“How can I choose the best electric bass guitar for me?”
Does it sound familiar?
Surely, if you are a beginner learning electric bass guitar, this question must be in your head many times
Feeling so excited to learn bass, but finding the best electric bass guitar that suits yourself makes you unsure about this thinking. It is not as easy as you thought. In fact, many people playing guitar could also have struggled with choosing their best electric bass guitar.
Well, don’t worry!
In this article, we will help you find your best electric bass guitar.
Here’s the list of the top 15 best electric bass guitars in 2023 reviews with some useful tips to buy your right electric bass. Let’s take a look!
Best Electric Bass Guitar Comparison 2023
| Ibanze 4-String Bass Guitar | Polar Aurora 4 String Electric Bass Guitar | Yamaha 4 String Bass |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
$$$ |
$$ |
$$$ |
|
Best bass guitars for Beginner |
Best bass guitar package |
Best value bass guitar for guitarists |
** Below, you will find our detailed reviews of the Best Electric Bass Guitar, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
Detailed Reviews Of Top Best Electric Bass Guitar
Ibanze 4-String Bass Guitar
With the 28.6 inch scale length, the Ibanze GSRM20 4-string bass would be an ideal guitar for not only young learners, people who have small hands, but also the ones who just start to learn this instrument. It is very handy and lightweight when this bass weighs 6.9 pounds, which is suitable for those who are in need of travel-size guitars to take out on the road, or who want to have the guitar that does not take up too much space in their room. Moreover, compared to other guitars, this bass is affordable and modern when it is designed to have a slim neck and poplar body.
If you are looking for an excellent value guitar, this Ibanze GSRM20 is a great option for you. As said before, this can be the best electric bass for people who want to have a small, valuable guitar.
However, because the strings that come on the bass are round wound, it makes the sound very metallic and scratchy
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Compact and lightweight guitar
- Affordable price
- Well-made design
Things we did not like
- Metallic and scratchy sound
Goplus Electric Bass Guitar
Here’s another entry level bass which has an affordable price. The Goplus Electric Bass is another option for the beginners when you just have to pay about more than $100 to have a full package of the necessary accessories such as shoulder strap, bag, pick and amp cord to get you started. This package makes it easier to learn bass guitar and can be a great choice of giving as a gift.
The guitar is made with solid-bodied contender and features dual single-coil piezoelectric pick-ups which will make you get a smooth tone and great sound from this bass – an ideal choice for rock and roll.
But, everything has its two sides and this bass is not an exception. Besides the good sides of sound and design, the quality of this bass is not as good as other same price guitars. Honestly, it is a little bit fragile when you touch and use it.
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Beautiful design
- Affordable price
- Good intonation
Things we did not like
- Not top-quality bass
Squier by Fender Bronco Bass
Compared to the Ibanze GSRM20, the Squier by Fender Bronco Bass has larger scale length which is 30 inch, however, it is still a great size for the beginners, young players or other people who want to have a compact guitar to take out somewhere on occasion. This bass has a special design single-coil pickup and 2-saddle Chrome Bridge with volume and tone control, which helps you adjust the sound that you like and makes a good sound.
Moreover, this bass also has a solid-wood body and a maple neck and fretboard, which make the bass look more vintage.
Nonetheless, the wood that is used in the body is a little more fragile than other tone woods
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Great price for beginner
- Nice tone
- Great design
Things we did not like
- Not top-quality bass
Glarry Electric Bass Guitar
With the price you have to pay, we have to say the Glarry Electric Bass Guitar is quite a good quality guitar. It has a stunning design when this bass is constructed with a wooden and P Bass styled body featuring a maple neck with rosewood fretboard and 20 frets. The Glarry Electric Bass Guitar also has 34 inch scale length, which makes it a good choice for the beginner, or those who prefer to stand and play.
We can say that this is a beautiful, well-designed guitar with a good sound at the price of this bass costs. However, don’t expect too much. If you are looking for a bass that is cheap, great value and doesn’t need a top high quality sound and design, we think this is the one for you. It can satisfy the fundamental things that a beginner can ask for – A great starter kit
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Well-made finish
- Affordable price
- Good sound
Things we did not like
- Not a top-quality bass
Yamaha 4 String Bass
Coming from one of super popular brands – Yamaha, there is no doubt when we could say the Yamaha 4-string bass is one of those very few basses that you can call a quality bass guitar.
