My son's first Bass

markm2553 · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 11:22 am Post subject: My son's first Bass

I don't play bass, and don't own one right now. My oldest son will be turning 18 next week and he wants a bass setup for his birthday.
He knows about as much about it as I do.
The music shop I like most to deal with recommends a Fender Squire P Bass. They sell them new for about $200 and they have a nice 15 watt bass amp with a few effects used for about $75 ( Roland, I think ). I have found a couple of the same type and brand used for maybe $50 less. Are these a pretty good starter bass? He plays drums right now, but him and a friend are working on a band (Christian) and are having trouble finding a bass player, he wants to learn.
My father-in-law plays, but he is "old school" all the way. I'm sure he will help his grandson get started playing. But I don't think he will be much help with picking an instrument my son would like...

I have never posted in here before, it's kind of scary. Smile

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 812 Location: Texas

Mark, IMO the Fender should be fine, but the amp....well, he's going to be real unhappy with it the first time he plays with a drummer. 15Watts is nothing more than a practice amp. No headroom , no punch etc. I would look at used amps 50 to 100watts at least. That way the bass will at least sound like a bass. Be God's-scott

Bates15 · Moderator Joined: 19 Feb 2002 Posts: 1084

I havnt tried the fender bass yet. I own a yamaha (cheapest model) and that workes fine. A mate of mine got himself the Hartke starters pack and i actualy like the bass guitar. It feels right and it has some good sounds on it.

15w is very smal indeed. Even in your bedroom....

PunkStar · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 11:00 pm Post subject:

My Fresher is a copy of the P-bass and it has served me well for a good while now. It should be pretty good.

markm2553 · Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:24 am Post subject:

Thanks guys.
I made a trip at lunch today to my favorite guitar shop. I ended up buying the Fender Squire P-Bass. It really seemed to play very easy, clean nice look. They also had a larger Crate Bass amp I opted for. We plugged it into several different amps, and this one had the "biggest" cleanest sound of all of them. They had sold it to a guy new, and he traded it in yesterday for an upgrade after about a year or so. It is VERY clean, looks new. It's an older guy, and he put the amp on casters to roll it around to save his back. I think this amp is a 30 watt. I would have liked bigger, but I think this will work great to start on.

New Squire P-bass (black), new gig bag, new cord, used Crate Amp. $300
I think my son will be very happy, he has been asking my wife, if he was really going to get one for his birthday. I just hope I can hold out for one more week from giving it to him..

Bates15 · Moderator Joined: 19 Feb 2002 Posts: 1084

Lovely.... Have fun.