8 best bass guitars

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

In any rock band, you can't do without a bass player. The instrument he uses is quite different from the traditional acoustic guitar. Even, one might say, radically! Such a musical instrument has a special shape. The colors can be completely different, in connection with which the bass guitars remain in the memory of many people. It's like a supercar compared to ordinary cars! The problem is that there are now a lot of mediocre basses out there that sound downright bad. To avoid buying such a tool, check out our article. We will only talk about the best models.

How to choose a bass guitar?

If you want to buy yourself a bass guitar, then the easiest way is to choose one of those models that are discussed below. However, this is not the only way to buy. If you are ready to take the time, then you can check out the assortment of online stores selling musical instruments. But what parameters of bass guitars should you pay attention to? Let's find this out.

First of all, you need to decide on a budget. To do this, you need to focus on your skills. If you are a professional musician who is the bass player of a well-known rock band, then you need an expensive instrument. If you are just learning to play, then there is no need to spend many tens of thousands of rubles – some simple four-string model will suit you. If your ear is not trained, then you will hardly notice the difference between a budget option and a very expensive six-string bass guitar.

Usually, when choosing a musical instrument, considerable attention is paid to design. Bass guitars are most affected. When you decide on a specific model, you need to make its external inspection. In particular, you should be interested in the following:

1. Sections on the joints – they should be as accurate as possible, you should not feel them to the touch;
2. Body painting – it should not have defects, streaks and bubbles are not allowed;
3. The state of the neck – there should be no bulges, deflections and irregularities on it;
4. Screwed in screws – they must be flush with the body, and they must not be loosened.

Of course, after an external examination, it is advisable to play a little on the chosen guitar. Pay special attention to checking the sustain – decay of the sound. The longer the melody dies down, the better! It is not necessary to connect the guitar to any acoustics for testing. Simply place it to your ear, then pluck each string first open and then down at the 12th fret. So you can find out which frequencies are dominant. And in the future, you can connect the guitar to the amplifier in order to assess the amount of noise in the sound itself, as well as whether there are no sobs or buzzes. In short, this is how you test the electronic component of the bass guitar. If you are a beginner, you should be fine with a four-string, 20-fret neck, which sells for a reasonable price.

Rating of the best bass guitars

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Rating of the best bass guitars	1	SCHECTER STILETTO STUDIO-4 STBLS	RUB 51,290
	2	Fender Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass PJ 3-Color Sunburst	RUB 42,000
	3	IBANEZ GIO GSR205-BK	RUB 25,400
	4	YAMAHA TRBX174EW TBL	RUB 17,900
	5	SCHECTER OMEN EXTREME-4 BCH	RUB 27,363
	6	YAMAHA TRBX174EW RB	RUB 15 800
	7	MAGNA BBJ 101 / NTM	26 275 RUB
	8	ARIA IGB-STD / 5 MBK	RUB 16,989

SCHECTER STILETTO STUDIO-4 STBLS

Rating: 4.9

Most often, bass manufacturers don't bother with the wood from which the body of their musical instrument will be created. In most cases, the choice is made in favor of spruce, which not every buyer will like. Only fairly expensive instruments have a body made of mahogany (mahogany). In particular, the SCHECTER STILETTO STUDIO-4 STBLS bass guitar can boast of this. At the same time, the top of the body of this model is made of wavy maple, which pleases even more. The neck was created partly from maple, partly from multi-layered walnut. It also features a traditional rosewood fingerboard.

This bass is designed for the picky buyer. This representative of our rating will look great in the hands of an experienced musician who has already learned how to earn big money with his favorite work. It will not be difficult for him to spend 60 thousand rubles on the purchase of an instrument. For this amount he will receive a beautiful guitar, the body of which is painted black. Made in Korea, this instrument features EMG 35HZ bridge pickups. The neck pickup is used similarly here. It's nice that during the game, the sound can be adjusted in every possible way. In particular, a three-band equalizer is installed here for this purpose.

In a word, this is an excellent bass guitar, which just asks for the stage. However, professional musicians still lack its capabilities. However, they may consider purchasing a 5-, 6 or even 8-string configuration for this model. They are, of course, even more expensive.

Advantages

• Excellent design;
• Mahogany was used for the production of the case;
• Durable construction
• Double adjustable anchor;
• Good pickups are used;
• Stylish tuners.

disadvantages

• High price;
• The case is purchased separately.

Fender Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass PJ 3-Color Sunburst

Rating: 4.8

This representative of our rating has the longest name. But, more importantly, the buyer is not waiting for the highest price tag! An Indonesian manufacturer asks for about 40 thousand rubles for his creation. This bass guitar is made in retro style – about the same instruments played by rock bands in the last century. As the name implies, the top is colored using three colors. More precisely, it is a three-color sunburst. The body was created from agathis.

