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So, out of these basses.......

#41
To answer your questions first without knowing what kind of music (other than jazz) that he plays, I wouls probably go Lakland. I noticed that you have the Tribute and Legend series of other basses. Why not the Skyline? You could save some cash that way.
Second...YOU ROCK! What a kicka$$ dad!
Third... A friend of mine lost his dad to cancer recently. (stick with me...there's a point I promise) He's a guitar player. He doesn't open up to people very much. I'm one of only a few who have managed to get "inside the walls" he has put up. We've only had one conversation about his dad since he passed (I don't push him). He spoke about the time that his dad caved (when he was 16 oddly enough) and decided to let my friend get his first "real" new guitar. They were looking at Strats. His dad didn't even know anything about guitars but went to a dozen guitar shops in several different towns to make sure his son didn't get ripped off AND that he got what he wanted. My friend wouldn't trade that experience for anything and would KILL somebody over that guitar. Maybe you could make some memories with your son and HELP him pick out what HE wants. Just a suggestion and sorry for the long reply. Good luck to both of you!
 
#43
Thanks for all the input.
Well, I guess it's going pretty much how I thought. Everyone has their own preferences. I think the smartest thing to do would be to take him and let him try a bunch of different basses. Only problem with that is finding Laklands and that particular G&L, etc.
On another topic..... do some of you truly think he's too young for a $600 - $750 bass? He has taken very good care of his MIM Fender P, except for losing a tuner bushing. Although the bass is still spotless. I don't want to spoil him, but I do want him to learn on something that will help more than hinder him.
Thanks again for all of your input. I do very much appreciate it.
 
#44
the engine said:
To answer your questions first without knowing what kind of music (other than jazz) that he plays, I wouls probably go Lakland. I noticed that you have the Tribute and Legend series of other basses. Why not the Skyline? You could save some cash that way.
Second...YOU ROCK! What a kicka$$ dad!
Third... A friend of mine lost his dad to cancer recently. (stick with me...there's a point I promise) He's a guitar player. He doesn't open up to people very much. I'm one of only a few who have managed to get "inside the walls" he has put up. We've only had one conversation about his dad since he passed (I don't push him). He spoke about the time that his dad caved (when he was 16 oddly enough) and decided to let my friend get his first "real" new guitar. They were looking at Strats. His dad didn't even know anything about guitars but went to a dozen guitar shops in several different towns to make sure his son didn't get ripped off AND that he got what he wanted. My friend wouldn't trade that experience for anything and would KILL somebody over that guitar. Maybe you could make some memories with your son and HELP him pick out what HE wants. Just a suggestion and sorry for the long reply. Good luck to both of you!
Click to expand...

Hi engine,
yeah the Lakland 4401 is a Skyline series. Sorry for the confusion.
Very touching story about your friend. Thanks for sharing that. That is very good advice, and I may just take it. I will have him with me all summer, so it would give us plenty of time to find "the one";)
 
#46
Just buy him all three! :p

But in all seriousness, I would get him the Lakland. I've had it (the 44-01) for a while now and it has never let me down. It gives you a wide range of tonal options, and can be used for sooo many different types of music. From prog rock, to metal, all the way to even reggae (I've seen vids on Youtube).

By the way, have you looked into used? There are some really great condition used basses here (including Lakland):

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Here, I even found you a couple...

Used Lakland Bob Glaub ($799):
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Used Lakland Joe Osborn in lake placid blue finish ($899):
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Good luck man! :)
 
#47
its 1 o clock here in australia and i just saw this as im trying to sleep
(to excited about kings of leon concert tomoro) and then i read this story
im 15 turning 16 in a month and honestly if my dad took me out to go look for basses and we went around to stores all over the place i would be stoked and not just for the bass
but because of the time he would acutally spend with me in the process. I think that is the best option the sentimental value of that bass will be massive and itl be something he can pick up in 30 years and he'l have a ton of memories.
just my 2
 
