitar.
However...the action of the guitar was so bloody high it was all but unplayable, meaning he struggled with it for a long time. Once he got familiar with how to adjust everything he managed to lower it himself, but for someone starting out then I would absolutely either buy a kit from a music shop where as Kev says they'll check it over for you, or at least get it looked at.
We were in this very situation with my lad a few years ago, when we bought him the "Encore" starter kit. It was about £100 all in, and included everything, like an amp, gig bag, tuner, strap and a fairly decent bass guitar.
However...the action of the guitar was so bloody high it was all but unplayable, meaning he struggled with it for a long time. Once he got familiar with how to adjust everything he managed to lower it himself, but for someone starting out then I would absolutely either buy a kit from a music shop where as Kev says they'll check it over for you, or at least get it looked at.
I recently picked up a Squier P-bass starter kit from my local guitar store. List price is £279 but they did a bit better by haggling. Nicely set up and came with amp, lead, tuner, headphones and an instruction DVD.
Only thing I would caution is that even at 6'3 I find it a bit of a stretch to play compared to a regular guitar so your lad might struggle to reach the low end of the neck. Don't think the short scale basses come in a starter pack.
Only thing I would caution is that even at 6'3 I find it a bit of a stretch to play compared to a regular guitar so your lad might struggle to reach the low end of the neck. Don't think the short scale basses come in a starter pack.
You can get short, medium and of course long scale basses...
At 11 he'll outgrow a short scale within a year or 2.
I started playing bass at 9 (& 2/3) years old on a short scale, within a year went to a medium, but by 12yo had a long scale...
It'll probably be fine though a guitar amp initially, but a proper bass practice amp will definately survive longer..
Go to your local music shop and see what they have, chances are the short scale bass stock will be limited to 1 or 2. If he's a big lad for his age you may find a full scale may be ok, which opens up the choice hugely. As mentioned already, they will more likely sell you something set-up and have better recommendations, and have some after sales support if there's a problem (also supports small music stores, rather than box shifting internet sellers)...
At 11 he'll outgrow a short scale within a year or 2.
I started playing bass at 9 (& 2/3) years old on a short scale, within a year went to a medium, but by 12yo had a long scale...
It'll probably be fine though a guitar amp initially, but a proper bass practice amp will definately survive longer..
Go to your local music shop and see what they have, chances are the short scale bass stock will be limited to 1 or 2. If he's a big lad for his age you may find a full scale may be ok, which opens up the choice hugely. As mentioned already, they will more likely sell you something set-up and have better recommendations, and have some after sales support if there's a problem (also supports small music stores, rather than box shifting internet sellers)...
Out of interest, does he actually want a bass guitar? He has three (non) bass guitars, right? Does he want to play bass? (A different instrument to a guitar - which serves a very different purpose).
If he does then the advice above is fine. If he doesn't, I suggest you ask him what (non bass) guitar he'd like?
Just a thought.
ETA I mention this as some non musical folk seem to think a bass guitar is like a guitar but lower in pitch, and played in the same way... it's not.
If he does then the advice above is fine. If he doesn't, I suggest you ask him what (non bass) guitar he'd like?
Just a thought.
ETA I mention this as some non musical folk seem to think a bass guitar is like a guitar but lower in pitch, and played in the same way... it's not.
Its a Christmas present and as a family right or wrong we really do the whole surprise thing so cant really get too much info.
Hes very open to music playing in general and learns Guitar / Drums and self teachers keyboard.
He seems to like at the moment recording same songs with different tools and playing it all back together in garage band hence thinking a bass would be a good addition to that and very different from the rest he has.
we will see on Christmas morning I guess
Hes very open to music playing in general and learns Guitar / Drums and self teachers keyboard.
He seems to like at the moment recording same songs with different tools and playing it all back together in garage band hence thinking a bass would be a good addition to that and very different from the rest he has.
we will see on Christmas morning I guess
GetCarter said:
Out of interest, does he actually want a bass guitar? He has three (non) bass guitars, right? Does he want to play bass? (A different instrument to a guitar - which serves a very different purpose).