The neck of this guitar is made of maple. Above, there is a rosewood fingerboard, on which 20 frets are marked. There are four strings stretched over the instrument – this number should suit any novice bass player. However, an instrument with such a high price tag is intended for experienced musicians rather than beginners. This is evidenced by the Fender-Designed Split Single-Coil pickups, which are very high quality.

On the body of the bass guitar, you can find not only a holder for strings, but also three controls. They can be used to adjust the volume of both the middle and bridge pickups. As for the third knob, it is for adjusting the tone.

Advantages

• The frets are instructed with mother-of-pearl dots;
• The neck is made of maple;
• High quality pickups;
• The guitar looks like the legendary Fender Jazz Bass;
• There are several handy controls.

disadvantages

• Very high cost;
• Supplied without carrying case;
• No equalizer.

IBANEZ GIO GSR205-BK

Rating: 4.8

Slightly cheaper, but more difficult to learn guitar. For about 27 thousand rubles. the buyer will receive a five-stringed instrument. Its body was created from mahogany. It is painted in strict black. The optimal layer of varnish will not let the paint wear off tomorrow, or in a month, or in a few years. As for the neck, it was created from maple. In the case of a bass guitar, this seems like the ideal option. The neck also has a rosewood fretboard – an indispensable attribute of all more or less high-quality guitars.

As befits a good bass guitar, the IBANEZ GIO GSR205-BK has two pickups. They use electronics called Dynamix H. The product also includes the Phat II eq equalizer. All of these components have been rigorously tested, as has the guitar itself. There are 22 frets instructed on the neck of this instrument. This is done with white dots – in this regard, the manufacturer did not bother. It is also impossible not to note the relatively small thickness of the neck, thanks to which the game becomes as comfortable as possible. Perhaps this is the best purchase for those who are just starting to make music, but know for sure that they will not abandon this business for many years.

Advantages

• Expressive sustain
• Great appearance;
• There is a good thermoblock;
• High quality pickups;
• Maple neck;
• Long service life;
• The number of strings has been increased to five;
• Chrome hardware.

disadvantages

• White dots instead of pearlescent ones;
• No case included.

YAMAHA TRBX174EW TBL

Rating: 4.7

Another bass guitar with a black body in our ranking. The tool has a nice appearance, and modern varnishing technologies should keep it for many years. It is also impossible not to notice that the Japanese are not in vain among the leaders in the field of sound – the parts published by the bass guitar should suit everyone. The quality of the melody is positively affected not only by the materials from which the instrument is made, but also by the ceramic pickups.

The body of this model was created from red and exotic trees. There was room on the top not only for strings, but also for three knobs. As for the neck, maple was used for its manufacture. The 24 frets are inlaid with white dots on a rosewood fingerboard. The guitar also has the usual tuners placed on the sides.

In terms of sound, the YAMAHA TRBX174EW TBL produces some 'growl' with a strong mids, especially with round-wound strings. In any case, the musician will receive a lot of tonal options, selectable using the third control (the other two are responsible for the volume of the pickups).

This bass is the best choice for a beginner. However, some professional rock bands can also use this instrument – they are unlikely to seriously make any claims to the guitar.

Advantages

• Great appearance;
• High quality pickups are used;
• Vintage bridge;
• Perfect build;
• Maple neck with a lot of frets;
• Relatively low cost.

disadvantages

• There is no case included;
• No equalizer;

SCHECTER OMEN EXTREME-4 BCH

Rating: 4.7

Another guitar with 24 frets on the neck. Unlike most existing instruments of this kind, the frets here are marked with vectors, not dots.

The body of this model was created from mahogany and maple. It is painted in the color of black cherry, which makes the guitar not only beautiful, but also recognizable. Near the strings are four metal knobs that form a diamond. In his left hand, the musician will hold a neck made of maple. It has the familiar rosewood fingerboard. The whole business ends with the Diamond Bass bridge, on which the branded tuners are located.

This guitar was made in Indonesia. It uses a reliable double anchor that is adjustable. Also, high-quality pickups are used here, to the work of which there are no complaints. Remember that they need a 9 volt battery. The bass guitar comes with very good strings. But the SGR-6B case is offered to be purchased separately. And this is despite the rather high cost of the tool. However, the price tag will still seem ridiculous to professional members of rock bands – everything is learned by comparison.

Advantages

• Nice body color;
• High-quality assembly;
• Excellent pickups;
• Maple neck used;
• Vector fret markers;
• A large number of regulators;
• A large number of frets;
• Reliable and beautiful tuners.

disadvantages

• The case must be purchased separately;
• No equalizer.

