Bass Guitar

[fatjon]

I woke up this morning and decided that at 48 years old I want to learn to play a bass guitar. Now I know I have probably left it a bit late to the be the next Bernard Edwards or John Entwistle. My current musical experience is zero and I would like a bit of advice. My 15 year old son plays electric guitar and is getting pretty good and it's just something I always wanted to do.

I suppose the basics would be a good place to start. Any tips about what guitar to look for, any good books or DVDs for a beginner?

[fatjon]

Thanks KemP, will look at some of those Youtube pointers tonight. Had a quick look at the guitars you mentioned and there seems to be a wide variation in prices across that range from a few hundred to lots of hundreds. Some with one pickup, some with two. What's the difference?

This caught my eye without going to cheap or selling the house to fund it.

http://intl.fender.com/en-FR/basses/jazz-bass/70s-...

Being a child of the seventies that appeals to me. Does it look like a reasonable starting point?

I bought my son his first guitar off EBay for less that £50 and he struggled with it but was able to get a tune out. After a few months when he had demonstrated some commitment I took him to the local guitar shop and the chaps in there spent quite a bit of time with him and sorted him out with one he felt comfortable with, a Jackson SL?. As soon as he played it in the shop his face lit up. The transformation was spectacular, 6 months later he was playing solo in the school show and blew everyone away so the right instrument clearly matters.

[fatjon]

Thanks for your help guys, and especially thanks for not telling me I'm too old and to forget it!

@rgw2012
I hope you enjoy playing your little present to yourself and I hope my day will come.
For now I will apply the same discipline to myself as I applied to my son so the Music Man Stingray is out until I play well enough to deserve such an instrument. That may be a long time.