Bass for child

flying_pie · November 2022

My daughter age 10 is asking about learning bass. What would people advise for a little person but about to hit puberty in the next year or two with a growth spurt - something like a short scale or just get a regular 34 in? Are there other options?

davros · November 2022

I bought my son an ibanez mikro. He doesn't play it but I love it! Great sound, guitar sized.

https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/gsrm20_03.html

stickyfiddle · November 2022

Bass for child? Seems a fair trade. etc etc. How tall is she? Will she fit in a chimney?

Perdix · November 2022

Bought my 12 year old a Harley Benton pb shorty last Christmas. Was absolutely fine for someone new to bass, fit him nicely. If I remember correctly it was a ‘b’ stock as that was all they had in stock at the time. Was as new not a mark on it at a touch under £70.

JezWynd · November 2022

flying_pie said:

My daughter age 10 is asking about learning bass. What would people advise for a little person but about to hit puberty in the next year or two with a growth spurt - something like a short scale or just get a regular 34 in? Are there other options?

Think a 34” would be too much of a stretch for a 10/11 yr old. Start with 30”, the Squier Bronco bass gets lots of good reviews.

fretmeister · November 2022

There are plenty of 10 year olds playing full scale. But it depends on the individual child. IG is full of over talented kids playing basses bigger than they are!

Medium scale is a good middle grounding.

Ibanez Mezzo 32 scale is a great bass. Nice slim neck, easy use 2 band EQ. PJ pickups. Very versatile.

ICBM · November 2022

Squier Bronco. Genuinely good little bass.

Neck size is as important as scale length for small hands, and many/most full-scale basses have larger ones - even Jazz Bass-type necks tend to be a bit deeper even though they’re narrow.

more · November 2022

flying_pie said:

My daughter age 10 is asking about learning bass. What would people advise for a little person but about to hit puberty in the next year or two with a growth spurt - something like a short scale or just get a regular 34 in? Are there other options?

I would second the Ibanez short scale bass . There is some veriation in sizes, but they are about 3/4 size . Not a childs instrument , just a smaller size . Good quality and fun to play . If your daughter goes off the idea , you can add it to your own collection.

prowla · November 2022

A Fender MIM Mustang.

I had a Squier Bronco for a while, but TBH it wasn't very good.

As ever, if you buy used, you'll be able to sell it again for similar money and so it's no loss if it gets shelved.

fretmeister · November 2022

Mustangs have a habit of being neck heavy and diving.

That would annoy the hell out of me!

paulnb57 · November 2022

Squier Bronco
Surprisingly good and cheap as chips

This one is slightly modded, with different pickup, replacement Hipshot tuners, refinished headstock…

Cracking little Bass

I could be persuaded to sell!

flying_pie · November 2022

Thanks for the ideas everybody. That's really helpful. I suspect the colour and style of the Ibanez will be more to her tastes but we'll see....

RustyShackleford · November 2022

Danelectro Longhorn?

ICBM · November 2022

RustyShackleford said:

Danelectro Longhorn?

That’s a really good suggestion. Light, short and with a slim neck, as well as short scale.

They're no longer that cheap though...

crunchman · November 2022

Ibanez TMB 30 is good.

Dominic · November 2022

Bass for a kid ?
I'd call that child cruelty

flying_pie · November 2022

Dominic said:

Bass for a kid ?
I'd call that child cruelty

You've not met the child. It's already processed to the full Karen stage...

ToneControl · November 2022

height of child (or adult) player is probably worth stating rather than age

alalalkasar · November 2022

One of the cheap Hofner ignition basses might work. My daughter loved playing mine, its light weight and easy to play with quite a thin neck.

flying_pie · November 2022

Thanks all. We went to GG today to try a few...

and she much preferred the feel of a mustang. A bloody MIM Fender player mustang. No chance of that for a starter bass. Most likely the preference is not just the size but because the colour is girlly enough. And Broncos are a no no because they only come in boy colours.

Looks like I might have to see if they can get a Squier CV Mustang in to try. FWIW I thought the Ibanez Mikro was really great to play and sounded good too.

