The Best Bass Guitar That Any Bassit Would Love To Have!

By Monica | Guitar

Jun 05
best bass guitar

Nobody can just the deny the importance of a bass guitar on modern music. In any genre, this particular instrument can play melodies or play rhythm. Its intricacy has led to its versatility on the mix. But sometimes, such performance is dependent on the quality of your instrument. In short, there is a need for you to get the best bass guitar.

Choosing a bass guitar is not that easy. You should know this by now. If you have an experience of playing this instrument, you already know that it has a complicated setup. Its construction might have similar nuances to an electric guitar. However, never think that they work by the same mechanisms.

If you are not careful, you might end up getting a bad unit. And that's not a good predicament to get into. It is a waste of your precious money and time. Moreover, hearing the sound from a weak bass guitar will certainly annoy your ears (and your neighbors as well). Of course, we want to save you from such misfortunes.

In this article, we will be featuring some of the best options of a bass guitar that you can have. Furthermore, we have included a comprehensive buying guide that will provides you the basics about this instrument. So what are you waiting for? Read on!

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Best Bass Guitar: Our Top Picks

Things to Consider Before Buying a Bass Guitar

There are different models and varieties of bass guitars that you can see on the market today. Therefore, the choice becomes more arduous than it has been before. Shopping is difficult, especially if you are offered with dozens of options to choose from. Fortunately, you can narrow down your selection by the learning the ropes of this instrument.

Bass Guitar Type

The first thing that you have to do is to know what kind of bass guitar you are looking for. After all, you should realize that this instrument comes in multiple variations. Specifically, you can opt either of the following:

  • Semi-acoustic
  • Electric bass
  • Acoustic electric
  • Acoustic

Each of these variants has different intended applications. Therefore, you have to choose based on your needs and preferences. You have to take into account your inclinations. A particular bass guitar might feel more comfortable than the other. Although comfort is pretty subjective, it could become a deciding as well.


Number of Strings

Most of the standard bass guitars have four strings. They are perfect for beginners since they can teach the basic chords and notes that this instrument has.

Once you progress in your learning, you will realize that the 4-string bass guitars are pretty limited. Sound versatility is an issue, especially to advanced players. This is when they have to invest in 5 or 6-string bass guitars.

Of course, it is already given that playing the said instruments are pretty hard. After all, they will introduce you to new notes, chords, and more complicated passages. That's the reason why they are perfect for seasoned bassists already.

But for amateurs, we recommend that they should choose the 4-string version. The latter requires less hand and finger movement. Moreover, the number of notes and chords are not that many. Therefore, you can master them quickly.


Scale Length

Specifically, the scale length pertains to the vibrations produced by the strings. In the anatomy of the bass guitar, the distance from the bridge and nut is the actual scale length. If you want to create high-pitch bass sounds, you ought to choose a bass guitar with a small scale length.

However, most bassists prefer bass guitars with long scale length because they can produce low-pitch sounds effectively. Of course, the bass guitar is popular for such kind of aural characteristic. You can determine which scale length you should choose by just looking at your hands. Are they small? Then you should get a bass guitar that has a small scale.


Fretted or Fretless?

This is a huge consideration that you have to keep in mind whenever you shop for a bass guitar. The fret of a guitar is the wall that separates the notes from one another. In this way, you can reach them easily. For a beginner, they must choose an instrument with frets. There is a good chance that an amateur is still not keen on hearing the distinctions between notes. Therefore, the frets will serve as your guides during practice session and regimen

A fretless bass could be annoying especially if you are new to this instrument. After all, it is challenging to hit the notes correctly if there are no frets to guide your hands. Meanwhile, a fretless bass is ideal for seasoned players. The reason for this is that they can already determine the appropriateness of notes by just listening to them.

These are some of the essential things that you have to learn about the bass. By familiarizing them, you will be able to cut the number of your choices significantly. This would result in a more convenient and hassle-free hunt for the ideal bass guitar for you.

