Bass for my 12 year old daughter

[Scoobs]

Sorry if this has been done before, I did try the search and I have googled it, but nothing very helpful appeared. My daughter is keen on the bass and wants to learn properly so apart from getting some lessons from someone who knows what they are doing (ie not me!) I think she probably needs a bass. The only one we have in the house is (still) my Farida Jazz as I haven't replaced it yet. I think it is too big and way too heavy for her so I am looking for something else that will be comfortable for her to play and progress on but not too pricey in case the enthusiasm runs out sooner rather than later (unless it is something I want obviously ). What would the bass chat hive mind recommend? A short scale bass? Squier Jaguar is it? Or does anyone make playable kids basses? What sort of budget would be realistic? I don't want something so cheap it is unplayable and puts her off. Thanks for any advice.

[Lozz196]

The Squier Jaguar would be my choice, as you say smaller & lighter, plus a Jazz width neck. Reckon that fits the bill nicely.

[lemmywinks]

Scale length is probably going to be the deciding factor, my daughter is a tall 11yr old and 30" is ok for her. An Ibanez TMB30 might be a good shout, they do some nice colours too.

[jd56hawk]

More young girls seem to play the Ibanez Mikro than any other bass

Edited March 18, 2022 by jd56hawk

[Japhet]

Thoroughly recommend the Ibanez Talman.

[lemmywinks]

Cort also do a Junior version of their Action bass which is 30", I would expect that to be very lightweight:

[Scoobs]

Thanks folks, looks like there are more options than I thought. I think scale length is probably the most important thing, I'll go and do some more internet digging. Just checking, everything above looks to be passive from the knobs (or lack of) to my amateur eye, I think we could do without batteries to worry about....

[Lfalex v1.1]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record... (regarding capos)

 

Beg, borrow or steal a capo. Get your lightest, best balanced bass. Give it to your daughter and see where she can reach. Place capo there and de-tune it such that its tuned EADG ("open" strings with the capo on)

At least she can get a feel for the instrument that way. 

 

Definitely not a permanent solution,  and it'll throw out any attempts at learning some theory aspects as the dots won't be in the right places etc.

Might give you an insight into a comfortable scale length for her, too.

[jd56hawk]

Just remembered...Sterling makes some very nice short-scale basses.

 

 

Edited March 18, 2022 by jd56hawk

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

If she likes a classic fender shape, but scaled down, the squier mini precision bass looks pretty good for around £140 new, or the harley benton equivalent for quite a bit less.

[Bigwan]

I bought a Squier CV Mustang for our wee fella. It's a great bass that I would frequently play myself... Which is, in truth, why I picked it! 

[AndyTravis]

Yamaha rbx 260 seems to work for mine (also 12)

[Scoobs]

I thought the Squier mini precision looked quite good too, but I think she might want something with 2 pickups. I expect the CV mustang is pretty nice, looks a level up price wise from the others though and more expensive than mine which I might struggle with!

 

[AndyTravis]

I Started at 13 (not that you’d tell) - i started on a Yamaha BB300 - big thing.

 

Anyhow. Depends on Daughters stature.

[Scoobs]

Daughter isn't small for a twelve year old, but her hands look small when she plays the Farida,and it just looks too big and cumbersome. I'm fairly sure it's heavy (I've not played many other basses in the 21st century but it's heavier than a MIM precision I have played)

[AndyTravis]

Read the original post properly now.

 

Farida FJB-6 is ace - you won’t find a skinnier neck.

 

But they can be heavy (9-10lbs) for a younger player.

 

CV Mustang?

[PaulThePlug]

Ibanez. GSR200 or SR500..

It's all about the Ibby Neck.

[redbandit599]

Lots of short scale 30" options.

 

The Ibanez Mikro is shorter still but a fat sounding lovely little bass.

Also the next size up is worth a look,  Ibanez Mezzo at 32", cracking bass.

[Dad3353]

 

[uk_lefty]

Hofner all the way. The tone is limited but it's a great tone. And the coolest female bass player, Tina Weymouth, used one for a while.

[Reggaebass]

There was a thread a few years back and I remember this looked quite good for the money 

[Happy Jack]

If my experience (with my own daughter) is anything to go by, the most important factor is how enthusiastic she is about actually picking up the bass and playing it.

 

Ideally you need a bass that SHE thinks looks cool and sounds great, and that SHE feels comfortable playing. 

 

And seeing as there's at least a 50/50 chance that she'll lose interest after a while, you need a bass that won't lose too much value over a few months, so deffo buy pre-owned. 🙄

[lemmywinks]

A Hofner is probably a terrible choice unless they want a specific sound and are happy with the limitations of what can be done on the instrument. What sort of music does she like to play?

[Scoobs]

I'm not convinced by the hofner either, and happy Jack I agree with you, it's like most things, if you like the way it looks/sounds you'll play/use/ride it more. Preowned would be good, one I like if she does go off it would be ideal.  

[T-Bay]

19 hours ago, lemmywinks said:

Scale length is probably going to be the deciding factor, my daughter is a tall 11yr old and 30" is ok for her. An Ibanez TMB30 might be a good shout, they do some nice colours too.

Really good choice ^^^ I had one and sounded fantastic for the money. For around £100 second hand they are a bargain.