Bass Guitar - Recommendation?

[Brian]

Folks

For any of you who play the bass guitar, I'd like to ask some advice.

My son is 14 next month and wants a new bass guitar. I bought him this one Stagg P300 Bass Guitar about 18 months ago as his first bass guitar.

What do I need to go to in order to make a worthwhile improvement over this one? He's now taking lessons and seems keen, so I'm happy to buy him a better one as it's what he's asking for. The one he's asking for is a "Burns Scorpion", whatever that is.

Is it simply an easy matter of improving the guitar, or would a better amp' represent a significant step up? Do I need to improve on both for him? The guitar he has now included an amp', might this be a weak link?

Any advice appreciated.

Tks

Brian

[NickG]

Ahh, takes me back. I used to owna burns vibraslim.

http://www.burnsguitarmuseum.com/Bald1_liten.jpg

I guess I still do officially, but as I haven't seen the chap I lent it to ten years ago, maybe not.

Anyway, Brian, I am sure other more up to date folk will comment, but IMHO, guitar and bass players are maybe the most obsessive of musicians when it comes to kit, thats just to say that a better guitar, won't make a better player, as long as what he has is good enough, maybe spend the money on more lessions, a years worth of strings, lots of music from bass players he may not have heard (James, can you suggest a list, my list of bass players starts to dwindle after Pastorious. Mingus and Clark, spot the old sod, or what), or just going to lots of gigs.

Just my 2d.

[alnewall]

Brian.

As a father of two teenagers I would say .... hang on for a while and make sure he intends to keep it up. I've fell for this twice over the years and ended up with two guitars and a set of drums.
The Stagg amps are fine for practice at home but if he shows any sign of playing along with his friends then obviously something beefier will be wanted.
I hope he does take it seriously, but from experience i wouldn't rush into anything.
There are forums on the web dedicated to guitar playing and i would ask for advice there, when the time is right.

[Paul Barker]

I have a set of drums and my son is only 8!

[vitalstates]

Hi Brian

Sorry to say but I feel you're asking the 'how long is a piece of string' question. Whatever you buy him, if you dont consult him, there's a big chance it will be wrong...........

As far as quality is concerned its the same old story, you get what you pay for. Historically, most bass players went for a Fender(USA built), Musicman or Rickenbacker, but nowadays there are some new kids on the block with 5 strings and carbon bodies/necks.

It very much depends on the style of music as well, as they all have their own voice, dictated by the build and types of pickups used.

Fwiw I have been a Fender man for the last 35 years and have never felt the need to change. I have a fretless jazz and it feels right and plays right, but thats my taste, not necessarily everybody elses.

I would suggest if you want some ideas then put the question up on a bass forum, there are loads, just google it.

Regards

Ed

[dave dove]

my eldest who is now 16
asked for similar some time ago
so i went to the local curry house
- i am a regular customer -
after which he spent 2 nights a week
washing the dishes......

dave

[James D]

Hi Brian,

You will get tons of advice from any and every guitarist and bassist around (including me ) but none of it means a lot - as Ed says, your son has to decide for himself - and learn for himself what suits him. As Dave implies, he will only value his own choice properly if he has to work for it.

Advice - I don't like Fender, Musicman, Rickenbacker basses. Too heavy, too limited in tonal range, too clumsey. I have a Dean Razor NT as my main bass and a Bass collection as my backup. These are small, light basses. The Bass collection sounds lightweight - the Dean doesn't.

But the amp is really important for a learning bass player. A good combo makes a huge difference to how confident a learning player becomes and since 70% of tone comes from how you finger, slap, pluck, pick, thumb, etc. being able to clearly hear the difference as you play helps make you a better and more sensitive player - in particular it speeds up the time to learn that volume isn't everything and that how you shape the notes counts more than how heavily you 'bash' the strings...

James

[vitalstates]

Too clumsy?, too heavy? really James!!!
we all know the best sound comes from......well just check out the avatar..

just kiddin

Regards

Ed

[James D]

I agree but I don't sling one of them around my neck!

Which instrument you choose is such a personal thing! My wife choose a Yamaha electric stage piano and loves it, my son's fiancee hates it but loves her Roland! The keys and action on both feel the same to my son and I... but what do we know (as guitar players)

Actually I'm a sucker for the sound of the cello... it just melts me when I hear a cello being played beautifully but I could never play the cello, I would be in tears all the time!

James

[Stratmangler]

Does your son play in any bands ?

If so a better amp would probably be more beneficial.

Chris