YAMAHA TRBX174EW RB

Rating: 4.7

Slightly higher in this rating, we already talked about a similar guitar from the same Japanese company Yamaha. This model differs from it mainly in the color of the body. Here the buyer is waiting for a brown sunburst – this is the color that all parts of the deck have. A Split Single Coll neck pickup is attached to the body. For its manufacture, ceramic was used, which indicates the durability of this part.

In the left hand, the owner of this guitar will hold a neck made of maple. The manufacturer did not forget about the rosewood fingerboard, on which 24 frets are inlaid with traditional dots. The design ends with a stylish bridge flanked by vintage tuning pegs. There is also a Single Coll bridge pickup, also made of ceramic, giving the melody a pronounced middle and even some rumble.

The body has a shallow cutout for access to all frets. It was created from exotic and red trees. The paint is varnished, so it will definitely not peel off in the coming years. The neck is bolted to the body, which also speaks of the durability of the product. The distance between the strings is 19 mm, and there are four of them.

Perhaps this is the ideal bass guitar, if we talk specifically about models in the price segment 'up to 25 thousand rubles.' After purchasing such a tool, you are unlikely to be disappointed. Especially if four strings are enough for you. But do not forget that you will additionally need a case – unfortunately, modern basses most often come without it.

Advantages

• 24 frets are used;
• Maple neck applied;
• Installed excellent pickups;
• Three knobs rotate with a light flick of your fingers;
• Great appearance;
• Low cost.

disadvantages

• There are no significant ones.

MAGNA BBJ 101 / NTM

Rating: 4.6

Another bass guitar, the cost of which does not exceed 25 thousand rubles. If many other similar instruments have an atypical color, then here the musician is waiting for a body of a natural wood color. Some people will not like the bass because of this. Others will be delighted with it. Especially those who used to play exclusively acoustic guitars. By the way, the MAGNA BBJ 101 / NTM case was created from American ash, it is glued from two pieces. The neck is made of Canadian mountain maple, but already from three pieces.

Connoisseurs will no doubt guess that this model is a copy of the famous Warwick Corvette bass guitar. Most of all, the product will appeal to beginners – they will definitely appreciate the extended sound range. Hollow construction and natural wood significantly increase the resonance, which is perhaps the most important for bass guitar.

As expected, the neck of the instrument has a rosewood fingerboard. It has 24 frets inlaid on it. The sound picked up from the four strings is controlled by an active two-band Wilkinson WBJ J-J type thermoblock. The guitar offers rich sound settings so that the instrument can be easily matched to the musician's style. In a word, only the appearance of the guitar and the number of strings can not suit someone – otherwise it is extremely difficult to find fault with this model.

Advantages

• Long after-sound;
• Durable construction
• Low weight;
• High quality pickups;
• There is a two-band equalizer;
• The neck is made of mountain maple;
• Not very high cost.

disadvantages

• Not everyone will like the design;
• Supplied without carrying case.

ARIA IGB-STD / 5 MBK

Rating: 4.5

Our ranking mainly consists of four-string basses. Such instruments are easy to learn, and most musicians have enough of their capabilities. However, we couldn't help but mention a couple of five-string guitars. One of them is ARIA IGB-STD / 5 MBK. This is one of the cheapest basses in our selection. At the same time, the manufacturer almost did not save on its creation. For the manufacture of the case, he used alder. The neck is attached to the body with screws, but it was created from maple. Of course, the rosewood fretboard has not been forgotten – it is on it that the 24 frets are inlaid.

The guitar turned out to be very beautiful. Its body is in metallic black. Also, the product is capable of boasting a long scale. Like the other basses reviewed in this selection, the ARIA IGB-STD / 5 MBK features two pickups – one single coil and one humbucker. The thermoblock has a volume control, a tone knob and a toggle switch for switching pickups. As for the hardware, it is chrome-plated.

This guitar will suit every beginner, it is ready to master playing a five-stringed instrument. Professional musicians can only complain about an insufficiently long after-sound.

Advantages

• Five strings are used;
• Good pickups;
• Nice appearance;
• Low cost;
• Maple neck;
• Easy-to-use switches.

disadvantages

• The after-sound cannot be called particularly long;
• The case must be purchased separately;
• No equalizer.

Conclusion

From now on, you know how to choose your perfect bass guitar. As you can imagine, these musical instruments can differ significantly from each other. Some models are designed for beginners just mastering the basics. Others will suit those who are going to play for fun at home or with friends. And, of course, instruments for professional use can be considered a special caste – they are durable, and the quality of their sound will suit even the most fastidious musician.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.