With this kind of budget for a bass, a player considerably would already have a pleasurable time searching high and low the market. Simply meaning, the range is more established to be able to find the type of bass a player really wanted. Moreover, there is also a good chance you may also find what you’ve always been looking for on a less expensive bass guitar model during the search. To say that and strongly suggest to take a hard look at them as well.
After the price. Time now to meticulously check the features of each potential bass to buy matching it precisely with the bassist individual preference. There are many factors affecting this and generally a good way to start is with the genre of music a bassist plays heavily to use the bass to its fullest. Another is to choose between an active or passive bass for tone delivery. As well the number of strings the bass should have and that overall feel of the body to neck for comfort. Again this will compliment the bass player’s tone quality delivery.
While for beginners who feel the need and thinks that they already have surpassed the budding stage playing with a decent sounding bass. Notably fully understanding that it’s not always all about playing. That half of it is also the responsibility of taking better care of the instrument. Because after all, a grand is no joke to spend even for an earning musician. Well if those basics are met, then more likely it is now the right time to take that second trip of buying another bass.
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Washburn Taurus T24NMK Bass Guitar
- Double cutaway solid mahogany body
- Maple/mahogany neck with a neck through body construction
- 24 fret ebony or rosewood fingerboard with off-set dot inlays as markers
- Standard die-cast tuners
- Hard-tail bridge paired with a Graphtech Nubone nut
- Powered by a Dual Washburn designed J-style pick-ups controlled by two volume and two tone knobs
This bass coming from Washburn offers bassist a professional sounding and looking bass guitar in every way. The Washburn Taurus bass has its own distinct look totally different from those other basses when compared with a more mainstream design. This reason pave the way for the Taurus on winning the Bass Player Magazine Editor’s Choice award for outstanding construction and design.
The wood used for the body of this bass is mahogany which gives the bass a warm feel and a degree of fatness to the overall sound that many bassist likes to have for their bass guitar. It also features a maple/mahogany neck with a neck through body construction. Top of by a 24 fret ebony fingerboard marked by off-set inlay dots which are usually found on tailored boutique basses.
Powering the bass main sound are dual Washburn designed J-style pick-ups controlled by two volume and two tone knobs. Hardware is straight forward to adjust and tune the bass consisting of a hard-tail bridge and die-cast tuners. Adding to the bass, it already comes with its own free gig bag.
Sire Marcus Miller V7 4ST Ash Body Jazz Bass
- Double cutaway swamp ash or North American alder body
- C-profile all maple neck
- 20 frets rolled edge maple fingerboard with block inlays
- Sire premium open-geared tuners
- Marcus Miller heavy mass standard bridge paired with a bone nut
- Powered by Marcus Miller super jazz single-coil pick-ups controlled by a volume / tone (Dual Pot), pickup blender, treble, middle frequency (Dual Pot), bass, mini toggle (Active / Passive)
If you’re a fan of the music of this legendary bassman Marcus Miller, and wanting a bass that mimics the kind he uses, the Marcus Miller V7 4ST made by Sire is just the right one for you. This particular model shown here is the version with a double cutaway swamp ash body. It is also available in North American alder body version which is also a premium wood to use on this type of level of a bass.
Both the 2nd generation Sire Marcus Miller V7 4ST swamp ash and the Sire Marcus Miller V7 4ST alder body version has a 1-piece maple neck with a 20 frets medium small frets fingerboard marked by perloid block inlays.
Delivering the stage ready tones for the V7 are two Marcus Miller super jazz single-coil pick-ups controlled by a volume / tone (Dual Pot), pickup blender, treble, middle frequency (Dual Pot), bass, mini toggle (Active / Passive). Hardware to hold and keep the strings in perfect pitch are heavy mass standard bridge and open gear tuners. The bass includes a gig bag.
ESP LTD B-4E Bass Guitar
- Neck-thru-body design bass guitar made of a solid mahogany in a smooth natural satin finish
- Thin U-shape 5-piece construction maple/mahogany neck
- 24 extra jumbo frets ebony fingerboard
- Back nickel finish LTD designed tuners
- Black nickel LTD BB-604 string-thru bridge paired with molded nut
- Powered by ESP designed SB-4 neck and bridge pick-ups with an active 3-band ABQ-3 EQ, volume and balancer controls
Punchy sounding and elegant looking bass with an affordable price, the ESP LTD B-4E bass offers players on any levels a neck-thru-body design bass guitar made of a solid mahogany in a smooth natural satin finish.
