I’m currently borrowing a bass (Ibanez SR2600) while I start learning to play. I’m very lucky to be able to borrow such a nice bass, but it’ll have to go back soon so I’ll need to get myself something to continue learning on.
A local guitar shop has a Squier Paranormal Rascal bass for sale at £279, and I was wondering if that would be suitable beginner bass? I believe it’s a short (30”) neck, which may actually be a benefit for me since I am fairly short in stature 
Phil
I believe, @Wombat-metal can say something about that one!?
Absolutely, that’s a nice bass.
I have one. It has a unique sound to me compared to my P clone. Yeah, you’re right it’s a short scale. It is a nice bass in any case.
One thing though is the bridge is almost in the middle of the body, makes you right hand somewhat cramped for space and a kinda pronounced angle if you practice a lot sitting down. Also it is a neck diver 
The Paranormal Rascal is an excellent bass, best bass Squier makes for my money. The dual humbuckers have a lot of tones, and unlike many basses, there is a fantastic tone when you play the bridge pickup alone. It’s versatile and an excellent beginner bass.
Let’s talk about the 30" neck. The bass uses the same body as the Bass VI, and the placement of the bridge is towards the middle of the body, so it doesn’t play just like a short scale. If the shop has it, play it, see how it feels.
I love mine.
The Paranormal Rascal is a very cool bass. Not just for a beginner.
If I had all the money, it’s one of only three basses I would like to have, at any price.
Thanks for all the input guys, as an absolute beginner it’s really helpful to be able to get more informed opinions about all things bass.
I’m going to pay a visit to the guitar shop at the weekend, so hopefully the Squier (just noticed the autocorrect in the topic title 
) will still be there to try out 
correct spelling is optional around here.
There are not universally good or bad “beginner” basses.
It’s all about what you enjoy that inspires you to want to play. Just have to go test it out and see if you like it.
That SR2600 you’re starting with is going to spoil you for a lot of other instruments.
To say the least. That’s a destination, not a place you leave
That’s why I don’t play my G&L Fullerton Deluxe Fallout as often. Reach-wise, it’s not as bad as the Rascal, but it plays like a medium bass. My EBMM T.C. Stingray is the complete opposite. My Schecter Banshee and headless Ibanez EHB1000S are close to the 'Ray. If the reach to the first fret is an issue for you, look for a used Schecter Banshee. It’s a great P bass that can be strung top-loaded or thru-body.
Ooooh … that’s beautiful! Made me shiver!
It took me a long time to track down a used Tim Commerford passive shorty. I found #23 of 50 at a boutique in Estonia. It had been purchased, played once, and returned. Still had the protective plastic on the pickguard and pickups. So, basically new.
What kind of person buys a 4000 € bass, plays it once and returns it?
I don’t know, but it was “used” so I didn’t have to pay VAT!
Here’s the whole bass. You can see the plastics sheeting. Not my couch. That photo was taken by the guy who owned the boutique in Tallinn.
Somebody more crazy than anybody here at BassBuzz!
Maybe the Estonian word for “used” and “stolen” is one and the same?
The father of my gf says, in Russia it is (he did quite some business in Russia, before 2022)
Very necessary remark!!!
Have you already posted pictures of ALL individual basses that you own?
I have never ever encountered somebody that a) shares my love for short scales and b) has such an exquisite collection!
You live in France, you have time … why don’t you build your own bass, out of local wood. I guess pine trees are not usable, and I remember a lot of cork trees in your neighbourhood, that bsuerely can find it’s place on a bass?
But some hardwood from the Pyrenees? Some repurposed stuff from Opinel or a 2CV? The wood grain coloured with a good red wine?
It would be the ultimate French bass!
Ha! Yeah I figured the SR2600 would spoil me, but fortunately I’m nowhere near good enough to be properly spoilt by it 
Sadly I don’t have any choice but to leave that space, since I’m only borrowing the SR2600
I think it’s good. You’ll come in with a solid sense of how nice an instrument can feel and will be less inclined to settle for “good enough”. You might also find you enjoy a guitar with a thicker neck. Ibanez necks are super slim.
Much of what drives up the price on the Ibanez specials are aesthetic choices in the materials - exotic woods, abalone inlay - that look great but don’t really affect playability.
So the Squier was gone by the time I was able to pay a visit to the guitar shop 
But I tried an Epiphone and loved the feel & sound of it, so I now have a new bass-baby … not the one I originally thought of, but I love it 
Bass, amp and accessories for just under £400, which felt like a pretty good deal to me 
The only thing I did notice post-purchase is the neck dive. When I played it in the shop I was sat down, but when playing standing up at home the neck had a tendency to head for the floor I can cope with it easily enough, but next time I’ll definitely remember to test both sitting and standing.
When looking for an intermediate-priced (IE: Indonesian) bass I tried about a dozen. I stood up when trying all of them (not the entire time while playing them, but specifically to check for neck-dive). It was my experience, on the two Epiphones I tried, that the placement of the strap button - near the neck/body juncture (versus on the upper horn on most non-Gibson/Epiphone bases) led to pronounced neck-dive. I liked the T-Bird style Epiphone bass in a lot of ways - but its large headstock and strap button location made it have the most neck-dive of all the bases I played. Folks who love them mentioned that a proper (wide) strap will greatly reduce the neck-dive. You might borrow/try a wide strap and see if that helps.
Ah, interesting - I wondered if the strap button placement was behind the neck dive. I’ll see if I can find a wide strap to try, and see if that helps.
I can stop the neck diving by resting my right forearm on the body, without (at the moment at least) adversely affecting my (beginner standard) playing. I love everything else about the Epiphone so I’m happy to work around the neck dive
