Are you looking for the Pete Wentz Bass Guitar? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Choosing the Pete Wentz Bass Guitar can be difficult as there are so many considerations, such as Sawtooth, Fender, Ibanez, Yamaha, Schecter Guitar Research, Höfner, Spector. We have done a lot of research to find the top 20 Pete Wentz Bass Guitar available.
The average cost is $435.34. Sold comparable range in price from a low of $189.99 to a high of $1399.99.
Based on the research we did, we think Fender Player Precision Bass , Pau Ferro Fingerboard, 3-Color Sunburst 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 Pete Wentz Bass Guitar (20 Sellers)
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Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable . Lightweight
Features:
- Alder body with gloss finish
- One player series split-coil precision bass middle pickup
- Master volume and tone controls
$269.99
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Well made . Durability . Weight
Features:
- Neck shape: "c" shape
- Scale length: 34" (86.36 cm)
- Fingerboard: indian laurel
$775.00
4.5
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Durability . Weight . Craftsmanship
Features:
- Includes deluxe gig bag.
- Pj pickup configuration split-coil precision bass middle pickup, vintage noiseless jazz bass bridge pickup.
- Three-band eq with treble, mid and bass boost/cut active/passive switch.
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Lightweight . Attractive . Well made . Durability
Features:
- Contemporary series version of the famous beatle bass by hofner
- Sustain block makes for a modern deep resonating bass with superior sustain
- Original hofner (german made) 'staple-top' pick-ups
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Well made . Durability . Heavy
Features:
- Maple neck with jatoba fingerboard
- White dot inlay
- Medium frets
$249.99
4.6
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Well made . Durability . Heavy
Features:
- Mahogany body
- Maple neck with jatoba fingerboard
- White dot inlay
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Lightweight . Well made . Durability
Features:
- Model: yamaha trbx305
- Made: taiwan (serial hop053328)
- Finish: white
$259.99
4.5
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Sound quality . Durable . Lightweight . Well made
Features:
- Yamaha n89 bass guitar.
- In natural wood finish.
- Low action and good intonation.
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Lightweight . Attractive . Well made . Durability
Features:
- Has light wear and scratches from being played.
- Has some white paint on top edge of headstock.
- Has one tuner with a scratch in the paint.
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 . Lightweight . Attractive . Well made . Durability
Features:
- One-piece maple neck
- Rosewood fret board
- Pearl dot inlay
$209.99
4.5
Reviewers Noted:
Sound quality . Lightweight . Durability . Well made . Attractive
Features:
- Body: poplar
- Body finish: gloss polyurethane
$229.99
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Lightweight . Well made . Durability
Features:
- Agathis body
- One-piece maple neck
- Pearl dot inlay
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:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Weight . Durability
Features:
- Linea artcore
- Manico set-in in nyatoh e acero (3 pezzi)
- Tavola. fondo e fasce in tiglio
$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
Reviewers Noted:
Visual appeal . Durability . Sound quality . Craftsmanship
Features:
- Chromacast padded gig bag
- Purple heavy 1.14mm gauge durapick
- Black heavy 0.88mm gauge celluloid pick
$449.00
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Heavy . Well made . Durability
Features:
- This item is in very good condition.
- This item has been tested and is 100% functional.
- Please message us with any questions.
$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:
- Contoured ply maple body
- 30.75" canadian hard maple set neck with 15" resinator fingerboard and hagstrom pearl block position marks; h-expander trussrod
- Dual dyna rail viking bass neck and bridge pickups; 6-way rotary pickup selector; dual volume and tone controls
1. Fender Player Precision Bass , Pau Ferro Fingerboard, 3-Color Sunburst
Product Details:
There’s nothing more classic than a fender electric bass, and the player precision bass is as authentic as it gets—genuine fender style and the rumbling, seismic sound that spawned a thousand imitations. with its smooth playing feel and spotlight-ready style, this thunderous bass is ready to enter the studio or prowl the stage and help show the world your creative vision. respecting heritage while maintaining innovative spirit, the fat, punchy player series split-coil precision bass middle pickup is packed with legendary fender bass tone, turned up to 11 for modern ears. master volume and tone controls are close to hand to shape the pickup’s powerful voice so you can easily craft your sound. the “modern c”-shaped maple neck’s hosts a 9.5”-radius pau ferro fingerboard with 20 medium-jumbo frets that are ideal for almost any playing style, while the 4-saddle bridge is engineered for accurate intonation and easy action adjustment so you can personalize the feel to your playing style and taste. other features include a 3-ply pickguard, synthetic bone nut, vintage-style disc string trees, open-gear tuning machines and a four-bolt “f”-stamped neck plate that marks this instrument as the real deal—as fender as it gets. a modern classic with genuine fender sound, style and feel, the player precision bass is ready to pump out some serious low end. case sold separately.