Best Bass Guitar: Features, Performance, and More

One of the best bass guitars we have ever played is the Ray34. Specifically, this instrument followed the designs and performance of the legendary Man StingRay bass. Therefore, you can guarantee that all of its parts are functional, ergonomic, and reverberating. The preamp and the pickup are all StingRay, no matter where you look at it. Such capability enables it to create classic tones that anyone would love to hear!

Meanwhile, the bridge of this bass is patterned from the Music Man system. The latter includes steel saddles that you can fully configure. Moreover, the saddles prevent tone loss. As a result, you can always get your desired tone, regardless of your playing style. We are pretty sure that you will love its swamp ash body. Overall, the bass doesn't feel too heavy at all.


Pros:

  • Can create classic tones
  • Available in different body colors
  • Comes with a heavy duty bridge
  • It has different controls for volume and boost
  • Sturdy and doesn't feel cheap

Cons:

  • The default soft case of this device doesn't too much protection

Let's take a look at this product...


Most of the bass guitars today can never become as sleek as the Squier. This particular model follows the original construction of Fender Jaguar Bass. Its sound quality and construction are things that you won't regret investing in. Specifically, it has a P-bass pickup on the middle and J-bass pickup on its bridge. This unique design allows you to explore various tweakable tones!

Also, you will love the fact that has a separate control for its pickup volume (applies to both pickups). Therefore, this bass guitar can almost do anything. Its sound spectrum is pretty decent, too. But most of all, it has a price that will never make you cry!


Pros:

  • User-friendly construction (super comfortable and easy to use)
  • Comes with different pickups for maximum tone versatility
  • High-quality tonewood
  • It has a master tone and two volume controls
  • Awesome aesthetics

Cons:

  • There plating on the tuning pegs easily peels off
  • It seems that the frets are somehow uneven

Let's take a look at this product...


The BB Series is an innovative reinvention of Yamaha. The BB series were introduced in the market around 30 years ago. During that time, the instrument set the standards for bass guitar. After three decades, Yamaha took this one out from the box and modified it. And the result? A bass guitar that provides exceptionally rich and warm tone!

Two of the outstanding traits of the Yamaha BB Series are its impressive sustain and immersive volume. This is among the few bass guitars out there that can really stand out in the mix. Specifically, it features a variety of passive pickups for tonal versatility. Meanwhile, the instrument is using the unique "Diagonal Body Thru Stringing." The latter reduces the vibrations of the string on the body.


Pros:

  • Comes with a Vintage Plus Bridge that shapes the sound very well
  • It has a five-piece neck (bolt-on)
  • Impressive sound quality
  • Warm and rich sustains are really noticeable
  • Well-positioned string guide and tuning machines

Cons:

  • No noticeable drawbacks

Let's take a look at this product...


The EB-3 of the Epiphone is a bass instrument that you will never want to shrug off. After all, this guitar is a byproduct of a long-term evolution of the company. The EB-3 bass is a contender of Les Paul guitars. Therefore, you can assure that both of its construction and performance are no pushovers. This device can give you iconic basses that you can usually hear from Rolling Stones and The Who.

The design of the EB-3 imbibes a classic style. Specifically, it has a long-scale neck that enhances its tone and sustains. Meanwhile, the body has a mahogany construction. The latter is one of the most comfortable choices for bassists who are usually into recording and live applications. It also got the patented Sidewinder humbucker pickup of the Epiphone. This feature is complemented by a pickup selector (three-position) so that you can modify the frequency response fully.


Pros:

  • Impressive aesthetics and design
  • Highly quality selection of tonewood
  • Can provide a wide range of tones
  • Wide frequency response
  • Comes with a three-position pickup selector

Cons:

  • The construction doesn't provide balance on the instrument (it is a little heavy on the head)

Let's take a look at this product...


