My 11-yo daughter getting a bass!

[mirmark]

Hello,

And please redirect me to a better forum if need be. My daughter has been playing bass for two years. We're looking at a MIM Fender J Bass--she likes the Lake Placid Blue, though she'd really prefer something metallic and flaked...we went to Guitar Center today and she checked out a bunch of different basses. She loved the sound of the Fender "Modern Player" jazz bass--I think it was the double humbucker pickup...but it's only available in black, white, and sunburst, I think. Color is very important to her.

So here's where my "which forum" question emerges: is it dumb for me to think about finding those pickups, buying the Fender Jazz Bass (probably used?), and having the pickups she likes installed? Would that be prohibitively expensive? Is it even doable?

Thanks folks!

[Baird6869]

How about an inexpensive repaint?

Putting those PU in a new bass would involve costly routing.

That is what I would do.

[Reaper Man]

yea, there are two different ways you can do this. Buy the pickups and route or repaint a modern player. Not sure which would be a cheaper option (all depends on how you do each of those)

[ampelmann]

A refin on the modern player would be cheaper than buying new pickups if you did it yourself. I'm pretty sure there's a sticky for how to do it around here somewhere, you might want to check that out and see if you're up to the task.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by mirmark

Hello,

And please redirect me to a better forum if need be. My daughter has been playing bass for two years. We're looking at a MIM Fender J Bass--she likes the Lake Placid Blue, though she'd really prefer something metallic and flaked...we went to Guitar Center today and she checked out a bunch of different basses. She loved the sound of the Fender "Modern Player" jazz bass--I think it was the double humbucker pickup...but it's only available in black, white, and sunburst, I think. Color is very important to her.

So here's where my "which forum" question emerges: is it dumb for me to think about finding those pickups, buying the Fender Jazz Bass (probably used?), and having the pickups she likes installed? Would that be prohibitively expensive? Is it even doable?

Thanks folks!

Cool. As one who buys basses on looks first, I can say at least she's got her priorities straight. I hope she sticks with it. That makes for a lot of family fun.

As far as putting different pickups in a Jazz Bass, it should be less than $100 total.

[mirmark]

Thanks guys! So far she loves the bass. She plays double bass in Orchestra, plays in a couple of school jazz bands...I'm going to check out the "repaint" options in this forum. I'm already glad I found talkbass. What a nice community!

[Dredmahawkus]

If you do the repaint you could do any color! and wont lose the feel of the bass.

[Ian_Flash]

Repaint is the easiest, least expensive and least invasive (and therefore safest) way to do it. You can pick out the exact color, make it a Father/Daughter project and end up with a true one-off "Signature" model. Check with Stewart MacDonald for advice and materials re: prep and refinish.

[fjadams]

A repaint is something you two can definitely do together.

Look on the ReRanch site for good instructions and help.

Also look on the rattle can refinish thread, much much good help and people are willing to give help and encouragement.

[Duuuuuuuuuude]

I know you don't want to poopoo what she likes, but IMO you should have talk with her about how a neutral color like black or sunburst will fit almost any situation. She may love metallic blue but what if, down the road, she decides she wants to play in a folk band? And then what if the group after that is a metal band? What if she joins a country band after that? She can't go out and buy a new bass every time she changes bands.

[Immigrant]

Use caution when deciding!

I decided to strip the finish off of a MIM Jazz (using the heat gun method) and after stripping it, the body ended up being made up of seven strips as a core, with a top and bottom cap. I could've refinished it natural, but it would've been awful looking at best. I ended TP using lots of filler because the factory poly was so thick, it filled all the little grains that paint wouldn't decently.

So, if you decide to paint a MIM (or anything poly) just sand it a little, then paint. Skip stripping off the poly. It bites, and I'm still high as a kite from the fumes.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuuuude

I know you don't want to poopoo what she likes, but IMO you should have talk with her about how a neutral color like black or sunburst will fit almost any situation. She may love metallic blue but what if, down the road, she decides she wants to play in a folk band? And then what if the group after that is a metal band? What if she joins a country band after that? She can't go out and buy a new bass every time she changes bands.

Duuuuuuuuuude. You're that guy. She's a pre-teen girl. It's got to be metallic blue.

[verycoolname]

1) Always good to see an up and coming female bassist (we rock).
2) LPB is awesome, she has good taste.

And now for the stuff that matters...

I'd buy the Modern Player and refinish it. In my opinion it'd be cheaper to do, and all and all a nice father/daughter project. I'd check out ReRanch for tips/supplies.

[Zentner]

I've definitely bought a new bass for every bad I've played in.

Forget situations duuuude- she's 11 years old. If you're playing in a band that's worried about what color your bass is EVER, I'd be moving on to the next one. She DOES have uuuh... 10 YEARS until she can start playing in bars anyways, right? Maybe she'll buy a new bass sometime between now and then.... juuuust maybe.

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuuuude

I know you don't want to poopoo what she likes, but IMO you should have talk with her about how a neutral color like black or sunburst will fit almost any situation. She may love metallic blue but what if, down the road, she decides she wants to play in a folk band? And then what if the group after that is a metal band? What if she joins a country band after that? She can't go out and buy a new bass every time she changes bands.

