Bass for 14 year old son.

[Kubicki Fan]

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!

OMG that kid is adorable!! ... and a natural.

 

[TinIndian]

Another vote for the MIM P or J. Just think the value for the used ones is outstanding.

 

[LowEndOperative]

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!

Man, that bass is huge.

 

[Jjdhawg]

Personally I'd let him pick but try to steer him away from something he may regret. If he wants the pointy B.C. Rich for a metal setting maybe try to steer him in the direction of something like an entry level SDGR or something. I mean it's all just taste but to me something like that would fit in no matter the genre/venue. In 6 months the warlock might not be the best fit if he decides he wants to get into country. At the end of it all though he's the one that has to like it.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

When I was fourteen my first bass was a Yamaha rbx170

Also played my fathers cirrus

 

[PokeyPrasch]

 

[Tectonic]

Regardless of what you get him, it sounds like he will be lucky.
I bought my first bass at 15 for 60$ with money I saved up working part time jobs. It was a Profile bass.

 

[anotherhomeysan]

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.

My pops bought me a Squier VM Jaguar for about 200. Great for the money. I love it.
I would have preferred a five string and ended up buying one and then later tuning the jag BEAD.

Just a +1 for listening to your son and getting something HE wants.

 

[ERIC31]

SX PJ bass. That will rock the house and is a great place to start. Wish I had started bass at 14 instead of 22. (my first instrument was trombone at 14 in my high school concert band)

 

[Canadian APII]

So my 14 year old son (6'2 and growing/continuing to eat my food) is being pressured by his guitar playing friend to acquire and learn bass. Great. That's how I started (albeit a couple of years earlier). 'er indoors says, "Why don't you just let him have one of yours?"
I'll wait while you good people stop reeling from such a suggestion. I know, right?
Now, I'll probably let him have one of my old amps, and probably a multi-effect unit, but a bass?

Here's my thinking:
* He's one of those kids who either throws his everything into things, or can't be bothered to put in the time/effort to get through the learning curve.
* He often doesn't take good care of stuff, because....you know...he's 14 and lives in a bubble sometimes.
* If he gets into it, looks after his bass, and gets bitten by the bug I can always upgrade his equipment, or even (shudder) give him one of mine.
* If he doesn't get into it, and the bass just starts collecting dust, I'll just 'borrow' it indefinitely because.....well.....you know.....MOOOOORRRRRREEEEE BASSES!!!!

I'm thinking something cool, but not too expensive but serviceable.
Currently in the running:
1. Ibanez TMB100
2. SX American Alder Series Jazz or P or PJ
Keeps the budget low, but gets a TB-proven bass. If he gives up, then a fun bass for me.

3. Used MIM Fender.
'Real' Fender, but the budget goes up. If he gives up, "YAY!"
If he sticks with it, this bass should see him good for a while until the GAS starts.
Not 100% that 'er indoors wants this sort of money spent on an experiment (or another bass for meeeeee!!!!!).

4. Other suggestions from you good people.

Help an old guy out here. What say you TB?
No, he doesn't get an American Standard/Elite right off the bat because he'll never need another one. That's out of the budget.
His guitar playing friend is a huge Metallica fan, but my son actually prefers Tchaikovsky. FWIW.

No problem here. Get him a $600 Aria. Metallica cred and an amazing bass for super cheap.

 

[draygriff]

My suggestion is to take him bass shopping with you. Find out what makes his liver quiver. I sold instruments retail for 10 years and I loved to help kids just starting out. One thing I learned was, no matter how good of a deal bass A is, if the kid wants bass B, get bass B. He won't be motivated to play and practice with bass A. And for goodness sakes, find a GOOD fundamental bass teacher.

On the other hand get him a Fodera and when he quits.... Well, there ya go.

 

[okcrum]

I've played both. Go for the TMB100. It's a lot of bass for the money. You won't gain that much going to a used MIM Fender.

 

[PortlandBass77]

Sire M3 would be my suggestion. You can never go wrong with Ibanez either though. I've yet to play an SX so can't really help you there.

