Are you looking for the Larry Graham Bass Guitar? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Choosing the Larry Graham Bass Guitar can be difficult as there are so many considerations, such as Warwick, Fender, Ibanez, Jackson, Yamaha, Michael Kelly, Sterling, Music Man. We have done a lot of research to find the top 20 Larry Graham Bass Guitar available.
The average cost is $422.60. Sold comparable range in price from a low of $149.99 to a high of $1399.99.
Based on the research we did, we think Ibanez TMB100 Talman Electric Bass, Ivory is the best overall. Read on for the rest of the great options and our buying guide, where you can find all the information you need to know before making an informed purchase.
20 Best Selling Larry Graham Bass Guitar (20 Sellers)
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Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Well made . Durability . Heavy
Features:
- Big tone from dxp and dxj pickups
- Custom electronics and 2-band eq for sonic versatility
- Cool retro looks
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Lightweight . Well made . Durability
Features:
- The yamaha trbx305 is a 5-string bass with an ultra-comfortable mahogany body and an active eq that provides you with deep bass tones!
- Sculpted body.
- 2 ygd-designed m3 ceramic humbucking pickups.
$345.00
4.8
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Lightweight . Well made . Durability
Features:
- Solid mahogany construction
- Slim 43mm nut width
- 2-band active eq with 5-way performance eq preset switch
$699.99
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Sound quality . Attractive . Lightweight . Durable . Well made
Features:
- Nyatoh body
- Through-body maple neck with graphite reinforcement and scarf joint
- 12”-16” compound radius bound laurel fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and white dot inlays
$219.00
4.3
Reviewers Noted:
Sound quality . Attractive . Well made . Lacks durability . Lightweight
Features:
- 34-inch maple neck with rosewood fretboard and abalone dot inlays
- Dean passive soapbar pickup with volume and treble controls
- Dean vintage-style bridge with adjustable intonation
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Craftsmanship . Weight
Features:
- Alder/maple body construction
- Flamed maple top
- Slim 1 1/2 (38 mm) nut width
$584.00
4.9
Reviewers Noted:
Durable . Attractive . Well made . Sound quality
Features:
- V7 alder-4 (2nd gen) blk black
- Codice prodotto: 620749
- Codice ean: 0810046130001
$229.99$149.99
4.3
Reviewers Noted:
Sound quality . Attractive . Lightweight . Well made . Durability
Features:
- Available at charlie chandler's guitar experience
- Good condition
- Hollow maple body
$149.99
1.0
Reviewers Noted:
Sound quality . Craftsmanship
Features:
- This item was returned in great condition. it looks and plays like new, with only minor signs of use (slight scuffs, etc.).
- Use the shredneck to work on scales, patterns and techniques, practice chord fingerings and movements along with building and maintaining calluses.
- While the shredneck is strung for right-handed guitarists, it can be easily converted for left-handed players.
$199.99
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Sound quality . Lightweight . Attractive . Well made . Durable
Features:
- B10 bridgethe b10 bridge allows fully adjustable intonation and solid tuning stability.
$1249.99$729.99
4.6
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Well made . Durability . Weight
Features:
- Neck + bridge; single coil (outer coils) 2.
- Bridge; single coil (outer coil) 3.
- Neck; single coil (outer coil) .
Reviewers Noted:
Sound quality . Lightweight . Durability . Well made . Attractive
Features:
- Nice bass for beginner, or whatever your need!
- May have to be setup to your needs (i have not set action or intonation).
- Does not come with a case or gigbag.
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Lightweight . Attractive . Well made . Durability
Features:
- One-piece maple neck
- Rosewood fret board
- Pearl dot inlay
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Heavy . Durable . Well made
Features:
- This item is in very good condition.
- This item has been tested and is 100% functional.
- Please message us with any questions.
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Durable . Good sound quality . Well made . Lightweight
Features:
- Ash body w/ road worn nitrocellulose lacquer
- Maple neck w/ 'thick c' profile
- Maple fingerboard w/ 9.5" radius
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Well made . Durable . Weight
Features:
- Basswood body
- Bolt-on maple neck, 21 medium jumbo frets
- Low-noise humbucking pickup, 2-band eq
$894.26
4.9
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Lightweight . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable
Features:
- Great sounding and playing bass!
- Some light wear, light scratching, and a knick from use.
- Comes with hard case!
$229.99
4.8
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Heavy . Attractive . Well made . Durable
Features:
- While talman basses normally have the more common 34” “long-scale” neck, the tmb30 offers a “short-scale” 30” neck
- The shorter neck is often preferred by players of smaller stature who find a long-scale instrument to be unwieldy
- It is also a favorite of guitarists who double on bass— the shorter scale having a feel closer to that of an electric guitar
Reviewers Noted:
Lightweight . Well made . Good sound quality . Attractive . Durable
Features:
- Compact travel bass
- Humbucker pickups
- Volume and sound can be adjusted by rotating knob
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Lightweight . Visual appeal . Craftsmanship
Features:
- Maple neck the maple neck provides stability and bright tonal character.
- Jatoba fretboard jatoba has a reddish brown color and produces a rich mid range with a crisp high end.
- Medium frets medium sized frets enhance the accuracy of your notes.
1. Ibanez Tmb100 Talman Electric Bass, Ivory
Product Details:
The ibanez talman tmb100bk electric bass guitar combines the re-emergence of a historic ibanez body shape with powerful genre-hopping versatility. the tmb electronic system paves the road to a variety of classic tones. warm, punchy tone delivering a warm and punchy tone, this electric bass guitar features a mahogany body, maple neck, and 20 fret medium fretboard. for rich, vintage sound production, it features a dynamix p neck pickup complemented by a dynamix j2 bridge pickup. giving players complete control of tonal options, the talman tmb100bk electric bass guitar from ibanez is equipped with a 2-band on-board equalizer. dynamix pickups the ibanez dxp neck pickup and dxj bridge pickup provide the rich, vintage sound. ibanez custom electronics 2-band eq ibanez custom electronics 2-band active eq offers a variety of tonal options. gloss-finished neck the neck back of tmb is gloss-finished for the vintage feel.
Specifications:
Shape | Not specified |
Wood | Maple |
Neck joint | Bolt-on |
Scale length | 34" |
Truss rod | Standard |
Finish | Satin |
Active or passive pickups | Passive |
Pickup configuration | SS |
Neck | Dynamix P |
Bridge | Dynamix J |
Series or parallel | Parallel |
Active preamp | Yes |
Special electronics | 2-band EQ |
Radius | 240 mm |
Fret size | Medium |
Number of frets | 20 |
Inlays | Dot |
Nut width | 1.625" (41.3 mm) |
Cutaway | Double cutaway |
Construction | Solidbody |
Body wood | Poplar |
Body finish | Gloss |
Orientation | Right handed |
Control layout | Master volume, blend 2-band EQ |
Bridge type | Fixed |
Bridge design | Stoptail |
Number of strings | 4 |
Pickguard | Yes |
Country of origin | Indonesia |
Reviews:
I bought this bass because a friend had one that worked great and played great and I loved it. When I purchased mine I had it sent to my house. 5 days later and it comes in with busted knobs and I had to take it in for a refund. They had another in stock and I took it home. Well the second is busted too. Huge disappointment considering how much I enjoy playing this bass. Absolutely unreliable and I won't be getting a third one.James
With a setup, this bass is WELL worth its price. The nut width isn't as narrow as I'd prefer, I'm more used to the size of the Jazz bass, but this still plays quite nicely for me. While taking inspiration from many classic instruments, the style manages to be unique, and the bass always gets compliments at shows. Controls are easy enough to become second nature quickly, pots turn nice and smooth, and the selector, treble, and bass knobs all have nice tactile notches at their halfway points which is incredibly helpful. The only reason I took off half a star is the angle of the output jack is just super awkward if you typically use right-angle cables, which I do, and only a little less awkward if you don't. Also, not a reason to avoid buying the bass, but it must be said, CHANGE STRINGS IMMEDIATELY!! This might be TMI, but the grooves in the stock strings would pull on my arm hairs EVERY TIME I rest my arm on the bass (and my mustache hairs when I'd give the bass a little kiss at night)
This beast of beauty is must have for people who like to play a bass with a different touch.. the touch is where it happens, it feels very good and it is very playable even for a guitarist like me, a real challenger this awesome Ibanez! the sound of the standard strings surprised me a lot! The sheer power tone and bizarre sustain almost too much.. it just keeps on going haha! The sound settings are all very noticeable adjustable and a good thing , i like the click in the middle of some pot settings so you know where they stand. it is a great help to create your sound. The six smooth twisting mechanics work like a dream, no play or other rattle is heard while playing this monster! I like it alot and i am very pleased with this beautifully build instrument.
2. Yamaha Trbx305 5 String Electric Bass Black
Product Details:
The trbx305 bass features a sculpted solid mahogany body, with a mass optimized 3d design for the optimum balance between tone and comfort coupled with perfect weight distribution. the neck design combines a fast, ultra comfortable profile with 5-pc maple/mahogany laminated construction for outstanding stability and excellent tone. it uses a precision fitted bolt-on neck joint for maximum adjustability and clear, punchy tone. developed through hundreds of hours of play testing, the refined neck joint shape perfectly balances strength, vibration transfer and upper fret access. the trbx305 bass is outfitted with ygd designed m3 pickups feature oversized pole pieces and ceramic magnets for a clear, powerful tone with incredible definition and depth. the hum-cancelling design ensures your performance clean and noise free while the integral thumb rest provides unrivaled playability. the pickups are complimented by yamaha’s exclusive performance eq active circuit with five performance-tuned full spectrum eq curves optimized to give instant access to essential sounds along with powerful 2-band master equalization to shape and define your tone. a high mass die-cast bridge efficiently transfers string vibrations to the body for full, rich tone combined with excellent adjustability and road tested durability. 19mm string spacing offers outstanding playability for technical slap or finger styles. straight string pull from nut to machine head eliminates lateral tension, providing superior tuning stability and reducing overtones. 38mm nut width gives fast, comfortable playability for any style.
Specifications:
Length | 47.8346 in |
Height | 3.7402 in |
Width | 17.9134 in |
Reviews:
I searched for the Candy Apple Red for a year and a half. Finally found it at Kraft Music as a bundle. Everything I needed was included. I have owned and played many high-end Basses, Drumsets, Guitars etc and since 1998 I own and love a Yamaha BBN5A as my primary Jazz Bass.