The thin U-shape neck we can say is a notable feature on this bass. It is stronger, warp less when compared to a 1-piece due to its 5-piece maple/mahogany construction. Then it is top of by 24 extra jumbo frets ebony fingerboard. Which is a great innovation when it comes to bass and guitar neck construction.
The bass is equipped with passive ESP designed SB-4 pick-ups placed on the neck and bridge with an active 3-band ABQ-3 EQ, volume and balancer for controls. Hardware carrying the strings are black nickel LTD BB-604 string-thru bridge and LTD designed tuners, also in black nickel finish.
Fender Player Precision Bass
- Double cutaway alder body in different color finishes to choose from
- Can either be in 20 frets all maple neck and fingerboard or top of by a pau ferro fingerboard that has replaced the rosewood
- Standard open-gear tuning machines
- 4-saddle pure vintage 70s with single groove saddle bridge
- Alnico V split single-coil precision pick-up with a knurled flat top volume and tone knob
A big part of the success story of Fender is contributed to the many bass guitars that have graced the stage and will continue to be used in any genre of music. This now brings us to one of the many iconic models the Fender brand has produced, and it doesn’t need any long introduction, the bass guitar I’m talking about is the Fender Precision Bass.
The ergonomically designed body and neck of this bass has remained consistent to its original design and minimally change in materials used. The double cutaway body is made of alder wood and can either be in all maple neck and fingerboard or with a pau ferro fingerboard that replaced the rosewood. The color finish of the body still has a wide spectrum that players can choose from matching their taste.
For pick-ups, the Fender Player model P-bass uses a split single-coil pick-up with a knurled flat top volume and tone knob. Hardware are 4-saddle pure vintage 70s with single groove saddle bridge and standard open-gear tuning machines.
Fender Player Jazz Bass
- Double cutaway alder body in a variety of solid and sunburst finishes with a 3-ply parchment.
- Slim C-shape maple neck
- Either maple or rosewood fingerboard having 20 medium size frets with white perloid or black position inlays.
- Standard open-gear tuning machines
- 4-saddle pure vintage 70s with single groove saddle bridge
- Pair of Alnico V standard single-coil jazz bass pick-ups placed on the neck and bridge area controlled by two volume and tone knobs
Like the Precision, the Jazz bass is another trademark bass guitar of the Fender brand and was first introduced in the 1960 as the deluxe model together with its stablemate the Fender Jazzmaster electric guitar. The Fender Jazz Bass in comparison with the Precision is a totally different bass not only on the type of pick-ups it uses, but the body shape that looks a lot bigger because of the curves.
Fender Standard Jazz Bass has a double cutaway alder body in a variety of solid and sunburst finishes players can select protected by a 3-ply parchment. The maple neck is slim C-shape in either maple or rosewood fingerboard, having 20 medium size frets with white perloid or black position inlays.
Giving the Jazz bass its vintage sound are a pair of standard single-coil jazz bass pick-ups placed on the neck and bridge area controlled by two volume and tone covered in black plastic knobs. Hardware are 4-saddle pure vintage 70s with single groove saddle bridge and standard open-gear tuning machines.
Fender Player Jaguar Bass
- Alder tonewood body in different color gloss finishes to choose from
- Slim modern C-shape maple neck with 20 medium jumbo frets maple or rosewood fingerboard
- Standard open-gear tuning machines
- 4-saddle pure vintage 70s with single groove saddle bridge
- Alnico V split single-coil P-bass neck pick-up and single-coil J-bass bridge pick-up controlled by two volume and tone knobs
Another bass guitar of old with a great sound and design players should consider when looking at the Fender line of basses is the Jaguar Bass. The Jag may look different at first glance, but actually has many striking similarities in features with bought the Fender Precision and Jazz bass.
For the Fender Jaguar Bass, the base part of the body where the 4-saddle bridge is attached is reminiscent of the Jazz bass. As well its thinner neck design is like again of the Jazz bass that Fender develop way back to appeal more to jazz musicians. The Jaguar bass has an alder tonewood body and has a slim modern C-shape maple neck with 20 medium jumbo frets maple or rosewood fingerboard.
Like said, the Jag also has similarities with the Precision. This comes in the form of its neck pick-up for having a standard split single-coil which is smoother sounding and with some hum canceling properties. Bridge pick-up is a punchy jazz single-coil and when combined with the split single on the neck, it becomes a P/J bass. Hardware are 4-saddle pure vintage 70s with single groove saddle bridge and standard open-gear tuning machines.
Yamaha TRBX604FM Bass Guitar
- Alder body with a flame maple top without a scratch plate
- Neck is laminated 5-piece maple and mahogany construction for stability and adds up to its existing excellent tone
- 24 medium frets rosewood fingerboard with off-set perloid inlay dots
- Chrome sealed die-cast tunerss paired with a high mass 4-saddle die-cast bridge
- Alnico V quad-pole neck and bridge pick-up controlled by a toggle switch to go from active/passive, master volume, balancer for the neck pick-up, master tone for passive mode, bass-mid-treble boost cut during active mode
Right out of the box, the Yamaha TRBX604 gives bassist the playability, sound performance and exciting features that can only be found on a modern style bass without breaking the bank. This bass is a looker and ultra-comfortable from body to neck that makes it outstanding to play in sitting position during practice and standing when on a live performance.
This high-end model of the TRBX series has an alder body with a flame maple top less a scratch plate highlighting its beauty finish. Neck is laminated 5-piece maple and mahogany construction for stability and adds up to its existing excellent tone. Matching the neck are 24 medium frets rosewood fingerboard to play extra notes on the higher frets.
TRBX604 and 605 models features an audiophile-grade active/passive circuit for flexibility in tonal control. Main controls are toggle switch to go from active/passive, master volume, balancer for the neck pick-up, master tone for passive mode, bass-mid-treble boost cut during active mode. Bridge is high mass and tuning machine are covered die-cast.
Schecter Riot-4 Session Bass
- Flat top beveled edge swamp ash body
- 6 screws bolt-on C-shape maple neck with ebony side blocks for position inlays
- 24 narrow extra jumbo frets maple fingerboard for speed and player precision
- Schecter designed black tuners
- Schecter custom bass string thru or can be top load bridge
- Equipped with EMG 35J neck pick-up and EMG 35DC bridge pick-up controlled by a master volume, blend, and a 3-Band EMG Active E/Q
The brand Schecter first made a name for themselves selling quality replacement parts of guitars and basses. Like any other company, they also had their share of ups and downs in its long rich history, but remained resilient and has grew strong for having now its own full range of guitar and basses which is far from the days by just selling guitar/bass parts.
So speaking of basses from Schecter, the Schecter Riot-4 is part of the session series and one of the most popular premium bass model of the brand. It has a flat top beveled edge swamp ash body and has 2 -way adjustable bolt-on C-shape maple neck with maple fingerboard and ebony side blocks for position inlays. Frets are 24 narrow extra jumbo for speed and player precision.
For pick-ups the Riot-4 is equipped with EMG 35J pick-up for the neck and EMG 35DC pick-up for the bridge controlled by a master volume, blend, and a 3-Band EMG Active E/Q. Hardware completing the bass are Schecter custom bass is a string thru or can be top load bridge and black tuners.
MTD Kingston The Artist Bass
- Basswood body, available in transparent blue, transparent red and amber finish without a pickguard cover
- Has an asymmetrical 1-piece maple neck with 24 frets medium jumbo maple or rosewood fingerboard
- Hardware are classic 4-saddle bridge and die-cast tuners
- Exposed pole alnico MM humbucker pick-up controlled by a master volume and active 3-band EQ
The MTD Artist Bass is best known for the aggressive beefy tones it can deliver using its large pole alnico humbucking pick-up. The design of the bass is to be light, ergonomic, nicely finish and focusing more on the playability and overall sound of the bass in order for the bass player to highlight his/her skills which of course is the most important.
The Michael Tobias design Artist Bass has a basswood body, available in transparent blue, transparent red and amber finish without a pickguard cover. It has an asymmetrical 1-piece maple neck with 24 frets medium jumbo maple or rosewood fingerboard. When it comes down to this type of neck on a bass, MTD is considered by many as one of best makers of asymmetrically contoured neck.
Zeroing in now on the pick-up the bass uses, you’ll get a lot of beefy sound out of its exposed pole alnico MM humbucker pick-up controlled by a master volume and active 3-band EQ. Hardware are classic 4-saddle bridge and die-cast tuners.
Sterling by Music Man Ray34 Bass
- Classic double cutaway shape made out of mahogany or swamp ash
- C-profile maple neck
- Maple or rosewood fingerboard with 21 medium frets complete with dot inlays
- Standard heavy duty Music Man designed 4-saddle bridge and open-gear tuners
- Single H-1 alnico humbucker at the bridge controlled by a volume, and 3-band preamp
The name Leo Fender is always going to be synonymous with Fender even after he had sold his beloved company to CBS. However, did you know that he’s also the one responsible in creating another iconic bass and gave a better name for this company to change it from Tri-Sonix to Music Man that we are now very much familiar today. In his short stint with Music Man, Leo acted as the president and together with Forest White who he worked with in the past in the earlier days of Fender develop the bass called the StingRay.
The modern version of the StingRay is the budget friendly model Ray4 and Ray34. The Music Man Ray34 has the classic shape of a great bass made from swamp ash (natural finish) or mahogany in a variety of finishes with the center protected by an oval pickguard. Neck is narrow can either be in all maple including the fingerboard or having a rosewood fingerboard with 21 medium frets complete with inlay dots.
Bringing out the big bottom end sound for the Ray34 is the typical single H-1 alnico humbucker at the bridge controlled by a volume, and 3-band preamp. Hardware are heavy duty Music Man designed 4-saddle bridge and open-gear tuners.
G&L Tribute L-2000 Bass
- Crafted in different type of body tonewood namely swamp ash on translucent and burst finishes, and basswood on solid finishes
- Hard-rock C-profile maple neck
- Maple or Brazilian cherry 21 frets medium jumbo fingerboard
- Traditional open-gear tuners
- Leo Fender-designed G&L saddle-lock bridge
- Humbucking neck and bridge pick-ups controlled by Tri-Tone system with 3-position pickup selector, series/parallel switch, 3-position pre-amp mode switch, volume, treble, bass
Ready to make history all over again with his newly established company G&L, Leo Fender launch the Tribute L-2000 bass in the 80s that offers a stunning design and advance features never before seen on any of the bass guitar he had made.
The foundation and what separates this bass among its pears is a pair of G&L magnetic field design humbucker pick-ups made in Fullerton California with a flexible Tri-Tone control system. This type of pick-up has the power and versatility over the controls which features a trio of mini toggles for pickup selection, series/parallel signal routing and active/passive operation, as well as a trio of knobs for volume, treble and bass opens up a new dimension on finding tones no matter what kind of bass line you’re laying down.
The Tribute series is comprise a range of models, not just one. Each having its own distinct offering by using different type of body tonewood and neck wood namely swamp ash on translucent and burst finishes, and basswood on solid finishes. Hard-rock C-profile maple neck with maple or Brazilian cherry 21 frets medium jumbo fingerboard.
Another exciting element to look forward into when playing with any of the Tribute L-2000 models is the Leo Fender-designed G&L saddle-lock bridge partnered with traditional open-gear tuners. The stability and mass of the bridge surely can make the strings cleanly vibrate, optimize tuning and intonation.
Ibanez SR306 6-String Bass
- Weathered black double cutaway nyatoh body
- 5-piece maple/walnut neck construction
- 24 frets jatoba fingerboard marked by dot inlays
- Standard sealed tuners
- Accu-Cast B126 bridge
- Generating the tones are dual-coil humbucking pick-ups placed at the neck and bridge area controlled by 3-way power tap switch, volume, balancer and an on-board 3-band bass-mid-treb boost/cut EQ
Unlike any other string instrument, the bass probably is the only instrument that you can play in different number of strings without affecting much the outcome and purity of the sound. with having pointed that out, some players do want to try out their skills and produce music using a 6-string bass and what we recommend is the Ibanez SR306EB bass on under a grand budget.
The SR306EB has a double cutaway nyatoh body and has a 5-piece maple/walnut neck construction with 24 frets jatoba fingerboard marked by dot inlays. Generating the sound are dual-coil humbucking pick-ups placed at the neck and bridge area controlled by 3-way power tap switch, volume, balancer and an on-board 3-band bass-mid-treb boost/cut EQ. Hardware are black Accu-Cast B126 bridge and sealed tuners.
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