Best Starting Bass Guitar – Top 12 products in 2023

It’s not easy to pick a bass guitar if you don’t know what brands and features to look for. Here, I’ll go through the top best starting bass guitar in each price range, but if you’re still interested in learning more about bass guitars before reading reviews, you can find that information below.

Best Starting Bass Guitar: TOP PICKS

Best Overall: Yamaha BB235 BB-Series 5-String Bass Guitar

Yamaha BB235 BB-Series 5-String Bass Guitar, Yellow Natural Stain
  • The 5-string Introductory BB235 YNS of the hardest working bass in the business: the Yamaha Bb Series
  • Solid alder Body
  • Custom V3 pickups (Ceramic)
  • Vintage style Bridge
  • Lightweight open gear tuners

The body of this Yamaha, which measures in at a full 34 inches, is carved from a single piece of Alder wood. It looks great and feels great to play on because of its thin profile and soft corners. These days, slimline bass designs like these are all the rage. The neck is made of maple and mahogany laminated wood and is joined with a miter joint and six bolts. However, its shape is pretty bulky, and its 21 frets are smooth and rounded.

Best Budget: Ibanez 4 String Bass Guitar GSRM20BWNF

Ibanez 4 String Bass Guitar, Right, Walnut Flat (GSRM20BWNF)
  • Fast, slim Maple neck
  • Compact, light-weight Body
  • Dynamic P pickup
  • Short Scale 28. 6"

This Poplar instrument has a lovely slender body and a small scale length of 28.6 inches. The instrument’s truss rod-equipped maple neck has a sleek profile and a smooth playing feel. Weight is below seven pounds. The perfect harmony between the body and the neck makes movement and rest easy. The comfort is due to the theme of the design. That’s a crucial consideration for a newbie. The first few days are crucial, so finding a balance and a comfortable spot is necessary.

Best Design: Best Choice Products 22-Fret Full Size Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar

Sale
Best Choice Products 22-Fret Full Size Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar w/ 4-Band Equalizer, Adjustable Truss Rod
  • ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC BASS: This bass guitar is equipped with a 4-band EQ-7545R bass preamp to produce high-quality sound, for hours of musical enjoyment
  • 4-BAND PREAMP: Experiment and customize your sound with built-in volume control; a 4-band equalizer adjusts bass, middle, treble, and presence
  • QUALITY MATERIALS: Durable wood composition creates a rich, beautiful sound, great for unplugged jam sessions or performances
  • FINISHED WOOD: Crafted with an attractive inlay, chrome die-cast tuners, and a glossy finish for an aesthetic look, and designed with a cutaway shape for maximum comfort while playing
  • FOR BEGINNERS OR PROS: Ready to use right out of the box, it's perfect for beginning bassists or professionals who want to practice on-the-go

An acoustic-electric bass like this seldom exists. The guitar may be played acoustically or plugged into an amplifier. It’s the best-case situation for everyone involved, including the novice, their parents, and even the neighbors. It’s constructed out of wood and looks like laminated wood because of the rosette that decorates the sound hole. The blue finish is visually appealing, and the black pickguard contrasts well. A cutaway has been added so that the whole neck can be seen.

Best For Jazz: Squier by Fender Classic Vibe 70’s

Squier Classic Vibe 70s Jazz Bass, Natural, Maple Fingerboard
  • 100% designed by Fender
  • Inspired by 1970s-era Jazz Bass models
  • Fender-Designed alnico pickups
  • Vintage-tinted gloss neck finish
  • Nickel-plated hardware

Due to its similarity in tone to Fender’s Precision, Fender began to experiment with the guitar’s design. An improvement was made by moving the bridge pickup closer to the bridge and by the 1970s, a maple neck had been added. This new version of the guitar catered to a particular demographic. This Squier is like that Jazz bass from the ’70s came back to life. Glossy polyurethane coats the Poplar body. All the original curves that made it well-liked are already present. It has a body form that is a little “off-set” compared to the more conventional Precision. That’s because some people find it more convenient and relaxing to do so.

