Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that a twin necked guitar is gimmicky and would make DS look like a twat?

121 replies

WankersHacksandThieves · 04/03/2017 18:40

My lovely DS2 (15) has been learning the bass guitar for a little while. We got him a 2nd hand bass/amp etc for his birthday, he messed around himself for a few months and has now been taking lessons for 3 months.

He has dreams of being in a band etc. fairly typical teenage dream.

He hasn't studied music at school but wants to take it up again after the summer and says he's really keen.

He wants to upgrade his bass which I'm fine with. He has saved up £540 but has seen this twin necked thing that he absolutely has to have - it's nearly £1000. He is desperate to start selling stuff to get the money together.

To me it's the kind of thing a successful rock star may have on stage at Wembley, it's not the sort of thing you would be using to gig around pubs etc. DH says he'll get laughed at and look a twat.

He's been really good lately, getting stuck into his studies and generally being great to be around. He was fairly down and hating school a few months ago and very moody, we want to keep his mood positive since he only has two months until exam time and he also has a fair amount of course work he needs to submit that goes towards his exam results.

I'm currently trying to gently question his choice and telling him not to rush in and he'd be better waiting until after the exams to start digging stuff out to sell or getting a part time job. DH thinks we should just say "No" and tell him that he'll look a twat...

Are we wrong? Anyone think this is a good idea? Anyone got any tips on what to say to him?

OP posts:
Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 04/03/2017 19:49

Alec was just looking at GuitarGuitar on-line but the Edinburgh store. We are probably eeksie peeksie in terms of distance for Edinburgh or Glasgow but I prefer Edinburgh as it's where I grew up and I know it much better. We do have a music store where we live but it's quite small and not just for guitars etc so not a lot of choice. They will order stuff in for you but I think he'd be better getting his hands on the instruments and speaking to genuine enthusiasts.

OP posts:
ofshoes · 04/03/2017 19:58

Anyone that I've known with a double neck says the same thing, they look amazing in a Jimmy Page, 70s rock excess style but are hugely cumbersome and heavy. There's a reason page only ever plays stairway with his then goes back to a single neck. He'd almost certainly be better with two separate instruments. Slippery slope that mind, you start with one or two then like me end up with eleven! Two or three guitars more and I'll be done though.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 04/03/2017 20:09

ofshoes yes, it does look awkward to play and DS is not the most dexterous, I'm surprised that he does seem to be doing reasonably well (we think) as he struggles with a lot of manual stuff e.g. doing his laces, cutting up food etc. and he has to type in school as his handwriting is atrocious. I don't think the weight would necessarily bother him as he's huge!

I've just messaged his guitar teacher (about something else initially) but I've mentioned what Ds would like to buy and that we don't think it's a good idea and that we've said for DS to speak to him about it - just to forewarn him.

OP posts:
ClashCityRocker · 04/03/2017 20:15

I think your son is probably more likely to listen to sensible advice from people who he thinks know what they're talking about - and for a lot of teens, that person isn't their parents, particularly when they've already got an idea in their head.

Rather than tell him he'll look daft (which he will!) which he may not take well, or may just think you and dh are 'past it' could someone who he respects in that area - like his tutor, maybe - explain why it's not a good idea at this stage?

Aesthetics aside, it's something that you can only pull off musically if you're pretty bloody shit hot.

Broccolirevolution · 04/03/2017 20:18

OP - don't buy this instrument. It's a gimmick like you say and I think he would be better off with 2 separate instruments. I'm a music teacher who has worked in Scotland by the way so not inexperienced in this area.
He doesn't need a fancy imported 2 neck instrument- he needs a simple instrument and to enjoy himself playing.
Also I totally get telling your kid he might look like a twat. You're not being nasty, you're trying to help him!

rogueantimatter · 04/03/2017 20:19

How about treating him to a pedal board so he can make lots of different sounds and effects? Or a better amp or for that matter a better bass?

Even a fantastic bassist won't manage to sound good if their amp isn't good quality.

Or how about a five string bass?

AlecTrevelyan006 · 04/03/2017 20:23

5-string bass???? Noooooooo.... not unless he wants to play either extreme death metal or weird 'world music'

celtiethree · 04/03/2017 20:30

WankersHack if your DS hasn't been playing for very long then he may struggle to crash the higher. Most marks are for performance I think it's 50/60 percent can't quite work out how many marks you can get for composing. The music they take in s1 to s3 doesn't really prepare them well for nat5 or higher. It's lessons outside the school or at very least the extra music lessons offered by the peripatetic music teachers - (which your son is now unlikely to get as he is so far through the system) that seem to get the students to the right standard. I'm not saying it can't be done but just that it will be quite hard. Higher is equivalent to abrsm G4, most children I know that have taken higher music are playing to a much higher standard than this on both of their instruments. Good luck to your DS if he goes decide to take music - I echo others pls pls pls don't let him buy the twin necked :)

blubberball · 04/03/2017 20:33

I would worry about him taking an instrument worth that money, and it just getting nicked in the pubs and clubs.

ofshoes · 04/03/2017 20:35

How about treating him to a pedal board so he can make lots of different sounds and effects? Or a better amp or for that matter a better bass?

Plus one for effects! Expanding his sound palette would be really good fun and hopefully an incentive to practice

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 04/03/2017 20:41

Thanks all, just been on-line chatting with his teacher and he is on board. He does respect him so hopefully he will listen. I've also told the teacher that we are happy for him to suggest stuff in the £300-450 arena and that we never had the conversation. We shall see...

celtie that's precisely what I thought re crash Higher. I've said that he needs to go and discuss with one of the music teachers to get their view. He won't have long before he needs to choose his S5 subjects, but a lot will also be dependant on his exam results. He needs to get Nat 5 maths as this is required for virtually anything he could do on leaving school (with the exception of being an internationally renowned bass player in a rock band of course!). If he doesn't get Nat 5 this year (he got 26% in the prelim) then he'll need to do it next year which would leave him with only 4 Higher slots, I wouldn't be happy with him doing 3 highers and 2 nat 5s.

