In all honesty, the best bass guitars are not always the most expensive and most of the time may not be exactly what you need. Any budget will do for that matter. Especially if you believe that any instrument including the bass guitar becomes only exceptionally valuable, is mainly on how good a player can play and of course takes care of his/her instrument.
A good starting point on buying anything and for this case a bass guitar, is knowing exactly what you’re after. Because for sure, you don’t wanna overpay on features that you won’t really use and a type quality that you don’t necessarily need. Although spending five hundred dollars for a bass is still not cheap, but it does give you an extended range on the selection. To say that, it is more than enough to get you an awesomely sounding bass guitar.
The list we have here is a mix of bass guitar models that are coming from different brands. They are stage worthy and studio ready to be used by a seasoned musician on creating music. While on the other end of the spectrum. For beginner out there wanting to pick up a bass guitar for the first time. You might also want to look at some bass guitar under the two hundred dollar going to the three hundred dollar range that are still right on the money, and to be paired up with a decent size practice bass amp.
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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
Here is a good first bass guitar recommended for a budding bassist on a relatively reasonable price. It features a double cutaway body design and comfortable neck comparable to the traditionally well received Ray34 models. The lightweight contoured body virtually fits on any body type ideal for long hours of practice and gigs.
Key specs on the Sterling by Music Man Ray4 bass that separates it to other basses is the shell style pickguard, robust bridge design, modern 6 bolt-on attachment that ensures solid neck to body construction and an easy access truss rod wheel for adjustment.
For the pick-up, standard Music Man humbucker controlled by a 9v powered Active Preamp with individual volume, hi and low cut/boost controls for that classic bass tones every bass player loves to produce. While to those bassist who likes the features seen on this bass, but is looking for a 5 string model, there is also a Sterling by Music Man Ray5 version.
Cort Action DLX Plus Bass
- Ergonomic double cutaway body design is crafted in poplar with a quilted maple veneer
- Bolt-on maple neck in satin finish
- 24 medium jumbo size frets in jatoba fingerboard with dot inlays as markers
- Cort’s designed die-cast tuners for stable tuning
- Chrome finish bridge with adjustable four saddles
- PDX-4 Soap bar style pick-ups on the neck and bridge controlled by a master volume, blender knob to go all out on using the neck, bridge or just in the middle to use both pick-ups and a 9v operated Active Markbass MB-1 EQ bass, mid, treble cut with a toggle going from active to passive mode
When you’ll first try out this bass, the initial thing you would notice is that it has a comfortable double cutaway body made of poplar and the tonewood is very light to carry. The top finish is glossy quilted maple giving the bass a premium appearance and feel overall. For the neck it is constructed in 24 frets jatoba fingerboard overlaying the Canadian maple neck bolted on using screws.
Hardware are all die-cast with a solid construction starting from the tuners, onto the bridge as well as the knobs. Two soap bar pick-ups on the bass is capable of producing punchy tones controlled by a master volume, blender, Markbass 3-band EQ treble, mid, bass cut with a toggle switch to play the bass in active or passive mode.
The Cort Action DLX Plus may not be as mainstream compared to the other basses here our list, but nonetheless it exhibits all the needed features, versatile tone and top notch aesthetics of a high quality bass on an affordable price.
Ibanez GSR206M 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
For bassist who is looking for a 6 string bass guitar that is easy on the pocket without compromising the tone and build quality, the Ibanez GSR206 Series is a good pick. It has a streamline body design of a modern bass today which is also smaller, lightweight and comfortable because of the contoured body shape.
The pick-ups use on the neck and bridge are hum canceling passive Dynamix humbukers controlled by separate volume knob for the neck and bridge, master tone knob, and a Phat II EQ for active bass boost adding an additional low-end power to the bass.
Chrome cast hardware for performance and the different top color finishes on this bass for looks namely in walnut, black, gray burst and brown burst giving every bassist the option to choose just the right finish matching their taste and preference.
Traben Basses Chaos Core 5 Bass
- Crafted in royal paulownia with a black vapor burl or black wash quilted maple veneer top without a scratch plate
- Bolt-on maple neck with a satin finish
- 24 medium frets maple or rosewood fingerboard
- Set of sealed tuning keys
- Internal bridge system with a dual option on string attachment in a way of string-thru or slotted to the bridge providing excellent string tension
- Rockfield designed humbuckers position in the bridge and neck controlled by a master volume, Aguilar OPB-3 pre-amp 3-band EQ bass, mid, treble cut and a 5-way switch
Traben is an American brand based in Clearwater Florida USA. The Chaos Core is one of five in the Chaos Series. As a company Traben is subsidiary of Hanser Holdings International, and has affiliation with companies such as B.C. Rich and Michael Kelly Guitars.