[JimmyM]

Ya, wasn't dumb...just misguided. Girls like colors and there is nothing you can do about it. You just give them colors. But it's OK because they're girls.

[Wallace320]

Originally Posted by mirmark

Hello,

And please redirect me to a better forum if need be. My daughter has been playing bass for two years. We're looking at a MIM Fender J Bass--she likes the Lake Placid Blue, though she'd really prefer something metallic and flaked...we went to Guitar Center today and she checked out a bunch of different basses. She loved the sound of the Fender "Modern Player" jazz bass--I think it was the double humbucker pickup...but it's only available in black, white, and sunburst, I think. Color is very important to her.

So here's where my "which forum" question emerges: is it dumb for me to think about finding those pickups, buying the Fender Jazz Bass (probably used?), and having the pickups she likes installed? Would that be prohibitively expensive? Is it even doable?

Thanks folks!

It's a basswood Squier Classic Vibe off the same facility where Fender Modern Player are manufactured (China):
- it comes lake placid blue with a matching headstock and mint green three ply pickguard;
- pickups are custom vintage singles, they sound good but if she shouldn't like'em, they're easy to replace with no other routin' issue;
- highmass bridge with brass barrell saddle is the same;
- Hipshot Hb1 machineheads are the same so that they can accomodate a Bt1 bass extender if she might find it useful;
- glossy neck is the same;
- price is slightly lower than Fender's while overall quality is on par or even better on Squier Classic Vibe series;
- Fender's Modern Player dual coil must be swapped out for a better defined setup, otherwise they can turn to be a lil' muddy in many amps/cabs combinations out there, and the only humbuckers with side screws are Peavey's VFL

My €. 0,02

Cheers,
Wallace

[sprag]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Ya, wasn't dumb...just misguided. Girls like colors and there is nothing you can do about it. You just give them colors. But it's OK because they're girls.

+1

I have 9 yr old daughter who just picked up bass (pink sparkle gypsy rose) 6 months ago. The only problem with the refinish idea that I can foresee is, she'll want it just like beibers bass player in a year. She'll want it all black by 15. You won't know what colour she wants it at 17 cos she won't be talking to you and she'll want it back to original spec by 20

You might be quite the luthier in a few years

[mirmark]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuuuude

I know you don't want to poopoo what she likes, but IMO you should have talk with her about how a neutral color like black or sunburst will fit almost any situation. She may love metallic blue but what if, down the road, she decides she wants to play in a folk band? And then what if the group after that is a metal band? What if she joins a country band after that? She can't go out and buy a new bass every time she changes bands.

This is kind of a critical juncture for her, I think...she loves playing jazz, and pop. Country, metal, and folk? :-0 Not so much. She's a pop girly girl right now, and shows no signs of changing any time soon. Color's important to her! I'm just glad she has opinions about the sound, too... Gotta figure out the aesthetics to keep her happy. If she decides to play in a country band, I'm figuring a cute girl bass player playing a purple metallic bass gets cut a break on stage...

[mirmark]

Originally Posted by Wallace320

Attachment 331539
It's a basswood Squier Classic Vibe off the same facility where Fender Modern Player are manufactured (China):
- it comes lake placid blue with a matching headstock and mint green three ply pickguard;
- pickups are custom vintage singles, they sound good but if she shouldn't like'em, they're easy to replace with no other routin' issue;
- highmass bridge with brass barrell saddle is the same;
- Hipshot Hb1 machineheads are the same so that they can accomodate a Bt1 bass extender if she might find it useful;
- glossy neck is the same;
- price is slightly lower than Fender's while overall quality is on par or even better on Squier Classic Vibe series;
- Fender's Modern Player dual coil must be swapped out for a better defined setup, otherwise they can turn to be a lil' muddy in many amps/cabs combinations out there, and the only humbuckers with side screws are Peavey's VFL

My €. 0,02

Cheers,
Wallace

I'm definitely going to take a close look at the Squier...but the Modern Player sounded really good at GuitarCenter yesterday. I suppose we should've tried it with a few other amps...but the double humbucker did really expand the bottom, if that's what caused it. It was very noticeable and she checked out the MIM Fender J, a Schecter, an Ibanez, and one other in that general price range ($500-700).

Nobody's told me I'm in the wrong forum here, so I'm going to keep chugging away. If I do decide on the refinish, I'll pull onto a more appropriate thread, promise!

[mirmark]

Originally Posted by verycoolname

1) Always good to see an up and coming female bassist (we rock).
2) LPB is awesome, she has good taste.

And now for the stuff that matters...

I'd buy the Modern Player and refinish it. In my opinion it'd be cheaper to do, and all and all a nice father/daughter project. I'd check out ReRanch for tips/supplies.

I think if there were a Lake Placid Blue metallic she'd go nuts! She's currently got the Ibanez Mikro purple metallic, and it gets her lots of attention. Until I found this forum, I didn't know that there's a Mikro group out there that modifies that particular guitar... once we get her new bass, I may take some of that on, too, since it's currently slated for "wall decoration/backup" duty.

I'm going to look for "ReRanch" (it's on this forum, right?)...a couple of folks have mentioned it.

My only concern about refinishing is buying a beautifully finished new guitar and hacking up the refinish...but you gotta dive in if you want to learn to swim, I suppose.