This TRBX305 ROCKS, the neck amazing and the humbuckers are super hot yet fizz free. The 5 position switch does exactly as advertised. Flawlessly shifting from finger to slap or solo. As anyone who plays Yamaha already knows, quality, playability, sound and finish are impeccable. I love this Bass. Thanks to Kraft Music for being Santa this year.zack short
This TRBX305 ROCKS, the neck amazing and the humbuckers are super hot yet fizz free. The 5 position switch does exactly as advertised. Flawlessly shifting from finger to slap or solo. As anyone who plays Yamaha already knows, quality, playability, sound and finish are impeccable. I love this Bass. Thanks to Kraft Music for being Santa this year.zack short
The yamaha trbx305 is a very versatile bass guitar that's suitable for all genres of music. including metal. it has a mahogany body and a set of ceramic pick-ups which can provide warm, beefy, punchy sounds. it also has a smooth low action so it's comfortable to play. the one unique feature on this bass is the 5-way tone switch. this switch has eq settings for all styles of playing. so rather if you play finger-style or play with a pick, the tone switch has a sound selection for any playing technique. I play metal and I personally dig this bass for it's warm punchy sounds. rather if I play live or record music, it fills up the band mix quite well. it also works well with the effects I use. not to mention it sounds killer with overdrive and distortion effects. I'm not quite sure what trbx stands for, but judging from it's incredible sound quality, I'm guessing that trbx stands for totally radical bass xtreme! \m/ lol anywho, if you play metal and wanted to try something a little different, this is a good bass to check out.Metal alex
Rec'd it new in the box from Sam Ash. Candy Apple Red looks very nice. I didn't get as lucky as some in that the set up was not very good. I mean, it plays really easy, but fret buzz all over the neck which comes through the amp. Too low I guess. It didn't want to "keep" the battery in without some fumbling around. Stayed in once the lid was closed. There is a small cut on the side of the fretboard, but doesn't look like an issue. Sounds pretty good in this price range. Played an Ibanez 655 which smoked it in every way, but just out of the price range at this time (near twice the price). So, new strings and 65 bucks for a set up and I think this will be fine for awhile. In this price range I am not dissapointed. It is what I expected except for hoping I could get away without having to have it set up for just a bit. Actually, in this price range, it really is the best I have seen.Chuck
3. Yamaha Trbx305 5-String Bass White
Product Details:
The perfectly balanced, ultra-comfortable solid mahogany body provides the optimum tonal foundation while the performance eq active circuitry gives instant access to perfectly dialled-in stage-ready tones coupled with the expressive control you need. sculpted body trbx features a sculpted solid mahogany body, with a mass-optimized 3d design for the optimum balance between tone and comfort coupled with perfect weight distribution. neck design trbx's neck design combines a fast, ultra-comfortable profile with 5-pc maple/mahogany laminated construction for outstanding stability and excellent tone. trbx uses a precision fitted bolt-on neck joint for maximum adjustability and clear, punchy tone. developed through hundreds of hours of play-testing, the refined neck joint shape perfectly balances strength, vibration transfer and upper-fret access. ygd designed pickups ygd designed m3 pickups feature oversized polepieces and ceramic magnets for a clear, powerful tone with incredible definition and depth. the hum-cancelling design ensures your performance clean and noise-free while the integral thumb-rest provides unrivalled playability. trbx300 models feature yamaha's exclusive performance eq active circuit with five performance-tuned full spectrum eq curves optimized to give instant access to essential sounds along with powerful 2-band master equalization to shape and define your tone. yamaha's metal plate-mounted standard jack socket offers superior durability and easy maintenance. hardware a high-mass die-cast bridge efficiently transfers string vibrations to the body for full, rich tone combined with excellent adjustability and road-tested durability. 18mm string spacing on the 5-string model offers outstanding playability for technical slap or finger styles. straight string pull from nut to machine head eliminates lateral tension, providing superior tuning stability and reducing overtones. 43mm (5-string) nut widths give fast, comfortable playability for any style.
Specifications:
Reviews:
I searched for the Candy Apple Red for a year and a half. Finally found it at Kraft Music as a bundle. Everything I needed was included. I have owned and played many high-end Basses, Drumsets, Guitars etc and since 1998 I own and love a Yamaha BBN5A as my primary Jazz Bass.
This TRBX305 ROCKS, the neck amazing and the humbuckers are super hot yet fizz free. The 5 position switch does exactly as advertised. Flawlessly shifting from finger to slap or solo. As anyone who plays Yamaha already knows, quality, playability, sound and finish are impeccable. I love this Bass. Thanks to Kraft Music for being Santa this year.zack short
This TRBX305 ROCKS, the neck amazing and the humbuckers are super hot yet fizz free. The 5 position switch does exactly as advertised. Flawlessly shifting from finger to slap or solo. As anyone who plays Yamaha already knows, quality, playability, sound and finish are impeccable. I love this Bass. Thanks to Kraft Music for being Santa this year.zack short
The yamaha trbx305 is a very versatile bass guitar that's suitable for all genres of music. including metal. it has a mahogany body and a set of ceramic pick-ups which can provide warm, beefy, punchy sounds. it also has a smooth low action so it's comfortable to play. the one unique feature on this bass is the 5-way tone switch. this switch has eq settings for all styles of playing. so rather if you play finger-style or play with a pick, the tone switch has a sound selection for any playing technique. I play metal and I personally dig this bass for it's warm punchy sounds. rather if I play live or record music, it fills up the band mix quite well. it also works well with the effects I use. not to mention it sounds killer with overdrive and distortion effects. I'm not quite sure what trbx stands for, but judging from it's incredible sound quality, I'm guessing that trbx stands for totally radical bass xtreme! \m/ lol anywho, if you play metal and wanted to try something a little different, this is a good bass to check out.Metal alex
Rec'd it new in the box from Sam Ash. Candy Apple Red looks very nice. I didn't get as lucky as some in that the set up was not very good. I mean, it plays really easy, but fret buzz all over the neck which comes through the amp. Too low I guess. It didn't want to "keep" the battery in without some fumbling around. Stayed in once the lid was closed. There is a small cut on the side of the fretboard, but doesn't look like an issue. Sounds pretty good in this price range. Played an Ibanez 655 which smoked it in every way, but just out of the price range at this time (near twice the price). So, new strings and 65 bucks for a set up and I think this will be fine for awhile. In this price range I am not dissapointed. It is what I expected except for hoping I could get away without having to have it set up for just a bit. Actually, in this price range, it really is the best I have seen.Chuck
4. Jackson X-Series Spectra Bass Sbx Iv Matte Army Drab
Product Details:
With modern style, flexible tone and incomparable value, the jackson x series spectra bass sbx iv takes the adventurous player on a bold bass odyssey, launching a commanding all-new entry in jackson’s formidable neck-through-body bass lineup. the offset spectra bass body style was innovatively designed with the gigging musician in mind. its nyatoh body has a larger upper horn that evenly distributes weight throughout the instrument for perfect balance and playing comfort. the graphite-reinforced through-body maple neck with scarf joint creates formidable sustain, with a speed neck contour, 12"-16" compound radius laurel fingerboard and 24 jumbo frets for superior playability. the sbx iv provides a full-sonic spectrum for even the most versatile and progressive bassists. dual passive medium-output humbucking pickups create a dynamic foundation with punch, power and note articulation. wide-ranging tonal command comes from a two-way toggle switch for pickup coil splitting, 3-band active eq, blend control and volume control with push/pull selector to bypass or engage active circuit for the 3-band eq. the push/pull selector eliminates the risk of losing sound due to a dead battery. a quick pull on the volume knob bypasses the active circuit, making it easy to regain sound from the bass without the use of battery power. this four-string bass also features a himass hardtail bridge that enhances sustain and improves attack. featuring a unique 2×2 black headstock with an understated “j” logo, the budget-friendly sbx iv comes in new stage-conquering finishes including gloss black or matte army drab with black hardware.
Specifications:
Body Finish | Satin |
Body Shape | Spectra |
Bridge Pickup | Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking |
Bridge | Jackson HiMass ; |
Configuration | HSS |
Control Knobs | Dome-Style |
Fingerboard Material | Laurel |
Fingerboard Radius | 12"-16" Compound Radius (304.8 mm t0 406.4 mm) |
Fret Size | Jumbo |
Hardware Finish | Black |
Headstock | Unique Jackson 2×2; |
Neck Finish | Gloss Color Matched |
Neck Material | Maple |
Neck Pickup | Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking |
Number of Frets | 24 |
Nut Material | Black Plastic |
Nut Width | 1.5" (38.1 mm) |
Orientation | Right-Hand |
Position Inlays | White Dot |
Special Electronics | 3-Band EQ (Active Only) |
Strings | Nickel Plated Steel (.045-.105 Gauges) |
Switching | 2-Way Toggle Switch (Pickup Coil Split) |
Truss Rod Wrench | Yes |
Truss Rod Nut | Truss Rod Adjustment at Nut |
Truss Rod | Dual-Action with Wheel |
Tuning Machines | Jackson Sealed Die-Cast |
Reviews:
After the initial COVID lockdown I landed a gig where I had to have a 5 string bass. So like a red blooded American I took my cash down to the local GC store to buy a fender 5 string American jazz. There wasn't any. I looked for an Ibenez. There wasn't any. I looked for anything and we'll there wasn't any. As the date grew near for our first show, I happened in and they had this one. I was disappointed that this was all there was, but out of desperation, I bought it thinking I would trade it once something I wanted became available. It took me about two months and 10 gigs later when I realized I love this thing. 9 months in and I don't know how many dates later, I wouldn't want to live without it. It plays awesome after a quick and minor setup on the action. The tone is big on the bottom and the mids and highs are as shapable as you want. It is a dream to play and guess what, when I finally got to put my hands on the fender I wanted, I didn't want it anymore. This bass is very much like the high end Ibenez basses. Probably too much for Ibenez's liking actually. I run through a 800w mark bass head with a 2×10 cab and a 1×15 cab. It sounds incredible. The big thing for me is when I run through my amp using the direct out in bypass, it sounds amazing. It is like having a sans amp in the bass. The electrics are that good. I have gotten tons of compliments on the tone and questions about how I got it. I literally just plugged it in. Also I can play it all night and even though it is a five, I am less fatigued then when I play the four fender American jazz I already own. The string spacing and scale I believe is responsible for that. If you are serious about playing a 5 string, at any level, then this bass is one you should look at. I am not super crazy about the esthetics but I get a surprising amount of complements on it. So if that is your thing then rock on I guess. I am getting over the fact that I was a fender snob. Also I believe Jackso is made by fender sooo….Chris
Love this Jackson bass. Finish is first class and blemish free. the satin finish of the neck really does give it a smooth easy playability. doesn't have the triangle fret markers or logo on pick ups like more expensive models…and only one screw holding the truss rod cover in place… but this is where savings are made and the price kept low I guess.. The hardware… bridge, saddles and tuning pegs are all solid high quality… i highly recommend this bass to beginners and pros alike… OK… the BUTs.. out of the box… this model must have been rushed through control… the action was so low that that there was fret buzz across the entire fret board. slight truss adjustment and raising of the saddles easily enough sorted that out though…. It plays beautifully now but i would'nt have expected to have to do a full set up. AND…I also ordered a mic stand… this brought my total order to over 200 euro. The website VERY clearly states that orders over 200 euro qualify for free postage to Ireland… but after ordering, I was mailed to inform me that as it is a guitar…. and therefore large, I would have to pay postage…this isn't mentioned anywhere on the Musicstore site… very annoying indeed. So.. great guitar… but might need a little setting up and beware of postage charges.