OP posts:
rogueantimatter · 04/03/2017 20:42

The other thing about higher music is that although it's very broad-based, it's much more difficult for pupils who don't have a solid background in reading music.

Performance is 60% of the mark. Composition must be passed but doesn't count towards the final mark.

TBH a 5-string bass would be more difficult to play.

rogueantimatter · 04/03/2017 20:44

x-posted as usual.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 04/03/2017 20:50

I hadn't thought of a pedal board - I know nothing about music. I'll maybe suggest that or just leave it until he gets a visit to the guitar store.

Oh and I think someone mentioned singing? I haven't heard him sing since he was bawling "Bob the builder.." from his cot so I'm not sure if that would be an option.

My problem with his guitar teacher is that I think he fills his head with stuff about him being in a band by the summer and earning money from gigs that would be far more than he could get stacking shelves in Tesco etc etc. I'm not saying any of this might not be possible but DS has only been having lessons for 3 months so unless he is some prodigy, I think that sounds a bit ambitious - DS is lapping it up though and I can't really blame the teacher for trying to encourage him as it's his job and livelihood. I have pointed out that teacher seems to be a really good player and yet he is a teacher as opposed to touring the world in a rock band so it isn't necessarily that easy and it isn't all about just being a good player. Maybe the teacher is happier teaching though and it does seem to be a way to make a decent living, I'm not trying to put the teacher down to DS, just explaining that it isn't something that happens by magic.

OP posts:
AlecTrevelyan006 · 04/03/2017 20:54

OP - as a slight aside, of the five members of m son's band, he is the only one that studies music even at gcse level. So if your son doesn't go on to study music there'll still be loads of opportunities to play.

notMarlene · 04/03/2017 20:57

A double neck would usually weigh 10 - 13 pounds. They really are very heavy indeed, all other factors aside.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 04/03/2017 20:58

thanks Alec yes, that's true. tbh I think he wants to do it as A: he is now really interested in music, and B: because he thinks it will be an easier option than some other subjects which I am sure is only true if you've been taking lessons/playing for years.

OP posts:
AlecTrevelyan006 · 04/03/2017 21:05

OP - I do hope your son's music teacher isn't projecting his own dreams too much on to your son. As someone who's dipped in and out of music all my life I know that this happens - I have had to consciously avoid doing it with my own lad.

Playing in a band is great fun, but earning a living it from it is very difficult (but not impossible).

As Sting often says "Music is its own reward."

rogueantimatter · 04/03/2017 21:07

How about a keyboard? He would only need to learn to play two or three pieces for H music. Great for reading music, theory and harmony skills.

Does he like to listen to a wide variety of music? I get the impression that people who have been taught classical instruments are at an advantage when it comes to SQA exams - although the curriculum is very wide-ranging.

BillMasen · 04/03/2017 21:07

I'm a bass player. Been playing for 15 years or so (and many years before that as either a drummer or guitarist). I've played in many bands and still gig regularly. I can second a lot of the advice on here.

With around £500 to spend I'd be looking second hand good quality 4 string basses. You can get some really nice quality stuff for that. Most of my basses cost around that and they're the ones I use week in week out. Happy to PM you some suggestions. Anything out of the ordinary I think would just make learning and gigging harder. I'd also agree with some pedals. Nothing too flash but they are pretty useful and also quite good fun. Again happy to talk about what I use.

The best thing he can do is get in a band, preferably with people who are more experienced and better than him. It makes for a steep learning curve but it really is the best way to get yourself up to a standard.

I wish him all the best. Being in bands is something I've loved all my life and it's always good to see people starting that journey.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 04/03/2017 21:10

I doubt if music is 'easier' than any other subject, but I've always thought that if you're really into something then it just feels easier.

Either way, I hope your son sticks with the bass playing, whether he is studying or not and it sounds like he has very supporting parents. Good luck :)

BillMasen · 04/03/2017 21:10

Oh and the weight point mentioned above is a good one. I'm sure he knows this or will be told by his teacher but he should aim for fairly light and well balanced (when standing up to play you should be able to let go of the neck and it not to drop down). Again personal preference but I think makes playing easier.

rogueantimatter · 04/03/2017 21:10

DS was in a band - it evolved from jamming with a friend who played guitar to getting school friends who sang and played the drums to join. And sometimes DH joined them on the keyboard Grin They got a few gigs!

DS' old school had a rock band led by one of the teachers.

catkind · 04/03/2017 21:11

Translation service:
Some people use twat to mean a cross between twit and prat. Other people understand it as a very rude word for part of the female anatomy. When the first sort of people use it around the second sort of people, red faces happen one way or other.
(Nothing actually useful to add, just reading out of interest.)

outabout · 04/03/2017 21:12

( he is a teacher as opposed to touring the world in a rock band)
There is more 'politics' and a lot of luck, being in the right place at right time with right people for the true 'rock bands' to actually make a lot of money. There are many excellent musicians around who enjoy making the music they like without excess 'hype'. It is the equivalent of having to kiss lots of frogs! As a teacher he gets to work regular hours, 'guaranteed pay' sees his family and so on. This may seem like a 'square' comment but the 'X Factor BS drives me mad!

Swipe left for the next trending thread