Best Beginner Bass Guitar | Tips to Pick the Right One

Best Bass Guitar for Beginner

The bass is not just for pro drummers anymore! Young music enthusiasts can find their perfect ax with these top beginner’s instruments. From Yamaha and Squier, to Ibanez – there will be something here that fits your skill level or budget requirements (even if you’re on a tight one). As a beginner, If you are looking for the best bass guitar then you are on the right place so let’s start to explore.

As a beginner bass guitarist, there are many things to consider when buying your first guitar. It can be scary at times and daunting – especially with all of the experts telling you that this or that is best for beginners–but we found out in our experience just how important mindset really was!

The most crucial thing about starting out on an instrument like these guitars? Enjoying yourself while learning new skills takes priority over anything else; don’t worry too much if someone tells them “no,” because no matter what everyone has bad days now & again where they just aren’t feeling their usual self.

That being said, some killer gear can help that cause. This guide is equipped with everything you need to get started on your journey of musical exploration and discovery!

A beginner bass is a great place to start. You want something that makes you want to play and sounds good too, but don’t let the price tag put you off! There are so many awesome instruments for under 400 dollars these days- sometimes even less than 300 bucks if we’re talking about bass guitars. There’s nothing wrong with finding your music style before investing lots of money into expensive equipment.

A quick note for this guide: We have only featured four-string basses because as you’re starting out and focusing solely on the fundamentals it’s what we recommend.

Play Sound

The basses on this list are not just for beginners or those tight on budget. They’re all great value and will help you track backing ‘tracks’, find new sounds in your music recordings, or expand into playing lead lines too!

Yamaha’s 4 String Bass Guitar (TRBX174EW TBL) is a no-brainer for beginners, but players of all levels would enjoy it. It offers many flavors from the excellent playability and quality tone that Yamaha is known to provide with such affordable instruments as this one.

There are arguably better basses in the beginner bracket than the Ibanez 4 String Bass Guitar (GSRM20BWNF), but none that come with such a cheap price tag and few as compact to make it easier for beginners. The Mikro has an ergonomic lightweight build, short 28-inch scale length making it less intimidating while having deep tones on offer; just what kids need!

(1) Squier Classic Vibe 60’s Precision Bass

So you want to rock the bass? The Squier Classic Vibe 60’s Precision Bass is the perfect way to start. This 4-string bass guitar has all of the features that made the P Bass an icon, like a comfortable slim neck profile and Fender-designed split-coil pickup. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned pro, this instrument will make your music come alive.

Specifications:

• Body: Alder
• Neck: Maple
• Scale length: 34″
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Frets: 20
• Pickups: 2x Vintage Noiseless Jazz Bass single-coils
• Controls: Volume, pan, tilt, 3-way tone switch, 2-position mid-cut switch, magnetic pickup selector
• Hardware: Anchored Adjusto-Matic bridge with vintage-style floating tremolo tailpiece, Fender standard open-gear machine heads

Pros:

• Cheap and cheerful!
• A slim neck profile allows for comfort when playing.
• Lightweight bass guitar with good mid-tones.
• The fretboard is easy to handle.
• A well-built instrument made by one of the top guitar brands in the world.

Cons:

• The ‘C’ style neck may not be for everyone (this can easily be remedied by changing the string gauge or simply switching to a different style of playing).
• The finish is not as ‘high-class’ as on some other bass guitars.

(2) Yamaha 4 String Bass (TRBX174EW TBL)

The TRBX174 is an incredible value. You get the quality and tone you expect from Yamaha, but at a price that’s much lower than other models in this range. It has a beautiful exotic wood top with matching headstock to give it a distinct look from other basses. This model also features Yamaha’s proprietary pickup system which gives you great sound and flexibility without sacrificing comfort or playability.

If you’re looking for an amazing instrument that won’t break the bank, then this is your best choice!

Specifications:

• Body: Alder
• Neck: Maple
• Scale: 864mm/34″
• Fingerboard: Maple
• Frets: 24
• Pickups: Custom 2-band active EQ
• Controls: Volume, pan, blend, treble, middle, bass
• Hardware: Nickel/Chrome

Pros:

• Great value for this price range
• Beautiful exotic wood top with matching headstock
• Eye-catching design
• Yamaha proprietary pickup system gives you great sound and flexibility
• Fits any playing style

Cons:

• Not a huge tonal range
• Does not come with a gig bag
• Not as versatile as higher-priced basses

(3) Ibanez 4 String Bass (GSRM20BWNF)

The Ibanez GSR Micro is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to start playing but doesn’t have a lot of space. It has the same construction and materials as our full-size guitars, so it sounds just as good. And with its 28. 6″ scale length, it’s easy to play too! This little guy packs a big punch that will surprise you every time you plug it in. You won’t find another guitar like this on the market today.