My one only bass for the past 20 years has been a Ibanez SR405 (2001 year model). I feel like I've purchased a big upgrade with this Jackson X Series Spectra. In comparison to the Ibanez, the Jackson's neck is fatter, lower fret sizes are slightly wider and the string spacing is slightly wider. The playability is a lot smoother for my larger fingers/hands. The pickups and active EQ systems are powerful. Need to have some amp/di box control to contain the powerful output when in smaller venues. I use the passive pickup control when in smaller venues and small churches. I feel that what sets this apart from other basses I've tried is how great it sounds to play the d and g strings as well as going above the 12th fret. The stock strings (D'Addario) sound really pretty when playing the higher octaves. The Elixir strings I'm currently using give the B string a BIG SMOOTH THUMP. For those worried about setup out of the box, I live in high altitude. Setup post manufacturer is usually a must because of that. I have been able to get fairly low action without fret buzz after casually messing with adjustments.Zach
5. Dean Edge 09 Electric Bass Guitar – Satin Natural
Product Details:
The great-playing and very affordable, the dean edge 09 4-string electric bass guitar features a body contoured for playing comfort. the maple neck is profiled to be fast, sleek, and easy to play. a unique dean-design neck joint and heel along with an asymmetrical 4-bolt pattern give unhindered movement all the way up the 22-fret neck. a single soapbar pickup produces substantial growl. satin natural finish has black hardware and mahogany body; painted finishes have chrome hardware and basswood bodies.case sold separately.
Specifications:
Weight | 15 lb |
Reviews:
Right out of the box this bass sounded good. Dean sold me. Played a little venue at a friends house and got lots of complements on the sound and looks. Sure made me feel good. People asked to sign my bass and made me think how cool that would be? Maybe after some wear and tear that will happen. Can't say enough about this bass. What a find, really. Only been learning for over a year and maybe I don't know what I'm talking about but for now I'm talking Dean. Being a beginner at 63 sure is fun. Rock On kids cause that's how I feel….wunschy
This is a decent package for anyone wanting to learn the bass guitar. The bass guitar holds tune fairly well and is good quality. The amp that is included in the package is average at best for what it is, nothing impressive but good for solo practicing. The instrument cable is low quality without a right angle plug. The packaging is low quality and the guitar head was damaged in shipping as a result of the inadequate packaging. Sam Ash took immediate attention to my claim on the damage, their customer service is awesome. Overall is it a good bass guitar package.Aubrey
I'm an older ex weekend warrior who has played in bands for years. I've owned many other basses including Fender P-bass, Hamer Cruisebass, and Carvin LB-70 to name a few. I've been out of the music scene for awhile but really missed having a bass around to mess around with so I ordered this one in the satin finish. I knew what I was getting because I had been to Dean's website where they have accurate pics of this bass. I wasn't disappointed! This bass is an amazing value for the money. The tone is great right out of the box. Action is right where I like it. No fret buzz as long as you are fretting properly. I did change the strings right away to black nylon tape wounds. They lend a smooth attack (almost like a double bass) and are super easy on the fingers yet still get that P-bass like growl if you open the tone knob up. Construction is very good especially for the money, fit and finish is great except for the fret work. I'll need to file down the fret ends as they are a bit too long for the (nice) rosewood fretboard. They aren't sharp or dangerous so it could be worse and using proper technique you'd hardly notice it. The only other gripe is the tuners. They look nice but don't hold tuning for long periods of time. I end up having to re-tune the bass nearly every day. The tuner on the G string could be smoother as turning tension goes from tight to loose and back to tight as it turns. These are really minor complaints for such a low cost bass. The finish is really good. It appears they put a matching basswood veneer on the top and back so you can't even see the slab joints. I wouldn't hesitate to take this on stage, it looks that good with the black tuners, bridge, knobs, and strings (in my case). The neck is nice and thin and fairly fast with a satin finish on the back of the neck. The electronics are way above average for this price range. The pickup, volume and tone knobs work together very well to give a wide variety of tones.VTbassman
6. Yamaha Trbx604fm Bass Guitar – Matte Amber
Product Details:
This item was returned in great condition. it looks and plays like new, with only minor signs of use (slight scuffs, etc.). the trbx600 series is all about the balance of elements, and with the punchy tone of a 3d-scuplted, alder/maple-laminated body, timeless looks and the power of the yamaha 3-band active/passive preamp, the trbx600 sets a new standard of perfection. case sold separately.
Specifications:
Shape | C |
Wood | Mahogany with maple |
Neck joint | Bolt-on |
Scale length | 34 in. |
Truss rod | Standard |
Finish | Satin |
Active or passive pickups | Switchable |
Pickup configuration | HH |
Neck | Double-coil alnico V |
Bridge | Double-coil alnico V |
Series or parallel | Series |
Active preamp | No |
Radius | 10 in. |
Fret size | Medium |
Number of frets | 24 |
Inlays | Dot |
Nut material | Urea |
Nut width | 1.5 in. (38.1mm) |
Cutaway | Double cutaway |
Construction | Solidbody |
Body wood | Alder |
Top wood | Flamed maple |
Body finish | Gloss or Satin |
Orientation | Right handed |
Pickup switch | No |
Coil tap or split | No |
Tone switching | No |
Special switching | No |
Bridge type | Fixed |
Bridge design | 4-Saddle adjustable |
Tuning machines | Die-cast |
Number of strings | 4 |
Pickguard | No |
Country of origin | Indonesia |
Reviews:
I watched dozens of reviews of various Bass guitars of varying price ranges. This guitar sounds fantastic in whatever genre of music. This bass is everything that Dagan, of PMT, said it was. It looks great too. Watch his review here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmJAYSbM2ZMGeoff W.
I've had mine for 1 year so far. Very nice. I have the natural wood looking style, which gets compliments all the time for musicians. The neck is smooth, easy to play. Sounds great. Down side is the active pre-amp drains batteries too fast. Even when set in passive, the battery will drain if it is plugged into an amp (even with the amp off). It will eat a 9V over night. So with that said, I never use the active setting, I just leave it in passive mode. You'd be better off getting a pre-amp pedal if you want that functionality.Michael
Wow, what a stunning bass this is! So much punch and grunt! The sound has so much depth, with beautiful lows and rich mids. Beautiful neck, slim and smooth to play. Sadly, I had to set the bass up when it arrived – AWFUL fret buzz, but no real big issue I guess. All in all, VERY impressed!Simon B.
7. Sire Marcus Miller V7 Alder 4-String Bass Black
Product Details:
Being the flagship sire bass model, v7 is innovatively set to produce marcus miller's signature sound. it is equipped with versatile and concise hardware and electronics suited for all playing styles and techniques. built using durable materials for body and neck bearing rolled fretboard edges, this model can be your go-to bass. sire marcus miller v7 2nd generation 4-string bass guitar features equipped with advanced pickups with a full set of eq controls, the v7 is a machine that can deliver a clean and deep tonal palette for more personalized tones. complementing wood materials for body- ash and alder and neck- hard maple with rolled fretboard edges make the standard sire j bass long playing-ready.
Specifications:
Body type | Solidbody Jazz Bass Double Cutaway |
Body wood | Alder |
Body finish | Gloss |
Neck shape | C |
Neck wood | Hard Maple |
Scale length | 34" |
Neck finish | Satin |
Radius | 9.5" |
Fret size | Medium |
Number of frets | 20 |
Inlays | White Pearloid Block |
Neck | Sire Marcus Super-J Revolution Jazz Single |
Bridge | Sire Marcus Super-J Revolution Jazz Single |
Pickup switch | Blend Knob |
Special electronics | Heritage-3 3-band EQ with mid frequency |
Bridge type | Fixed |
Bridge design | Sire Marcus Miller TRD bridge |
Tuning machines | Open-gear |
Number of strings | 4-string |
Orientation | Right Handed |
Country of origin | Indonesia |
Reviews:
This bass lives up to it's solid reputation. Excellent tone, preamp, passive mode, etc. Out of the box, I was really impressed with the fit and finish. After having it set up, played a couple of gigs with it. It was flawless. I also own an American deluxe jazz. In comparison, it comes in at a very close second!Phillsquatch
Plenty of companies offering "super jazz" basses; active circuits, high mass bridges, parametric eqs, etc. I have never seen this quality and feature set on bass with this price tag. Neck needed no adjustment, straight grain maple neck, with ebony board. 3 band EQ with sweepable parametric EQ, vintage passive tone control like you would find on a Sadowski. I lowered the action to taste and did a gig an hour after receiving the bass. This is a pro quality bass! Sonically, It is a hi-fi Jazz Bass.Dbassmon
Honestly plays like a bass guitar 5x more expensive. I can't believe how well this instrument is made, really great attention to detail, the rounded fretboard edges make this hard to put down. I've put my Fender Jazz bass back in the case at this point, the V2 just blows my mind in both sound and feel. All this for less than £500 – just ludicrous.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.
