Are you inspiring to be a bassist? Or the bass is the preferred instrument to play between friends for you guys can jam along inside the garage playing all your favorite music. Well if one or both of those reasons mentioned is the case. It’s about time for you to make it happen and let that passion of playing the bass guitar come true.
Luckily for this generation, and also to include those who are young at heart. The market to buy a bass today has became even more less expensive. A player can already pick a decent sounding bass guitar under the two hundred dollar range. Moreover, If with a more flexible budget to spend. To settle for a bass under the three hundred dollars up to five hundred dollar range if looking for better specs.
For this list, we have gathered here some of the best bass guitars under $300 players should take a look at that are out in stores right now. All of these bass guitars are recommendable not only for beginners to play with, but for experienced players as well who are trying to find a less expensive bass that could meet their requirements regarding their design of choice, playability, getting it from a brand known on making the instrument and definitely the most important of all. The overall sound it can deliver. Pleasing to both the ears of the player and the listeners.
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Jackson JS Series Concert JS2 Bass
- Body made of poplar in satin black and snow white finish
- Neck is 1-piece bolt-on maple with graphite reinforcement and scarf joint
- 24 jumbo frets amaranth fingerboard marked by pearloid sharkfin inlays
- Set of sealed die-cast tuners in black
- Jackson HiMass bridge
- High output humbucking pick-ups on the neck and bridge controlled by separate volume for each pick-ups and a master tone
Opening the list of basses under the three hundred dollar price point that we recommend is the JS2 Series Concert bass from Jackson. This four string bass guitar has a 34” inch scale neck and a smaller shape body compared to other basses that makes it lighter and easy on the shoulders to carry. Its body is double cutaway design made of poplar, available in two colors to choose from namely satin black and snow white.
Neck is 1-piece bolt-on maple with graphite reinforcement and scarf joint that goes along well with its 24 jumbo frets 12”-16” compound radius amaranth fingerboard marked by pearloid sharkfin inlays. 12”-16” fingerboard are flatter on the headstock area that gradually gets rounder moving up the higher frets. Headstock design is Jackson Pointed 4-In-Line.
Powering the bass sound are two high output humbucking pick-ups placed on the neck and bridge controlled by separate volume for each pick-ups and a master tone. Hardware for the bridge is Jackson HiMass bridge while for machineheads are sealed die-cast tuners in black.
Sterling By Music Man Ray4 Bass
- Double cutaway body crafted in basswood
- Bolt-on neck is slim tapering made of maple
- Fingerboard can be in maple or jatoba with 21 frets and inlay dot as markers
- Set of open back tuning machines
- Fully adjustable heavy duty bridge
- Single humbucker on the bridge with a 9v powered Active Preamp to further amplification controlled by a master volume, and Hi & Low boost cut
Discover your sound and have a bass that you’ll always pick up everyday to play without breaking the bank with the Sterling by Music Man Series Ray4. This bass has all the features that can makes players get excited starting from its ergonomic body and neck design for comfort. As well exhibiting the feel of a solidly made type of quality even for an affordable bass guitar model.
The sleek curves and cutaways of this bass is carved in basswood with an assortment of burst and solid finishes to match players preference protected by a tear drop designed scratch plate. Neck is slim tapered shape made in maple and bolt-on to the body using plate and six screws. Fingerboard can either be in maple or jatoba with 21 frets and inlay dot as markers.
For pick-up to generate the sound. The Ray4 is equip with a single passive humbucker at the bridge position with a 9v powered 2-band Active Preamp controlled by a master volume, and a Hi & Low boost cut. Bridge is fully adjustable and heavy duty in design. Tuners are open gear in chrome.
Gretsch Junior Jet II Bass
- Single cutaway body is made from basswood with a number of solid gloss and sunburst finishes to choose from
- Comfortable bolt-on maple neck
- 20 medium jumbo frets black walnut fingerboard with dot inlays
- Set of die-cast tuning machines
- 4-adjustable saddle bridge design
- Gretsch designed Mini-Humbuckers at the neck and bridge controlled by a 3-way toggle switch for pick-ups selection, master volume and master tone
Everybody knows Gretsch is an authority when it comes to hollow body guitars and drum sets they make. However, little is known about that the company also too build quality basses ranging from the same hallow body design and this solid body bass guitar in particular, the Gretsch Junior Jet II bass. So if you feel and like to be different on the bass you’ll play, away from the more mainstream design. The Junior Jet is a great choice for a good sounding bass.
Gretsch Junior Jet II has a single cutaway body made from basswood with a number of solid gloss and sunburst finishes to choose from. The bolt-on maple neck with 20 medium jumbo frets black walnut fingerboard of this bass is its main design feature. It is a short scale neck 30” inch in length with a flatter 12” radius fingerboard which makes playing a lot easier on the fretting fingers. Playing throughout the whole neck comfortably,
Rendering the massive sound to fill a room are Gretsch designed Mini-Humbuckers positioned at the neck and bridge area of the body. Controlled by a 3-way toggle switch for pick-ups selection, master volume and master tone. For hardware, holding the strings and keeping it in perfect pitch are adjustable saddle bridge and die-cast tuning machines.
Ibanez GSR206 Bass
- Contoured double cutaway body constructed using poplar wood in black, can be with a maple veneer top or (okoume body for walnut finish)
- GSR6 bolt-on neck is satin finish made of maple with a comfortable thin profile
- 24 medium frets jatoba fingerboard with dot inlay markers
- Set of Ibanez designed tuners in chrome or black
- Adjustable B16 bridge in 16.5mm string spacing
- Hum canceling Passive Dynamix Humbucking pick-ups on the neck and bridge controlled by a separate volume, master tone and Ibanez Active Phat II EQ bass boost-cut knob
Probably the most inexpensive 6-string bass guitar you’ll ever find at the moment, and a bass that players really do wanna have as part of their collection of bass they play without emptying their pockets is the Ibanez GSR206. This bass model from Ibanez is almost a giveaway, just thinking about how hard it is to make a 6-string bass than a 4-string and to come up with a price that is still reachable for anyone who would want one.
For a 6-string bass, the GSR206 double cutaway body still appears small to average size. The black model and with a spalted maple top finish model has a poplar body. While the model with a walnut finish, its body tonewood registered in the Ibanez website is okoume. Neck is similar for the three models. It is made of maple with 20 medium size frets jatoba fingerboard marked by dot inlays.
The full bodied sound offered by the GSR206 are delivered by two passive Dynamix Humbuker pick-ups placed at the neck and bridge controlled by a separate volume knob for each pick-ups, master tone and an active Phat II EQ for extra tone shaping capabilities. Bridge is 6-saddle adjustable and tuning machines are in chrome or black.
Yamaha TRBX204 Bass
- Ergonomic and balanced designed basswood body
- Comfortable C-profile neck made of maple
- 24 medium frets rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
- Set of chrome die-cast tuning machines
- Standard chrome vintage-style adjustable 4-saddle bridge
- Ceramic split single-coil for the neck and jazz type ceramic single-coil on the bridge controlled by a volume, balance and 2-band Active EQ
Yamaha is a multi-national company that has many top products in almost all markets. A big part of their product line is in their instrument division which includes the production of bass guitars ranging from entry level to high end models. For that reason, any top ten list of bass guitar to find or any kind of instrument for that matter will not be complete without an instrument coming from Yamaha.
The Yamaha TRBX204 is the second installment of entry level bass guitar in the TRBX series of Yamaha succeeding after the TRBX174. The main difference between the two basses are the controls and tonewood based on this Yamaha TRBX series catalog. TRBX204 has master volume, pick-up balancer, and a 2-band Active EQ, while the TRBX174 is having the standard controls, the two volume knobs for each pick-ups and a master tone. Pick-ups are the same for both bass consisting of a ceramic split single-coil for the neck and jazz type ceramic single-coil on the bridge.
For tonewood like said earlier, it is not the same. The TRBX204 has a basswood body unlike the TRBX174 which is made of mahogany. Neck wood is the same on the two basses, they are bolt-on maple with 24 medium frets rosewood fingerboard.
Epiphone Toby Standard-IV Bass
- Made of radiata pine in different color finishes
- Neck is bolt-on maple with asymmetrical design
- 24 frets rosewood fingerboard without inlay markers
- Set of premium die-cast tuners 17:1 ratio
- Bridge is flush-mount low-profile fully adjustable
- Features the classic Tobias-designed TB single-coil pick-ups in the neck and bridge controlled by a master volume, pickup blend with center detent, bass cut and treble cut
This bass from Epiphone called the Toby is inspired by Michael Tobias design bass, luthiers of some of the finest handcrafted American instruments. The Epiphone Toby bass for its price, offers a great value with its awesome looking well balance body to headstock design and not to forget to mention. The delivery of awesome definition on the low end sound which is perfect for playing different genre of music on a modern style bass.
The edgy body design of the Toby is very unique from other basses, more like a custom boutique bass guitar. Its tonewood is made of radiata pine in different awesome color finishes for every player delight without a protective pickguard. Neck is bolt-on maple with asymmetrical design, where the neck is thinner on the lower side than on the upper side allowing better grip and hand comfort. Also on the neck is a 24 frets rosewood fingerboard without inlay markers.
The Toby Standard IV electronics features the classic Tobias-designed TB single-coil in the neck and at the bridge controlled by a master volume, pickup blend with center detent, bass cut and treble cut. Bridge is flush-mount low-profile fully adjustable and tuners are premium die-cast 17:1 ratio.
Dean Edge 2 Bass
- Double cutaway body made of basswood in burled maple top burst or natural finish
- Comfortable neck is bolt-on made of maple
- 24 frets walnut fingerboard marked by pearl dots
- Set of sealed die-cast tuners in black
- Equipped with vintage style 4-saddle bridge
- DMT Design MM-Style humbuckers placed on the neck and bridge controlled by two volume and two tone knobs
Are you searching to find a two pick-up bass guitar on an affordable price with the appropriate looks to play metal and heavy metal? Then you don’t need to look anymore further, because here is the Dean Edge 2 which is just the right bass for the job.
Aside from the popular Metalman bass of Dean. The Edge 2 is another model on the Dean line of bass guitars that fits the bill to deliver the type of clean and aggressive overdriven sound specific for the metal genre. The Dean Edge 2 has a double cutaway body made of basswood, available in burled maple top burst and natural finish. Neck is bolt-on maple with 24 frets walnut fingerboard marked by pearl dots.
Pick-ups to administer the sound are DMT Design MM-Style humbuckers placed on the neck and bridge controlled by two volume and two tone knobs. For hardware, the bass is equipped with vintage style 4-saddle bridge and sealed die-cast tuners in black.
Squier Affinity Series Jazz Bass
- Crafted in alder coated with a polyurethane finish in a variety of solid colors and sunburst finish
- Neck is slim C-profile constructed in maple
- 20 medium jumbo frets rosewood or laurel fingerboard with inlay dots as guide
- Open-Gear tuning machine heads in chrome finish
- Standard adjustable 4-saddle bridge
- 2 Standard Single-Coil Jazz Bass pick-ups placed on the neck and bridge controlled by separate volume knobs for each pick-ups and a master tone
Generally when we think about buying a guitar or a bass instrument on a fairly decent budget, the thing that comes first into mind is to check out instruments that are made by Squier. This almost arguably comes natural because the price of their instruments is so good and the quality of sound their instrument produces is almost all what players want. For the jazz bass category coming from Squier, the Affinty Jazz Bass together the Classic Vibe Series Jazz is what we recommend for both newbies and Pro players alike.
The Affinty Jazz bass is a good solid sounding bass made with an alder body in sunburst and solid color finish players can choose from. The neck is comfortable built using maple, then top of by a 20 frets rosewood or laurel fretboard completely marked by inlay dots.
For pick-ups to supply the sound, it is equipped with Standard-Designed Single-Coil Jazz Bass pick-ups placed on the neck and bridge controlled by two volume and a master tone knob. For hardware and similarities between squier bass models are the 4-Saddle Vintage-Style bridge and Open-Gear machineheads.
Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Special Bass
- Crafted using basswood or agathis in polyurethane finish
- Slim C-shape profile neck made in maple
- 20 medium jumbo frets rosewood or laurel fingerboard with dot inlays
- Standard Open-Gear tuners in chrome finish
- Standard Adjustable 4-Saddle bridge
- Vintage-Style Split Single-Coil Precision Bass pick-ups on the neck and for the bridge is a Standard Single-Coil Jazz Bass pick-ups controlled by separate volume controls, master tone and Active Bass Boost Circuit on-board
A big part of the popular bass guitars Squier offers for the bugetarians and beginners out there who are in the hunt for a reliable uniquely designed and dynamic sounding bass is the Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass. This bass can capture the fenderish bass tones that every bassist loves to apply on their music. Mimicking it to the fullest making it really hard to distinguish it from an original Fender Jaguar tones especially if you are that great of a player.
The Modified Jaguar Special comes in 3-color sunburst finish in agathis or basswood with a protection of a 3-ply pickguard. Going to the neck, the Jaguar bass has a slim C-shape bolt-on neck top of by a 20 medium jumbo frets rosewood or laurel fingerboard.
Pick-up configuration is P/J precision consisting of a standard split single-coil for the neck and jazz bass single-coil for the bridge controlled by a separate volume controls for each pick-ups, master tone and an active bass boost circuit on-board. Hardware for the bridge is standard adjustable 4-saddle bridge and standard open-Gear tuners in chrome.
Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass
- Contoured double cutaway body made in alder with a variety of solid polyurethane finishes
- Bolt-on maple neck with modern C-shape profile
- 20 frets medium jumbo rosewood or laurel fingerboard complete with inlay dots
- Standard Open-Gear Machine Heads in matching chrome finish
- Adjustable 4-Saddle Standard bridge
- Standard Split Single-Coil Precision Bass on the neck and Standard Single-Coil Jazz Bass for the bridge controlled by separate volume knobs for each pick-ups and a master tone
Closing our list and third entry for the Squier brand is the Squier Affinity Precision Bass. The precision bass is a no brainer of a choice if you feel this is the type of bass guitar suited on what you want to accomplish in music. Considering all of its models, the demand for this bass has always been continuously on a rise and never lost a step since it was first introduce in the 50’s.
To commemorate all its glory and for new players to have a well built bass to help them develop their skills in playing the instrument. Fender through Squier mass produce the instrument just like what they did before. However this time with a much cheaper cost giving birth to the Squier line of Precision bass and other basses.
The Squier Affinity Precision Bass is a P/J bass with an alder body, maple neck and 20 fret medium jumbo rosewood or laurel fingerboard. The bass is powered by a single split single-coil neck pick-up and Jazz single-coil for the bridge controlled by separate volume knobs for each pick-ups and a master tone.
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