So my 9 1/2 year old daughter has determined she just "has" to learn how to play bass guitar and after 6 months will not let it go. Lord knows I tried to play it off and hope that like most kids, it was just temporary topic - but it looks like it isn't.

Since I don't know jack shit about music or where to buy such instruments (other than Guitar Center), I was wondering if there was a place to buy a used one for a kid. I'm assuming a pawnshop would be a good place, but again I'm ignorant and I know there are musicians on this board.

Thanks - and for the smartasses out there - I know about ebay and google.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

Pawn shop. Just make sure it isn't broken. They like to sell shit like guitars with busted bridges and bent fret boards. You should probably bring someone who knows something about guitars with you to check it out.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

Pawn shop would be the worst place. They buy stuff for next to nothing and sell stuff for 3 times what its worth.

Go on CL and look for a 3'4 scale bass. It's lightly smaller than a regular bass and pretty easy to play.

Opinions will vary of course, but I would not recommend a smaller-scale bass for learning... I think a beginner should really be using a full-sized instrument in this case. I later picked up a smaller-scale bass for fun (an Ashbory) and love it, but that was after learning to play fretted and fretless regular scale.

craigslist is a great idea. Bookmark the DC area music instrument sales page and you will undoubtedly find a fine starter bass for under $100 if you check it every morning.

I would go that route, or if a new bass is preferable then I highly recommend the Squire Affinity J Bass. It is a low-end Fender Jazz that sounds good and plays well. The Jazz Bass neck is narrower than others, so that may aid a beginner with growing hands. Another option is try to find a Steinberger in the Spirit line, as Steinbergers have very narrow necks and are lighter in weight because they are headless (and look cool as shit too). Those will be more expensive though as they don't make them anymore to my knowledge.

Affinity J Bass link:

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Affinity-Series-J-Bass?sku=519631

$200 at the moment but can sometimes be found cheaper. I picked one up on sale to add to my collection of basses for a little less than that at Guitar Center, and a fall sale may come around.

I have more expensive basses as well, going up into the thousands, and I still like to play the Affinity Jazz. It has developed a little fret buzz but it is one of my favorites to play.

I thought about the whole learning on a 3'4 size bass issue, but for a young girl at her age, I thought she might get frustrated with a full size and quit.

Pgens is spot on with his recommendations of the Squire series. Steinbergers are really nice, but expensive and the strings aren't as easy to get as standard strings.

Look at some of the cheaper Ibanez basses as well.

Yeah, Ibanez, perhaps a Kramer or Yamaha will be found for under $100.

You may be right on the frustration with the size issue, I'm not saying I'm necessarily right on that one. Depends on the kid... from appearances she sounds motivated, so I say give her what she appears to be asking for.

FWIW Steinberger strings aren't too terribly difficult to find. I'd recommend buying sets in batches though, so if you need replacements you don't have to hunt down the store that happens to have them in stock.

I used to have a Steinberger guitar and that's exactly what I did. I bought 5 packs of strings at a time. The part I mostly bummed out about was I didn't really like the sound of Steinberger strings. They were good for the first 20 minutes and then went south fast.

I loved the guitar though. It was a blast playing it!

i say craiges list. If you want to get her some good lessons, do it at Twinbrook shopping center Music store. Filled with great people, i used to take drum lessons there. I'd like to see that place stay in business. they also do rentals if she is just wanting to start out. But i say fuck the bass, buy your daughter some drums (unless you hate noise). its easy to teach yourself as well, if you want her to pick an instrument and stick with it, i would avoid anything that requires intensive lessons... drums!!! and hey, what the fuck, ive been looking for extra cash... ill give her lessons on the cheap... and I mean that in the non creepy sort of way.

All - thanks for the advice. I'm glad to see I could get something new for around $100 - that way it's not a huge loss if she quits. I'll check Craigslist too, but it may be better to take her out and find one that's inexpensive, but she finds to be comfortable.

She wants the drums too, but that desire waxes and wanes, so I know she's not serious (right now). I don't think I could deal with the noise!!

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

Craigslist will have the best prices, but you won't be able to compare different instruments like in a store. It can be important for her to get her hands on the instrument and see how it feels. I think Craigslist is good for buying an amp, though. I think the amp is less of a personal decision. You could look for something like a Peavey Minx. Something with an 8" or 10" speaker, under $100 used.

Melodee Music in Sterling is a nice store. Also Chuck Levin's in Wheaton is the best store for new stuff, but I don't know how much used stuff or beginner-level equipment they have.