Another Yamaha bass guitar that will certainly impress you is the TRBX305. Specifically, this one is a 5-string guitar that possesses extreme versatility and sound production. It has great aesthetics, as well! Playing this guitar will not hurt your hands and body, as it comes with a super comfortable construction.

The body and the neck of this instrument is a combination of maple and mahogany tonewoods. Meanwhile, your hands will definitely love to play its fingerboard made from rosewood. The TRBX305 Bass guitar comes with two humbucker pickups. Moreover, it also has an active EQ circuit that quickly modifies the bass so that it can accommodate various playing styles.


Pros:

  • 5-way Performance EQ circuits for tone optimization
  • The humbucker pickups allow you to access different bass tones
  • This bass guitar can play bass for all music genres
  • It has a foolproof internal electronics
  • The body doesn't cause any discomfort while playing

Cons:

  • No noticeable drawbacks

Let's take a look at this product...


The Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV is the latest addition to the highly acclaimed Thunderbird Bass Series. The bass it produces has a distinct combination of traditional and modern rock-n-roll. It has a tonal versatility that can simply outmatch most of its competitors. Notably, this bass guitar is available on 4-string and 5-string versions. Therefore, it can cater different preferences and skill level.

The Thunderbird Pro-IV features the all-new T-Pro bass humbucker pickups. Because of this, this instrument can rock like no other Thunderbird units has ever done! Also, the humbucker includes an EQ and active electronics for an enhanced and optimal sound production. Just like the EB-3, the Pro-IV is also using a mahogany tonewood which is combined with a walnut-maple neck. Because of this, you can expect that this instrument has great tone and sustains.


Pros:

  • Premium design and construction
  • The T-Pro bass humbucker elevates it performance
  • It is very comfortable to play
  • Batteries are very accessible on the back
  • The bass is deep, warm, and rich

Cons:

  • It produces audible static hums

Let's take a look at this product...


Most of the guitars of Schecter are for metal genres. There's no doubt about that. This is the reason why most of their electric guitars have always been a part of the illustrious lists of excellent metal instruments. Therefore, it would not be a surprise that their bass guitars would not conform to their general specifications.

Specifically, the Stiletto is among the prime opuses of Schecter. It is an upgraded model of the standard Stiletto 4. The body of this bass guitar is made from the mixture of mahogany, walnut, and maple. We can say that its appearance is not the most attention-grabbing in the batch. But certainly, it is sleek and beautiful. When it comes to sound, this one produces subtle but aggressive bass. It is perfect for metal but can certainly work on other genres.


Pros:

  • It has a fantastic set of electronics
  • Built for metal
  • Great bass production (warm, subtle, but profound)
  • Premium build and construction
  • Comes with an S-Tek bridge and dot inlays

Cons:

  • Battery life is low

Let's take a look at this product...

Final Verdict

Overall, the entire mix won't be complete without the bass guitar. After all, this is the instrument that brings balance and tempo to the sound. Although it is unnoticeable, its subtle presence brings more color and texture to the music. Therefore, if you are interested in taking in the role of a bass player, you have to get a good unit first.

Among these bass guitars we featured, the Yamaha BB Series is the one that left a lasting impression on us. Playing it is so addicting that we can never get sick of it. It has an excellent bass production that fits various genres. Moreover, the build is premium and rigid. Nothing feels flimsy about this product!

However, you still have to check out the rest of the instruments that we featured. You will never know which is the best bass guitar for you until you tried all the possible options!

Did you like this article? Have we missed any particular brand or name that is worth adding to this list? Tell us in the comment section below! We are eagerly waiting!

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About the Author

Hi everyone! Im Monica and I am an avid lover of guitars and everything in-between. My current profession is not really music-related. It is quite discouraging but I just don't want to drop my zeal--especially not to guitars! I created GuitarTrance.Com so that I can keep up with my hobby. Of course, I want to engage with the community as well! Hope we can all get along!