It is cool to have a nice design with a sporty-looking shape but you still feel comfortable and good-to-go when holding and playing it. The body of this bass is made from mahogany which makes the guitar have a good throaty tone. Moreover, Yamaha 4-string bass has a removable maple neck, so you can play fast-action easily and smoothly. Its pickups are placed far enough, which helps the controls do adjust between them nicely and provides a clean and punchy sound.
Compared to other affordable price guitars, this is a fine instrument, with good features and sound. However, it is a little bit heavier than other bass guitars.
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Affordable price
- Durable
- Flexible
Things we did not like
- Quite heavy
Ibanez 5-String Bass Guitar
Compared to the Ibanze 4-string bass guitar, this Ibanze 5-string bass has larger scale length (at 34 inch). However, it is still good for the beginners to act fast with relatively slim maple neck and medium frets. It is easy to play, sounds great and is easy to work.
There’s nothing particularly fancy about the hardware on the Ibanze 5-string bass, but it has performed pretty solidly in every section so far. If it is for practice or smaller performances, then the overall sound is a good one.
However, as some comments that we have seen, it has fret buzz and other setup issues
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Great look
- Good tone
- Affordable price
Things we did not like
- Does not work reliably
StingRay Ray5 5-String Bass Guitar
This Ray5 bass is the cousin of the Music Man StingRay 5 bass. With the maple neck and Fretboard on basswood body, this bass is classic, iconic instruments that defined a generation of bassists since the late 70’s. It is equipped with a Sterling by music Man designed Ceramic pickup and 2-band Active preamp: volume, treble, bass, which can help you more easily to get a sound that you want and feel like the sound is as good as the “real” stingray that costs over $1000 more.
Moreover, compared to the others, it is easy to set up and adjust even though it still has a problem with buzz fret sometimes.
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Beautiful, classic design
- Affordable price
- Good tune
Things we did not like
- Having some issues with buzz fret.
Costzon 4-String Bass Guitar
We can say this is another package at the affordable price for the beginners when the Costzon 4-String Bass is fully equipped with accessories such as bag, shoulder strap or amp cord. You can try to play it directly when you unbox this package.
The bass looks smoother and shinier with a polished surface of solid wood bass guitar. It features solidity but no harmful odor so that you can play it freely. Moreover, it is lightweight, which makes you feel comfortable and easy to carry. Moreover this bass delivers a smooth tone, it is ideal for rock and roll, playing the blues, and everything else in between
Like other cheap priced guitars, it still has some issues with the set up and this Costzon 4-String Bass is not durable.
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Light weight, well-designed bass
- Full package at affordable price
Things we did not like
- Not durable
Polar Aurora 4 String Electric Bass Guitar
Polar Aurora 4 String electric bass guitar is a perfect combo for beginners and would make a great gift at the low price when everything you need to start playing is all in this package. It has stable quality and stylish design-the electric bass guitar is made up of a wooden body, which is characterized by firmness that allows you to play freely. The bass has a natural bright sound of the guitar complements the warm sound of solid wood. The intonation and machine heads have always been spot on, and stays in tune for a long time
For a learning tool, it works fine. Nonetheless, it still has some issues with buzz sound
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Low price
- Classic, stylish design
Things we did not like
- Buzz sound issues
Dean Edge 09 Bass Guitar
The Dean Edge 09 bass has a sharp-looking design with a maple neck and the body made from basswood. The scale length is 22-fret and it makes this bass easier for beginner guitarists to play. Moreover, thanks to its basswood body, you will feel comfort and lightweight when carrying it. It has 10 bass amp features, 10 watts of power from a single 8-inch speaker. Also, it offers a stereo headphone jack, which is a good feature for anyone who wants to practice alone.
The amp is plenty powerful enough for practice. Strap and cord are decent quality. The tuner feels cheap but works perfectly
For the beginner, this is a great package if what you are looking for is something that you can start to learn on right out of the box.
In short, we can say that the bass itself is great quality for the cost.
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Great price
- Sharp-looking design
Things we did not like
- Not a durable product.
Fender Player Jazz Electric Bass Guitar
Beautiful bass, great sound is probably what you have heard most about this bass. The Fender Player Jazz Electric Bass Guitar belongs to the “Player” series of Fender, which is crafted in Mexico. This bass has the satin neck, Alder body with gloss finish, which makes it look more vintage, and attractive. With the shape of the neck, you can play it easier. More appealingly, its shape and balance make it wear easily. A well-made strap mitigates the weight issue.