The Traben Chaos Core 5 has a solid double cutaway body made of paulownia top of by burled maple. Bass neck is constructed using maple with a 24 fret rosewood fingerboard bolted on to the body using screws. A pair of Rockfield humbucker pick-ups releases amazing sound controlled with Aguilar OPB-3 preamp with 3-band EQ, volume, and a 5-way switch for tapping onto the outside and inside coil of the pick-ups giving it a variety of tone. Set of tuners and string to body bridge in black with locking saddles is a plus on keeping the bass in tune.
Unlike other bass guitars, it present a different appeal through the stylistic curvature of the bass body and finish giving bassist a whole new experience and vibe playing the bass.
Squier Classic Vibe 70s Jazz Bass
- Maple body in natural gloss finish
- C-shape maple neck
- 20 medium jumbo frets marked by inlay blocks
- Set of open-geared machineheads
- 4-Saddle Standard bridge and Standard Open-Gear tuning machines
- Fender designed single-coil jazz bass pick-ups on the neck and bridge controlled by two volume and master tone knob
- Also available in black and 3-color sunburst finish
Squier started out as a string manufacturing company in 1890 until it was acquired by Fender in the mid 60s that transformed the whole company from from just making strings to a guitar brand. Then by 1982 it was activated and begun manufacturing affordable versions of electric, acoustic guitars and basses of the classic Fender, blossoming to and becoming a stand alone brand with the name Squier by Fender which is now trusted and known all over.
The Classic Vibe 70s Jazz bass featured here of Squier has a natural finish with the classic J-bass body design that mimics the original Fender model. For the sought after classic fenderish voice bassist go for, a pair of Fender design single-coil pick-ups controlled by two volume and one master tone is responsible. Then adding accent to the already vintage look of this bass are 3 ply pickguard, chrome standard open gear tuning machineheads and black top knobs to complete the main parts.
In case you don’t prefer a 4-string jazz bass, the Squier brand also made a Squier by Fender Jazz Bass in 5 strings and Squier version of the other two famous Fender bass models the precision and jaguar bass. The price of Squier Classic Vibe is bit lower compared to the Fender model and reasonable for a good quality bass making it a best choice for aspiring bassist in under five hundred dollar budget.
G&L Tribute JB2 Bass
- The double cutaway body is made using lightweight swamp ash
- Comfortable medium C-profile maple neck
- 21 medium jumbo frets in rosewood or maple fingerboard complete with inlay dots as markers
- Set of Traditional Open-back Tuning keys
- Innovative G&L Saddle-Lock bridge
- 2 G&L designed single-coil alnico V pick-ups on the neck and bridge controlled by dual-volume for each single-coil and a master tone to blend
The minimalistic design and refinements G&L have done on this bass guitar is dully inspired on what made the classic bolt-on neck bass so special that generations of bassist had all rave about, together with the direct correlation of this bass guitar with Leo Fender and George Fullerton’s work. The body of the bass has the classic P-bass contours made of swamp ash. It is a bit smaller when looking at it making it more sleek and tighter. Hard maple for the neck in “C” profile which also holds the 21 fret medium jumbo fretboard in rosewood or maple as well.
Chrome open tuning machine heads for a classic vibe and the bridge has the Leo Fender designed G&L Saddle-Lock system that helps keep the bass in tune always and to maximize the sustain coming from the body. Two G&L Alnico single-coil pickups to muster in the vintage tone of a jazz bass controlled 2 volume and 1 master tone.
The bass guitar is available in two finishes, the G&L Tribute JB2 in natural finish with rosewood fretboard and Tribute JB2 bass guitar in sunburst with maple fretboard. Overall this bass from G&L can be a go to bass to anyone, very simple, very easy to use bass to get that true vintage sound without having to spend a fortune on an instrument.
Schecter Stiletto Extreme-4 Bass
- Mahogany with a quilted maple veneer top in black cherry
- Neck is comfortable to play crafted in maple with a thin C-shape profile
- 24 extra jumbo frets in rosewood fingerboard with pearloid & abalone vectors
- Set of Schecter designed tuners
- Adjustable Diamond Bass bridge
- Diamond Bass humbuckers placed on the neck and bridge controlled by a master volume, blend knob to go full on the bridge, neck or in between and Active 2-Band EQ bass & treble
On its early days, Schecter started out making quality guitar and bass replacement parts. Then later on the company transitioned from just making parts to a full time instrument manufacturer, introducing their own line of guitars and bass.
As Schecter grew it couldn’t keep up with the supply and demand in production of its instruments that the company was eventually sold to Hisatake Shibuya of ESP LTD that happens to have the same story starting out making guitar and bass custom replacement parts on a small music store in Tokyo Japan.
The uniqueness of the bass body design of the Schecter Stiletto Extreme-4 is a signature of the company made of mahogany bind with quilted maple top in black cherry finish and has no pickguard. Its neck is made of maple carrying the 24 X-jumbo frets rosewood fingerboard with avalon vector inlays. Hardware are all in black chrome, pick-ups use are Schecter Diamond Bass controlled by 1 master volume, 1 blend and active 2-band EQ.
