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

#44
Stick_Player said:
If he's 14, doesn't he already know what bass he wants?

I did at 11.
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How I knew what bass I wanted at age 14 was due to trying to emulate my bass heroes. The guys I wanted to be like were rock players, Geezer Butler and JP Jones. I'd see pics of them in a magazine with their Fenders and I wanted one. Then I started going to concerts at Winterland and loved the live sound and look of Fenders, especially the headstock for some strange reason.

It's all subjective, but it created inspiration and determination needed to survive those first cheap basses. Sure, in the beginning I would have loved to have had the Fender I drooled over, but I honestly don't think I would have appreciated it as much.
 
#45
When I was 12 I got a MiM Fender P-bass and I thought it was the holy grail of basses, I played the snot out of that bass, and I did take really good care of it too! But really, if he's 14 buying a Highway One J or P would put him over the moon, or even keep a look out for a used American Fender and he'll be set 'for life'...until he visits this forum and gets some GAS pains... :D .
 
#47
I saw the 44-01 mentioned. Check the classifieds here for a 50% off retail listing once in a while. I play 5's so I can't comment much, but I was impressed with my 55-01. FOr a jazz style, the Lakland JO4 are very nice, as are the more blingy DJ's.

You'll find some nice used basses here. My last four basses, not including the $200 Squier vintage J I got at GC recently ( for a repaint project), were bought here at TB, and I HIGHLY recommend this community.

Heck, I even got a KILLER deal on my new skyline JO5 thru this community.
 
#48
I would suggest picking up a used MIM P-Bass or better yet a used Active Jazz bass. They're solid basses, especially for starters.

If you decide to upgrade at some point, you could always sell it for close to the price you bought it for, assuming he takes good care of it. If he doesn't, then frankly he's not ready to own a better bass.
 
#50
ndabunka said:
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)
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Back at the beginning of the year, I picked up a Laguna LB524 for a little over $300 shipped to my door with a road case, used from GC....fantastic sounding bass with a wide range of tone, and plays like butter. Here's the link to my thread on it:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=617828&highlight=
 
#52
The Conklin Groove Tools CGT-5 was not a brand I had previously researched but could be a contender. I had him practice with this instead of the $250 Washburn he had been pulling down off the wall. Needless to say, he likes it. I've already reviewed this forum and understand that the CGT's don't appear to have as large a following here but they do tend to get positive reviews pretty much everywhere.

This one came from the shop Nick has been taking lessons and the owner has extended an attractive price. I know some are going to cringe when they see all the fingerprints but the lighting was terrible and we were all handling it so it is what it is. We will likely be driving about an hour north of here later on in the week to try out a very similar Spector "Legend Classic" with EMG-SSD pickups.

One question I have is in regards to the controls. I have noticed that there are only 4 on some of these guitars while others have the 5 + the slap. Perhaps this is simply a newer model or is there a large difference in value for this version. I see the 4 control ones online @ GC and others for around the $600 mark. I also am seeing the 4-string variant of these going for around the $400 mark. This CGT-5 comes with a HARD case whereas the Spector would only come with a padded gig bag. What would you guys think would be a fair price for this 5-string and should we even consider it? Nick likes it but he's comparing it to a discontinued Washburn that sells for $250.

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#53
Ibanez, ESP Ltd, Schecter, BC Rich, Peavey, all make excellent basses gettable new for under $600. With your stated budget theirs literally tons of great basses to be had. However if you get him one thats not very comfortable for him neck and fit wise its not gonna benefit him much. Also important is getting one he likes the sound of. Not you, him. Let him try a bunch of diff basses in your price range and pick one he really likes out of those irregardless of your perceived notions. Unless your a long time bass player who is also open to others pref basses that arent your thing.

I dont like fenders. Too many better basses for the money imo to include compared to the fender imports. If he wants P or J pups there are plenty of others useing those type of pups with better necks imo and better pups and hardware imo. Every brand I listed above became vedry popular with pros and hobbyists alike cause theyres tons of other peeps who also like those brands better then fender. Fender can be nice, but theres many other options pref by many peeps including pros who do world tours. He should only get a fender if he likes it better then the competition in same price range. Also extremely popular with good reason are basses useing soapbar and humbucker pups. Check these out, P and J pups arent the end all be all of bass pups. Myself I dont like jazz pups much. I do like soapbar, P and humbucker basses. Theres been a couple that I liked that used humbucker bridge and J neck pup set though.
 
#54
Sir, thank you for the pics. Now I know the correct answer; he needs a very high end 36" neck, 20mm spacing 5 string from like Roscoe or someone so he stops wrapping his thumb behind the neck like that!

That old skool slop won't cut it with modern bass playing. He might as well learn proper modern ergonomics now.

Or buy him a SLAB necked Warwick so he MUST play properly! Thumb behind the neck, knuckles parallel to strings. ;)

:D no offense meant btw, just sayin' ( and I realize he is resting his hand in the 1-5 postion which is near impossible to be "parallel" in. )

Or short answer: The sound is in his hands, the axe is just a sounding board for them, a medium if you will.

SERIOUS ADVICE: Buy him the book "The Lesson" by Vic Wooten with whatever axe you decide on. There is a section on proper care of instruments in there; and its NOT what you think!
 
#55
ndabunka said:
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...
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Well obviously you already know how to "shop like a woman" and we don't have to say too much. You are aware of the hit you take with new gear (unless you can find a demo unit like my OLP, or an insider discount like the guitar you bought).

And Yes, it would be great to find a Ritter or perhaps one like my Ken Smith ($300) or G&L fretless ($600). But the problem is that my Smith is a 6 string and the G&L fretless 5. When you go for the big score used you obviously are at the mercy of whoever bought the bass in the first place! You get what they liked in the color they liked. If it suits you, great. If not, well...

But you have additional needs. Namely you want a bass that your son will play and love for a while. So just any used bass no matter how prone to vintage price increases may not do.

Given your total situation, I'd look for some semi-vintage Fender bass. You'll find "true" vintage Fenders priced beyond all reason although the occasional "don't know what they have" bargain still does appear. That would be where I'd put my shopping efforts and then as an aside I'd make a note that IF I happened on a really nice used Peavey or Yamaha (both totally underated basses) that it'd be a great bass for him, in spite of less chances of "vintage" price rises.

But in searching Fenders, be aware that all Fenders are not born alike! Some are dogs. Some are wonderful instruments regardless of model or where they were made. Choose wisely.
 
#57
If you find a Cirrus for $600, it will most likely be a bolt-neck model. Not string-thru. In which case, you should consider a US-made Peavey Millennium, which would be just as good or possibly better and maybe cheaper.

Or, a Peavey G-Bass. They seem to be going in the $400-ish range right now. And the graphite neck might have some appeal to your son. I like my G-Bass with a Millennium preamp better than I like my Millennium, actually. My tech claims my G-Bass has the closest thing to a 60s Jazz neck of any bass he's worked on outside of an actual 60s Jazz.
 

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