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Xmas Bass for 4 yr old daughter?

Twocan

Twocan

Living the Dream
Supporting Member
Oct 5, 2009
1,887
2,189
New England, USA
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#1
My dad offered to buy me a bass at the age of 14 – I said no thanks. Knowing me better than I did, my father bought one anyway; telling me it was his and not to touch it. I picked it up immediately and have been playing ever since.

My daughter is starting to show an interest in music. I think the formality of lessons at the age of 4 is too much of a commitment and may scare her off. My hopes are more along the lines of giving her the tools to inspire herself and develop a real interest - showing/telling me how far she wants to take it.

I started looking at basses the other day, as obviously I can show her how to get started and teach her the ropes if she is so inclined. If her interests turn towards violin, piano, etc then great, at least she has a basis (no pun intended) for starting.

I'm now realizing that WHICH bass I buy may play a big part in the interest of a 4 years old. Color and sparkles MATTER. Additionally, the size and weight will be a crucial factor - I can't expect her to play with something she can't support on her shoulders.

In looking around, I've not found all that much. Rondo has a 3/4 plain black P bass package that looks rather uninspiring. Further, the Gypsy Rose series (which isn't avail at this time) at 32" scale looks to be too large.

So far, my favorite is:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I love the simplicity of it and Pink is my daughter's favorite color.

Additionally, [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] in metallic purple looks fun (and is shorter than the Daisy Rock). I wonder however if the number of PUPS/dials would come across as confusing to a child.

I'd love to know if anyone else has bought their daughter a bass at such a young age and what worked/didn't work. Also, any other ideas for a short scale would be appreciated.

Thanks!
 
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#4
topo morto said:
4 sounds way young for a bass...
Click to expand...

No way!!!!

I bought my 2 and a 1/2 year old an Ibanez Mikro 2 years ago and he plays it every day. Literally... I come home from work every day and he's obviously been playing it as his GK amp is on and it's been moved from where it was yesterday.

He's been picking out rhythms since he was 3, and his ears are getting better with pitch. He has excellent alternating fingers plucking technique, and he actually has his thumping down. He'll be 5 in December and at the rate he's going, he'll be ready to start gigging in a couple years (he thinks he's ready now... :)).

We like the Mikro as it's relatively light weight compared to the Bronco's I've picked up. My little guy is just big enough to stand with his bass, but it gets heavy for him after a while. I believe the scale is 28" or so, about 7-8lb.
 
#7
Meddle said:
So there is nobody else at home with this kid to independently verify this? Its amazing he fits his playing in around all the cooking and cleaning he must also do. :D
Click to expand...

He's a pretty self-sufficient little guy... :D

Actually, my wife is home to verify - she has to put on [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] for him to play along to every day. He swaps back and forth between bass, keyboard (various sounds, as he sees fit), and drums - depending on the song and which part he feels like playing. He's amazing adept at picking out sounds that work with each tune... And often, when I don't have a gig, we play music for an hour before bed. He has quite a sense of harmony on the keyboard and will play chords while I put a bass line to it. I can usually anticipate his moves as I spend a LOT of time playing jazz by ear to build my own ears. Comes in handy making him feel like he's really making music, which helps keep his interest up. I let him decide when he wants to play, rather than forcing it at this age.
 
#10
Go for the purple micro (they are pretty and playable).........years ago I bought my daughter a matched set of hello kitty suier black guitar and batze maru (her enemy) bronco bass.......she is 4 1/2 now and wants them both but they remain unopened in a box and she bangs on my sons bronco (which has been replaced with a full scale ibanez). Teach her how to fret and let her go......you will see how her aptitude progresses! Good luck!
 
#12
I wish my parents would have seen music potential in me at a young age, but my brother already had that sewed up. He was a gigging musician and had cut his first album by 16 (he is 12 years older than me) and I can recall traveling around the country seeing him play during the summers. I think my parents were praying that I'd not develop any hobbies that required them to attend events. I took up computers, which worked out well for them and me.
 
#13
I started messing around with a nylon string guitar and a casio at age 5, didn't take lessons until I was 12, but I knew how to make sounds on both at least and how to pick out a melody by ear as a wee tot. Squier Bronco...or Guild/DeArmond Ashbory?
 
#15
Just a suggestion; I would also buy the lightest weight strings (& lower the action) when I finalized a decision on the bass so that fretting would be easier.
In this same regard (IMO) I would not go too inexpensive - even though it will take a besting, having the ability to keep in tune, lower the action and an ability to "grow" w/ the child's ability is a plus.

Children don't see "new" the way adults do. The presence of a new object is "new". Therefore I would look for a used 30" of mid-level. It could be $200 well spent.... just my 2 cents.
 
#19

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