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Seeking advice on 4-string Bass for 14 yr old son?

ndabunka

ndabunka

Oct 8, 2010
162
0
#1
1st post on this site but I've been cruising it for a while. I am seeking a 34" 4-string (only) bass for my 14 year old son who has been playing guitar for about 5 years now. I am seeking a $600 to $900 bass (new) that I can buy used for anywhere between $300 to $500 and maybe even $600 depending on condition. This price range would be similar to the 2 guitars (Acoustic/Elec & Electric) he already has. Here is my "short list" and I am seeking this boards advice/recommendations to reinforce or for alternatives I may not have considered to this point.

Primary
----> 4-string Peavey Cirrus (USA) - Up to $600

Second line (under $300-ish)
----> 4-string Spector Legend Classic - $500 (It sold on eBay for $330, ARGH!)
----> 4-string Yamaha BB614
----> 4-string Peavey Grind (Passive) or Cirrus BXP (Active?)

Almost untouchables
----> Dingwall (Afterburner or Combustion)

The Untouchables (Pawn Shop hunting...up to $1,500)
I have the cash but is probably not realistic for a 14 year old (He IS very good with his equipment though as none of his other gear even has a scratch on them). I like to buy & sell stuff and to shop pawn stores so these would be more of a buy it, let him play it until I can sell it for $500-$1K profit kind of thing.
----> PRS Gary Grainger private stock (Saw Gary playing LIVE Saturday night with Acoustic Alchemy)
----> Ritter - almost ANY (I am a closet artist and these are works of art!)
----> Spector Forte - retail around $2,500 but may have a line on one for $900

Thanks in advance for your expert guidance!:hyper:
 
#2
You want to buy your 14 y.o. son a Ritter, solely to make a buck in a few years? I dont trust my 13 brother with anything, none the less something of that nature. Nor should a Ritter be in a pawn shop.

Buy the kid a good bass, like a used Fender, Warwick, Cirrus, etc., and let him play the snot out of it. Had my dad bought my a MIA Fender when I started at 14, I would have cried in happiness.

Get him a Fender Highway One or something with nitro, that way he can see himself play his bass over time.
 
#5
Whatever you buy.. allocate $50 to getting it properly setup by a BASS (not guitar) tech

Unfortunately you'll receive a bunch of misleading replies as there is no indication (except price) for the wants/expectations.

I'd be buying from TB ads before any pawn shop (for my kid)... will cost you about 4-8% more -- less risky than buying a question mark.

Tim
 
#7
ndabunka said:
1st post on this site but I've been cruising it for a while. I am seeking a 4-string (only) bass for my 14 year old son who has been playing guitar for about 5 years now. I am seeking a $600 to $900 bass (new) that I can buy used for anywhere between $300 to $500 and maybe even $600 depending on condition. This price range would be similar to the 2 guitars (Acoustic/Elec & Electric) he already has. Here is my "short list" and I am seeking this boards advice/recommendations to reinforce or for alternatives I may not have considered to this point.

Primary
----> 4-string Peavey Cirrus (USA) - Up to $600
----> 4-string Spector Legend Classic - $500

Second line (under $300)
----> 4-string Yamaha BB614
----> 4-string Peavey Grind (Passive) or Cirrus BXP (Active?)

The Untouchables (Pawn Shop hunting...up to $1,500)
I have the cash but is probably not realistic for a 14 year old (He IS very good with his equipment though as none of his other gear even has a scratch on them). I like to buy & sell stuff and to shop pawn stores so these would be more of a buy it, let him play it until I can sell it for $500-$1K profit kind of thing.
----> PRS Gary Grainger private stock (Saw Gary playing LIVE Saturday night with Acoustic Alchemy)
----> Ritter - almost ANY (I am a closet artist and these are works of art!)
----> Spector Forte - retail around $2,500 but may have a line on one for $900

Thanks in advance for your expert guidance!:hyper:
Click to expand...

I'm a simple guy and this seems really complex for getting your 14 year old his first bass. You're looking for a first-bass that you can try to turn over for a $500 profit?

If this is your short list, I'd be mind boggled by your long list. I don't mean to sound critical. I guess the more you spend, the better chance of turning a profit? Sorry I'm not being helpful, and I'm no expert, but why not spend under $200 to see if he likes playing bass?
 
#8
Thanks for the feedback - I realize that a Ritter should NEVER find a pawn shop but you know how it is in today's markets so if I found one, I would buy it. His other guitars were bought with the mentality that they were "His for life" and while that is a good approach, I want him to realize that he can move from one to another as he progresses or we can sell it if he wants a different style. He had a regular fender electric early on and wasn't really a fan but a buddy of mine who use to tour the country playing Bass (many, many, many years ago...LOL) also mentioned Fender but hasn't yet provided specific guidance.

