My son said those 5 magic words...

[jlepre]

*BONGO PICS ADDED*My son said those 5 magic words...

"I want to play bass!"

Well you can imagine my excitement, so I immediately began my search for his first bass to call his own. He had told me that he really liked my Stingrays, but I wasn't going to buy him a new one, just incase he changed his mind. Plus I'm a 5 string player and he wanted a 4 stringer. So I settled on a Sub?,SCRATCH THAT... BONGO STEALTH and found a great deal. It will be here tomorrow, so I promise pics. You have no idea how happy and proud I am.

Let's just say that his first bass puts mine to shame BIG time! My first bass was a no name on the headstock made in Korea JAzz bass copy that cost $80.

"

 

[Russel]

yet another joins the ranks of those extroardinary people we call bassists.

and it looks like he's gonna play the real deal, too. even better.

 

[INMT]

I know the feeling, it ended up costing me a Silo and it looks like it will soon cost me a Luke too.
Rock On.

 

[r goldsmith]

Well, I know that feeling. I didn't push my son at all, but he independently concluded that bass, rather than guitar, is where the action is:

 

[TNT]

It's funny you said that Jlepre.

When my first born infant began to mouth the word ma, I immediately changed the first vowel to a U.

Do I have to tell you the rest!!??? My guitar pickin' kin folk were ecstatic!!

 

[jlepre]

Well...to make a long story short, the SUB didn't live up to his expectations. Let's just say that looking at the old man's basses, has spoined the young would be bassist. Needless to say, it's off to the local EBMM dealer to find a REAL Sterling or Stingray.

I'm not bashing SUBS, but you really do get what you pay for, but I'm a really spoiled EBMM snob...

 

[MrMusashi]

hehe.. neat picture mr goldsmith
i see you have him on a healthy diet (motown and musicman)

jle: like father like son.. hehe.. good thing he knows his basses already!

MrM

 

[cky4ever]

Hes lucky he starting out early, its easier to learn... and on a ray... thats something

 

[jlepre]

Hes lucky he starting out early, its easier to learn... and on a ray... thats something

He is one lucky kid! I didn't get my first ray until last year!

 

[oli@bass]

Let's just say that his first bass puts mine to shame BIG time! My first bass was a no name on the headstock made in Korea JAzz bass copy that cost $80.

Though I understand your enthusiasm, and that you want to help your son as much as you can, I have to weigh in with my thoughts:

Having the Stealth Bongo as first bass, he'll miss the opportunity to step up on gear, which I enjoyed a lot... What is he going to upgrade to in the future, when he's already playing one of the best and coolest basses in the world... it's like giving him a new Bimmer as first car...

However, I sincerely hope he'll be enjoying playing the bass like we all do... it's such a great instrument to play!

 

[mynan]

Though I understand your enthusiasm, and that you want to help your son as much as you can, I have to weigh in with my thoughts:

Having the Stealth Bongo as first bass, he'll miss the opportunity to step up on gear, which I enjoyed a lot... What is he going to upgrade to in the future, when he's already playing one of the best and coolest basses in the world... it's like giving him a new Bimmer as first car...

However, I sincerely hope he'll be enjoying playing the bass like we all do... it's such a great instrument to play!

That might be one of the most nonsensical posts I've ever read from you...

 

[UniTap]

Though I understand your enthusiasm, and that you want to help your son as much as you can, I have to weigh in with my thoughts:

Having the Stealth Bongo as first bass, he'll miss the opportunity to step up on gear, which I enjoyed a lot... What is he going to upgrade to in the future, when he's already playing one of the best and coolest basses in the world... it's like giving him a new Bimmer as first car...

However, I sincerely hope he'll be enjoying playing the bass like we all do... it's such a great instrument to play!

I understand what oli is trying to point out. Upgrading your gear can be the symbolic acknowledgment you reached a new level as a musician and deserve a better instrument to match your skills. That has been part of the fun in my journey as a bass player. However, I didn't started with the top bass availaible on the market so i think no one can say weither the Bongo is a good starting bass or not. And, besides, he will be able to step up to Bongo 6 someday...

Make sure the kid knows how lucky he is!

 

[mynan]

Upgrading my gear was just the symbolic acknowledgment that I was making more money...

I can't tell you how many times I wanted to quit due to the sound tech constantly telling me to turn it down because the tone from the boat-oar I had strapped around my neck just sucked.

 

[jlepre]

Upgrading my gear was just the symbolic acknowledgment that I was making more money...

I can't tell you how many times I wanted to quit due to the sound tech constantly telling me to turn it down because the tone from the boat-oar I had strapped around my neck just sucked.