Specifications:
| Shape | C |
| Wood | Maple |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Scale length | 34 in. |
| Truss rod | Standard |
| Finish | Satin |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Pickup configuration | Split single-coil |
| Active preamp | No |
| Radius | 9.5 in. |
| Fret size | Medium-jumbo |
| Number of frets | 20 |
| Inlays | Dot |
| Nut material | Synthetic bone |
| Nut width | 1.625 in. (41.3 mm) |
| Cutaway | Double cutaway |
| Construction | Solidbody |
| Body wood | Alder |
| Top wood | Alder |
| Body finish | Gloss |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Control layout | Master volume, tone |
| Pickup switch | No |
| Coil tap or split | No |
| Tone switching | No |
| Special switching | No |
| Bridge type | Fixed |
| Bridge design | 4-Saddle adjustable |
| Tuning machines | Open-geared |
| Number of strings | 4 |
| Pickguard | Yes |
| Country of origin | Mexico |
Reviews:
Its a little by chance what you get from mex. fenders in terms of craftsmanship and details. Mine has a little dent and a little gap between neck and body but it is sturdy. Fret work is not like americans. Tone wise and playability is good. I like the look of pau ferro wood. Neck shape is comfy not like 70s baseball bat p bass more like 70s j bass. The orange color is the reason i pick this one, fender changing colors every two three years so if you have this color in mind go for it. Much much better in real than pictures. Overall, if you need a good practice/little jamming bass its a good alternative. Instead of squiers go for this. I have sire as well, if you dont like/need active preamp simple is the best. Also, this new pickups are good, have good bass and midrange not scooped like some american pickups. One final thing, I've tried couple of player series before ordering this, some of them is not well at all in build quality. So, it is a little surprise what you get, check after you buy it and then decide to keep it or not. Have fun..
Purchased the Fender Player Jazz bass. Overall great looks and sound, but some quality issues from the Fender Mexico factory (not Andertons' fault): – First bass had very clear weird uneven blemish under the varnish on the sunburst body. Not awful, but if I was in-store I would never have chosen that particular item. Returned and swapped by Andertons, no quibbles. Second bass arrived. Overall happy, sounds great, but still a few issues with quality control and design. – Control plate was missing 2 screws and was moving around – how does that get through Fender quality control? Replacement screws sent free of charge by Andertons. – Nut has not been slotted correctly – high G must have been passed through a machine and slipped, string is clearly a couple of mm too close to fretboard edge and you can see the failed first pass. Doesn't really affect playability, but is annoying and I will get it corrected at some point. Again, points to poor quality control. – Fretboard (Pau Ferro) is really thin – on the Player series, at least. Neck fret dot markers in white are half over the mid-dark fretboard, half over the light maple neck. Very hard to see in low light levels. OK, so they're just an indicator for position, but the design isn't great. So overall, the bass sounds great and Andertons service was very good. Fender quality control loses the one star from the review.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.
…and falls in love. Let me start by saying I actually have owned one other P-Bass. I had a 50s reissue Precision, but honestly the neck was just too thick for my liking after years of playing Jazz basses. Honestly, it felt thicker than the neck on my Yamaha 5-string. So, I picked this bass up after always dancing around getting what would be considered a more standard P-Bass. I have a 70s Jazz with a ton of modifications, I've had quite a few other brands of basses, but I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I ordered this a few weeks ago, and have been very pleasantly surprised. The action was pretty good out of the box. I adjusted it a bit, made a few tiny tweaks to the intonation, and now it's super smooth. And, on the pickups, let me say it's a great sounding bass. Pickups are clear, bass sounds great. I play through a little Ampeg Micro cabinet. Earlier this week, I bought some Flats to throw on it (because that's what you do with a P-bass, right?) and now it's quickly becoming one of my favorite instruments to jam with. It really cuts through the mix when playing in a group. I see why folks really love the sound of a precision. My Jazz still has it's place, but man, I really like the sound of this bass. The Player P is a great value for what you get. I've never owned an older MIM, but I research the heck out of pretty much any purchase I make, and it looks like Fender really stepped it up with this rendition of their MIM Precision basses. Good tone out of the box, no discernible pickup noise, good action, a beautiful neck, and a Tidepool Blue finish that just shines and shines.Dennis F
2. Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass Pj – Lake Placid Blue
Product Details:
The squier affinity series precision bass pj puts classic fender p bass tone and feel into your hands at an amazing price. featuring a lightweight, resonant polar body, this bass is friendly on the back for hours of performance. the combination of precision and jazz bass pickups in this stellar bass gives you the vintage, gritty fender tone that has won over so many players over the decades. and since each pickup has its own volume knob and master tone knob, you can tweak your tone to your preference. the affinity series precision pj features a maple neck and 20-fret laurel fingerboard for fast, comfortable playing and wide-open stylistic exploration. vintage-looking tuners compete the setup on this stunning instrument.
