Highest quality inexpensive short scale bass [ for grandson ]

[Stephen]

My grandson is quite musical and wants to try bass guitar so I want to get him a short scale bass as he has smaller hands. I have no experience with short scale instruments.

I want the bass to be quality enough to be able to have good action, playability and electronics.

But in case this a short term adventure, I want to spend the least amount as possible while still getting a nice playing instrument.

If he keeps going, then I can get him a better instrument.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions !

 

[who]

I don't think you could go too wrong with the Ibanez TMB30. Goes for $179 new.

 

[Maxdusty]

Ibanez makes a few short scale/mid scale instruments.
The smallest is the Ibanez Mikro which is 28.6" scale , the Ibanez Talman TMB30 is 30" scale, the Ibanez Mezzo is 32" scale (mid scale)
There's also Squier that makes the Squier Bronco (30" scale)
Jackson has the Minion JS1xcb (28.6")

All of these are decent options and roughly around the same price range except the Ibanez Mezzo.
That being said, it might be a good idea to pick one up used as you don't lose any money in the purchase, you buy one used, you can pretty much sell it for the same price. You can sometimes find inexpensive used ones at Guitar center online.
I don't know how big your grandson is, but if he can swing a 30"scale, I would probably go with that as he can play it later. Not that the 28.6" is playable even by adults, but 30" scale is what I would recommend.

 

[Iristone]

Some people swear by Epiphone Violas and Allen Woody Rumblecats.

 

[BAG]

The Squier Jaguar Short Scale is a ridiculously good bass for the money and has a very nice thin neck..... but you might find it difficult to find one now as they are discontinued.

 

[Maxdusty]

The Squier Jaguar Short Scale is a ridiculously good bass for the money and has a very nice thin neck..... but you might find it difficult to find one now as they are discontinued.

I would have recommended this bass too, but they are hard to find and the ones I have found are priced pretty high. I was looking for one a few months ago and well...gave up and bought a different bass.

 

[Resonance129]

Not sure of your budget here, and this may be a little too expensive for a first instrument, but the "Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet" is a great bass for the cash from what I can tell ($299 new from Sweetwater). Can be found for less on the used market. I don't own one, but I've picked one up in big box stores a few times, and listened to plenty of clips online. They're really comfortable to me and sound great, solo'd. And come in cool colors - A deep red Walnut, Black, 3TSB, and a cool "Torino green".
Just another one to consider.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/G2220TGR--gretsch-g2220-junior-jet-bass-ii-torino-green

 

[Biffa]

I'd take him to a music shop and make certain that a 34" scale is absolutely beyond him, theres loads of vids on YouTube of sub ten year olds showing me up on long scale basses, hes going to grow into it after all, and it's going to increase your options

 

[CaptRigaud]

+1 on a Squier Jaguar Bass.

 

[pcake]

i own 2 ibanez mikros - they have a small body and 28.6" scale. i also own a 30" scale squier bronco, which can be had during holiday sales for $129 plus tax out the door and sell for $149 regularly. i quite like mine and play it a lot.

as with any less expensive bass, there could be quality control issues, but i've been lucky - i've owned 2 broncos and 4 mikros and never had any problems with any of them. i've played more in stores, and all i've played would have been fine to play, although i hear the bronco can have intonation problems, and due its bridge, they're not as easy to adjust as with other basses. but when you get a good one, it's easy to play as is the mikro.

bronco is available in black and in red. i've owned one of each.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BroncoBsTRD--squier-bronco-bass-torino-red

mikros can be had in a wide variety of color choices
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez/GSRM20-Mikro-Short-Scale-Bass-Guitar.gc?

you don't mention the age or height of your grandson, which might have been useful to know. at 5' 3", i only played long scales till i injured my shoulder. but i came from a background of playing guitar, so the situation is a bit different.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

You can find used Bronco basses for under $100 used...mine was $39 at a thrift, virtually unplayed as far as fret wear but dinged up...many like the beefier neck more than the Squier Jags thin one....i spent time dressing frets, rolling the edges etc and i put in a Lawrence L250 noiseless pickup (painted the headstock black to match the body) and i LOVE this bass now....weird thing is a set of flats will cost more than the bass cost!

 

[rockscott]

Epiphone gives you a lot for the money, always has.

 

[Bodeeni]

Big plus 1 on the Bronco. I love my Bronco and use it quite a bit for gigs and recording. I did need to clean up the fret ends and I think the bass is much nicer with flatwounds which would be easier too for starting out. I use Chromes.

 

[eJake]

There is a company in Europe called Thomann that sells Harley Benton basses for about 100$ shipped to the states. Check online.

I have a couple SX brand short scales that are similar but no longer available.

 

[Ostie]

Just as an FYI, the Squier Jaguar VM ss is a P/J configuration, as is the Ibanez TMB30.

Epiphone EB0 is a little more $$ but also good quality for the $$, if you like classic Gibson humbucker tone. Not everyone does, but I love mine.

Fender Mustang is ss but more $$, anywhere from $350 to 1k, depending on the model. I have one and I love it.

Hofner Beatle bass and Club bass are ss, but have a vintage sound that may not appeal to your grandson.

Ibanez Mikro bass is very ss at 28.5, and very affordable. Less than $200 new.

 

[jmlee]

+1 on the Ibanez Mikro (very) short-scale. My daughter who is 11 and small has been using one—her first year playing, now in the middle school band. I set it up and put La Bella DTFs on it and it sounds *great*. Really remarkable quality and sound for about $200. The only thing I've replaced is the knobs.

 

[CapnSev]

The Gretsch Junior Jet!!!

That bass seriously has no business being as good as it is at its price point. Every time I pick one up, I'm blown away by the fret work, finish, and feel. The electronics aren't top notch by any means and sound a little "dull", but that's an easy fix in the future if he wants.

 

[Ripper75]

Used 90s? Danelectro longhorn, sometimes you can find deals on those

 

[bassfreakah]

My little ones like the Squier jaguar short scale bass. It is on the third kid now and she will not give it back. Such a GREAT bass. Our guitar player has one too to use for pickup gigs when we are off. Plays great looks great and its a fender. The coolest looking out of the bunch IMO.

 

[rtslinger]

I second The Gretsch Junior Jet!!! I played on in GC and was very surprise how good it was. If I ever am in the market for another short scale bass, that one gets my $