recommendations for bass for young kids to learn

[AndyPanda]

My son used to play bass as a teenager but doesn't own a bass any longer - and I had an extra bass so I sent it to him along with a little practice amp. Turns out my grandkids are loving it so much my son can't get any time to play it himself.

So I'm thinking I should find something their size to send. Not sure if I should be thinking something like a ukulele size bass ... or just a short scale regular bass .. or something else. Maybe an Ibanez GSRM20?
Hope some of you can give me a recommendation - thanks in advance.

 

[AndyPanda]

My son just checked in on the kids and said they are listening to Teen Town and trying to learn it

 

[Lobster11]

My son just checked in on the kids and said they are listening to Teen Town and trying to learn it

Congratulations, Dr. Frankenstein. Good luck with the little monsters you've created!

I'm usually of the opinion that people who are short or have small hands are perfectly capable of playing a full-scale bass if they want to, but these kids seem too small for that: It's just too hard for them to reach down to the lower frets without contorting their arms and wrists in ways that could be harmful. (See middle picture in your O.P.) That said, I don't think you have to go all the way down to uke size unless they want to. I would show them pics of people playing some uke basses (or show them an actual one if you have one handy) and see if they excitedly say "I want one of those!" -- or whether they'd like to have something that looks more like their dad's bass but is just a little smaller.

 

[franklindayala]

My son used to play bass as a teenager but doesn't own a bass any longer - and I had an extra bass so I sent it to him along with a little practice amp. Turns out my grandkids are loving it so much my son can't get any time to play it himself.

So I'm thinking I should find something their size to send. Not sure if I should be thinking something like a ukulele size bass ... or just a short scale regular bass .. or something else. Maybe an Ibanez GSRM20?
Hope some of you can give me a recommendation - thanks in advance.

View attachment 4577687

Squier Bronco bass.

Squier Bronco Bass Guitar - Torino Red

 

[AndyPanda]

So from doing a bit of shopping around I see
the Bronco is a 30" scale length
the Ibanez Mikro is 28"
The Kala U-bass is 21"

any positives/negatives about any of those choices and/or scale lengths?

 

[Les Fret]

I would definitely get a 3/4 bass for kids that young. Even a short scale is too long for them. I had several kid students who played these. They are not bad at all and perfect for starters Invalid Link Removed

 

[Supadope]

I bought a used Ibanez Micro a few years ago. Great little bass. I wound up giving it to my niece.

 

[two fingers]

My girls have this Jackson Minion and LOVE it. Honestly, I've played around on it and it's great.

It comes in silver and purple if the green is a bit much for you.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

The Ibanez Micro the obvious choice. Its a well made bass a lot of adults play. The GSR 200 is also pretty nice, but they cheap out on the electronics and hardware.

 

[31HZ]

Another vote for Mikro, it's a good-sounding instrument at a good price-point that fits young players very well.

 

[Samatza]

For kids this young you want something smaller all over. The Mikro and Minion basses are a good fit for this. As they get older they can graduate to a full size instrument.

Even though many young kids can indeed play a full size bass it is a struggle and you want them to develop good habits which is easier without the struggle of size and reach.

 

[6Bass101]

If you are willing to sacrifice some quality to get a smaller size, Glarry has this guy:
Glarry GW101 36in Kid's Electric Bass Guitar Red Burlywood Yellow - Glarrymusic

I got one and it definitely requires setup (intonation was not set at all), but in the end it’s decent for the price. Certainly more of a “bass”. I’m sure kids would love it.

side note: turning mine into a piccolo bass.

 

[JamesDeGrandis]

So from doing a bit of shopping around I see
the Bronco is a 30" scale length
the Ibanez Mikro is 28"
The Kala U-bass is 21"

any positives/negatives about any of those choices and/or scale lengths?

Kala UBass is pretty fun and definitely small, sounds better than I thought it would.
Mikro is a great little bass they can grow into... And still use it for gigging in 10 years. I wouldn't gig with the Kala... But the Ibanez is pretty solid.
Either would be fine...
Ibanez is cheaper than the Kala but needs an amp... Kids will play anything... Really.

 

[Drzejzi]

My daughter is 1 year old and I already see, that she likes to touch my basses, turn the knobs and slap the strings For now I've bought an ukulele, so there will be a small guitar-like 4-string object lying around if she will ever be more interested. And after a couple of year, I'm going to definitely buy something like the short scale Ibanez. I'm curious about opinions of others about small basses.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Whatever instrument that will encourage the person to pick it up. When I was younger, I was asked to help my middle school nephew get a guitar, with the goal to make the school stage band (before this, he only owned an acoustic). I kept pointing him towards Teles and Strats, but he saw a black warlock shaped object and was sold on it.

He never played metal, but he used that through high school in the stage band and backing the school chorus.

 

[TK4261]

The Squier Mini P Bass is a good choice also. 28.6" scale and sounds like a P at $199

 

[wazzel]

As soon as I feel my granddaughter is big enough I am getting her an Ibanez Mikro. She just made 3 last week. Any time I take out my bass she has to come play it. Not just stand in front and bang on it. She gets behind it and tries to play it the right way. Started doing that at just over a year old. She is 1 1/2 in this picture. Last night she was knocking on the door when I was taking my lesson. My daughter had to go bathe her to keep her out.

 

[H K]

Squier and some other companies make decent 3/4 size basses. Used theyre often 100-150$.

 

[fhm555]

Be careful. My brother the guitarist encouraged his son at a very early age by letting him bang around on an old Silvertone. The kid became a very good drummer.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Squire Bronco is made for this.