kid got my project bass

[Lee H]

my 11 year old decided that she was playing bass in the school band next year. Now I have to get her a bass...

Normally I would just take her to the pawn shop, and a music store, and let her pick one out...But NO.she wants my project J bass..

I was building a backup gig bass, for when I play less then ideal gigs. It is a fender jazz body, with a warmoth neck. I had taken a router to the body and rounded out the edges (shaving weight), and took a little more off the top, so it was not digging onto my ribs when I sit on a stool. Headstock still retains the fender shape, but it was sanded just a little smaller, and lightweight tuners were installed. I had a used set of Dimarzio ultra jazz pups, and I bought the passive/active electronics for a new (2011) Fender American Standard Deluxe (chrome stacked knobs were extra). I even dug up an old Wilkinson USA bridge so string spacing was adjustable (I like the strings close and tight)...

I had both the body and the headstock painted in automotive satin black and I was using all chrome accessories and pickguard...Now it seems I may be sanding that perfect black finish off... I even had an old Rat Fink decal that was going to be on the pickguard (I do a lot of motorcycle and hot rod shows)...

I still think it would be easier to pick her up a squire, then to let her have this, and try to build myself a new one

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Pick her up a cheap one.

At 11, who is to know how long she'll keep interested

You could pick up a mini-project, just a cheap bass and maybe do a little work on it, so father and daughter can spend some time doing a little work on it. Maybe make her appreciate it that bit more and make it feel that bit more special?

[::::BASSIST::::]

If she is 11 she might appreciate a short scale. This Squire ss Jag is an excellent bass and around $150. I have one and love it. Great tone and neck.

I bet she'd be thrilled with the red one.

[Lee H]

Part of the appeal for her, is that It is different, and something I was building. Something that is custom, and that no one else has, will have a certain unique appeal, that a cheaper "cookie cutter" bass will never have. I may do something a little more "girly" with the paint though. I have a quart of the color changing chameleon paint in the garage. It is copper to purple shift, and I have a lot of extra metal flake powder.
I just sent a PM about a nordy preamp for sale on here. That way I can keep my new fender controls for my own use.

[baalroo]

It sounds to me like she might be sentimentally attached to that bass because it is YOUR bass, and if that's the case then can you honestly say you think YOU will get more enjoyment out of playing it than SHE will? Because I really doubt that.

IMO: Give her some milestones that you would like to see her pass and that will set her on a good path for music appreciation, but that will take a few years to accomplish. Then tell her when she accomplishes them all she can HAVE that bass as her own, but until then buy her something that you wouldn't mind modding for yourself to USE until then. Give her an appreciation for her gear early y'know. Then, by that point you'll be ready for a change anyway and you can trade her basses and tweak your mods again.

[Lee H]

I have no doubt you are right about sentiment. She has had it rough, and has always been daddy's girl...
Her mother/my wife passed away when my daughter was 4. It was hard on us both. Music was what we had in common, and part of the way we have stayed as close as we are

now she plays flute in the school band, plays guitar in an after school program, she messes with piano, and wants to play the bass in the school's music teacher's pet jazz project
Needless to say, I am exceptionally proud.

She does have a goal...the music teacher said that when she was ready, he would let her play my 12 string bass in one of their shows



EDIT...talked to the guy with the nordy preamp on here...think I got G.A.S.