8. Rogue Vb100 Violin Bass Guitar Vintage Sunburst
Product Details:
The rogue vb-100 violin bass guitar features a flamed maple arched top and back with the european-style hollowbody that makes it lightweight and capable of deep, resonant bass tones. the violin bass's traditional 31" scale offers immediate familiarity in your hands. a custom trapeze tailpiece, pearloid pickguard, and body binding on front and back are added touches. case sold separately. violin style hollowbody. arched flamed maple top. flamed maple body. set-in neck joint. hard rock maple neck. 22 frets. rosewood bridge with custom trapeze style tailpiece. mini humbucker bridge and neck pickups. controls: dual volume, bass, mid, and treble switches. die-cast tuners. chrome hardware. vintage sunburst finish. pearloid pickguard. front and back body binding. traditional 31" scale length. case sold separately.
Reviews:
I was expecting poor quality, but this is really nice. I have the Hofner version(Ignition) and this is as good or better. Maybe I got a good one, I don't know but I would recommend it to anybody who plays guitar or bass. It has a rich, full, smooth tone. And that's with the stock roundwound strings. Low action and no buzzing. Incredible! I've played for 50+ years so "I know a little….."Michael
Arrived in excellent condition with way high action and flat fretboard (A string in particular was buzzing on frets). Turned truss rod about 1/4 turn (loosen) and lowered action at the bridge; easy to do. Intonation was absolutely on as it arrived. Bass plays very nice and sounds great! Ordered some flat wound strings as the stock strings are rough as a corncob and cannot slide at all in higher registers. The price is right and the bass is top notch quality! I do need to look into raising the bridge pickup as it is about 1/2" below the strings and is very weak.John
At this current price point, I could not resist. It satisfies my need to own a violin bass, as I have been a Beatles fan since I was four (I'm 63 now). It may not be a Hofner, but I am willing to overlook that. I did make some easy modifications: I removed the screwed-on pickguard, turned over and blackened in the truss cover on the peghead. Please note: if price is a factor, be ready to add more money for flat-wound strings, so just order them when you order your bass. There is some fret buzz, but a little bridge adjustment helped that for the most part. The second string 7th fret will need to be filed down–I'll get to that sometime later. In spite of it not having the Hofner name on it, I'm giving mine five stars.Dave
9. Shredneck Billy Sheehan Signature 4-String Bass Model Sonic Blue
Product Details:
This item was returned in mint condition. it is free of any performance issues, and has no scratches, blemishes, or other cosmetic flaws. the shredneck billy sheehan signature model is a small, portable practice tool that provides the feel of a bass guitar, strings and frets. the headstock doubles as the body to provide a "balanced" feel. it allows players to warm up anytime a bass is not convenient-in a car, train, plane, at the office, before gigs, between sets, watching tv or in anticipation of playing. use the shredneck to work on scales, patterns and techniques, practice chord fingerings and movements along with building and maintaining calluses. while the shredneck is strung for right-handed guitarists, it can be easily converted for left-handed players.
Specifications:
Product Dimensions | 19.5 x 5.75 x 1 inches |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Back Material | Maple, Basswood |
Color Name | Sonic Blue |
String Gauge | Light |
String Material | Nickle steel |
Top Material | Maple |
Number of Strings | 4 |
Musical Style | Rock |
Instrument | Guitar |
Operation Mode | Acoustic, Electric |
Reviews:
Bought as a "keep in the car to practice on lunch" bass, so I didn't need this thing to be all that great. But for this price, I couldn't believe how bad it was. Worst part is it is made of plastic. All the pictures show some nice wood grain in the fingerboard, but thats a lie. It was all gloss covered over a plastic neck and fretboard. Very awkward to play. Influences bad technique. Obviously doesn't make any notes when played, but instead you get a very obnoxious "TINK" every time to attempt to fret a note. Just very poorly designed. The idea was Interesting, and there is definitely a market for this type of thing, but not at this price point. Overall, this is a novelty item. It will not help you with what you are looking to achieve.Matt B.
This is always out of tune! That is, when I tune the open string, the second fret is off key, and so on down the neck. Hurts your ears to play. And it is way too fat – I can't get my small hands around it comfortably – and at the 5th fret, I can't get my hand around it at all. Sorry I purchased this.Grace
10. Ibanez Gsrm20 Mikro Electric Bass Guitar – Brown Sunburst
Product Details:
The ibanez gsrm20 short-scale bass gives you great low end with minimal size and weight. this model of the famed soundgear series offers a compact body and smaller neck to help alleviate those neck and back problems. it also sports a 28.6"-scale neck that's large enough to be comfortable yet short enough for smaller arms and faster playing styles. you get the best of both worlds with the gsrm20's j-style and p-style pickups, both bringing their recognizable tone to your fingertips. compact, contoured mahogany body provides excellent balance and comfort. slim neck profile gives you amazing playing comfort and speed. short 28.6" scale is long enough to be effective yet perfect for shorter arms and smaller hands. standard p and j pickups serve up classic fat, punchy tone. b10 bridge gives you impressive sustain. the ibanez gsrm20 bass delivers short-scale comfort and full-sized tone!
Specifications:
Number of Strings | 4 |
Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
Body Shape | SR MiKro |
Body Finish | Gloss Polyurethane |
Neck Material | Maple |
Neck Shape | GSRM4 |
Radius | 12" |
Fingerboard Material | Jatoba |
Fingerboard Inlay | White Dots |
Number of Frets | 22, Medium |
Scale Length | 28.6" |
Nut Width | 1.496" |
Nut Material | Plastic |
Bridge/Tailpiece | B10 Fixed Bridge |
Neck Pickup | Dynamix P Split Single-coil |
Bridge Pickup | Dynamix J Single-coil |
Controls | 2 x volume, 1 x master tone |
Strings | .045-.105 |
Reviews:
The Mikro bass plays, looks and sounds great. The extra-short scale length does not compromise the traditional bass tone it produces. I have played 6-string guitar for over 40 years, including many professional gigs and teaching. I own over a dozen topnotch guitars. But this is my first bass, and I chose Mikro on the recommendation of a trustworthy friend. I have been doing my own repair work on guitars for decades, and can say the Mikro bass is impressively well made, and arrived decently set up with new, good strings. Fret work, neck, nut, tuning machines, bridge, fingerboard, finish, electronics are all virtually flawless; and the tobacco sunburst color I chose looks really nice, with a "vintage" vibe. I replaced the stock chrome dome knobs (which are nice ones) with Gibson-style knobs so I can see numbers for volume and tone settings. I really like the tone of the Mikro, especially the "Precision" style pickup–the one closer to the neck, from which it's easy to get a classic P-bass tone in conjunction with the tone control, which also works great. Ibanez chose a great capacitor value for the tone knob. The bridge position ("Jazz" style) pickup is just OK–usable, and not bad, but nothing remarkable, and it's especially lackluster when used solo, without any of the P-style pickup dialed in. That is the only part of this bass, other than the knobs, I would consider upgrading in the near future (maybe also the potentiometers, but even those feel smooth and responsive out of the box). The satin-finish neck feels great, and is a breeze to play, even for someone like me, who is coming to the bass from years on guitar. The tuning stability of the Mikro is remarkably great. So the latest versions of the Mikro basses are a phenomenal bargain! I would not hesitate to recommend a Mikro to anyone considering moving from guitar to bass, or to someone with smaller hands. From what my bassist friends tell me, the Mikro is great for any bassist PERIOD.NYC Slide Guitarist trying bass
Overall: I've been playing for years, mostly Fenders, Tobias and a heavily modified Decca short scale from the 60s. This is my first Ibanez bass and I am blown away! I chose the brown burst finish, and took a chance on the "blemished" version. Been looking at it all day and I can't find any imperfection anywhere. Definitely wanted short scale, light weight and a fast neck, this one has all 3 and then some. Set up out of the box was close, very close, with only a slight fret buzz on the E string. A very small adjustment at the saddle took care of it. The stock pickups sound good, the tone knob has useful range, everything sounds quite good through everything I've played it through so far (Fender, Orange, antique Earth head, etc.). Overall, I couldn't be happier!Bryan
An utterly great bass overall. It's perfect for someone with a low budget, or someone who's new to learning bass. Also good for children or people with small hands since it's a short-scale. This was my first bass and I still play it a lot. Not only is it cheap, but it has a really good tone, a nice feel to it, and a beautiful orange finish (if that is the finish you chose). The only bad thing I have to say about this is that it got some fret buzz to it but in all honesty, it's not that bad. I love Ibanez basses, I own several and this one is absolutly great.Logan
11. Hagstrom Viking Bass – Wild Cherry Transparent
Product Details:
Introduced as the concord bass in 1965, hagstroms viking bass injects some tactfully chosen vigor into an all-time classic design. this meticulously crafted semi-hollow bass with a short 30.75-inch (781 mm) scale is fitted with hagstroms custom-voiced dyna-rail humbucking pickup's a brilliantly designed 6-way rotary switch allows switching between various humbucking and single-coil configurations for a dizzying array of tonal options. from 60's brit-rock to modern day low-end goodness, the viking bass delivers ear-candy galore. all hagstrom electric guitars and basses include their patented h-expander truss rod. providing tension at both ends and running the entire length of the neck, the rigid yet light-weight alloy truss rod allows for a very low action and thin neck, two factors that were instrumental in earning hagstrom its reputation as the worlds fastest playing guitar. the h-expander truss rod not only provides ultimate neck stability, but it also contributes to hagstroms unique tone. longer sustain and a round attack are some of the sonic characteristics the h-expander adds to the tonal essence of hagstrom.resinator wood is a wood composite material that is both more uniform in density and more stable than any standard wood product. these characteristics eliminate dead spots or wolf tones sometimes associated with conventional wood fingerboards. resinator wood has an articulate sound similar to high quality ebony, but without any of the problems associated with ebony. it provides a stable and clear tone, and also adds higher overtones and harmonics which uniquely detail each note. like our h-expander truss rod, resinator wood is a major contributor to the distinctive hagstrom tone.
