Below is our list of “Recommended Best Bass Guitars for Beginners” We chose these basses using the following criteria:
Quality: These are all high quality basses that are reliable and dependable. You can count on these basses to last without breaking down and needing unreasonable repairs. They are all manufactured by well-known, reputable companies that provide legitimate warranties & guarantees.
Playability: All of these basses are relatively easy to play. They are all well-balanced, comfortable, and lightweight basses. All of them are designed with neck dimensions that are suitable for beginners – mid-sized necks that are easier to handle. They are all designed with specifications and controls that allow for great tonal versatility. All deliver quality sound that can be inserted into any playing situation. Whatever style or genre you’re in to playing, these basses will do the job.
4-Strings: These are all 4-string basses – which is what we recommend for beginners. A 4-string bass is what you need in order to properly learn the fundamentals and basic theory of playing. 4-string basses will not limit you from being able to play anything. If you’re considering a 5 or 6 (or more) string bass, we suggest waiting until you are well into to the more advanced levels of playing.
Cost: All of these basses are relatively affordable. They fall within the $200 to $500 price range – which is an excellent price for a quality, playable bass. We did not recommend any “cheap” instruments. These are all reputable basses that are great for beginners and designed to last without any unreasonable repairs. There are basses that cost less – but you may sacrifice sound, durability, playability, etc…you get what you pay for!
Below is our list of recommended bass guitars for beginners – displayed in alphabetical order:
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Ibanez GSR200
The GSR200 boasts a smooth, fast neck, lightweight body, and perfectly matched electronics. It comes with the Phat II active bass boost that adds additional low-end power. A very “friendly-priced” bass guitar.
- Agathis body
- One-piece maple neck
- Rosewood fret board with Pearl dot inlay
- Split-coil and single-coil pickup combination
- Chrome hardware Fully adjustable bridge
- Medium frets
Schecter Stiletto Extreme-4
The Schecter Guitar Research Stiletto Extreme-4 delivers the ideal combination of hard-hitting Schecter sound and jaw-dropping aesthetics. It has a lower-cutaway mahogany body, exquisite figured maple top, maple neck, and 24-jumbo-fret rosewood fingerboard. The 2 Schecter bass humbucker pickups with active EQ give you maximum control.
- Mahogany body with flame maple top
- Thin C neck shape
- Smooth rosewood fingerboard
- Vector fingerboard inlays
- 24 XJ frets
- Black chrome hardware
- Schecter tuners
- Schecter Diamond Bass pickup at the neck and bridge
- Two-band active EQ control
Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Jazz Bass
The Jazz Bass is one the most popular bass guitars ever played. It’s popularity is due in part to it’s ability to produce the widest array of sounds. From R&B, to Rock to, Reggae the Jazz bass can generate any sound you’re after. It’s also one of the easiest and most comfortable basses to play. This Squier Classic Vibe bass has the features that has made the Jazz famous. It has a comfortable contoured body, fast action neck, and a pair of single-coil J Bass pickups –> all an extremely affordable price!
- Poplar body with pickguard and gloss finish
- Maple neck with C profile and maple fingerboard
- Dual Fender-designed Alnico single-coil pickups
- Bridge and Neck Volume controls
- Master Tone control
- Nickel hardware includes vintage style bridge and tuning machines
Squier Affinity Series – Precision PJ Bass
The Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass PJ puts classic Fender P Bass tone and feel into your hands at an amazing price. Featuring a lightweight, resonant polar body, this bass is friendly on the back for hours of performance. The combination of Precision and Jazz bass pickups in this stellar bass gives you the vintage, gritty Fender tone that has won over so many players over the decades. And since each pickup has its own volume knob and master tone knob, you can tweak your tone to your preference. The Affinity Series Precision PJ features a maple neck and 20-fret laurel fingerboard for fast, comfortable playing and wide-open stylistic exploration. Vintage-looking tuners compete the setup on this stunning instrument.
- Fender quality with great Squier value
- Standard split-coil Precision Bass pickup and single-coil Jazz Bass pickup give you versatile sound
- Volume control for each pickup and a master tone control let you dial in your own tone
- Fast-playing maple neck with 20 medium jumbo frets and laurel fingerboard
- 4-saddle standard bridge for classic Fender playability and tone
- Vintage-style tuners
Yamaha TRBX 304
The TRBX304 is built around a simple principle – your performance. The perfectly balanced, ultra-comfortable solid mahogany body provides the optimum tonal foundation while the Performance EQ active circuitry gives instant access to perfectly dialed-in stage-ready tones coupled with the expressive control you need.
- Sculpted solid mahogany body
- 5-Piece, bolt-on, maple/mahogany neck
- YGD designed M3 pickups
- Exclusive Performance EQ active circuit with five performance-tuned full spectrum EQ curves
- High-mass die-cast bridge
- Metal plate-mounted standard jack
Thanks for checking out our “Recommended Bass Guitars for Beginners”. Check out some of our other recommendations for the best bass guitar gear on our Gear & Equipment Main Page:
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Recommended Best Bass Guitars for Beginners
