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Looking for the best bass guitars for beginners?
Ready to get started with this fun-to-play instrument?
The bass guitar is an essential piece of every music genre. Luckily, playing the bass is also a lot of fun and is a great instrument for a musical beginner to get started with. However, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned musician, you have to take caution when it comes to choosing the best bass guitar for you. Not every instrument is made equally.
Luckily, we’re here to help. Below we’ll give you our full list of the best bass guitars for beginners.
Top Bass Guitars For Beginners – Quick View
Features to Look For in a Bass Guitar
Before buying any bass guitar, you’ll want to ensure that you evaluate it thoroughly. You’ll want to have the below features in mind during your search:
- Ensure that the playability of the guitar is good. For example, you’ll want to consider how comfortable you feel when moving your fingers around and how you feel about the string spacing.
- Also, ensure that the guitar is comfortable in terms of its weight and balance. This is especially important for younger players who won’t be able to handle a heavy instrument well.
- If you are looking for versatility, ensure that the guitar supports the techniques you require while using it.
By keeping the above things in mind you’ll be sure to pick a bass guitar that’s not only a great instrument but that’s also right for you.
Best Bass Guitars For Beginners
Ready to see the best electric bass guitars for beginners? Here’s our list of the best bass guitars that you should check out when looking to get started.
1. Yamaha TRBX304
The Yamaha TRBX304 bass guitar is the first on our list of great bass guitars for beginners.
The electronics in this bass guitar operate at a very high standard compared to most of the other bass guitars you’ll find out there. It also has a very comfortable neck that fresh hands will find easier to handle. To add to that, the guitar also has a sleek body that is very appealing to the eye and is also very ergonomic.
This guitar features an active 2 band EQ that gives you great control and ensures that your sound is shaped into whatever style you like. Its versatility is also unmatched and it can play multiple genres of music well.
The only downside that this bass guitar has is that the price could seem like a bit much for a beginner. However, if you want a quality instrument from the very beginning it may be well worth it in the end.
Overall, this is a great bass guitar that will offer everything the beginner player is likely to need in an instrument.
2. Fender Mustang PJ Bass
The Fender Mustang PJ Bass is the next bass on our list.
Every seasoned bass guitar player knows that Fender makes top notch bass guitars and that they’re also regarded as one of the best guitar brands around. This instrument is a great testament to the brand’s quality.
This classic bass guitar has the look that can be recognized instantly by everyone and it is loved by both beginners and tour pros. What makes It stand out from the rest is its compactness. It is the best bass guitar for small framed players and also children.
The special thing about it is that it has both the smooth jazz pick-up from a fender J-bass at the same time it has the split pick-ups from a fender P-bass hence the name PJ.
Unfortunately, this bass guitar also has a relatively high price tag. However, it’s worth every penny.
Overall, if you’re looking for one of the best electric bass guitars on the market then this one is definitely worth a look. Especially with a great lesson book, you’ll be making great music in no time.
3. Epiphone Toby Standard IV
The Epiphone Toby Standard IV is another great bass guitar you’ll want to consider.
This is one of the most affordable bass guitars that exist in the market. It has a lightweight body that looks very sleek and ergonomic. The string space might appear a little wider for experienced players but it is perfect for a beginner.
A slight disadvantage about this bass guitar is that its 9V battery for the active EQ is designed to fit into the small clip in the main compartment which might lead it to loosen from the clip. This could lead it to cause a rattling inside the body of the bass. However, this isn’t too likely.
Overall, if you’re looking for the best bass for beginners, this is another great option that won’t disappoint.
By the way, if you want to sound your best with the bass guitar, don’t forget to get a great bass compressor pedal. Click here to see our top choices.
4. Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar
The Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar is another amazing bass guitar that is perfect for beginners. The guitar simply looks amazing and offers a lot of value as well. This bass guitar can be had for a very affordable price.
This bass guitar has been used by beginners for a very long time now. The pickups are not as powerful as the others but they are capable of getting the job done. Its versatility is also something to look forward to since it is very versatile and you can get several solid tones with different techniques.
Overall, this is a great bass guitar that students and beginner players of all kinds are likely to love playing.
5. Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Series Ray4 StingRay Bass
The Ray4 StingRay Bass is the last instrument on our overview of the best electric bass guitars. This brilliant guitar is known to be one of the most comfortable bass guitars anyone can play.
The tone this bass produces has a rich complexity thanks to its humbucker pickup. It also features a 2 band EQ that will enable a beginner bassist to tweak the tone so as to sound even better when they play.
For someone looking for a classic rock tone for their music, then this could be their perfect bass guitar. For a beginner’s guitar, this could seem slightly pricey. However, the features are a bit more impressive compared to many of the others mentioned.
Overall, if you’re ready to find out how to start playing the bass guitar and you want a great instrument to do it with, then this Ray4 StingRay Bass is a great option.
Final Thoughts
By now you should be getting a good idea of what to look for in a bass guitar. If you’re looking for the best electric bass guitars for beginners, any of the above options should give you everything that you need. Playing the bass can be a lot of fun, but make sure you get a quality instrument or you may have a much harder time learning it and learning to love it.
Need a great bass amp to go with your new bass? Check out our list of the best bass amps for beginners now.
Hi, I’m Harrison! I created this website to help musicians navigate the ins and outs of their craft and to help them choose new instruments and gear to add to their collection. I have 15 years of experience as a guitarist and singer and have also played many other instruments throughout the years including the bass guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica.