Great short scale bass guitar?

Question

what a great bass for a 12 year old. My son has $300 to spend.

Answer 1

I appreciate TR's comprehensive answer, but it sounds to me like you probably already know all that just because you used the term "short-scale." Therefore, my pick would be the Hofner Icon bass, which is getting "fab" reviews. I'm betting you will be able to find one used (or blemished) for less than 300.

Check out the reviews here:

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/revie...

Kabum

Answer 2

The reason that there are so many different brands and models is that no single guitar works equally for everyone.  Guitar buying is a highly personal thing.

I speak as the father of a fine young bass player, who has just helped a friend set up another teen with a bass rig for under $250.  So here's how I did it:

First--does he already have an amp and other necessary gear like a strap and a tuner?  If not, you have those things to shop for as well.

A very good resource for this sort of thing is:

http://www.harmonycentral.com/

You'll find user reviews for lots of basses, amps, etc. there--as well as links to bass resources.

Now, to shop:

Go to a good music store--Sam Ash or Guitar Center or similar national chain, or the best full-service local music stores in your city.  Take along the shoulder strap if you have it; if not, try to pick up a good one--shop at

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/

and look for clearance items.

Have your boy try out basses that look good in his price range.  He's looking for FEEL--doesn't matter if he barely knows how to play, he's trying to judge whether his left fingers reach all the strings and frets well while the neck nestles comfy in the hand; whether the body is nice under the right arm as the fingers naturally touch the strings where they should be plucked.

Once he has several feel-good basses, it's time to shop.  Keep in touch with those music shops, perhaps the one he wants will go on sale.  Or maybe they'll have a return or a scratch-n-dent (don't worry--it will play perfectly, and almost every bass winds up scratched and dented anyway).  Comparison shop at musicians-friend website and also on ebay, etc.  Hold out for price.

Now, the sound of the bass will depend primarily on the amp-speaker setup, the effects, and the pick-ups.  If he's learning how to play, he can get by at home with a little 15-20 watt practice amp, but to play for the public he'll probably need at minimum a 180-watt combo, preferable a separate amp head and speaker set-up at well over 200 watts rms.  Those are going to run a bit over $300, tho you can continue to comparison shop and get the real bargains when they arise.

BTW, the set-up I just did includes a Rogue bass from musicians' friend ($90), plus strap, tuner, and fat jack's instrument cable (another $40), and a used 100 watt rms amp  from ebay for $110.  Should be loud enough for the kid to play in her little church's praise band, which is her aim.