Specifications:
| Body Finish | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Control Knobs | Knurled Flat-Top |
| Fingerboard | Indian Laurel |
| Hardware Finish | Chrome |
| Neck Finish | Satin Urethane with Gloss Urethane Headstock Face |
| Pickguard | 3-Ply Black |
| Position Inlays | Pearloid Dot |
| Body Shape | Precision Bass |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Neck Shape | "C" Shape |
| Scale Length | 34" (86.36 cm) |
| Fingerboard Radius | 9.5" (241 mm) |
| Number of Frets | 20 |
| Fret Size | Medium Jumbo |
| String Nut | Synthetic Bone |
| Nut Width | 1.625" (41.3 mm) |
| Truss Rod | Head Adjust |
| Bridge Pickup | Ceramic Single-Coil Jazz Bass |
| Neck Pickup | Ceramic Split Single-Coil |
| Pickup Configuration | PJ |
| Bridge | 4-Saddle Standard |
| Tuning Machines | Vintage-Style |
| Strings | Nickel Plated Steel (.045-.105 Gauges) |
| Battery Info | No Battery Used |
| Battery Quantity | 0 |
Reviews:
As the headline says…it's very enjoyable to play. I've even made several recordings using it instead of my Fender USA Pro 2 Precision. It does a decent job on the P pickup; the J has lower output. To my surprise I'm really digging the "raw" feel of the neck; it's bare, tho sanded well. Another surprise: neck profile width and taper is like a J bass, yet the depth/shape feels more like a P! Huh!? Hey, works for me! With its black body and pickguard and the maple fingerboard it looks like it means BUSINESS! Point removed for the too-stiff tuner action. And then…I've managed to get the action very low, just where I like it. (FWIW, even on my USA Pro 2 I had to shim the neck to be able to get the level of low action that I prefer.) Yes, ladies n gentleman, I really appreciate this Affinity PJ. I am considering using it for punk and classic rock parts of the band's gigs; not out of the question at all!Leo
This bass looks, feels, and sounds great! Did they nail the bodywork and neck lines? No, not completely. But that's about as much as I've got for negatives. This is one of the best 5 string necks I've felt. Less pizza shaped than the EHB but almost that good. Could have been nice to see a heavier finish on the fretboard but the edges are rolled with no sharp frets at all – unlike my cv 70s P. Sound on this Destroys the EHB and my sr505. Can't say how road worthy the pots and tuners are but I don't want to change anything and mess with this mojo. Unless you need silent pickups and can live with the tradeoffs. I don't know what you would need other than maybe a beefier jack. Setup was mind blowing. Literally took it out of the box in store. Got home, string height was dialed, haven't checked intonation yet but sounds fine. Was hardly even out of tune. Strings feel quality, I will probably even hold off changing those. This bass is making a lot of basses look and sound like questionable decisions. If you are worried about durability, honesty, get a good hard case. This thing feels plenty solid. Make sure the tuners and string trees are greased up and jam away.Arturo
I got mine in Black body, black pickguard, maple neck with maple fingerboard, It came with good setup right out of the box, I like the headstock's face with large "Precision Bass" 70's style logo, with gloss tint on it. The maple neck is one piece neck. I have other Affinities basses but this one sounds terrific, a lot of growl sound on P pickups , I like the P sound but also the J pickup is welcome. I always like this combination: black on black with maple fingerboard. I recommend this bass, Squier is getting better and better with the years. The only complain with this is that the Jazz Pickup is less sounding than the P bass pickup, I needed to rise the Jazz pickup to get better output but not the same output than the Precision pickup.Garedot
3. Fender Deluxe Active Precision Bass Special, 3-Color Sunburst, Maple
Product Details:
For players who find themselves alternating between a variety musical styles at a moment’s notice, the deluxe precision bass special is the perfect companion on stage and in the studio. designed for powerful, flexible tone with smooth playing feel, this robust and rich-sounding bass combines the best features of fender’s classic basses to create a “hybrid” model with sleek, authentic fender style but is packed with new tones.there’s a wealth of useful tones hiding inside this bass’ pickups and electronics. powered by a punchy vintage-style split-coil precision bass pickup in the middle position and a growling vintage noiseless jazz bass bridge pickup, this bass rises to any occasion. the robust control scheme includes a three-band active eq with treble, mid and bass controls—each with boost and cut to accurately shape your tone—along with a pan pot for precision blending of the pickups’ potent sound. the active/passive switch makes it easy to access both vintage-styled and modern voices, further extending this instrument’s sonic flexibility. the fender hi mass bridge improves every note’s sustain and resonance, while enhancing the attack for lively tone that lets your sonic personality shine through. the “c”-shaped maple neck is comfortable for all playing styles and hosts a 1.5” synthetic bone nut and fastplaying 12”-radius fingerboard with 20 medium jumbo frets.the alder body bears a durable gloss polyester finish that looks great under the spotlight while being tough enough to shrug off the abuse of gigging and traveling. classic precision bass appointments include knurled flat-top control knobs, nickel/chrome hardware, black pickup covers, pearloid dot inlays and a 3-ply b/w/b pickguard. a pure tone machine with classic fender sound and style, the deluxe active precision bass special is a true performer, equally at home on stage and in the studio. includes deluxe gig bag.