#48
max8899 said:
its 1 o clock here in australia and i just saw this as im trying to sleep
(to excited about kings of leon concert tomoro) and then i read this story
im 15 turning 16 in a month and honestly if my dad took me out to go look for basses and we went around to stores all over the place i would be stoked and not just for the bass
but because of the time he would acutally spend with me in the process. I think that is the best option the sentimental value of that bass will be massive and itl be something he can pick up in 30 years and he'l have a ton of memories.
just my 2
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input, Max.
Enjoy the Kings of Leon tomorrow... lucky! I've really liked them for a long time now(not crazy about their newest album, though). Had a chance to see them at Lollapalooza '07 in Chicago, but they went on at the same time as Iggy Pop, so..... I had to make a choice. Then just my luck, Eddie Vedder came out and sang with Kings. He's like my favorite EVER!!!! Oh well. Iggy always rocks!!!!
 
#49
rayzak said:
I think the smartest thing to do would be to take him and let him try a bunch of different basses. Only problem with that is finding Laklands and that particular G&L, etc.
Click to expand...

I agree that you should let him choose. Why does he have to have one of the ones that you've picked out though? Why does he have to try a Lakland or that particular G&L?

Can't you just take him to a couple of shops and let him play everything up to your price limit? (Notice that I didn't say 'within', because he might like a cheaper bass more). That way, he can get something which is EXACTLY what he wants, rather than getting what you think is best for him.
 
#51
Happynoj said:
I agree that you should let him choose. Why does he have to have one of the ones that you've picked out though? Why does he have to try a Lakland or that particular G&L?

Can't you just take him to a couple of shops and let him play everything up to your price limit? (Notice that I didn't say 'within', because he might like a cheaper bass more). That way, he can get something which is EXACTLY what he wants, rather than getting what you think is best for him.
Click to expand...

If I take him out, I would let him play whatever we can find. If I were going to buy him one myself, it would be from the ones shown, just from research and whatnot. I'll more than likely take him shopping. I just wish I knew where to find some Laklands around here, because the ones i've played/owned have been fantastic.
 
#53
Does it have to be new? Here's an idea, pick up a gently used Geddy Lee jazz, or maybe even used US jazz on Ebay or Craigslist for around $500-600 and show up to his door with it.

There's a lot of great used deals to be had if you know what to look for - he shouldn't mind if it has a couple scuffs or marks - he might never even know...:hiding:
I've bought a lot of used basses that were in a lot better shape than some of the stuff hanging on the walls at GC.

And a little advice - if you do purchase him a bass (new or used) at GC or Sam Ash, make sure you get it professionally setup somewhere and have them throw some new strings on it for him so it's all ready to play right when he gets it. He wont be disappointed! :)

I also like the idea of letting him play some stuff and making it an experience you can share together, but like you said there aren't many stores that have a ton of different options around you, he might just have the itch to get something/anything and maybe ultimately not get what he'd truly be happy with in the long run (ie wrong color, model, skulls and death metal etc).
I've certainly been in that situation before where the money is just burning a hole in my pocket and I wanna just get something TODAY. That pressure can lead to poor decisions.

It could go either way. Best of luck! I think it's a sweet idea and I'm sure your son will love whatever you pick. :bassist:

BTW, tuner bushings for his P bass can be had for around $15 for a whole set, and can be easily fixed with a wrench. I'm not sure if those would fit, I dont have an MIM, you'd have to measure, but you get the idea...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Genuine-FENDER-...shings-62_W0QQitemZ350178034642QQcmdZViewItem
 
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#55
rayzak said:
Thanks for all the input.
Well, I guess it's going pretty much how I thought. Everyone has their own preferences. I think the smartest thing to do would be to take him and let him try a bunch of different basses. Only problem with that is finding Laklands and that particular G&L, etc.
On another topic..... do some of you truly think he's too young for a $600 - $750 bass? He has taken very good care of his MIM Fender P, except for losing a tuner bushing. Although the bass is still spotless. I don't want to spoil him, but I do want him to learn on something that will help more than hinder him.
Thanks again for all of your input. I do very much appreciate it.
Click to expand...

The only way he would be too young for a nice instrument is if you think he's gonna trash it.

I remember something that happened when I was sixteen... I got my driver's license. My father let me take his car places, and I would assume at some point you'll probably let yours do the same. If he's responsible enough to handle a vehicle, he's responsible enough for a bass.
 