Best High-Quality: Ibanez GSR 4 String Bass Guitar GSR200BWNF

Ibanez’s GSR line is aimed at bassists who want high-quality instruments without breaking the bank. Almost defying logic, Ibanez manages to produce such a high-quality instrument at this pricing. For the price, it’s the greatest bass guitar you can get for a novice. Tonewood made from Nyatoh is used for the body. This is a replacement for the Mahogany that was formerly used to construct the GSR200’s body since it is more environmentally friendly. It’s important that they’re unrecognizable from one another sonically and aesthetically.

COMPARE PRODUCTS

Bestseller No. 1
Davison Guitars Full Size Electric Bass Guitar with 15-Watt Amp, Blue - 4 String Right Handed Beginner Kit with Gig Bag and Accessories
  • Complete bass guitar combo package: This electric bass guitar kit includes a top-quality Davison electric bass guitar with a 15W amp, padded gig bag, shoulder strap, cable, and three picks in assorted colors; everything you need to learn and play a bass guitar!
  • Full size electric bass guitar: This gorgeous, full-size, solid-body electric bass guitar from Davison offers excellent specs for students and musicians of all levels. It features dual P-style pickups, an adjustable truss rod, nickel frets, diecast turners, and four steel strings.
  • 15W Bass amplifier included: Included with this electric bass guitar is a 15-watt bass guitar amplifier. This 15W amp (30W peak power) is an excellent value, allowing you to practice or perform almost anywhere with convenience.
  • Stunning finish and details: Featuring a gleaming, attractive, high gloss finish that is sure to catch the eye, this bass guitar looks as beautiful as it plays. A maple neck with a finely finished maple fretboard and a chrome bridge add to the classic good looks, ensuring this bass will be a showstopper when played.
  • Perfect for beginners: While this electric bass guitar was created for bass players of all levels, from beginners to advanced, it is especially great for students who are just learning to play. It offers top-quality features at a great price.
Bestseller No. 2
Glen Burton GB150BCO-BK Electric Bass Guitar, SG-Style, Black
  • Solid Alder Body; Bold-On Neck
  • Rosewood Fingerboard
  • P & J Pickups
  • Chrome Die cast Machine Heads
  • Includes: Strings, Picks, Gig Bag, Strap, Digital Clip-On Tuner, Truss Rod And 15 Watt Amplifier
Bestseller No. 3
Stedman Beginner Series Bass Guitar Bundle with 15-Watt Amp, Gig Bag, Instrument Cable, Strap, Strings, Picks, and Polishing Cloth - Metallic Blue
  • Full Size 46" Electric Bass Guitar
  • Basswood Body and Maple Neck with Adjustable Truss Rod
  • Rosewood Fretboard
  • Pickups: Split Neck and Bridge Pickup, Regulator: Volume - Tone
  • Accessories Include: 15 Watt Amplifier, Gig Bag, Chromatic Tuner, Strap, Cable, Extra String, Pics
SaleBestseller No. 4
Donner Electric Bass Guitar 4 Strings Full-Size Standard Bass PB-Style Beginner Kit Black for Starter with Free Online Lesson Gig Bag Guitar Strap and Guitar Cable, DPB-510D
  • 🎸[CLASSIC BASS PICKUPS] Donner PB-Style electric bass with classic bass pickups, deliver classic tones with all the warmth and crisp, clear sound, always the first choice for bass players. The bass is designed to be lightweight and design for portable play.
  • 🎸[SMOOTH&PLAYABLE] Donner electric bass with AAA purpleheart fingerboard, AAA Canadian maple neck with the superior finish on the back of the neck provides a smooth fret-hand feel and combines comfort and performance, quality materials improve comfort for your playing. With a “Modern C”-shaped profile, suitable for various playing styles.
  • 🎸[VINTAGE BRIDGE] Donner Bass is equipped with a through-body fixed bridge-"4-SADDLE BRIDGE", each string can be independently adjusted in height, and intonation, and features slotted saddles for enhanced tuning stability, and punchy attack.
  • 🎸[OPEN-GEAR TUNING MACHINES] Donner electric bass guitar feature smooth operating tuners and the open-gear tuning machines offer sturdy tuning stability.1 volume knob,1 tone knob, and 21 copper-nickel alloy frets with fret position marks on the neck and top of the fingerboard.