Specifications:
Wood | Maple |
Neck joint | Set-in |
Scale length | 30.75" |
Truss rod | Standard |
Pickup configuration | HH |
Neck | Proprietary Humbucker |
Bridge | Proprietary Humbucker |
Pickup switch | 6-way |
Radius | 15" |
Fret size | Medium-jumbo |
Number of frets | 21 |
Inlays | Block |
Nut material/width | GraphTech/1.5" |
Body Type | Semi-Hollow |
Body wood | Maple |
Bridge/Tailpiece | Long Travel Tune-O-Matic/Trapeze |
Tuning machines | Die-cast Sealed |
Number of strings | 4 String |
Country of origin | China |
Orientation | Right-Handed |
Reviews:
I bought mine new and it's everything positive others say about it. Don't know what bobz429 is talking about. Obviously he has a modified model. Hardware is first rate with a Hagstrom designed P90 single coil at the neck and classic '58C humbucker at the bridge (Hagstrom winds their own pickups). It's a joy to play, very clean factory pups, beautiful finish, very well crafted and flawless. Rivals guitars up to 3 times the cost in my opinion. The Hagstrom composite Resinator fret board is fast and has good sustain. This guitar can be used for jazz with very clean articulation and voicing, moan the blues, fit right into classic or grunge rock and growl with the best of 'em throughout it's entire range. The ringing clarity is stunning! It's a lot of bang for your buck, and lighter than you'd think for a guitar with a 28" scale. A "tad" neck-heavy balance wise, but once you play it and realize it's potential from mild to wild, this is easily overlooked and by "no means" a deal breaker. It has 5 star ratings across the board for a reason. It's simply that good! This is a players guitar and one I'll keep the rest of my life. It will surprise and please you once you plug it in. This is an amazing baritone. Plug it in, crank it up, and jam 'til the cows come home! If your in the marketfor a baritone guitar, the Hagstrom Viking Deluxe is very hard to beat! I personally don't think any others in it's price rang hold a candle to it. Highly recommended. Enjoy! Edit: Was surprised to see I wasn't listed as a verified purchaser (don't know how that works). Oh well, I assure you I own this guitar purchased from SoundsCheapMusic on eBay out of Pleasant Hill, MO on April 22, 2015… in the Cosmic Black Burst finish. All the same, you won't be disappointed. 😉honorable1-us
With more than 15yrs. of experience with various Hagstrom guitars and over 40yrs. of playing and performing, this instrument and review was an unexpected and a very pleasant surprise. I will acknowledge that I was prompted to pull the trigger on the purchase in no small part because of a couple of reviews here on MFI, one by a fellow who is an American musician living in Sweden. From what I was able to glean from a collection of YouTube videos from past NAMM shows, it looks like the Viking DLX 12 made it's debut about 2016, and has had at least one major update since, with the most notable being larger, but traditional-shaped F-holes on the top, fully creme bound, of course. I very much agree with the opinion previously expressed about there being a major advantage for Hagstrom because of their sourcing all woods(primarily Canada)and all hardware and electronics, leaving their factory contractors in China to concentrate on building the best looking/sounding instrument possible. I would place current Hagstrom product on a par with anything from the Park factories in Korea, and nearly on par with some of the older product that came from Matsumoko in Japan. IMHO, and as pointed out by a previous reviewer, the only real contenders in this narrow category of instrument are the hollowbody Ric 300 Series, and the current Gretsch Electromatic 5422-12, both of which are 2-3X the cost of a new Viking DLX 12. Pickups are clear voiced but fairly hot, and the Resonator fretboard feels great and works with the overall timbre of a maple bodied guitar. The bookmatched flame maple body sides, top, and back are a sight to behold; laminated but beautiful. The most playable and comfortable neck I have EVER put in my hand for a 12-string; a profile similar to an early 60's Gibson or modern ESP being "thin", but with a 15" radius and a 45mm black Tusq nut. Perfect for chording and rhythm, but enough room between string pairs for either finger or flatpicking with precision. Get ItArch69er
It caught my eye hanging in my local Guitar Center in Goodlettsville, TN, which has a terrific staff btw. I asked to try it and was quite impressed with the overall build quality and set-up. Simply perfect; action, intonation, fret dressing, etc. It didn't need a thing! Thought about it overnight and returned the next day to buy it.Alan
12. Fender Squier Bronco Bass Electric Bass Guitar – Torino Red
Product Details:
The squier bronco bass is great for guitarists who occasionally need a bass, for younger beginners, for smaller players or for anyone who likes the feel of a short-scale bass guitar. it tunes easily and sounds full and rich, thanks to its maple neck, die-cast tuners and solid agathis body, which is equipped with a single-coil pickup. with a great retro vibe and killer vintage sound the fender squier bronco bass is the perfect bass for many styles. features: agathis body. maple "c" shaped neck. maple fingerboard with 9.5" radius. 19 medium jumbo frets. special design single coil volume control, tone control. 2 saddle chrome bridge. standard covered mini tuning machines. 3-ply white pickguard. chrome hardware short scale length. color torino red.
Specifications:
Length | 18 in |
Height | 54 in |
Width | 9 in |
Reviews:
The Squier Bronco Bass delivers exactly what I expected. It's a 30" scale bass with a body shaped like the Fender Mustang bass; it has a single pickup (I believe it's a strat pickup), is fairly light weight (mine weighs in a 7 pounds 10 ounces), and it's a fun little axe. It's also the lowest-priced bass by an actual musical instrument company. How do they keep the price down? One way is that this is the only bass I've owned that has no fingerboard. It doesn't affect anything, but the front of the neck IS the fingerboard. The hardware is okay quality. But here's the thing – it sounds decent, feels great, plays well. There's going to be a little luck of the draw in a lower priced instrument, but my tuners stay in tune, intonation was on, everything is good. There was a little too much neck relief, but that was easy to adjust. If you're realistic about your expectations, the Squier Bronco Bass is an awesome value, looks good, and it gets you playing. It's not going to sound like a Stingray or a Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, but it doesn't sound bad, either – I would do a show with one without worrying about it. I have other basses, but wanted to add an inexpensive short scale to my stable, and this bass was exactly what I wanted. I may upgrade the pickup later – I may not. For now, it falls between my 34" scale and 28.6" scale basses, and it's fun to play. I'm very happy with it.Pcake
I ended up using this bass for songs where long scale can be a bit difficult. My main bass is an imported '54 P Bass copy, Alder body and maple neck/fingerboard. It had to go into a local shop for some major nut repair, and I needed something to play around with. Off the rack, it was a pretty great bass for the price. The neck is very well crafted, no sharp fret edges like some imported instruments. It's an agathis body, so the tone can be kind of bland, but compared to older Squier Broncos, it seems that all of the bridge and neck contact one piece of wood on the multi-piece construction, so sustain isn't too bad. The bad: The tuners are pretty sorry and are an oddball size, which makes replacement with good tuners very difficult. My E and A tuners rattle some, but all four do hold tune pretty well for cheap tuners. Also, the stock pickup is a six-pole ceramic Strat pickup, so it can sound…odd when bending strings. The other bad is the bridge: although it intonates pretty well, two saddles can make proper intonation difficult to achieve along with proper radius. Also, the bridge mounting pattern is almost impossible to replace with another bridge–four hole lock-down and quick-release style bridges DO work, but the bridge is mounted a little too far forward, and intonation is almost always sharp on the upper end of the fingerboard. Gotoh 201's are also very difficult to adapt to fit. But for its price point, some of these cons are easily fixed. I have a Mojotone Alnico V lipstick Strat pickup in mine with CTS 500K pots. It sounds excellent–it fools some of my buddies about how cheap it is. This bass could probably also benefit from a bar retainer near the nut. It went from an around the house beater to a mainstay for certain songs.Isher
my dad, a professional and extremely experienced bass guitarist, bought me this for christmas last year, and i love it. this is the first bass i've ever picked up and it's easy to play, is well built, has a nice feel to it, etc. i highly recommend it for beginners. i play it in my school band class and it fits in very well with the rest of the instruments. however it can fall out of tune easily and the pickup isn't the best, but ultimately it's the most perfect beginner bassout there, especially for the low price, it's high qualityace
13. Ibanez Gsr200 Bass Guitar (Trans Red)
Product Details:
Gsr200 for 30 years the sr has given bass players a modern alternative. with its continued popularity, ibanez is constantly endeavoring to answer the wider needs of a variety of players, at a variety of budgets. but no matter what the specs, the heart is the same-sr continues to excite with its smooth, fast neck, lightweight body, and perfectly matched electronics. gio – a guitar doesn’t have to cost a lot to sound great. the gio series was developed for players who want ibanez quality and performance in a more affordable package. purpleheart fretboard the purpleheart fretboard emphasizes the beauty and the rich tonal character of this bass. medium frets medium sized frets enhance the accuracy of your notes. poplar body poplar used as body wood delivers a well-balanced tone with incredible thickness. dynamix pj pickups dynamix pj pickups deliver clarity and fullness phat ii eq the phat ii active bass boost adds additional low-end power. b10 series bridge the b10 bridge allows fully adjustable intonation and solid tuning stability.
Specifications:
Product Dimensions | 40 x 3 x 12 inches |
Country of Origin | China |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Back Material | Oak |
Color Name | Transparent Red |
Fretboard Material | Rosewood |
Guitar Pickup Configuration | combination |
Scale Length | 34.0 |
String Gauge | 0.50 – 0.105 |
String Material | Nickel |
Top Material | Alder |
Neck Material Type | Maple |
Number of Strings | 4 |
Guitar Bridge System | Fixed |
Battery type | Zinc Carbon |
Finish Type | Polished |
Instrument | Guitar |
Reviews:
Overall: I wandered into a national Music store chain one day in Oct 2016 and went straight to the used guitars that were hanging on the wall in the used section. I'm always trying to keep an eye out on a good used Music Man electric as I try to collect these fine instruments. That particular day there was pretty slim pickings so I wandered through amps, effects and I ended in the pass guitar section. (I do play bass but usually when I write my own tunes) and this 6 string bass caught my eye. It didn't look cheap so I asked one of the vultures hovering there ( employees, just doing their gig) what he could tell me about this bass. It was pretty light-weight, first impression, so he gave me the run-down on the thing and I asked him if I could put it through the paces that I knew and we plugged it into an Ampeg mini brute what ever it was called and began a 45 minute of exploration where I passed this through an extensive test regarding tone, intonation,ease of reaching pots, tome control, The bass boost, I checked out the spec's which were pretty tight on with what was written. The balance was great, ease of use overall in case I plan to take a 6 string bass to a gig and perform for 3 hours was good weight-wise. I was particularly impressed with the bright tome. I was impressed in the selection of pickups that were available with this instrument. I've been performing on stage since I was 8 years old but mostly on guitar. I understood first you are usually someone and I was tithe whoweEric
Overall: I bought this simply to see if I want to pursue playing a 6 string. Beyond a few brief encounters in music stores, I have not played one and opted to try the tried-and-true Ibanez brand. The price point had me a little scared but this was a great purchase. I don't expect to have this long being I will either continue on the 6 string, or it will be flipped into something else. This is my first Ibanez and I will likely give the higher end SR models a closer look regardless of string count. The Good: Price, the setup was perfectly playable out of the box, tone is decent, weight is good for a 6 string, the fret ends a dressed. The Bad: doesn't balance well (Raw leather strap helped), finish is thin and wood not worth keeping natural (wanted the black model but, out of stock), Odd EQC.j.