Specifications:

• Body: Poplar
• Neck type: Bolt-on neck
• Scale length: 28. 6″ scale length
• Fingerboard: Jatoba Fretboard W/White Dot Inlay
• Frets: 24
• Pickup: Magnetic Combination
• Control: Tone, Bridge pickup volume, Neck pickup volume
• Hardware: Black Chrome

Pros:

• It sounds just as good as a full-size guitar.
• It is perfect for anyone who wants to start playing but doesn’t have a lot of space.
• With 24 frets, it lets you play more notes.
• It is equipped with an Ibanez active 2 P pickup.

Cons:

• May difficult to tune, as it can easily go out of tune.
• You can play bass faster on a full-sized bass.

(4) Fender Affinity Series Jazz Bass

Looking for an easy way to get into the Fender family? The Squier Affinity Series Jazz Bass is your gateway drug. With its slim and comfortable “C”-shaped neck profile, 4-saddle bridge, and vintage-style open-gear tuning machines, this J Bass is perfect for newbies and pros alike. Plus, it comes loaded with two Squier single-coil pickups for a wide range of tones.

Specifications:

• Body: Alder
• Neck type: C-shape
• Scale length: 34″
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Frets: 20
• Pickup: 2 single coil pickups, each with a volume control
• Controls: Master volume, master tone
• Hardware: Chrome

Pros:

• It is an affordable option for beginners.
• Alder provides a good mid-range tone.
• Locking tuners make it easy to tune the bass
• Affinity Series Jazz Bass has a good sound for more experienced players.
• Comfortable and easy to play neck.

Cons:

• Difficult to tune, as it can easily go out of tune.
• The paint can chip easily.
• Difficult to find replacement parts, as this bass is not available in stores anymore.

(5) Sterling by Music Man StingRay Ray4 Bass

The Ray4 is the perfect instrument for beginners and pros alike. It’s easy to play, sounds great, and feels comfortable in your hands. You can even plug it into an amp or recording interface when you’re ready to take your playing to the next level! This is why we say that anyone who picks up this guitar will be blown away by how good it feels and how amazing it sounds.

Specifications:

• Body: Alder
• Neck: Maple, C shape
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Frets: 21 frets
• Pickups: Custom 2-band active EQ
• Controls: Volume, pan, blend, treble, middle, bass
• Hardware: Chrome

Pros:

• Great value for this price range. It is perfect for beginners and pros alike. This guitar has the feel of more expensive models.
• A lightweight alder body makes it easier to play for longer periods.
• Comfortable neck with easy access to higher frets.
• Versatile tone can easily be used in many genres and settings!

Cons:

• This guitar can go out of tune easily if you don’t know how to tune it properly, as the bridge is not very well-designed.

(6) GLARRY 4 String Exquisite Stylish Bass

You want a bass guitar that feels great, sounds great, and will last for years. You want the GLARRY Bass Guitar. Made from basswood, this electric bass guitar is comfortable to play and has a fantastic fret-hand feel. With its split single-coil pickup and single pick up, you can play a variety of music styles from blues to rock ‘n’ roll. And because it’s made from rosewood, the fretboard ensures tone stability and smoothness. Maple neck provides stable performance when you play.

Specifications:

• Body: Basswood
• Neck: Maple, C shape
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Frets: 24
• Pickups: Custom split single-coil pickup
• Controls: Volume, tone
• Hardware color: Black Nickel

Pros:

• Comfortable to play.
• Rosewood fretboard ensures tone stability and smoothness.
• Maple neck provides stable performance when you play.

Cons:

• May difficult to tune, as it can easily go out of tune.
• It is difficult to find replacement parts, as this bass is not available in stores anymore.
• It has only 4 strings, which may be difficult for beginners.

(7) Fender Player Precision Electric Bass Guitar

The Fender Player Precision Electric Bass Guitar is the perfect instrument to help you express your creativity. This classic bass has been used by many musicians over the years, and it’s still as good as ever. It features an Agathis body with a maple neck and rosewood fingerboard that provides great tone and sustains. With its smooth playing feel, this thunderous bass will help you show off your creative vision on stage or in the studio.

You can play any style of music with this versatile instrument-it sounds just like what you need to get started! Whether you want to jam out some rock n roll or lay down some funk beats, this is the perfect tool for making your musical dreams come true. And since it comes in a black finish with chrome hardware, it looks great too! When you pick up this electric bass guitar from Fender, there’s no telling where your imagination will take you next!

Specification:

• Body: Agathis
• Neck: Maple, C shape
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Frets: 20 frets
• Pickups: Custom 2-band active EQ, one split single-coil pickup
• Controls: Volume, pan blend, treble, middle, bass
• Hardware: Chrome

Pros:

• The perfect instrument to help you express your creativity.
• Comfortable to play and has a fantastic fret-hand feel.
• Provides great tone and sustains, and it looks good too!
• Versatile tone can easily be used in many genres and settings!

Cons:

• Tuners are not the best, so they will go out of tune in certain situations.
• Some components are not the best and replacement parts may be difficult to find.
• May take some time to adjust to playing an electric bass guitar instead of a full-sized instrument.

(8) Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet Bass

The Gretsch Junior Jet Bass is the perfect instrument for beginners, students, and pros alike. It’s packed with features that make everyday life easier, more entertaining, and more productive. You won’t find another bass like it on the market today. It’s not just an amazing product but also an incredible experience you can have every day of your life.