  • 🎸[WE HAVE YOU IN MIND] Donner PB-Style 4 Strings Bass comes with all accessories you need: a gig bag, a guitar strap, and a guitar cable as gifts. You can play Donner bass directly when you get it.
SaleBestseller No. 5
Guitar Fretboard: Memorize The Fretboard In Less Than 24 Hours: 35+ Tips And Exercises Included
  • Head, Guitar (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 78 Pages - 05/13/2018 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 6
Best Hard Rock Guitar
  • realistic, natural sounds
  • fuzz sounds
  • 20 frets
  • 8 chords
  • 2 play modes: chords or solo
Bestseller No. 7
Bass Guitar Lessons: Beginning Bass - How to play Bass instructional video
  • Box Contents - MSI Microstar X400-204US Notebook, 8-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery, AC Power Adapter; Software Bundle - Windows 7 Home Premium, 3-Years Limited Warranty (include 1 Year Global)
  • Intel Core 2 Solo ULV SU2700 1.3GHz Processor
  • 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB
  • 2GB DDR2 800MHz RAM
  • 320GB SATA Hard Drive
Bestseller No. 8
Hal Leonard Bass Method - Complete Edition: Books 1, 2 and 3 Together in One Easy-to-Use Volume!
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Friedland, Ed (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 282 Pages - 05/01/1996 (Publication Date) - Hal Leonard (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 9
Hal Leonard Electric Bass Method - Complete Edition: Contains Books 1, 2, and 3 Bound Together in One Easy-to-Use Volume (Hal Leonard Bass Method)
  • Contains Books 1, 2, and 3 Bound Together
  • Standard Notation and Tabs
  • Second Edition
  • 144 Pages
  • Friedland, Ed (Author)
Bestseller No. 10
The Wrecking Crew
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Brian Wilson, Cher, Dick Clark (Actors)
  • Denny Tedesco (Director) - Denny Tedesco (Writer) - Chris Hope (Producer)
  • English (Playback Language)
  • English (Subtitle)
SaleBestseller No. 12
Rocksmith Real Tone USB Audio Cable [Ubisoft], Xbox
  • Compatible with all consoles that support the Rocksmith Game as well as PC
  • Plug any real guitar into Xbox, PS4, PS3, etc
  • Features breakaway design
  • Rocksmith video game not included
Bestseller No. 13
Rightline Gear Range 3 Weatherproof Rooftop Cargo Carrier for Top of Vehicle, Attaches With or Without Roof Rack, 18 Cubic Feet, Black
  • Car Top Carrier: Our convenient roof cargo carrier allows you to keep your gear up top, so you can transport belongings and passengers without compromising on safety, comfort, or convenience
  • Intuitive Features: Specially designed to keep your gear dry, our waterproof car roof cargo carrier features welded seams, an urethane-coated zipper, and a hook-and-loop-close zipper flap
  • Quality Construction: Constructed of UV-protected PVC semi-coated mesh, our durable vehicle cargo carriers are designed to keep your belongings dry and won't fly off your roof
  • Simple Setup: Simply attach the straps of the roof bag to your vehicle’s roof rack or use the included car clips to attach the straps to your vehicle’s door frame weather molding
  • Seamless Storage: Our rooftop cargo bag folds down for storage in the included stuff sack; Car roof bag, 4 attachment straps, 4 car clips, and stuff sack with a sewn-in set up guide included
Bestseller No. 14
Bose SoundLink Revolve+ (Series II) Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Wireless Water-Resistant Speaker with Long-Lasting Battery and Handle, Black
  • MORE SOUND ALL AROUND: Engineered to deliver true 360° sound for consistent, uniform coverage from a bluetooth speaker. SoundLink Revolve-plus II plays louder and deeper with longer battery life than SoundLink Revolve II
  • IMPROVED BATTERY LIFE: With up to 17 hours from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, you get more play time than the original SoundLink Revolve-plus speaker. Charging is easy via the Micro-B USB port
  • DURABLE PORTABLE SPEAKER: SoundLink Revolve-plus II is dust and water resistant (IP55 rating), so it will stand up to splashes by the pool. Plus, it’s easy to grab and go, with a flexible fabric handle
  • BUILT-IN MICROPHONE: Take calls and access your device’s default voice assistant right from the portable speaker. Or connect the speaker to an Amazon Alexa-enabled device, like the Echo Dot, for even more hands-free control of your music