If he does then the advice above is fine. If he doesn't, I suggest you ask him what (non bass) guitar he'd like?
Just a thought.
ETA I mention this as some non musical folk seem to think a bass guitar is like a guitar but lower in pitch, and played in the same way... it's not.
If he does then the advice above is fine. If he doesn't, I suggest you ask him what (non bass) guitar he'd like?
Just a thought.
ETA I mention this as some non musical folk seem to think a bass guitar is like a guitar but lower in pitch, and played in the same way... it's not.
Good advise, Thanks, I would have had no idea, His guitar is full size if that has any impact.
It would be a small indi music shop we use
It would be a small indi music shop we use
chevy-stu said:
You can get short, medium and of course long scale basses...
At 11 he'll outgrow a short scale within a year or 2.
I started playing bass at 9 (& 2/3) years old on a short scale, within a year went to a medium, but by 12yo had a long scale...
It'll probably be fine though a guitar amp initially, but a proper bass practice amp will definately survive longer..
Go to your local music shop and see what they have, chances are the short scale bass stock will be limited to 1 or 2. If he's a big lad for his age you may find a full scale may be ok, which opens up the choice hugely. As mentioned already, they will more likely sell you something set-up and have better recommendations, and have some after sales support if there's a problem (also supports small music stores, rather than box shifting internet sellers)...
At 11 he'll outgrow a short scale within a year or 2.
I started playing bass at 9 (& 2/3) years old on a short scale, within a year went to a medium, but by 12yo had a long scale...
It'll probably be fine though a guitar amp initially, but a proper bass practice amp will definately survive longer..
Go to your local music shop and see what they have, chances are the short scale bass stock will be limited to 1 or 2. If he's a big lad for his age you may find a full scale may be ok, which opens up the choice hugely. As mentioned already, they will more likely sell you something set-up and have better recommendations, and have some after sales support if there's a problem (also supports small music stores, rather than box shifting internet sellers)...
GallardoOwner said:
Its a Christmas present and as a family right or wrong we really do the whole surprise thing so cant really get too much info.
Hes very open to music playing in general and learns Guitar / Drums and self teachers keyboard.
He seems to like at the moment recording same songs with different tools and playing it all back together in garage band hence thinking a bass would be a good addition to that and very different from the rest he has.
we will see on Christmas morning I guess
Fair enough... bass guitar is always good to help musicianship (Bass Gtr was my full time job for over a decade)Hes very open to music playing in general and learns Guitar / Drums and self teachers keyboard.
He seems to like at the moment recording same songs with different tools and playing it all back together in garage band hence thinking a bass would be a good addition to that and very different from the rest he has.
we will see on Christmas morning I guess
GetCarter said:
Out of interest, does he actually want a bass guitar? He has three (non) bass guitars, right? Does he want to play bass? (A different instrument to a guitar - which serves a very different purpose).
If he does then the advice above is fine. If he doesn't, I suggest you ask him what (non bass) guitar he'd like?
Just a thought.
ETA I mention this as some non musical folk seem to think a bass guitar is like a guitar but lower in pitch, and played in the same way... it's not.
If he does then the advice above is fine. If he doesn't, I suggest you ask him what (non bass) guitar he'd like?
Just a thought.
ETA I mention this as some non musical folk seem to think a bass guitar is like a guitar but lower in pitch, and played in the same way... it's not.
Good luck
I started playing bass on a Fender P-Bass rip that cost around £50 from my local guitar shop.
Once I got the hang of it I upgraded.
If you want to go straight in then Squier Precision bass/Jazz bass, Ibanez GSR200 or Yamaha RBX374 do starter packs.
Echo what is said above, I started at 12 on a full sized bass. But 3/4 length could be a good option.
Once I got the hang of it I upgraded.
If you want to go straight in then Squier Precision bass/Jazz bass, Ibanez GSR200 or Yamaha RBX374 do starter packs.
Echo what is said above, I started at 12 on a full sized bass. But 3/4 length could be a good option.
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