Being a Jazz Bass, it is very versatile tone wise. It is punchy and warm but with good midrange growl too.
However, compared to the range of entry-level bass, its price is quite high for the beginner to start playing
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Vintage, well-designed look
- Punchy and warm sound
Things we did not like
- Quite a high price.
Yamaha BB234 BB-Series Bass Guitar
Another great guitar coming from the Yamaha brand. Yamaha BB234 Bass is the guitar belonging to one of the most well-known series – Yamaha’s BB series. Like other guitars in the series, this instrument is well-built with a solid body made from the Alder wood. Despite its smaller shape compared to other electric guitars, this bass still can balance well on your shoulders. Thick neck with well-rounded fretting, makes it easy to play
This bass has powerful pickups and active circuits, thus it can deliver a very clear voice tone with the lows. In addition, it also enhances the neck joint for better stability which makes the tone of this bass more flexible.
Nonetheless, if you are looking for a low-budget bass guitar, this one is not for you. Compared to other bass, it has quite a high price.
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Flexible tone
- Excellent quality
- Great design
- Easy to play
Things we did not like
- Quite a high price.
Washburn 4 String Bass Guitar
Owning single neck/body construction and fantastically warm tonal wood, the Washburn 4 String Bass Guitar can appeal to every inner bassist. Even though its neck is quite wide – wider for some people to play, this bass is still smooth as glass and easy to play. The fit and finish is excellent. Ends of the frets are smooth. This is an absolutely beautiful bass for you!
The knurled knobs are a great addition, and the keys are amazingly smooth and responsive. The pickups sound great too – either quiet and mellow, or punchy and distorted. Moreover, this guitar plays well straight out of the box, no adjustment needed. Plus, it comes with its own Washburn gig bag which can be seen as an extra added value for you at the price you pay.
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Stylish design
- Good range of sounds
- Easy to play
- Durable
Things we did not like
- The size is quite large
Exquisite Burning Fire Style Electric Bass Guitar
If you want to own a bass to lay down the bass tracks for some home recording, the Exquisite Burning Fire Style Electric Bass Guitar is a great option for you. Overall, it looks great, no dings, dents, or scratches. Compared with guitar, the bass features thicker strings and larger string tension. It did not need the truss rod adjusted. Finish is clear satin and nicely applied. The body is very light, most probably basswood or poplar
For such a low price, the bass is totally worth every penny. The sound is fine, no string buzzes at the above string clearances, even playing with a heavy hand
If you need a cheap bass that sounds good, you can get this one
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Light and appealing bass
- Low price
- Fine sound
Things we did not like
- Some adjustments are needed.
Safstar Electric Bass Guitar
The Safstar Electric Bass Guitar is another option for the beginner with the low budget. We can say this bass is easily worth the cheap price. It is lightweight and easy to carry. High density and hard texture rosewood is good for long lifetime of the guitar and turning machine. This is a good starter bass for child or adult alike
The bass plays great right out of the box. No fret buzz anywhere and it stays in tune perfectly. It has decent pickups and is shielded inside with copper tape. There is no noise from the pickup, which has a solid clear tone.
However, the quality is fine at the price you pay for
In brief, if you’re looking for a beginner bass guitar, this is definitely a good buy for the price, but you may want to upgrade something, such as pickups, strings, etc.
- Pros
- Cons
Things we liked
- Lightweight and nice design
- Good sound
- Low price
Things we did not like
- Some adjustments are needed.
Tips For Finding Your Best Electric Bass Guitar
It is a great start to learn bass by finding your best electric guitar because understanding how to play a guitar will be a lot simpler if you have your own personal instrument. However, you could get lost in the world of numerous bass guitars in the market today. If you are looking to buy an electric bass guitar but do not know where to begin, then this article will give some useful tips to choose the right bass guitar for you. We hope this guidance will help you rock out in no time
Here are some interesting tips for you to pick the right bass guitar.
Define Your Purpose And Budget
Bass guitars have an impressive wide range of quality and price, therefore, determining how much you want to spend on your first guitar is really necessary before you start picking a bass.
For the beginners, you might be unsure of your ability or commitment to learning to play the bass, then you should look for the good, affordable entry-level basses that are available out there. These instruments tend to have lower quality hardware and electronics, but they are typically very easy to play and will serve a new bassist well through the early stages of learning and performing with the instrument.
