What’s the best beginner bass guitar? We know the correct answer.
There are some critical factors to consider when shopping for a bass for a beginner, whether that person is a child or if you’re looking for the right bass for you.
It would not be an understatement to say these features are more than necessary. They’re essential to being comfortable and learning to play without frustration.
It is essential to find an instrument that will fit smaller hands if you buy a young person with small hands. Before digging more deeply into this element, it would be best to discuss the features present with any bass for anyone. You may want to say these features deliver the benefit of “playability.”
This isn’t an easy term to explain, but as you read some of the details below, you’ll start to understand that some instruments are suitable for playing music, and others would be better left to someone else. Fortunately, several companies with recognizable names make bass guitars of good quality and offer them reasonable prices.
Top 8 Best Bass Guitars for Beginners:
Ibanez GSR Beginner Bass (Editor’s Choice)
It is not always true that you need to spend a lot to get a good-sounding guitar. This beginner bass has a quality that too at an affordable price. Rigorous inspection by the team leads to a fantastic quality model. This is simple to plug in and easy to play with excellent volume and tone controls.
The neck is superb with a glossy finish. It is incredibly comfortable with lots of tones to offer. Electronics are excellent, and it is responsive when you hit the strings. The tone control is effective, and the Phat EQ knob is good. It is comfortable, versatile, and, in general, an excellent product for the price. It is ideal for aspiring musicians searching for high-end and affordable bass guitars.
Pros
- Low-cost bass
- Lightweight
- Elegant
Cons
- Fret buzz is annoying sometimes
Fender CB-60SCE Beginner Bass
Traditions and memories are made with the warmth of the guitar. When you are starting your musical journey, this can be your first guitar, for sure. It combines classic body design with high-end craftsmanship and unique features. This appeals to everyone, either beginner or intermediate. If you search for a classic tone and want to experiment with a small body, then this beginner bass can be your inspiration.
It’s made of a spruce top with superior strength, dynamic range, responsiveness, and brightness. Fingerboard edges are rolled comfortably, and the neck is incredibly comfortable. As a result, it is ideal for experienced and novice alike. This includes several onboard controls for amplification without compromising rich and pure tone.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Nice tone
- Great bass
Cons
- None we could find
Yamaha TRBX174 Beginner Bass
You are the foundation of your music and require an instrument with power and strength. It gives you freedom of innovation, creation and pushes the boundaries. All you require is a bass with an excellent feel, sound, and appearance. You get all these from this bass guitar without an additional burden on your pocket.
Now your wait is over as Yamaha provides you with a perfect combination of high-end design with superior craftsmanship and precision engineering. If you are a bass player who is not ready to compromise, then you can go with this instrument for sure. With this, you get the flexibility to create and give definition to your voice. This upgrades performance that too with unparalleled comfort. Durability and playability make it a popular choice. It is created to build the foundation of your music.
You can get no other product with this fantastic quality when it comes to price. In addition, it features a high-quality wood top and a matching headstock that gives a unique look.
There is a lot of inbuilt range in master volume control. The bass strikes amazingly. Its body has a fantastic look that appeals to guitar players.
Pros
- Fits every style
- Versatile
- Powerful pickup configuration
Cons
- None we could find
Ibanez IJXB150 Jumpstart Bass Pack
Ibanez IJXB150 is the best bass guitar for beginners available on the market.
Another suitable choice for the beginner because this Ibanez IJXB150 Jumpstart Bass Is also available as a beginner package. The name “Jumpstart” tells you what you need to know, as you get a decent beginner bass, a 10-watt bass amp, tuner, gig bag, strap, cable, picks, stand, and online lesson card. The amp is the IBZ1B to accompany the GSR190 bass.
This can be the perfect way to start learning. The bass has a basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, dual pickups for tone range.
Pros
- Appearance with red finish
- Good tone range
Cons
- Need some set-up time
- Pickup noise
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Series Ray 5 StingRay Bass
While the brand name and company name associated with this instrument may not be immediately recognizable, like Fender or Gibson would be, you should give the Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Series Ray 5 a serious look. Why? Because the professional model StingRay bass by Music Man has been used by many players in recent years, with excellent results. The lower-priced Sterling could be a good beginner bass for you.
You get a Basswood body and a neck of hard maple. The rosewood fingerboard is designed to improve the feel and make this bass more playable. The Sterling by Music Man uses humbucker pickups and active, two-band EQ. The company markets this bass with the added information that all instruments “receive final set-up and inspection in the USA.” Most of this line’s instruments are ready to play out of the box, though one or two individuals had to make slight neck adjustments for playing comfort.
Pros
- Great tone
- Value for price
Cons
- Fret ends sharply on some units
- Neck adjustment
Fender Squier Beginner Bass Package
Even those who own a pro model Fender, Bass players around the world have found the Squier line of guitars to be just fine for most situations. This bass is available as part of a package that includes a small Rumble amp, gig bag, and other accessories. The guitar is an Affinity Series Precision Bass, while the amp is in the 15-watt Rumble series.
You also get an instructional DVD, electronic tuner, cable, and strap. With this package, you have the P-Bass style and sound and an amp with an 8” speaker in one purchase. You can also plug in your MP3 to play along with your favorite songs. It could be a good choice if you’re looking for the best way to begin as a bass player.
Pros
- P-Bass look and tone
- Package value with amp and accessories
Cons
- Amp leaves a bit to be desired
Epiphone Toby Standard IV LTD Bass
As the Squier mentioned earlier, the Epiphone Toby Standard IV LTD Bass is available as a package for just a bit more money. The bass has an alder wood body and a fully adjustable bridge. Beginning players will be comfortable with the Toby body design, not only because of its appearance but also because of the balance. In addition, the package includes an Electar-15B amp with a 10” speaker. Beginners may want to take a closer look at the instructional videos available for this bass package as well.