Yamaha TRBX504 Bass
- Contoured double cutaway body made out of solid mahogany
- Bolt-on neck crafted in 5pc mahogany/maple combination
- 24 medium jumbo frets rosewood fingerboard marked by inlay dots near the low E-string
- Set of Yamaha designed tuners
- Equipped with a die-cast 4-saddled bridge-cast
- Alnico V hum-canceling quad-pole pick-ups that can go from active to passive with a flick of the toggle switch, changing the whole voice of the bass
- Controls are the master volume, pick-ups balancer to go full capacity on the neck, bridge or in between, toggle switch, bass cut, middle cut, and treble cut
Yamaha is a multinational company base in Japan that became a house hold brand around the world through their countless services they offer and products they make dominantly on motorcycle, electronics, parts and especially on their line of musical instruments. If you go to a music store looking for a bass guitar or go online to shop, I’m pretty sure there is a Yamaha bass guitar just right and fits every type of budget.
The Yamaha TRBX is a long line series of bass. Beginning from bass guitar on a 200 dollar range, the Yamaha TRBX174, and mid-range Yamaha TRBX304 up to the Yamaha TRBX504. The sculpted 3D body design of the TRBX504 made of mahogany is a balance between tone and comfort because of the weight distribution. A combination of maple and mahogany on the neck construction with ultra comfortable profile and contributing for fast play and precision. YGD designed H5 pick-ups with alnico magnets for the neck and bridge controlled by audiophile-grade active/passive circuit 1 master volume, 1 middle, 1 bass, 1 pick-up balancer, and a active/passive toggle switch for fine tonal control and extreme flexibility on the bass sound you want to produce.
For a personal pick I would go for this bass even though the looks is not so flashy and eye catching, but for the balance design and overall tone that matters most.
ESP LTD B Series B-204SM Bass
- Contoured double cutaway body is crafted in ash wood with a spalted maple top
- Neck has a thin U-shape profile made of 5pc maple/jatoba combination
- 24 extra jumbo frets jatoba fingerboard with dot inlay markers
- Set of LTD design tuners
- Bridge is ESP designed String-Thru LTD BB-604
- Passive ESP designed SB humbucking pick-ups controlled by a master volume, balancer for using the neck, bridge in full or just in between and active 3-band EQ bass-mid-treble
In the heydays of trash metal of the 80’s, ESP LTD became a prominent brand not only for the guitars they make but in their bass guitars as well. Even though many would suggest that this is a metal bass, it doesn’t conclude that you can’t play other genre of music using this bass and it would be unfair to say that this bass can’t do it all.
The bass contoured body of the ESP LTD B-204SM is made of ash top of by spalted maple in natural satin finish without pickguard. While the neck has a 5-piece maple/jatoba and 24 fret jatoba fretboard bolt-on to the body using 6 screws. LTD tuners, and string to body bridge in black nickel holds the string and maintains its tuning. ESP SB-2N for neck pick-ups and ESP SB-4B for the bridge all passive controlled by master volume, balancer and ABQ-3 3-Band EQ also in black nickel for massive tone variety and great quality.
Again on this list, if the 4 strings isn’t quite enough for you, there is also the a 5 and 6 String version of this bass guitar. The specs from headstock going to the body are totally the same, except for the number of strings that can be placed on this bass.
Hofner Ignition Violin Bass
- Violin style holly body bass made with a spruce top protected by a scratch plate
- Flame maple back and sides
- Comfortable C-shape maple neck
- 22 frets thermo-modified jatoba fingerboard garnished by white inlay dots
- Set of open-geared tuners with pearl buttons
- Rosewood bridge and trapeze nickel tailpiece
- Staple Nickle humbucker pick-ups on the neck and bridge controlled by a separate volume knobs and switches that turn On/Off the pick-ups and selector switch to go from lead to rhythm
Last but definitely not the least on our list is this signature 500/1 bass guitar coming from Hofner. If you are fan of The Beatles and one of its famous member Sir Paul McCartney, this is an excellent choice for an all around bass guitar for you under this price range.
This particular Hofner Ignition Violin Bass model has a spruce top protected by a scratch plate with a flame maple back and sides. The unique sound of a hallow body bass is then combined with a maple neck with a 22 frets thermo-modified jatoba fingerboard garnished by white inlay dots.
Powering the main sound for the Hofner Ignition bass are Staple Nickle humbucker pick-ups on the neck and bridge controlled by a separate volume knobs and switches that turn On/Off the pick-ups and selector switch to go from lead to rhythm. Adding more flavor to the tones of this vintage style bass is the traditional rosewood bridge with the trapeze nickel tailpiece and set of open-geared Teacup tuners.
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