 

[MCF]

2. If you have to buy him something, why wouldn't you ask his opinion?

This. Involve him in the decision. If going for new, show him the Talman, an Epi bolt-on t-bird goth or sunburst (although maybe a bit out of the budget), a Squire (Affinities are quite acceptable as are the Jags), the other entry level Ibbies, Yamahas and Sterlings. All are readily available to try at the chain box stores. If used is an option, MIMs can't be beat. The going price near me is $300 or so for ones in good shape.
But look around. I picked up a very nice Ibby EOB500 Ergodyne a while back for around $250 with a case at a pawn shop. That bass would be perfect for a kid looking to play with his metalhead buddy. Well made (Cort Korea), awesome neck and looks cool.

 

[Mdrummey]

Look for a used Fodera.

Just kidding. I think some of the latest Squier basses are quite nice.

 

[Sav'nBass]

So my 14 year old son (6'2 and growing/continuing to eat my food) is being pressured by his guitar playing friend to acquire and learn bass. Great. That's how I started (albeit a couple of years earlier). 'er indoors says, "Why don't you just let him have one of yours?"
I'll wait while you good people stop reeling from such a suggestion. I know, right?
Now, I'll probably let him have one of my old amps, and probably a multi-effect unit, but a bass?

Here's my thinking:
* He's one of those kids who either throws his everything into things, or can't be bothered to put in the time/effort to get through the learning curve.
* He often doesn't take good care of stuff, because....you know...he's 14 and lives in a bubble sometimes.
* If he gets into it, looks after his bass, and gets bitten by the bug I can always upgrade his equipment, or even (shudder) give him one of mine.
* If he doesn't get into it, and the bass just starts collecting dust, I'll just 'borrow' it indefinitely because.....well.....you know.....MOOOOORRRRRREEEEE BASSES!!!!

I'm thinking something cool, but not too expensive but serviceable.
Currently in the running:
1. Ibanez TMB100
2. SX American Alder Series Jazz or P or PJ
Keeps the budget low, but gets a TB-proven bass. If he gives up, then a fun bass for me.

3. Used MIM Fender.
'Real' Fender, but the budget goes up. If he gives up, "YAY!"
If he sticks with it, this bass should see him good for a while until the GAS starts.
Not 100% that 'er indoors wants this sort of money spent on an experiment (or another bass for meeeeee!!!!!).

4. Other suggestions from you good people.

Help an old guy out here. What say you TB?
No, he doesn't get an American Standard/Elite right off the bat because he'll never need another one. That's out of the budget.
His guitar playing friend is a huge Metallica fan, but my son actually prefers Tchaikovsky. FWIW.

I would say a Sire or a Squire ....

 

[39-Bassist]

I actually have a CV Precision. It's MINE.

Well then I think you should let him try yours and IF he likes it...get another one...If he doesn't want to play it later then let me know, I will take it off your hands.

 

[ubernator]

Used peavey fury/milestone or the first couple years of OLP (where the logo looked more like GP rather than separate letters olp). Something that can be had for $150 or less due to nor being popular, but still extremely well made for the price. I will +1 on the sterling sub's too, under $200 used.

Be original, there are far too many 14yr olds rocking squier and low end ibanez out there. No need to add another. Sooner go SX than that route, but not the ones with the lame paddle/pointy headstock.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

A used bass is probably the best suggestion - no money lost as you can sell it for pretty much the price you bought it for.
In terms of bass, for a 14 year old I can think of 2 good choices that are easy on the wallet but give you mucho bass especially if bought used.

TMB100
Sterling Sub Ray.

Yeah, those old SUBs are one of the best deals out there. Inferior materials but really, really solid construction = playable and they sound good, which is rather amazing.

 

[andruca]

Just yesterday I got this bass for the wife, who's in her starting phase as a bassist. She was really pulled back mostly by crappy playability. I know most of the proposed options and almost none plays like the one I finally got for her (and discuss in this thread), an Epiphone Toby Deluxe. For me the #1 thing for somebody who takes up bass not to lose interest is playability, I mean, a bass that invites you to play. And this one is probably the most inviting sub 200€ I've ever played in 30 years playing bass. You can have the standard version (not too different really as the active electronics on the Deluxe are in fact a -hissy in fact- bass boost) for around 200$ new in the US. Not only this bass plays great but also has a great solid feel to it (while being light) and resonates like much more expensive instruments do. I own a couple Stingray 5ers and a Maruszczyk Jake 5a+, all great playing and resonating instruments (all in the 1000-1500€ range 'round here) and this bass is an equal joy to play than those. The pickups are not brilliant but that along with electronics can be improved, even for cheap. A bad playing bass OTOH can't be improved, ever, and is the main demotivating fact for a beginner IME.