+1 I have to agree with you, but I can understand Oli and others opinions. I also think that if my son starts with quality, it will make him a better player. What I mean is that if you play with garbage, it will be hard to hear his shortcommings as a bassist.

For example, when I had my first rig (no name bass, 8 watt combo) I thought I sounded pretty good. When I switched to Fender Pbass MIA/Fender Bassman amp, I realized that my technique was flawed because the equipment was much clearer and concise.

Then many years later I aquired my Fender MIA Pbass Deluxe with active pre-amp and Ampeg SVT6pro with SVT610HLF and heard more flaws in my technique because of the jump in quality equipment.

I just figured start him off on the right track to begin with and he can't go wrong. Now to find a nice quality combo amp...

Anyone else agree?

 

[oli@bass]

That might be one of the most nonsensical posts I've ever read from you...

Sorry UniTap explained better what I meant. Probably we have vastly different experiences.

Fact is that I've never had crappy equipment, but I didn't start with the best that is out there. My first bass was a Cimar (Ibanez) P bass, the second one a Squire P bass (a pretty good instrument BTW). Then I worked during vacations and earned the money for a custom made Rockinger PJ bass kit, white with matching headstock, paduak body, EMG pickups, all black chrome schaller hardware. There were several levels of satisfaction involved in getting it: I had earned all the money myself, I assembled the bass myself, I learned a lot about the bass as an instrument, and it took my sound and playing to the next level. During all the time I was playing bass, each new instrument made me playing better, also because the instrument was generally better build and easier to play.

Naturally, this worked for me and may turn off others.

Cheap combo? Try one of those small new Randall amps, I heard a pro demo them at a local store and was mighty impressed with the sound.

 

[RocketRalf]

I don't see anything wrong in starting with something very good. It will make him get better to justify having that bass, and the bongo, being so Hi-Fi (from what I've read, no experience) will sound just as he plays it. And he can always upgrade to more strings, a bigger amp, effects, etc.

 

[Bass_Beast]

+1 I have to agree with you, but I can understand Oli and others opinions. I also think that if my son starts with quality, it will make him a better player. What I mean is that if you play with garbage, it will be hard to hear his shortcommings as a bassist.

For example, when I had my first rig (no name bass, 8 watt combo) I thought I sounded pretty good. When I switched to Fender Pbass MIA/Fender Bassman amp, I realized that my technique was flawed because the equipment was much clearer and concise.

Then many years later I aquired my Fender MIA Pbass Deluxe with active pre-amp and Ampeg SVT6pro with SVT610HLF and heard more flaws in my technique because of the jump in quality equipment.

I just figured start him off on the right track to begin with and he can't go wrong. Now to find a nice quality combo amp...

Anyone else agree?

Haha yeah I have a Jay turser P bass, and it's poo ):
But I'm learning a lot from it
I'm thinking of getting a fender MIA active jazz, but I'm so attracted to that sterling...
sexy

Get an ashdown amp!
I need a new amp, I'm playing through a washburn guitar amp right now
I'm only playing through it because the amp that came with my bass (yeah thats how desperate I was to start playing) stopped working.

But with the guitar amp, I guess you could say I learned what settings I like to play on.
like how much mid and bass and treble I like.

Your son is one lucky man, or boy if you prefer!
put up some pics with him and his beast

 

[MingusBASS]

I think it's cool that you are buying him a really nice bass for his first. I mean what's the worst that can happen? I also don't believe for a second that you bought it just for him.

That being said, I started on a piece of crap Steinberger copy that was incredibly difficult to play. I had it for around 2 years before I moved up to something slightly more playable. Now I can't say for certain, but I feel that because it was so difficult to play and because I had this deep seeded desire to be a bassist, I built up an incredible amount of endurance in those first couple years. So I don't know, if I hadn't been challenged in those first steps, I'm not sure I'd be the player that I am today.

Take it for what it's worth, which probably isn't much, but I have this sense of romanticism about that first horrible bass and what I learned in those first couple years.

 

[Russel]

I'd say it's a good thing to have such a great bass to start with.

I can't deny the work and struggle involved with getting a good tone out of crappy equipment(I've been doing that for a while), and where that can lead you. But learning on something that has a high sound quality and high transparency would be absolutely wonderful for technique, and good all around for overall tone.

 

[jlepre]

I think it's cool that you are buying him a really nice bass for his first. I mean what's the worst that can happen? I also don't believe for a second that you bought it just for him.

You are very observant. If he changed his mind, and decided bass wasn't his thing, I would probably keep it anyway. I never really liked bongos, but hen we tried this one out in the store, I was blown away. The pre-amp in this beast is amazing! I mean I thought my Rays & Sterlings were the bomb, but these bongos, really are different.