#57
Spinal Tapper said:
Does it have to be new?

BTW, tuner bushings for his P bass can be had for around $15 for a whole set, and can be easily fixed with a wrench. I'm not sure if those would fit, I dont have an MIM, you'd have to measure, but you get the idea...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Genuine-FENDER-...shings-62_W0QQitemZ350178034642QQcmdZViewItem
Click to expand...

Hi Spinal Tapper,
No, it certainly does not have to be new. I always have my eyes opened. 3 of my 4 basses were bought used. Seems like there are a lot more high end basses for sale around here though;)
Also, I just acquired a tuner bushing from bass parts rescource specifically for a MIM P. I get to bring my kids(have a 12 year old daughter too) here for their Spring Break starting 3/30, so i'll see if I can't fix it up for him then. Lucky them.... Spring Break in Cleveland, Whoo Hoo!!!:rollno:

I may have just found a store very near me that carries the Tribute G&L basses. I'll have to swing in and see what they carry.

And sorry guys, but i'm allergic to 5 strings. I'll leave that up to him when he's older:p
 
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#58
Personally I have owned an ibanez sr and lakland 02 and personally like the lakland better. Although you are talking about an 01 so the mk1 pickups are the same on the SR as the 44-01 so the sound will probably be similar. I hear good things about the G&L L2000 and for the money is probably the most bang for the buck. The lakland necks are soo nice though!

I would go for G&L or Lakland out of the 4.
I also agree about a jazz. Can't go wrong with a fender jazz imo.
 
#60
rayzak said:
On another topic..... do some of you truly think he's too young for a $600 - $750 bass? He has taken very good care of his MIM Fender P, except for losing a tuner bushing. Although the bass is still spotless. I don't want to spoil him, but I do want him to learn on something that will help more than hinder him.
Thanks again for all of your input. I do very much appreciate it.
Click to expand...

Since I made a specific comment, I MUST respond. My comment was TOTALLY in jest. I see absolutely nothing wrong with getting him as good a bass as you want. The absolute worst thing that I can see happening is that he becomes very discriminating in basses, which is only a bad thing if he snubs his friends with lesser basses as a result (which is, now that I think of it evidence of being spoiled).

That said, there is also value in stepping up slowly. Actually this second position, which is kinda the way I look at basses myself, has more to do with my goal understanding and appreciating a wide variety of basses. If you buy slightly better and slightly better, you will buy more basses overall and you might have an appreciation for more styles of basses, even if you finally only wind up with 1. I buy only value basses so I can have a fair number of different style basses and also so I can learn how to set up and mod them (something I would never do with a >$300 bass).

Some day I may get one "good" bass, but you know what? I am really happy with what I have!! So maybe I won't. Now I do have more total in all my basses than I would have in 1 good bass, maybe about the cost of 2 very nice basses, but I have a wide range of instruments, and I enjoy the variety way more than I would an extremely nice bass. But that's just me, I like to tinker and I like diversity.

One more thing, after the 4 or so years I've been trying to play bass (as well as the 30+ years I've spent trying to play guitar), I've decided that the most important things are (in order of decreasing importance): fit and feel of the bass, setup of the bass, a good amp, decent pickups and strings and then everything else.

I close with an anecdotal, but true, story that doesn't help your decision, but is worthy of remembering, IMO. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter was in town doing some work (totally unrelated to music) for my employer. A friend of his was playing in town and Jeff was planning on going to sit in with him. He stated this because he needed time to run out and pick up a guitar after we were done. A coworker of mine, both of us were talking to Jeff at the time, offered to loan him a guitar, but Jeff refused and stated that he didn't need anything special, he would just go to a pawn shop and get a decently set up guitar that felt good to him. Now, it is true that a good player can make almost anything sound good, but it is ALSO true that Skunk Baxter's credit would be good for a WHOLE lot more than a used pawn shop guitar at ANY major guitar store (in fact I'm guessing most major guitar stores would loan him whatever he wanted as long as he brought it back). Oh yeah, he also said that after the show he would give the guitar away or toss it. Interesting perspective.
 

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