If you were buying a NEW PA for child beginner ...

[Soulsaver]

Wasnt sure if this was better here than in Makes & Models:

If you HAD to buy a new 48 bass PA for a child student:.

Would you buy a Hohner Bravo or Black Diamond and why?

Or you can recommend alternatives but they MUST be new, light, small and within budget..

The max budget is, say, £700 delivered inc straps & case/bag:
Hohner Bravo II £675 delivered inc straps & good gig bag (Thomann)
Black Diamond £620 as above but maybe case not gig bag.(eBay- Black Diamond)

 

[george garside]

out of the two I would definitely go for the Bravo as it will not depreciate as quicky which is very important if buying for a child as they quite often lose interest in a particular instrument. Its also a better box! Prices can vary with special offers etc so worth doing the rounds

george

 

[Soulsaver]

out of the two I would definitely go for the Bravo as it will not depreciate as quicky which is very important if buying for a child as they quite often lose interest in a particular instrument. Its also a better box! Prices can vary with special offers etc so worth doing the rounds

george

Depreciation- good point - but I've not noticed any BD 2nd hand yet... not been looking, tho'.
2nd hand Bravos do come up for exactly this reason, sometimes in exceptional comdition - if it was for me& mine I'd wait for one to come along but you know what some are like...

 

[Adam-T]

Neither - I`d get a Weltmeister from Thomann - better than a Bravo and less money ......... of course the real answer is to get the kid a USED Hohner Student VM, Student 48 etc at as low a price you can find for one which is full playable without fettling .

 

[Glenn]

What size child are we talking of here?
If the accordion can be a little bigger then there is a wealth of choice second hand.
Some even crazy colours which kids like.

 

[Anyanka]

I'll second Adam's vote for the Hohner Student VM. It's even smaller than some other 48 basses, lightweight, and easy to play. Pure fun.

 

[Soulsaver]

Why the VM over other Student models? How much for a good one?

 

[Anyanka]

Why the VM - I'll leave that to Adam. It's the model I've got, and it's great. Mine came from German eBay for around £150 (can't remember exactly how much), but needed some work; I've seen good refurbished ones for £350-450.

 

[george garside]

the vm is 48 bass, there is also a 40 bas version that tends to go cheaper and it the same exept for no dim chords

george

 

[Adam-T]

and to be honest, there`s the IVM too which is 32 bass and smaller - lovely sounding lively box, the cheapest of the lot . 32 bass is enough to get going , misses out on Counters, Dims and 7ths - not an issue for most folk music anyway and fine for a beginner

 

[nathen]

While we're on the subject, I have a six year old grandson who is as big as an eight yr old. I was going to get him a used 12 bass but maybe I should think bigger? I don't want to overwhelm him right from the start. Any suggestions?
I did get him a Hohner Celeste Tremolo mouth organ for Xmas that he loves.

Nathen