ICBM · November 2022

flying_pie said:

Thanks all. We went to GG today to try a few...

and she much preferred the feel of a mustang. A bloody MIM Fender player mustang. No chance of that for a starter bass. Most likely the preference is not just the size but because the colour is girlly enough. And Broncos are a no no because they only come in boy colours.

Looks like I might have to see if they can get a Squier CV Mustang in to try.

The Squier CV Mustangs are very nice, come in some girly colours, and I think sound better than the Fender Player - the small original-type pickup is clearer than the PJ ones on the Fender which sound somehow 'too much' and a bit confused.

flying_pie · November 2022

ICBM said:

The Squier CV Mustangs are very nice, come in some girly colours, and I think sound better than the Fender Player - the small original-type pickup is clearer than the PJ ones on the Fender which sound somehow 'too much' and a bit confused.

Thanks @ICBM . That's good to know. Surf Green had already been identified as the most girly colour, apparently.

From my quick research, it sounds like the main thing to check when trying is that the nut is okay and not cut too deep

ICBM · November 2022

flying_pie said:

From my quick research, it sounds like the main thing to check when trying is that the nut is okay and not cut too deep

Yes, although easily sorted (at least easily by a tech!) with some nut files, if it's not cut right.

prowla · November 2022

prowla said:

A Fender MIM Mustang.
I had a Squier Bronco for a while, but TBH it wasn't very good.
As ever, if you buy used, you'll be able to sell it again for similar money and so it's no loss if it gets shelved.

flying_pie said:

Thanks all. We went to GG today to try a few...

and she much preferred the feel of a mustang. A bloody MIM Fender player mustang. No chance of that for a starter bass. Most likely the preference is not just the size but because the colour is girlly enough. And Broncos are a no no because they only come in boy colours.

Looks like I might have to see if they can get a Squier CV Mustang in to try. FWIW I thought the Ibanez Mikro was really great to play and sounded good too.

See - told you so!

Best not show her this picture of my Mustang, then...

HerbieTheRadDorklift · November 2022

https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Seattle-Short-Scale-Bass-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Black/1HTP

Image: https://d1aeri3ty3izns.cloudfront.net/media/19/194644/1200/preview_1.jpg

stonevibe · November 2022

These just came out

https://www.gearnews.com/harley-benton-mv-4msb-gotoh-short-scale-bass/

flying_pie · November 2022

stonevibe said:

These just came out

https://www.gearnews.com/harley-benton-mv-4msb-gotoh-short-scale-bass/

Shame the D profile neck would be a bit much for tiny hands. They look great otherwise

thermionic · December 2022

Not a child, but my niece (16) is getting a Squier Affinity Jaguar H for Christmas. One of her tutors in college (a very good bass player, if he’s who I think he is) has lent her one of his - a J&D Brothers, which looks like an imported thing around £150. I was suggesting a short scale thing like a Bronco but the Squier Affinity looks a bit nicer and I think the 32” scale will be an interesting compromise. Most importantly, it is available in Lake Placid Blue (I think she’s been eyeing up my Johnny Marr Jaguar)!

flying_pie · December 2022

Thanks everybody. I managed to find an excellent condition used OW Squier CV Mustang. What a cracking little bass. She's absolutely delighted with r and daddy will be stealing it a lot.

Does anyone know if this pickguard would fit because apparently we need to make it more girly with something like a mint guard instead of the tortoise one

https://www.axesrus.co.uk/ARUMUSTBASS-p/arumust.htm

ICBM · December 2022

flying_pie said:

Does anyone know if this pickguard would fit because apparently we need to make it more girly with something like a mint guard instead of the tortoise one

https://www.axesrus.co.uk/ARUMUSTBASS-p/arumust.htm

Don't know, but 4-ply aged white (or 'ivory') pearl is the right colour for a Mustang Bass - other than tortoise - and *way* more girly than mint green, which is vile especially on Olympic White.

Or be much more creative... this chap does ones which will definitely fit in a huge variety of colours:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114931356468

(No affiliation, but the shop I used to work for has had a few from him.)

flying_pie · December 2022

Thanks @ICBM . Your taste and mine won't matter. I see there's pink and pink pearl.... I fully expect something like that will get her attention!

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