I had no trouble setting up this bass. I was able set the intonation perfectly. Even the low strings sustain pitch very well and were easy to tune. I added a slight relief to the neck, because there was a lot of string buzz. After this slight adjustment to the truss rods, there is only a buzz when playing hard on the bottom 3 frets of the lowest string. The action is still low and it is very easy to play (though I do have long fingers). The stock strings are very cheap. As someone else stated, I feel upgrading to higher quality strings may resolve the low B buzz issue. The tone is amazing thanks to the built in EQ bass boost. I found it easier to play harmonics than my other basses. Walking bass lines sound smooth and percussive playing sounds pro. This is my new favorite bass. I can't wait to play it with the band.Michael O
14. Sterling By Music Man Stingray Ray4 Bass Guitar (Mint Green)
Product Details:
The stingray bass has a long and storied history, with players ranging from tim comerford (rage against the machine) to louis johnson (michael jackson thriller album) it's no surprise that generations have taken up the stingray mantle. its versatility through the clever inclusion of a 2-band pre-amp has set the stingray apart from its competitors. under the bridge the basswood body provides the sturdy foundation for the whole ray4 tone and the six screw bolt-on on neck maintains an excellent sustain for long smooth bass sounds. the neck is made from hard maple with a maple or jatoba-fingerboard depending on which colour bass you choose. this tough material will not only last but evolve with your playing. fistful of steel the ray4 is fitted with a classic fixed bridge which is both elegant and strong. the open gear machine heads provide a high level of tuning accuracy and stability. the ceramic humbucker is passive but married to the active 2 band eq powered by an internal 9-volt battery the options to boost the output and shape the tone are there. wanna' be startin' somethin' the ray4 is finished in a variety of colours and has the classic tear drop pickguard in black or white depending on which colour bass you choose. with bass luminaries such as flea, john deacon or cliff williams you know you are in good company and playing a versatile tone monster. the ray4 has a musical heritage that belies its tiny price tag and well worth the investment.
Specifications:
Weight | 9 lb |
Reviews:
Sound: when you own a sterling bass you do know, what your getting in quality . this bass is heavier then my sterling sub music man. same bass just diff color .the pick up of course is still amazing ,from my sub to this bass today. Ease of Use: i pulled out the box, was not in tune from shipping of course. used my d,addario head stock tuner on it, was only off a little from shipping. easy to retune and play out of the box. Quality: i love these bass., i have small hands. witha full scale to the get the best of the tone possible, long scale is the only way for me. small hand will use the neck as a whole. Value: would buy this for any one starting. would also buy another my self lol i have two lol Manufacturer Support: never had an issue Overall: awesome for the money, get great workmenship right out of the box, a small tune . after shipping of course. love the balance and small necks for my small hands. does not take away sustain. bass talks if you listen. so this is the second one i owned and would own another.Mickey
Love this thing! I had a problem with the sound on the first one but Musicians Friend got me all straightened out. The midrange sound was really quiet while the highs and lows were loud. They sent me a new one and took the return on the bad one. The replacement sounds great! I had a setup and new strings done by my local music shop and she sounds amazing. Intonation is now spot on. I love the look and feel of this one with all the rounded edges. Love the sound. She has a snarl in the low end that I haven't heard with any other company. I also own a squire 60s classic vibe p bass but i think i like the sound of this one better. My only complaint is that she's a little heavier than my Squire otherwise im super happy with this purchase. Thank you Musicians Friend for the smooth return and your amazing customer service. If you're looking for a quality beginner bass this one is a great choice.Matt
Love the sound of this heavy, neck diving beast. There's lots of tone to play with using the 5-way pickup selector. If played light enough you can avoid the fret buzz, of which is hard to get rid of with truss and saddle adjustments, but that can be said of a heavy hand on most guitars in general. The neck dive is severe like all the weight is really just the neck, but I don't notice it much when playing. It's just something to keep in mind if you play standing and lift both hands off the guitar to quickly adjust a mic or amp knob settings. The finish is kind of satin, as if it were printed on with an ink jet printer. It leaves the soft wood body pretty vulnerable to slow moving collisions against sharp corners. The Pre-Black Friday sale price on this guitar is a STEAL though! Definitely worth it for a Music Man bass sound for recording, or gigging if your willing to put up with the minor issues of weight and neck dive.Zach
15. Fender Mike Dirnt Road Worn Precision Bass Maple White Blonde
Product Details:
Fender and hard-hitting green day bassist mike dirnt join forces once again to bring you the mike dirnt road worn precision bass. with original-era 1951 precision styling, its ash body wears a 3-color sunburst or white blonde lacquer finish worn to perfection to simulate years of hard-played onstage glory. other distinctive features include a comfortable forearm contour, a volcanic custom vintage-style '59 split single-coil pickup, side-mounted output jack and custom mike dirnt neck plate. the maple neck has a thick "c"-shaped profile and a classic '51-style telecaster headstock shape, with a 9.5"-radius maple or rosewood fingerboard with 20 medium jumbo frets and black (maple board) or aged white (rosewood board) dot position inlays. the bass also has a single-ply black pickguard, two knurled chrome flat-top control knobs (volume, tone) and special '70s vintage-style tuners. ash body – road worn nitrocellulose lacquer body finish.
Specifications:
Country Of Origin | MX |
Body Finish | Road Worn Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
Body Shape | Precision Bass |
Neck Material | Maple |
Neck Finish | Road Worn Urethane |
Neck Shape | Thick "C" |
Scale Length | 34" (86.36 cm) |
Fingerboard | Maple |
Fingerboard Radius | 9.5" (241 mm) |
Number of Frets | 20 |
Frets Size | Medium Jumbo |
String Nut | Synthetic Bone |
Nut Width | 1.59" (40.4 mm) |
Position Inlays | Black Dot |
Truss Rods | Vintage-Style Butt Adjust |
Middle Pickup | Custom Vintage '59 Split Single-Coil |
Controls | Master Volume, Master Tone |
Pickup Configuration | Split Single Coil |
Bridge | Fender HiMass with Chrome-Plated Zinc Saddles |
Hardware Finish | Chrome |
Tuning Machines | Fender '70s Vintage-Style Stamped Open-Gear |
Pickguard | 3-Ply Black |
Control Knobs | Knurled Flat-Top |
Dimensions | 6.00×17.50×51.00 IN |
Reviews:
I am absolutely loving this bass. I am a guitar player who wanted a bass for recording. I had been using a Squier bass but wasn't satisified. It just didn't sound and feel like Fender Precision Basses I'd played in the past. Decided to pull the trigger on this, and am so glad I did. It is significantly heavier and just feels much more solid. The fingerboard is fabulous. The back of the neck is so smooth and comfortable to play. The frets are perfect. Hardware so much better overall. Tuners much more solid…less tuning issues. And the sound is exactly what I was going for. It sits in my mixes so much better than the Squier bass was. And it is beautiful on top of everything. Can't recommend this bass enough.William
I purchased the Dakota Red Vintera Precision bass because I have been looking for that vintage feel and sound without having to mortgage the house. I wish I could afford a true vintage '58 Precision Bass, but the Vintera does not leave me disappointed. The first thing you will notice is it's beefy neck. If you are looking for a slim modern neck, this isn't it. It is the vintage "C" style neck with a wider fretboard which feels really good to me IMO. The gold aluminum pick guard really stands out next to the red of the body. The craftsmanship and finish is excellent; no fret sprouts or blemishes in the finish. The electronics are excellent with no buzz or crackle and the pups definitely have that vintage sound, particularly when the tone is rolled all the way off; you can definitely channel your inner James Jamerson and Duck Dunn. If you roll the tone back up it nicely brightens things up. I did have my luthier complete a set-up on it and I did change the stock strings with La Bella flats to further provide that old school sound. If you are looking for a bright modern sound then you may want to check out the Vintera Jazz basses. I play the bass through a Fender Rumble which allows this bass to sound it's best. Lastly, the tuners do their job well and provide stable tuning. This is an excellent bass and I have no reservation with recommending it if you want the old school feel and sound. C'mon, you know you want it!!C. Inman
I've been a Precision Bass player since I started playing bass years ago. This is my first "real" Fender bass however, after playing several different Squier basses over the years. While Squier makes great instruments at a fair price point, this Vintera Precision is like a different world compared to my previous basses. You can feel the overall quality of the parts, the fit & finish, and the materials just by picking up the bass and playing around on it. I received it in the mail almost perfectly set up by Music Store. Only the action was too high for me, but that was an easy adjustment. The bass has a wide, not too thin neck profile that is not very deep. Super comfortable to play. The nut width is slightly larger than on other modern P-Basses which is nice if you like the extra space. I really like the way this forces you to play a little bit different compared to a narrower fretboard, like for example on a Jazz Bass. The difference compared to a regular P-Bass is pretty small. You just get a feeling of more space for fretting. The fretboard radius is also a bit smaller than on a modern P-Bass. This makes for a very balanced playing feel in my opinion. These differences are all nice touches and make for a slightly different playing feel, but don't make it any harder to play than a regular P-Bass. The sound is absolutely wonderful. The 50s-style pickups have a slightly compressed sound that sound great on its own, plugged directly into a DI box or an interface. I replaced the factory set of strings with .045-.105 LaBella flatwounds which is a perfect fit for this pass. The low-mids are greatly enhanced by putting a set of flats on this bass. It sits beautifully in the mix and is never weak or overpowering – always perfectly balanced. The fit and finish of this bass is great. I'm not one to go looking for faults in the paint or anything like that, but I absolutely have not spotted any quality control issues with my bass. The hardware is absolutely fine and does the job. You don't get a massive bridge or fancy hardware here, because everything is done to vintage specs. You can, of course, modify these parts later on, but I really don't think that's in the spirit of this vintage-focused instrument. If you want to put a more massive bridge on the bass and modify it in other ways, I would choose a Fender Player Series P-Bass instead which is a bit cheaper – you can spend the difference on your mod parts. The bass is surprisingly light. If you have back issues or generally dislike heavy instruments, I would definitely recommend this one! The lack of weight does not impact the sound quality at all. The only drawback is that, in some positions, it can have a little bit of neck dive, not to a point where it really becomes a problem, however. I always wear a strap even when sitting down, and that takes care of the very slight neck dive very easily. One thing to keep in mind is that the hardware, specifically the bridge and trussrod, are truly built to vintage spec. This means that the string height adjusters on the bridge do not have tiny hexagonal screws but small slotted screws instead. You will need a very small slotted screwdriver to access these screws. The trussrod can only be adjusted at the base of the neck which can be annoying. You need to remove the neck in order to adjust the trussrod. Here, again, there is no hexagonal screw but rather a large philipps screw to adjust. Small minus points for these features that could have been left out in favor of more modern solutions. I guess the placement and types of screws used make it more true to the vintage specs, but I would much prefer if they had just chosen the modern versions instead. Overall, this is a very beautiful and great-sounding bass that I can only recommend if you like P-Basses, vintage sound, and flatwounds. The build quality is fantastic and I have no doubt that this bass will stay in great shape for a long, long time.