One last detail I had forgotten... I like most every type of music but being a 14-year old kid, he is into Japanese music (pretty much exclusively at this point). He has been to Japan but we are of German heritage and I was born in the Americas. I do know enough to know that sometimes the "type" of music drives the gear decision but think that in this case, a classic Jazz-style should perform up to his needs. The only thing I think he would prefer is an active bass for the on-board controls.

FYI - Not certain if it matters but to give more background he is a fairly well traveled 14 year old as he has been to Japan (site seeing) and Austria (Skiing). He speaks French (2nd year) and a little Japanese (what he has picked up from his internet buddies and what he learned traveling)
 
#9
Peavey and Spector are both great choices. Fender Jazz or P are also great starts.

As far as the 'profit' thing, sounds more like finding a good deal on craiglist or a garage sale - fixing it up and then turn around and sell it for more on the 'bay. Good luck on finding a Ritter or Spector Forte at a Pawn store though.
 
#10
MNAirHead said:
Whatever you buy.. allocate $50 to getting it properly setup by a BASS (not guitar) tech

Unfortunately you'll receive a bunch of misleading replies as there is no indication (except price) for the wants/expectations.

I'd be buying from TB ads before any pawn shop (for my kid)... will cost you about 4-8% more -- less risky than buying a question mark.

Tim
Click to expand...

He takes regular lessons from a shop that is PRS Private Stock authorized so set up will simply be one of the things that they do during his regular weekly 30 minute lessons. I may buy from the store but they seem to stock either high end or "make their own" low-end basses. Can't afford the first and don't want a "no name" but I may still buy something direct from them if I find one. I DID buy his electric from them but that was primarily because I was able to pay "cost" for a nice $600 guitar at the time (around $260 I think)
 
#11
The post doesn't indicate where you are..

The opinioins would differ if in Fiji or Baltimore, MD (USA).. etc.. some places don't have the same options.

=-----

For a kid..
I'd be finding a low cost COMFORTABLE bass...

The answers you're going to receive here are misleading as we don't have a clue how large this young man is.. I've had 14 year old students who hadn't gone through thier growth spurt.. Hoffer Beetle Basses were as good a fit as we could find... I've had 10 year olds who could play a LONG scale without reaching.

I'd start with comfort first....
 
#12
Jim Dep said:
I'm a simple guy and this seems really complex for getting your 14 year old his first bass. You're looking for a first-bass that you can try to turn over for a $500 profit?

If this is your short list, I'd be mind boggled by your long list. I don't mean to sound critical. I guess the more you spend, the better chance of turning a profit? Sorry I'm not being helpful, and I'm no expert, but why not spend under $200 to see if he likes playing bass?
Click to expand...

Not exactly. The only thing I would turn over for a profit would be the stuff in the "untouchable s" category and that would only be if I found such a critter.

He has already been playing bass during his lessons for about 4 months now so there is no doubt. I am the kind of guy that buys the best he can for the best price. This often means getting something nicer than most would for a 14 year old. I would rather buy a 3 year old used 7-series (That has already taken the depreciation hit) rather than a brand new Infinite GS for the same $35K, etc...
 
#13
MNAirHead said:
The post doesn't indicate where you are..

The opinioins would differ if in Fiji or Baltimore, MD (USA).. etc.. some places don't have the same options.

=-----

For a kid..
I'd be finding a low cost COMFORTABLE bass...

The answers you're going to receive here are misleading as we don't have a clue how large this young man is.. I've had 14 year old students who hadn't gone through thier growth spurt.. Hoffer Beetle Basses were as good a fit as we could find... I've had 10 year olds who could play a LONG scale without reaching.

I'd start with comfort first....
Click to expand...

We are in North Carolina but not certain why that would matter.

He's BIG. 5'8 and 130 lbs and will be 6'3" when he is done growing. He wants a 34" now because that is what he has been practicing with and they are easier on the finger (not that he has complained nor would he have any problems with taught-er strings)
 
#19
Plays_For_Dog said:
Buy a cheap beginner bass. Chance are, he'll loose interest and you'll end up trying to sell it on CL. Your son is the investment, not the material goods you drown him in. Give him the experience and forget about whether you will make a return on it.
Click to expand...

+1 you may also consider adopting an overworked 40-yr-old contractor and his family ( wife, 2 kids and a dog. maybe take over car payment) in return for room and board + lessons:D
 

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