Bookmark this and check it once a day: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=bass&catAbbreviation=sss&srchType=T&minAsk=min&maxAsk=300

Also, if she ever plays with a band, buy her earplugs! If she ever gets serious and plays with a band regularly, buy her some Etymotic hi-fi earplugs.

earplugs?
What for?

http://www.rondomusic.com/bassguitars4.html

Gypsy Rose is only $109 with an amp and built for small hands
http://www.rondomusic.com/grb1kcpp.html
http://www.rondomusic.com/product1883.html
http://www.rondomusic.com/product2189.html
http://www.rondomusic.com/grb1kcppleft.html (lefty)

I've never played one, but some of the 'higher end' Rondo guitars get pretty good reviews, like their $279 Agile..

http://www.rondomusic.com/al2500albinobk.html

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Agile/AD2500/10/1



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/21/2009 09:18PM by trogdor!.

trogdor! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I've never played one, but some of the 'higher
> end' Rondo guitars get pretty good reviews, like
> their $279 Agile..
>
> http://www.rondomusic.com/al2500albinobk.html


I have known Kurt at Rondo for several years and some of their guitars are really nice.
The Agile Les Paul 3000's and 3100's are amazing for $400, way, way, way better than Epiphone and other LP clones. They even have ebony fingerboards. I've had 2 of these and would love to get the Gold Top w/P90s one day.

I also have a Douglas hollow body from them that has become one of my favorite axes. It has 2 Rickenbacher Toaster type pups and a real Bigsby Tremolo. Plays and sounds awesome.

Another cool guitar from Rondo is their SX Jazzmaster clone. It's only about $110, but it's a really cool guitar.

I should point out that I bought a Jazz bass clone from them and was not impressed. The neck was not straight, causing the action to be completely out of whack.

Our neighbor actually plays bass guitar (who knew?) and she has two - one standard and one jazz. And as pgens pointed out - the jazz has a smaller/slimmer neck which my daughter liked the feel of, so we may be leaning that way.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

I recommend the Kramer
Attachments:

I ended up getting a pretty good starter bass on Amazon.com. A full size, purple/bluish Silvertone 4 string bass with amp for about $130 (on sale). My neighbor tuned it, played it for a few days (we left it at her house), and said it's actually a really decent guitar - and not just for a kid.

Christmas was a huge success and I've got a very happy 10 year old plucking away in her room.

Thanks for all of the advice and comments!

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.
Attachments:

The next thing to do is for her to find people to jam with. If all she does is sit in her room practicing scales, she will probably lose interest pretty quickly.
You don't fully appreciate playing an instrument until you jam and connect with other musicians telepathically.

Numbers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The next thing to do is for her to find people to
> jam with. If all she does is sit in her room
> practicing scales, she will probably lose interest
> pretty quickly.
> You don't fully appreciate playing an instrument
> until you jam and connect with other musicians
> telepathically.


Our neighbor's kid got a drum set and her friend up the street fiddles with the guitar, so we sorta have a trio, albeit a beginning trio...

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

Warhawk Wrote:

> Our neighbor's kid got a drum set and her friend
> up the street fiddles with the guitar, so we sorta
> have a trio, albeit a beginning trio...

Fiddles with a guitar? Isn't that called a "Guitfiddle"? I've heerd of'em
but aint never seen one.

Pik'r Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Warhawk Wrote:
>
> > Our neighbor's kid got a drum set and her
> friend
> > up the street fiddles with the guitar, so we
> sorta
> > have a trio, albeit a beginning trio...
>
> Fiddles with a guitar? Isn't that called a
> "Guitfiddle"? I've heerd of'em
> but aint never seen one.


Oops, I meant "fiddles" as in "tries to play, but not seriously".

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

Warhawk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pik'r Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Warhawk Wrote:
> >
> > > Our neighbor's kid got a drum set and her
> > friend
> > > up the street fiddles with the guitar, so we
> > sorta
> > > have a trio, albeit a beginning trio...
> >
> > Fiddles with a guitar? Isn't that called a
> > "Guitfiddle"? I've heerd of'em
> > but aint never seen one.
>
>
> Oops, I meant "fiddles" as in "tries to play, but
> not seriously".

I knew that but just wanted to mess with yer head. My son started
guitar lessons when he was 12. That was 8 years ago and he's
turned into an excellent musician. Plays with a band in college
and they're trying to line up some club gigs as soon as all of
them are 21. I've made him promise if he hits the big time that
he will treat my wife and I just like Elvis did with his
parents. Mansion on the hill, limo's, servants, plenty of cash, etc...
Hope he makes it. After all, we paid for his lessons.:)

Good luck with your daughters guitfiddle.

Pik'r Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Good luck with your daughters guitfiddle.


Yes, and good luck with you and your son's dreams.

pgens Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pik'r Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Good luck with your daughters guitfiddle.
>
>
> Yes, and good luck with you and your son's dreams.


LOL.
+ 1

If she keeps playing, check out daisy guitar. I am thinking of getting one of their guitars myself as my hands are fairly small.

Genevieve Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If she keeps playing, check out daisy guitar. I
> am thinking of getting one of their guitars myself
> as my hands are fairly small.

Daisy's are fine for kids and beginners but if you want to upgrade,
Taylor makes some quality guitars that have smaller necks. My wife's
hands are tiny and the Taylor fits hers just fine.

http://www.taylorguitars.com/