16. Sterling By Music Man Stingray Ray4 Bass Guitar (Vintage Cream)
Product Details:
The stingray bass has a long and storied history, with players ranging from tim comerford (rage against the machine) to louis johnson (michael jackson thriller album) it's no surprise that generations have taken up the stingray mantle. its versatility through the clever inclusion of a 2-band pre-amp has set the stingray apart from its competitors. under the bridge the basswood body provides the sturdy foundation for the whole ray4 tone and the six screw bolt-on on neck maintains an excellent sustain for long smooth bass sounds. the neck is made from hard maple with a maple or jatoba-fingerboard depending on which colour bass you choose. this tough material will not only last but evolve with your playing. fistful of steel the ray4 is fitted with a classic fixed bridge which is both elegant and strong. the open gear machine heads provide a high level of tuning accuracy and stability. the ceramic humbucker is passive but married to the active 2 band eq powered by an internal 9-volt battery the options to boost the output and shape the tone are there. wanna' be startin' somethin' the ray4 is finished in a variety of colours and has the classic teardrop pickguard in black or white depending on which colour bass you choose. with bass luminaries such as flea, john deacon or cliff williams you know you are in good company and playing a versatile tone monster. the ray4 has a musical heritage that belies its tiny price tag and well worth the investment.
Specifications:
Weight | 9 lb |
Reviews:
Almost 40 years of playing experience and this bass is by far the best value that I've experienced. I've had my share of Precisions, Jazz basses, etc. over the years up to the $1500 range. When the pandemic kicked in I had sold most of my equipment but decided I had to have one bass. The neck is solid and similar to a P-bass thickness which I prefer and I don't need a 24-fret, 2 octave one anymore based on playing blues, jam, reggae, and rock. The tonal landscape is phenomenal rolling off the treble or bass dependent upon what I'm playing. Bright highs and deep lows are easily accomplished. I've never written a review before, but this was worthy of the time. Enjoy!Steve
Sound: when you own a sterling bass you do know, what your getting in quality . this bass is heavier then my sterling sub music man. same bass just diff color .the pick up of course is still amazing ,from my sub to this bass today. Ease of Use: i pulled out the box, was not in tune from shipping of course. used my d,addario head stock tuner on it, was only off a little from shipping. easy to retune and play out of the box. Quality: i love these bass., i have small hands. witha full scale to the get the best of the tone possible, long scale is the only way for me. small hand will use the neck as a whole. Value: would buy this for any one starting. would also buy another my self lol i have two lol Manufacturer Support: never had an issue Overall: awesome for the money, get great workmenship right out of the box, a small tune . after shipping of course. love the balance and small necks for my small hands. does not take away sustain. bass talks if you listen. so this is the second one i owned and would own another.Mickey
I'm a long time guitarist with some really fine instruments who decided to pick up a "value" bass just to learn for fun. Knowing what to look for in guitars, I translated that over to basses and went to GC to try some out, see what appealed to me, and how far I could stretch the dollars I was willing to spend on an instrument to start out and, maybe, stick with. I found this Sterling by Music Man Ray4 in mint green that filled the bill on all fronts. As usual, the guys at GC let me try several instruments and test to my hearts content. I do all my own guitar set-ups and would never buy a guitar sight unseen, being worried about how much adjustment might be needed. The Ray4 wasn't too bad out of the box (quite literally because I didn't like the display instrument and they had another in stock for me to try). Once home, I did adjust neck relief, string height, intonation, and pickup to a point that I liked best. The pickup required the most adjustment actually because it had gotten stuck in an odd and very high position, perhaps from being jostled in shipping. There is some fret sprout on the higher frets, but nothing that would bother my hand. Bottom line: Everything could easily be adjusted to where I really like it and has been stable now over several days. It's comfortable to play and is, in my opinion, a real "looker." The satin finished neck is great and, although I usually don't go for maple fret boards, I do like this one. I'm very pleased with my purchase decision and would buy it again. Now onto attack that fret sprout . . .AARP Rocker
17. Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass, Black, Rosewood
Product Details:
Bass guitars – the fender aerodyne jazz bass is something completely different. cutting edge bass players looking for a high performance and lightweight bass with a strikingly different appearance will flip over the aerodyne jazz bass. this is a special edition jazz bass featuring a bound basswood body with a new unique carved top, a maple neck with rosewood fingerboard and matching painted headstock. the aerodyne jazz bass is loaded with a precision/jazz bass pickup combination and rear routed/top mounted controls with no pickguard. the cream binding on top of the body, smoked chrome bridge and tuning machines, black top-mounted strat input jack, rear mounted controls,side dot position inlays, matching painted headstock, and silver applique logo make the aerodyne jazz bass stand out in a crowd. fender aerodyne jazz bass features: color: black. no. of strings: 4. body wood: basswood. neck: maple. machine heads: standard. fingerboard: rosewood (stained), 7.25" radius. no. of frets:20 medium jumbo. pickups: 1 split single-coil precision pickup (mid), 1 single-coil jazz. controls: volume 1, volume 2, tone. bridge: standard 4-saddle. pickup switching: none. hardware: smoked chrome. scale length: 34".
Specifications:
Length | 20 in |
Height | 55 in |
Width | 10 in |
Reviews:
I've had this bass for almost two weeks now, maybe a bit more. I didn't give my feedback befor today, since I would've given it less than a one. However, I waited for a reason. The sound is great, and I don't mind the sound of the stock pickups. It looks great, but that's trivial to me compared to the sound. Now here's a problem that few have mentioned. While some said, it's playable right out of the box, IT ISN'T. I got the bass in a pretty bad condition. Meaning, the action was too high, and the pickups were too close to the strings. It was virtually unplayable, even though I convinced myself that I could play it; which I did. But the pain in my fingers was indescribable, I almost got depressed. I changed my strings a week later to SH77 flat wounds .50 (heavy and thick strings), which didn't help initially. So I tried adjusting the action myself, but still wasn't enough. A day later, I sent it to a professional for setup. Now that made all the difference. I'm in love now. The strings sound amazing, the bass plays amazing, the feel is amazing, …. in brief it's amazing. Bottom line, have it setup by a professional ( unless you are a professional technician), otherwise you'll struggle with this bass. Unfortunately, the agent at MF mentioned that it's playable right out of the box, and I was naive to believe it. Anyway, live and learn. Set it up, and you'll already to go. Hope this helps anyone skeptical about this bass.Rafi
I purchased a Sterling sub series stingray5 a week earlier and really wasn't happy so I went to return it. While I was there I was trying out some of the usual fenders that are in stock and just wasn't feeling it. Then, I noticed this one. I played it for 5 minutes and couldn't stop. It had the most comfortable neck I've ever played. After comparing it to a couple more expensive p bass options, this one was still the clear winner. The design may not be typical fender, and it's almost reminiscent of an Ibanez or a Washburn, but the ergonomic are like no other. Trust me this guitar is worth a shot. The tone is warm and growly. If you could imagine mixing the bass tone of the red hot chili peppers and the pixies, this would be what it sounds like.Chris
I got this bass recently and have to say its my go to bass for everything. I have a few others like a Dean which is nice, but feels odd due to its weight balance. But the Aerodyne sits well and feels comfortable. I think the tone of it sounds really good. Bought this in store so I got to test it out, action isnt bad. I did some innotating which only the E string needed it. I'm sorta new to bass, but I been producing music for 10 years. But being a new bassist, it feels great. I do highly recommend this bass. Great price.Liam C
18. Ibanez Tmb30 Electric Talman Bass – Ivory
Product Details:
Smooth playabililty and a balanced body, the tmb30 short scale talman bass offers a wide dynamic range of tone with volume. in addition, the tmb30 has plenty of low end that sustains. whether you are a beginner or looking for a second bass, the tmb30 will deliver! reflecting a classic ibanez body style, the talman bass series sports a cool retro look with a sound that will inspire players of all ages. while talman basses normally have the more common 34? long-scale neck, the tmb30 offers a short-scale 30? neck. the shorter neck is often preferred by players of smaller stature who find a long-scale instrument to be unwieldy. it is also a favorite of guitarists who double on bassthe shorter scale having a feel closer to that of an electric guitar. the tmb30 features include a poplar body for a warm, punchy tone, a maple neck with jatoba fretboard, a b10 bridge, and a black pickguard to complete the classic vibe. electronics consist of an ibanez dynamix p neck pickup and a dynamix j bridge pickup for that rich, vintage sound.