However, for more experienced players, they may want to set their standard a little bit higher, and will invest in a bass guitar with richer tonewoods, better electronics, and upgraded hardware. A higher-quality bass will sound better, feel better, and more durable with the higher price.
Get To Know The Bass Guitar
It is important to have a great knowledge about the basic parts of a bass guitar before you buy any basses. Understanding how the instrument is designed and built, and knowing what the different parts are called will help you ask good questions and make right decisions.
Nowadays, the internet is your best companion on the way to learning the electric bass guitar . It gives you a lot of information from basic to advanced. Literally, there are many concerns that you should pay attention to, for example: What size is it? How is the action? How thick is the neck width? Are the frets level? Does the bass stay in tune? or How Many Strings?
Finding answers to those questions is maybe hard and a little bit complicated for you at the beginning but it is worth your time. Through the way of exploring and researching, you will get out of the maze and determine the exact guitar that you want
And here are some basic terms that you might need to consider:
-
Materials: When choosing the electric bass guitar, it is essential to look at the materials or wood that creates this bass. It has to be based on what sound of the bass you like. Naturally, different types of wood will affect to the sound and the weight of the guitar, which influences the way you use this bass
-
Scale Length: Basically, it is the length of the guitar’s neck. The bass which has long scale will provide clearer sound with the low strings while the guitar having short scale will be suitable for play for beginners or guitarists who have small hands.
-
Methods of guitar construction: Simply, it is about “neck-through” or “bolt-on” methods. As the name implies, “neck-through” is the way that the neck and the body of the guitar are all in one piece while “bolt-on” is the method of using bolts to join the neck and the body of the guitar. Commonly, the “neck-through” basses will provide better stability with better note resolution but less punchy sound than the “bolt-on”. Also, the price of “neck-through” guitars will be more expensive.
-
Pickups: Actually, compared to the selection of wood types, pickups will have more effect on the final sound of your bass. It can make different tones on different guitars. Moreover, a pickup can be impacted by the age of guitar strings.
In short, it must depend on what your demand is and your personal taste, you can find the best electric bass guitar that suits yourself.
Buying Advices: Start Simple
In case you think electric bass guitar construction is too complicated for you to learn or you just want to play it right away, then you can start in the simple way
The truth is that most beginners would start their own journey with a four-string bass and get the basics down before moving on to a five or six-string instrument.
If you are not sure what kind of bass you should consider, then you should think about what kind of music you would like to play and find which instruments are used in that genre.
A short-scale bass would be comfortable for smaller bass students, or players with small hands. Also, it can be suitable for the beginner bass guitar because it can help you avoid higher gauges which can be painful to try and fret your notes. Over time your fingers may build calluses that make it easier to fret on strings with higher tension. You should keep in mind that your strings should match the scale of your bass. You would not want your strings hanging off the head and some days, it can poke you in the eye.
Last but not least, there are so many low price but excellent value bass guitars in the market nowadays and we think around $200 is a good budget for you to have a first bass guitar
Final Thoughts of best electric bass guitar
Learning bass is a really fun journey for you to take. You can live in your own music world, create it and enjoy it. However, it is always hard when you make a first step on this path. It will be a little bit complicated and challenging for you. And the most common and simplest way to learn playing bass is having your own electric bass guitar to begin with.
To help you on this journey, this article gave you quick reviews of the top 15 best electric bass guitars and some advice for you to choose the best right bass.
After learning enough fundamental knowledge about the bass guitars and knowing some tips to choose the right one, here is the top 3 best electric bass guitars that we choose:
|
|
|
|
Best bass guitars for Beginner |
Best bass guitar package |
Best value bass guitar for guitarists |
Learning bass is a great fun journey and having a right electric bass guitar is an essential start to take on that journey. We hope this will be a helpful guide for you to select the best electric bass guitar and take the very first step on the journey of learning bass. If you would like to comment or require further information, please use our contact form to get in contact
Have fun on the journey and rock it on!
See more best seller of electric bass guitar on Amazon and find the best option for you here!
Thank you for reading this far! I hope that the information provided in this article will be helpful to you.
- Don’t forget to share your thoughts about best electric bass guitar at the comment box below!
Read also:
Best Electric Guitar Starter Kit Reviews In 2023
15 Best Electric Guitars Under $200 in 2023 [That Don’t Suck]