  • CONNECTING IS EASY: Voice prompts talk you through pairing your device to this Bluetooth speaker. Multi-connect lets you pair two devices at one time and easily switch between them for complete control of the music.
Bestseller No. 15
Teach Yourself to Play Bass: A Quick and Easy Introduction for Beginners
  • Series: Bass Instruction Format: Softcover - TAB Author: Various Inventory #HL 00138064 ISBN: 9781495054792 UPC: 888680103477 Width: 9.0" Length: 12.0" 56 pages
  • Do you want to learn how to play the bass guitar quickly, but don't read music or have little to no musical experience? If so, this book is for you! Instead of standard music notation, this method uses tablature combined with rhythmic symbols to make learning fast and easy! Topics covered include: parts of the bass guitar tuning basic hand and finger positions interpreting chord symbols and musical charts major, minor and pentatonic scales arpeggios easy-to-interpret diagrams, ph...
  • Various (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 56 Pages - 11/01/2015 (Publication Date) - Hal Leonard (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 16
Bass For Beginners: How To Play The Bass In 7 Simple Steps Even If You've Never Picked Up A Bass Before
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Head, Guitar (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 108 Pages - 05/20/2020 (Publication Date)
Bestseller No. 18
Fender Squier Electric Precision Bass Beginner Starter Pack, Black, Laurel Fingerboard, Includes Rumble 15 Amplifier, Padded Gig Bag, Cable, Strap, and More
  • Includes a Squier Electric Precision Bass, a padded gig bag, a Rumble 15 amp, a strap, a cable, a stand, clip on tuner, picks, and an extra set of strings
  • This beginner's starter pack was masterfully curated around a Squier Precision Bass and has everything you need to play bass
  • The Precision Bass featured in this pack sports a thin body, which reduces weight and increases comfort when playing
  • Features a comfortable, easy-to-play neck and controls that allow for a variety of tones and volumes
  • Astoundingly compact with impressive sound, the Rumble 15 is perfect for jam sessions and practices alike
Bestseller No. 19
Presonus NOTION 6 DNLD BOX Music Notation Software
  • Easily compose, playback, and edit music | Best playback of any notation product, with samples by the London Symphony Orchestra, Sound iron, and more
  • Perform scores using Notion as a live instrument and save your performance | Create a score on a Mac or Windows computer and continue to edit on iPad or iPhone
  • Write parts by hand and watch them convert to digital notation | Get a polished sound with PreSonus Studio One Native Effects Limiter, Compressor, and Pro EQ plug-ins
  • Send audio and MIDI data directly to and from Studio One, or
  • integrate Notion with other leading digital audio workstations via Rewire
Bestseller No. 20
The Quiet One
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Bill Wyman (Actor)
  • Oliver Murray (Director) - Oliver Murray (Writer) - Jamie Clark (Producer)
  • English (Playback Language)
  • English (Subtitle)

FAQS

How should I choose my first bass?

The majority of bass guitars have four strings, and beginners should likely begin with a four-string instrument. The necks of these basses are smaller than those of five- and six-string basses, making them more manageable and simpler to learn.

Can a novice begin with the bass guitar?

If you are just beginning to play bass guitar, there is no need to invest hundreds of dollars in an antique instrument. Beginners may begin with an entry-level bass and then move to a higher-end model as their abilities improve.

What is the most often used bass guitar?

The electric bass guitar is the most prevalent form of bass guitar. The bodies of electric basses are substantial. To be audible, an electric bass must be plugged into a bass amplifier. In essence, a bass amplifier, or “bass amp,” is a powered speaker.

CONCLUSION

Choosing the best starting bass guitar is a difficult task. In some respects, it is comparable to purchasing a first vehicle for a newly licensed teen. They seek just one thing. You want that they have another.

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