Basing it through experience back in the days, finding yourself a left handed bass guitar is very much way too difficult, was so well over priced and up to this day many for sure would still agree that there is not enough bass guitar models for left handers to choose from. I was 14 yrs old by the time I had the interest to play this instrument. I went over every guitar shop near my place to buy me a bass, but unfortunately I couldn’t find any. If ever there was one, the price is way beyond reach of my budget at the time. Far worst the store attendant keeps telling me to comeback in a month or two to check again, promising other left handed bass guitar are coming soon.
It was so annoying and frustrating thinking coz we left handers can rock too! Just to make my story short, I happen to be a left handed guy who learned and plays the bass on my right. Having said that, maybe you are wondering was it that difficult of a transition? The answer to that is, it has its challenges but doable thru practice. Yet again it would have been better and a lot cooler for me if I’m playing the bass right now on my left.
Even though given the situation. Nothing will stop lefty bass players to thrive on showing off their stuff with the bass. They are all here to stay making great music and giving everyone the best performances on stage. So without further ado here are some of what we think are the best LH bass guitar models for budding as well as seasoned bass players alike.
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Best Left handed Bass Guitars Under $200
Just keeping it real and being honest about this, that in reality not all of us can afford a 500 dollar bass. Moreover, there are also a few more other things you will still need to spend on like an amp, cable, and stand. Even so the fact of the matter, this doesn’t conclude that there is no other option to go too. If this is your first time picking up a bass, as rule of the thumb all you really need now is a decent sounding bass. What I mean by this is, the bass should stay in tune the rest of the way during and after practices/gigs. Quality on the overall build of the pick-ups, controls, hardware use, and having a straight neck in relation with the body. Let us stick with the basics first, because later on as you go along your way you will learn more not just about playing, but also in regards with the specs on what is best to use.
Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro 3/4 Size Bass Guitar
For those kids out there ages 5 to 12 yrs old who shows interest on playing the bass and often times wants to follow the foot steps of their musician dad/mom that plays the bass, here’s a treat for you. This bass is really good not only because for its affordable price, but with the sheer size and ergonomic design well suited for kids to play comfortably.
Materials use on making this Ibanez Mikro bass is of top quality to last until they can move on to a full scale bass and also directly contributing to its overall tone and playability. It is a true instrument not a toy that kids can actually learn how to play music. As an after school activity and a nice way for them to spend their time during the weekends.
Rogue LX200BL Bass Guitar
Rouge is a notable name when it comes to entry level guitars and affordable bass guitars they make. Some veteran players actually gravitates on buying cheaper bass models like this, tweaking and upgrading parts as a hobby for a custom build instrument. The Rogue LX200BL bass body is light and contoured with double cutaway made of basswood while the neck is maple and has a rosewood for fretboard. Good quality wood on making guitars and bass.
Hardware are all solid from bridge to tuners. Pick-ups are in P/J bass configuration, P-Style split single-coil for the neck hum canceling and J-Style single-coil for the bridge each having a separate volume and tone control knobs. The term cheap instruments doesn’t necessarily mean unplayable and bad sounding. They are just specifically made and maintains its price to be available for a wider market, so that anyone interested can learn and enjoy playing this great instruments.
Dean E09 Bass Guitar
For those kids out there ages 4, 5 to 12 yrs old who shows interest on playing the bass and often times wants to follow the foot steps of their musician dad/mom that plays the bass, here’s a treat for you. This bass is really good not only because for its affordable price, but with the sheer size and ergonomic design well suited for kids to play comfortably.
Materials use on making this Dean E09 bass is of top quality to last until they can move on to a full scale bass and also directly contributing to its overall tone and playability. It is a true instrument not a toy that kids can actually learn how to play music. As an after school activity and a nice way for them to spend their time during the weekends.
Best Left Handed Bass Guitars $250 and Above
Probably you already notice that we’re leading beginners to start with entry level bass and telling them not to over spend immediately on their first buy, here’s the reason why. Not all really end up playing whether it is on a guitar or bass. Maybe its just the hype of the moment for what so ever reason then later on had a change of heart because he/she found something better else to do and more passionate about.
As follow up to that point, some may suggest to stay away from entry level bass because it is harder to re-sell, as a matter of fact it is a lot easier and you won’t feel hurt that much than selling a 500 dollar instrument on a much lower price. Anyway why sell, were you can keep this cheap bass or guitar and play a little once in a while.
Moving forward. At this category you can still find bass guitars considered as entry level bass $250-$300 range, mix together with mid-range and some high end bass models of each brand. So let’s continue.