With its short-scale neck (30″), this junior-sized guitar is easy to play while still providing all the tone you need to rock out in any situation! This model comes equipped with two high-output humbucking pickups that are sure to please even the most discerning player! Plus, these pickups are wired directly into a 3-way toggle switch so you can easily change between different sounds at will without having to adjust any knobs or settings on your amp!

And if that’s not enough flexibility for you, we’ve included a master volume control knob as well as separate treble and bass controls so you can dial in exactly what sound YOU want! Finally, there’s no denying how cool this guitar looks – especially when paired up with our matching G2220 Junior Jet Bass Amp Head & Cab Pack (sold separately). If style matters to you then look no further than this awesome electric bass from Gretsch Guitars!

Specification:

• Body: Agathis
• Neck: Maple, modern C-shape w/ 30″ short scale length
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Frets: 20 frets
• Pickups: High-output humbucking design in the neck position
• Controls: Volume, treble, bass, master volume knob
• Hardware: Chrome

Pros:

• Comes with multiple controls to help dial in your sound
• The short-scale neck makes it easy for smaller players to get the most out of their instrument
• Durable construction ensures you’ll be rocking out for years to come!
• Looks cool and works with multiple accessories – just like a regular full-sized bass

Cons:

• May not be the best choice for experienced players or those with larger hands.
• Tuners are not as reliable as other components – replacement parts may be difficult to find.
• May need to adjust the settings on your amplifier for the best sound.

If you’re taking up the bass, congratulations! One of your first challenges is getting acclimatized to this fingerboard geography. There’s a lot more neck than on guitars and it can be longer too– Guitarists who switch over will notice that part especially.”

The beginner bass players will get a little pain in their fingertips as they start playing. This is necessary, and it should pass after some time has passed. To make this process easier on your fingers take frequent breaks when things start feeling too sore or tender for you..

The most important thing during this bedding-in period is finding good quality instruments so try out different models until one feels right – don’t worry if at first glance there seems like all options seem equally playable!

The question remains — what makes for a playable bass?

Should I go short or long scale?

A long-scale bass can be a bit of stretch, but if you get used to it then the range is much wider. The short-scale basses typically have a length around 30” or shorter in the case of Ibanez’s Mikro and Squier Mini Precision Bass. These are often preferred for their more rounded low end which can work well when playing with other instruments – but they’re an option to consider if you’re looking at younger players first! Even cheaper options tend towards this market as well so it is important not only what kind but also how much $$$ matters because there will always be something out there perfect just waiting on your budget.

You can’t go wrong with a medium-scale bass! It is one of the more common types of bass and has less character than other scale lengths. That makes it perfect for someone who wants to play something that sounds good but doesn’t have all sorts of weird tone issues like longer instruments do when they’re too deep into their range. The Ibanez Mezzo in this guide features 32″ frets which give you just enough space between them while still making fretting easy as pie (or should we say “memorable”).

If you’re interested in learning more about what makes the difference, take a look at the short scale vs long scale bass. If you are a beginner you can check our article on Top 6 Cheap Bass Guitars.

Do I want an active or passive bass guitar?

Passive basses generate 100% of their sound through their pickups. Active ones will have an onboard preamp, typically powered by either one or two 9V batteries that boost the signal and may also cut certain frequencies for you to make adjustments on the fly without worrying about running out mid-performance!

Might as well just go with passive because it’s more dynamic in bringing out your playing nuances while not having any battery drain issues at hand – which could spoil everything quickly if luck doesn’t favor them enough…

Active basses might be the answer for you if: 

1) You want more compression and evening out your playing tone.

2) The onboard preamp is not doing it justice, or

3) There’s no budget available to buy something new right now but still, I need that active sound!

Is ‘tonewood’ important for beginner bass guitars?

But what exactly is a tonewood? A bass guitar’s “tonewood” determines the sound and feel of its strings. Some musicians prefer certain woods because they produce warmer sounds, while others may want something sharper sounding for rock or metal tunes- you’ll find that there are many different types to choose from!

The best beginner’s tip we can give about finding your perfect match would be knowing which kind(s)of wood makes up each type: mahogany bodied guitars such as Epiphone’s EB0 will typically offer sweeter tones with possibly less edge than other traditional hardwoods like ash or alger foreseen and this certainly doesn’t mean those who play them.

You’ve got your songs and Les Paul customs, but what about a Telecaster? If you want to get under the hood of these classic guitars without having an instrument tech roll up his or her sleeves (or worse: take out some soldering iron) then this is just for YOU. 

Alder has always been one of those woods that evoke Gibson-style tones in players – full-bodied yet still clear sounding with the solid low end when compared against other tonewoods like basswood which typically offers decent tone balance across all frequencies as well as not being biased towards either treble/bass response; another popular choice would be popular due to its responsiveness though often given less praise than mahogany

Which is best? Whichever feels and sounds the best to you. That’s all that matters.