“Toby” is based on a famous guitar designer and builder Michael Tobias. This bass has a 34-inch scale with a bolt-on neck design. The asymmetrical neck will feel less bulky than standard necks, which is excellent for beginners and people with smaller hands. In addition, you get a rosewood fingerboard for a nice feel and two humbucker pickups (Tobias TBR and Tobias TBT). At one time, Epiphone was a leading name in musical instruments and still carries weight with knowledgeable players.
Pros
- Tone variety switching between pickups
- Balance and neck feel
Cons
- Neck not straight on some units
- Noisy pickups
Crescent Starter Bass
This package includes a starter amp and all the accessories in other all-in-one kits. But with cable, tuner, amp, extra strings, strap, etc., the Crescent Starter Bass can save you a few dollars. The appearance is that of a black-and-white fender bass with split pickups.
Getting a bass that is undamaged in shipment is key with this choice. But the bass itself can be playable for the true beginner. However, parents who want to give their children a chance to start on bass will appreciate the price. The tone is good. Playability can be good with some neck adjustment.
Pros
- Nice price tag
- Younger players and true beginning musicians
Cons
- Shipment damage is a problem
- Pickups lose
- Tuners loose or broken
Buyer’s Guide: How to Find a Good Bass for Beginners
Suppose you go to a store to look at a beginner bass, or if you try one that a friend or neighbor is selling, don’t focus first on how the bass sounds. Instead, pay attention to how it feels to put your hands on the instrument? How does it feel when you place your fingers on the strings? It would help if you didn’t have to put much pressure on a string to bring it into contact with the fret (metal strips set into the neck).
When you have the bass in your hands, hold it up at eye level and look along the neck to ensure the wood is straight from one end to another. There should be no bowing of the neck that indicates the wood is warped. The strings may be slightly higher off the frets as you get closer to the bass body, but that should be slightly different from the strings’ height at the nut (where the strings pass from the neck to the tuning pegs).
If you’re satisfied with what you see and feel during this first trial, you could be on your way to getting a good beginner bass. However, that’s certainly not all you should be looking for. Use your common sense to judge the overall condition of the instrument. If it’s new, it should be almost perfect in appearance. Chrome pieces like the volume and tone knobs should be clean and rust-free if you buy a used bass.
Beyond Appearance
You’ve already read a small amount about how a beginner bass should feel in your hands. You’ve also learned something about what to look for in terms of the overall condition. But if you want a beginner bass you know you’ll be satisfied with for a long time, you’ll need to try it when it’s plugged into an amplifier. Ensure you have a good quality guitar cord and an amp free of mechanical and electrical problems.
That will allow you to judge the bass for the cleanliness of sound. There should be no “buzz” or interference when the amp volume is medium-level, and the bass volume and tone knobs are turned up enough to produce sound. The cord should fit firmly into the input jack, and the knobs should turn without noise or physical resistance. When you pluck each string lightly with your finger, the sound should be at the same level regarding loudness.
You should also be able to turn the tuning pegs without great effort. Even an inexpensive bass for beginners should be relatively easy to tune. That is one of two or three major factors you should look for when buying a beginner bass, in addition to a straight neck. If you can’t turn the tuning keys with one hand while standing with the bass on a shoulder strap, you will have problems in the future. Tuning-peg movement should be smooth but firm. There should be little or no movement once the instrument is in tune.
If you’ve been through these steps carefully and are satisfied with what you hear, feel, and see, you’ll probably have a beginner bass you can learn with.
Summary and Other Thoughts
If you’re thinking about learning to play bass or investing in bass and amplifier for a child who has expressed interest in this instrument, it’s essential to understand one thing. The bass is not a guitar.
While it’s certainly possible to play bass without other musicians around, there are some limitations to the music produced on a four-string instrument like this.
Of course, some outstanding musicians have taken the bass beyond its original backup role. Players such as Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, and others have given their chosen instruments a different sound and feel.
But they are very accomplished musicians. For someone to begin playing bass, it’s necessary to understand that the bass is not an instrument on which you’ll accompany yourself while singing. You can, certainly, but you’ll have better results if you strum a six-string guitar when you sing.
At the beginning of this guide, you read a bit about playability. Now that you’ve been exposed to a few of the beginner basses available go back and look at them a second time, focusing on details that would make an inexpensive bass playable.
Many of the comments point to the feel of the neck and fingerboard and the body’s balance. For example, bass can be heavier than a guitar simply because it’s constructed with slightly heavier components.
Those Small Hands, Again
As mentioned from the start, it’s essential to find a bass that will fit small hands, unless you’re a fully-grown adult with bigger than average hands. With this in mind, you may want to look at a bass that incorporates the Jazz Bass design for the neck. It’s thinner than the earlier necks, especially as you get closer to the nut.
So many times, young people stop trying to learn an instrument simply because the equipment is not suitable for their size or the guitar is just not made well enough to keep them interested.
You can certainly buy a bass for less than $200. If you’re fortunate, you’ll have one that will take you through your first year or two of learning.
For example, Ibanez has found a niche in the musical world with playable guitars for $300 or less. Fender has done the same with the Squier line. It’s difficult to judge the quality of an instrument from the online description alone. Always devote time to reading the reviews from others who have purchased the bass you’re considering.
Bottom Line
While other companies are offering good beginner basses, you should be able to find one among the five listed that will serve your purpose. Remember, you’re just starting, so don’t expect too much for too little. However, the bass should be almost ready to play when you open the box.
You may have to make minor adjustments or have an experienced player help with strings, neck, etc. When you start shopping for a beginner bass, the best advice is to spend a few dollars more and stick with it.