Specifications:
Strings | 4 String |
Handedness | Right-Handed |
Right/Left Handed | Right-Handed |
Number of Strings | 4 |
Body Type | Solid |
Cutaway | Single-Cutaway |
Body Wood | Mahogany |
Neck Type | TMB4 Maple neck |
Fretboard | Rosewood fretboard with White dot inlay |
Fret | Medium frets |
Number of Frets | 20 |
Bridge | Std. bridge (19mm string spacing) |
Neck Pickup | Dynamix P neck pickup (Passive) |
Bridge Pickup | Dynamix J bridge pickup (Passive) |
Factory Tuning | 1G, 2D, 3A, 4E |
String Gauge | .045/.065/.085/.105 |
Hardware Color | Chrome |
Bridge Type | Fixed |
Pickguard | Yes |
Controls | 1x Tone Control 2x Volume Control |
Neck Scale | 762mm / 30.00" |
Neck Width at Nut | 41mm |
Neck Width at 14th Fret | 62mm |
Neck Thickness at 1st | 21.5mm |
Neck Thickness at 7th | 24.5mm |
Neck Radius | 240mmR |
Reviews:
Bought this one for the kids, but it's so much fun I'll probably play it more. This has to be one of, if not the best short scales in this price range. Mine came with a great neck, good frets and no sharp ends. Weight wise, its a little heavier than I expected- maybe 7.5 lbs? Fingers, pick, slap, all sound good with no rattles. No neck dive. The only weak point I think is the cheapo bridge. Its really unstable and the E saddle could be bumped and moved too easily. I ordered a Hipshot when I ordered the bass because I hate these style bridges anyway. I'd have had to shorten the screw or maybe just cut off some spring length on the stock saddle for the E (and possibly the A) to get them to intonate. Get the bass on sale, a Hipshot for another fifty and it's a performer on par with basses that cost a grand or more, and still less than competing Squiers or Epiphones that also probably need upgraded bridges. I mainly just use the P in a PJ setup, but installed a Fender J anyway because this one was noisy at home (but not at rehearsal for some reason). I had to carve away about a millimeter of wood on top and bottom of the bridge cavity to fit the Fender, so be aware that aftermarket pups may not be a straight drop in. Upgrading the pups is not really needed though IMO. The tuners have the large posts so breaking strings is less likely. They seem to be holding pretty well. I can get through a few songs without having to re-tune, then it's only a minor tweak to the E and A.Lothar
I wanted a no-nonsence, light weight, easy to play and transport, bass for gigs and rehearsal. All these “bases” are covered and some. I can’t say or explain enough, how great this short scale guitar is to hold and play, especially for a “senior” musician looking for comfort on stage! Smooth neck, warm tone, no set-up needed, right out of the box! The price is right too! Try one for yourself!Jimbo
I got this bass for my son as he’s wanting to learn bass and music theory from myself . I’d been teaching him on one of my fleet of basses but he was complaining that it was too big for him so I decided to look into the small scale range at a reasonable cost. I seen this bass which, to me, looked perfect for an 11 year old to learn on . After receiving this bass I gave it an inspection and I was very impressed with its factory set up and the general build of this bass. I plugged it in and gave it a blast through one of my smaller rigs and I was literally left flabbergasted at the sound of this thing. It’s a little ripper! It particularly sounds best when using a pick with it but it can hold its own finger style too. I’d be quite happy using this bass on stage and I have many basses by distinguished brands ans custom built basses by luthiers . It goes to show that what’s perceived as a lower end instrument can actually prove to be a hidden gem. It’s loud, it cuts the mix and it plays like butter. What a great bit of kit.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.
19. Hofner Shorty Electric Bass Black
Product Details:
The shorty bass offers the same classic warm hofner bass tone with a single hofner humbucker bridge pickup. it offers full scale length combined with such small overall dimensions that it can be taken anywhere. other features include a basswood body with a bolt-on maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, and a fixed metal tailpiece/bridge. available in black. one piece bolt-on maple neck. dot inlays. 24 frets. metal fixed tailpiece/bridge. single nickel tuners. pearl tuner buttons. fixed tailpiece/bridge. plastic nut. hofner humbucker bridge pickup. black chrome potentiometer knobs. includes gig bag.
Specifications:
Shape | Shorty |
Wood Top | Basswood |
Wood Back | Basswood |
Construction | One Piece |
Headstock Shape | Shorty |
Logo and Artwork | Script On Trussrod Cover |
Neck Joint | Bolt On |
Joint At | 18th Fret |
Thickness Neck + FB At 1st Fret | 21mm |
Thickness Neck + FB Near Heel | 25mm |
Scale | 30"/76cm |
Nut Width | 42mm |
Width At 12th Fret | 54mm |
Number Of Frets | 24 |
Tuners | Single Nickel |
Tuner Buttons | Pearl |
Tailpiece | Fixed Tailpiece/Bridge |
Nut Material | Plastic |
Pickup Bridge | Hofner Humbucker |
Potentiometer Knobs | Black Chrome |
Strings | Hofner Round Wound |
Action Bass String at 12th Fret | 3mm |
Action Treble String at 12th Fret | 2mm |
Reviews:
Just took delivery of a used Hofner shorty bass in black. Lovely instrument. Fit and finish was fine. I had to do a little bit of intonation setting which took no time. The neck is better than expected. Frets are finished properly and the neck has a nice satin finish. Its not to wide, not too thick and feels great. The pickup delivers and even sound across the strings. There are no dead spots. Volume and tone controls work great and the knurled knobs feel very good. I was able to dial in some of my preferred sounds using the VPF control on my Markbass Blackline 250 going through a Markbass NY604 cabinet. I was also liking the sounds going through an Eden World Tour preamp. Im looking forward to rehearsal tomorrow using the Eden directly into an EV ZLX 12 powered cabinet. The bass came professionally packed and really appeared to be new. Love the padded Hofner gig bad with the logo on it. All in all a great small, inexpensive (but not cheap) bass for practice, performance and especially travel.Miguel404
First of all, this bass is just what I wanted for practicing when traveling. Compact, 24 frets, decent electronics and comes with a gig bag. Intonation was pretty good too. I did adjust the intonation, but that's really only because I'm kind of fussy about intonation. One thing I will say is I had never experienced "neck dive" until I owned this bass like. in the resting position, the bass headstock will point right down to 5 o'clock. Since this is a practice instrument, I made some modifications. I put weight in the body cavity, but the body cavity is not huge, so with extra weight, I could get the neck to hang in the resting position at about 3 o'clock. I next removed the front strap pin and drilled a 3/8" in diameter hole 2" into the body at the same angle as the strap pin screw. I purchased 3/8" aluminum round stock and cut it to 7.5". 2" would insert into the body and 5.5" would remain outside to mount the strap button while extending out to nearly the 12th fret. I painted the round stock black (primer and paint). I mounted (drilled and epoxied) the strap button on the end of the round stock. I think epoxied the extender into the body. It looks pretty darned good and now the bass balances perfectly.Kevin1014
I have to say I’m so impressed with my new Hofner Shorty ct Bass. I’m used to gigging for years with Monster weighted P basses so the Shorty is such a relief. …. Like Air. Because body is so small it does allow this neck dip everyone cites but with a strap and playing on stage it’s not a problem. The quality and finish is flawless and was Lucy to get a Rosewood neck on mine not one of those horrible Jotoba Cites ones (Though fully understand we have to save planet somehow). The guitar sounds like any Bass circa £300-£500 bass and means you can leave your Musicman and Fenders at home in Studio. Great for touring Bassists who just want easy gigging experience. Well done Hofner!
20. Ibanez Gsr105ex 5 String Electric Bass Guitar Mahogany Oil
Product Details:
The ibanez gsr105ex 5-string bass gives you the fat and punchy tone you demand plus excellent playability – all for an amazing low price. a member of ibanez's famed soundgear (sr) series, the gsr105ex gives you the comfortable feel of a compact body bass players everywhere have been raving about for decades. you'll also dig the feel of its slim-profile maple neck that gives you an excellent balance of speed and playing comfort while providing plenty of sustain. take control of the back beat with your ibanez gsr105ex bass. ibanez gsr105ex 5-string electric bass features at a glance: a solid-playing sr bass built on decades of tried-and-true construction techniques. compact, contoured mahogany body makes extended playing sessions extra comfortable. maple neck with slim profile feels great and provides you with fast playing action. single humbucker keeps it simple and dishes out fat bass tone. b15 5-string bridge gives you impressive sustain.
Specifications:
Strings | 5 String |
Handedness | Right-Handed |
Number of Strings | 5 |
Neck Type | GSR5 |
Neck Joint | Bolt-on |
Neck Material | Maple |
Neck finish | Satin Polyurethane |
Neck thickness at 1st fret | 21mm |
Neck thickness at 12th fret | 22mm |
Scale | 34" |
Nut width | 45mm |
Number of frets | 22 |
Fretboard Material | Jatoba |
Fretboard Radius | 305mm |
Fret Type | Medium |
Inlay | White dot |
Body finish | Satin Polyurethane |
Bridge | B15 |
String spacing | 16.5mm |
Nut | Plastic |
Machine Head | Ibanez machine heads |
Bridge Pickup | PPD5 |
Controls | 1 Volume, 1 Tone |
String Gauges | .045/.065/.085/.105/.130 |
Factory Tuning | 1G,2D,3A,4E,5B |
Reviews:
I was shocked by the quality and setup on this entry-level Ibanez Bass. Either the Ibanez Indonesia factory has stepped up their game, or AMS at least doesn't ship out the duds. Never purchased from AMS before, but once you buy you are hooked (stop sending me those $20 off coupons). VERY satisfied customer.Island Thumper
The Ibanez GSR105EX Bass is a nice value bass. The neck was straight. The action was nice and low. The neck profile made it very comfortable to play. The passive pickup has quite a growl to it. It is so light. Mine weighed just over 6 pounds. Strings were the weak link on the bass, which you would expect on a bass at this price. They were really rough on the fingers, even for an experienced bass player. They were changed out immediately, and it greatly improved the sound, and they saved my fingers from further trauma. I enjoy playing it. I think it is a good starter bass for those who want to explore a 5 string without a big investment.Pete H.
1st-great price for what you get – no more or less. 2nd- Re: Mahogany Oil naming – this guitar hasn't ever been in the Zipcode of Mahogany but I guess the stain is Mahogany colored – sort of. Review: The bridge is fine and the intonation and action is fine. This guitar is like my old 'Cuda – the harder you drive it the better it gets. It shines on more aggressive stylings; tho I don't like slapping and popping this thing sounds excellent for that. I use this mainly for recording so as far as sound – the one giant 'bucker is fine as I run Bass thru EQ's and compressors anyway on my DAW. Having the low B, 5 extra notes is the key here for stoop-down bad-ass low-ness. For 2 bills it's too nice. •••• d:DDean