Bass for 14 year old son.

[meowcow]

get an MIJ?

 

[Sid the Kid]

If he doesn't stick with it and you do end up keeping it for yourself you might want to go for the Talman TMB-600.
Very nice Nordstrand pickups in this one and the option to go passive.

Sorry, over your budget.

I agree! You could buy mine in the classifieds for a fair price... *shameless plug over*

The SX basses aren't bad and you can beat the snot out of them because they cost about as mich as a good pickup and a set of strings.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

Yamaha rbx170

 

[Chad Bennett]

Another vote for Sire. I bought one used for $300. By far the best bass I have played at that price

 

[godofthunder59]

MIM Fender or Squier CV or VM. Either will last for him or be fun for you.

 

[Jim Carr]

MIM used P or J, or perhaps a Sire.

 

[skruch]

Agree to the Squire. Most important, let him pick out (at least the color,) or it won't stick.

 

[lbbc]

A passive bass... Squier P or J
Bass.... I also like the older Yamaha BB basses for a newbie who wants a good quality bass on a tight budget. He will find "his sound" and go from there (too many knobs and switches will only confuse someone new to bass)

 

[Tigerpig]

Second hand Fender 50s precision (Mexican) if you can find one. Great basses for the money.

 

[jhb138]

I'd set a budget [...], but give him a lot of latitude on choosing the actual instrument. Take him to a guitar shop and see if something catches his eye...then go from there.

This.

 

[meowcow]

This.

On second thought, this (meaning that which jhbi was referring to, can't quite do embedded quotes and I'm already procrastinating too much to want to learn!) seems like the best option. Maybe show him TB and how to search around, and allow him to do his own research on what bass would suit his frame, budget, and genre of music.

 

[BurnOut]

I've paid a little over $100 for a many nice used basses & guitars, all they needed was strings and a setup, and they still are some of my favorites to play, scour CL, always good deals to be had, just takes a little time, I've been staring at a nice Sammick Artist Series, clear green, P/J, for a buck, since I don't really need another hole in my head, I've been resisting the urge to buy it, tons of nice, cheap, used gear to be had out there

 

[quilanthegreat]

How about an entry level Sire bass? Those start at $399.

 

[vin97]

He's 6' 2" - he can handle it.

Not sure how that's relevant but IMO starting with full scale is the right decision.

 

[Burwabit]

If you want him to like it, let him help pick it.

 

[ptleftybass]

If you want him to like it, let him help pick it.

I'll be 14 in December have been playing for 7 years, I'm left handed and have a few basses, started on a SX short scale didn't like it went right to full scale. Show him some MIM Jazz or P basses, Ibbys or a sire see what he prefers.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I'd say Squier or MIM Fender.
Kids are way too quick to rag on somebody
that plays something odd.
Those or something close are pretty mainstream.

Mostly it has to be:
Something he likes and wants to play.
Solid enough to take a good setup, so it isn't hard to play.
In your budget.
(You might give him the option of making some
bux himself, to add to what you can afford. Maybe you are thinking Squier P
and he wants MIA J. Let him make up the difference.)

 

[Jjdhawg]

I bought my son a full sized Squier P for his 3rd bday. He just turned 4 and still plays it, can actually fret notes to the 7th fret now. Loves to slap , his right thumb is like a hammer! LOL. The pics are from his 3rd bday. I think it was easily the most excited I've seen him yet when he opened it lol.

They're never too young to start rocking out!

 

[bassbenj]

What does HE want to play? If he doesn't pick it up, it doesn't matter.

A few years ago, I was asked to help my nephew get his first good guitar. I was thinking Squier Strat - he was thinking black BC Rich Warlock copy (for high school stage band???). But he played it, and that was all that mattered.

I totally agree. Sometimes all the Fenderphiles here drive me nuts and make me want to scream and buy something with 5 humbuckers, 7 strings and pointy stuff all over it. His choice (and maybe with help from his pal) means even if he is just starting and doesn't play too many notes yet at least he can look cool (in his opinion) which as we all know is one of the reasons for someone 14 to be in a band (Next stage after playing with guitar buddy).

And also let me say that since you play bass it creates a special situation. Namely that you can be the "expert" judge on used and import gear. This means that a nice used Ibanez SR series or new SX or whatever he likes are not out of the question because you are there to save him from dogs and mistakes. Hey I got my used SR506 for $200. Yeah, needed setup and cleaning etc. but nothing you can't deal with. In fact it would be cool to get him involved with the workings of bass right off the bat and hand him the lemon oil and guitar polish. Today compared to back in the day, there is SO much great bass gear out that can be had for a song and takes very little to bring it up to really incredible levels. By the way when in doubt Yamaha is always a wise choice.

 

[stringthrough]

I vote for a used MIM fender p-bass. It's a classic, a good fit for a big dude, and if he Loses interest in it you can always sell it for what you paid for it.