Ibanez Bass Guitar-TMB100 Talman, GSR200B and SR300E
Every bass guitar top 10 list won’t be complete without a bass coming from Ibanez. To walk you through their line of bass guitar the best way to start is with the Ibanez TMB100 Talman and Ibanez GSR200B. Both bass guitars are in the entry level category, and having the same specifications used on making the right handed version. The major difference is the price, were you have to add a big five O $50 just to have a left handed version which irks many lefty players.
Ibanez TMB100 Talman is a P/J bass with a Fender like mustang body design while the Ibanez GSR200B is also a P/J bass that has a superstrat body. The neck design is almost the same except only for the number of frets were the Talman PJ bass is two fret shorter compared with 22 frets the GSR200B PJ bass has. Talman pick-ups volume and tone controls is dual action that moves independently and needs a bit of getting use too while for the GSR200B is more on the traditional with an added Path II EQ switch knob. So far Ibanez is very well represented in this post. Redundancy by accident I suppose? or simply it is much harder not to mention and perhaps it won’t hurt to add one more on the list.
Going to the mid-range bass Ibanez has to offer. The Ibanez SR300E can already be a go to bass guitar for bassist who happens to practice, sessions and gigs a lot. The comfortable and balance body and neck design made of mahogany and maple is equip with PowerSpan Dual Coil neck and bridge pick-ups controlled by Ibanez custom switch for maximum tone control. As standing proof of its playability and the sound it produce, this bass guitar alone has been used by countless bassist for over 30 years now.
Stagg BC300LH Bass Guitar
The Stagg BC300LH may not have the popularity on its name like the one’s enjoyed by an Ibanez bass or a Squier by Fender bass guitar, but it is also a well built bass that can pack a punch comparable to the entry level P/J bass on a budget friendly price of the two just mentioned brands.
At first glance its alder body and maple neck design somehow shows a resemblance with the Yamaha RBX170 model. It has P-style split single coil hum cancelling pick-ups for the neck and J-style single-coil for the bridge to produce the classic P/J sound controlled by 2 volume knobs and 1 master tone. Hardware are all chrome-cast in black for both the black and natural finish of the bass guitar.
ESP LTD D-4NS Bass Guitar
The 80’s was a great era of rock’s trash metal seen! If you’re already rock’in at that time chances are, you had the long hair going to throw around spinning it vigorously on stage and more or less you have a ESP guitar/bass in your hands not just to play, but to bash in the heads of cross dressing glam rock bands. Just kiddin!
ESP LTD has come a long way since then from a small shop called Electric Sound Products in Tokyo Japan who manufactures and sells high quality custom guitar replacement parts that quickly became a giant in the industry when they started making their own line of guitars and basses. The bass featured here is the ESP LTD D-4NS Bass Guitar. I pick this over the ESP LTD B204SM Bass Guitar mainly because of the big price difference and when you look at the specs thoroughly both bass guitars are using the same set of ESP pick-ups and controls with almost similar body design.
Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jazz Series
This is a toss up between this two awesome Squier bass guitars, because each exhibits a certain uniqueness on how they look and presents itself. The classic sunburst and black is the iconic color finish for this bass while the natural finish with the block inlays is a close second bringing you back to the classic period of jazz bass history.
The wood use on the Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jazz is basswood in sunburst or black finish with a 3-ply pickguard. While the Squier Vintage Modified Jazz 70’s in natural finish, the body is made of maple giving it a unique look with a 3-ply black and white pickguard. The bass guitars middle and bridge are equipped with Fender designed single-coil jazz bass pick-ups controlled by volume 1 for the middle pick-up, volume 2 bridge pick-up and a master tone that are all in chrome-cast knurled dome. Another notable similarities would be the neck design having a “C” profile made of maple. After all the good qualities mentioned on these basses the price tag is just at the right point and a no cash pour that you won’t hesitate to invest your money on one.
Sterling by Music Music Man StingRay Series
Choosing the right bass is really not that hard, all you really need to do is just follow your heart, because at the end of the day they all look and sound the same. Yes! the specs affects the sound of the bass that we can all agree on and already know that, but not as much of a factor and as important as on how well you can play.
Going now back to this bass, the Music Man is also a bass guitar that is designed by Leo Fender, the reason why it has a striking classic ergonomic design. Sterling by Music Music Man has a list of bass guitar. The most affordable one would be is Sterling by Music Muic Man Ray4. It is very well built, has a basswood contoured body maple for neck and fingerboard. Standard fat humbucker for pick-up positioned on the bridge controlled by Volume, 1 Hi Cut/Boost, and 1 Low Cut/Boost. Moving on to the next bass model by Sterling the Music Man Ray34. The bass body is made of swamp ash in natural finish, has a nice satin finish maple neck and fretboard. Pick-up use is a specially design Sterling alnico humbucker controlled by a volume and 3-band active preamp. Both bass has a 6 screw bolt-on neck to body joint, open tuners and heavy duty bridge which made the Music Man bass models well known for.
Schecter Bass Guitar-Stiletto Extreme and Diamond P Plus
When we are picking and looking for a bass especially on this price range often times we always go for the most obvious or well known as a common knowledge forgetting that there are also other brands that makes good quality basses like this two bass from Schecter. As introduction about the brand for those who might not know yet. Schecter was founded in 1976 making quality replacement parts for guitars and basses made by leading brands. Then by 1979 were it all really started when it launch its first fully assembled guitars and basses line. Currently Schecter is owned by Hisatake Shibuya founder of ESP LTD.
Each bass has a different body design. The Schecter Stiletto bass guitar has a double cutaway body made of mahogany with a see thru finish. Neck is maple with 24 fret rosewood fretboard garnished by perloid and abalone vector inlays. Pick-ups used for the middle and bridge of this bass are Schecter own Diamond Bass controlled by 1 master volume, Blend and Active 2-Band EQ. While the Shecter Diamond P Plus bass has the retro body design constructed using alder wood. Maple for the neck top of by 20 fret rosewood fingerboard with MOP dots. Pick up for the neck is Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound P SPB-3 and for the bridge is Seymour Duncan MM SMB-4D controlled by 1 master volume (Series-Parallel Push-Pull)/4-way rotary pick-up selector switch/Active Seymour Duncan 2-Band ‘STC-2S-B0’for EQ.
G&L Tribute L2000 Bass Guitar
The connection of G&L bass guitar to Fender bass is no accident. Both bass was created by the same persons namely Leo Fender and George Fulerton to where it also gets it brand name G&L. This may cause some eyebrows to raise when saying this, that the G&L is arguably the improve and better version of the classic Fender that bassist rave about today.
However, backing up a little bit to what I’ve just said. This still all come down base on your preference and many would also suggest that the original is always better, its really all up for you to decide. The G&L Tribute L2000 Bass has a double cutaway body made of basswood in natural gloss finish. Neck is made maple with 22 fret rosewood fretboard medium jumbo. Two L-spec G&L MFD humbucking pickups controlled by Tri-Tone system with 3-position pickup selector, series/parallel switch, 3-position pre-amp mode switch, volume, treble, bass. Bridge is Leo Fender designed G&L Saddle-Lock and the tuner are the traditional open back.
MTD Kingston Z Bass Guitar
MTD stands for Michael Tobias Design. An American company base in Kingston New York who makes custom high quality bass and guitars. The Kingston Z series is available in 4, 5 and 6-string models as well as fretless.
The double cutaway body is made of mahogany with a burl maple top for looks and performance. It has a on piece asymmetrical special maple neck that promotes good playing technique and minimizes fatigue top of by 24 fret rosewood fingerboard. Pick-ups use are two MTD wood covered proprietary passive soapbar pickups controlled by volume, pan and a 3-band EQ to produce articulate sound. Overall it s a beautiful and sounding bass, but the price is not for everyone to consume.
Fender P-Bass and Jazz Bass
In 1950 Fender introduce the first ever mass produce solid body guitar the Telecaster. The guitar automatically was well received, impressed so many and a massive success for the company. Also at that same year being a genius and a visionary he was, Leo Fender already is way ahead of his competition because he already has the prototype of the bass we are enjoying today, the Fender Precision Bass. It didn’t take that long for Fender to unveil his latest creation, then on 1951 the P-bass was born. Like the success of his solid body guitar, his bass guitar design also spread like wildfire achieving the same success, admiration and glory as the Telecaster. As follow up to the successes he gained, Fender again launch another iconic guitar and bass, the Stratocaster in 1954, and the Fender Jazz Bass in 1960.
The term “Precision” use on the Fender Precision Bass Guitar or in any bass guitar in that case really got its name for the use of frets to play in tune more easily than a fretless fingerboard. While the Fender Jazz Bass Guitar with its re-design neck narrower compared to the neck of the P-bass is designed to appeal to jazz musician of that time and that is how it got its name.
Fender bass guitars varies in prices depending on the model and where it is made. Fender American Standard Jazz Bass Guitar and Fender American Professional Precision Bass Guitar is part of its top of the line bass because it is genuinely made in Fender manufacturing plant in the USA.
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