Specifications:
| Shape | C shape |
| Wood | Maple |
| Neck joint | 4-Bolt |
| Scale length | 34" (864 mm) |
| Truss rod | Yes |
| Finish | Satin polyurethane |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Pickup configuration | PJ |
| Middle | Vintage Split Single-Coil Precision Bass |
| Series or parallel | Parallel |
| Active preamp | Yes |
| Radius | 12" (305 mm) |
| Fret size | Medium-jumbo |
| Number of frets | 20 |
| Inlays | Pearloid dot |
| Nut material | Bone |
| Nut width | 1.5 in. (38.1 mm) |
| Cutaway | Double cutaway |
| Construction | Solidbody |
| Body wood | Alder |
| Body finish | Gloss polyester |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Pickup switch | Pan pot |
| Coil tap or split | Not appicable |
| Tone switching | No |
| Special switching | EQ/Preamp defeat switch |
| Bridge type | Fixed |
| Bridge design | Fender HiMass |
| Tuning machines | Standard open-gear |
| Number of strings | 4 |
| Pickguard | Yes |
| Country of origin | Mexico |
Reviews:
It is amazing how a MIM can sound like thunder. You can get amazing tonal possibilities from this bass; full of punch and with a clean and crisp tone. The neck is very soft for fast playing; and the pickups are incredible. I also have a Yamaha TRB 1005, and a Spector Classic Legend 5 but this MIM stands among the others with power and authority. You can take it to church and tear down the walls, or take it to the local venue and crush the other band mates. You will never find a bass like this, with this features for that price. If you find one: buy it! I'm thinking about buying one more to convert it to fretless it. You will not get wrong with the Deluxe P series!mrfunkh
I've been playing on and off for over 30 years. I have a broad collection. This is an excellent P Bass for the price. Great balance, very good tone, and the neck is awesome. The neck is a little thinner on the "SPECIAL" than a standard, which I love. I added an acrylic mirror pick guard, now it's time to Run To The Hills.flip21121967
4. Hofner Violin Bass Contemporary Sunburst
Product Details:
The hofner hct5001 electric bass guitar is the contemporary version of the world famous violin bass. constructed with a sustain block inside the body for modern, punchy, deep resonating bass sounds. using original hofner staple top pick ups, the ct5001 is a part of hofner's contemporary series of electric guitars based on the famous models of the past. affordable, this bass features hofner design coupled with the latest manufacturing techniques making it perfect for stage, studio and any genre of music. hofner hct5001 features:- 22 fret rosewood fretboard. 30" scale maple set neck. ebony bridge with movable metal saddles. brass trapeze tailpiece. select german spruce top. flamed maple back and sides. hofner staple humbucking pickups. mother of pearl inlay dots.
Specifications:
| Instrument | HCT Violin Bass |
| Wood Top | Spruce |
| Wood Back | Flame Maple |
| Wood Sides | Flame Maple |
| Binding Top | Black / White / Black |
| Binding Back | Black / White / Black |
| Binding Sides | White |
| Centerblock | Spruce |
| Neck Wood | Maple / Beech / Maple |
| Construction | Three Piece |
| Headstock Shape | Violin Bass |
| Logo and Artwork | Script |
| Neck Joint | Hofner Violin Bass Set Neck |
| Joint At | 16th Fret |
| Thickness Neck + FB At 1st Fret | 22mm |
| Thickness Neck + FB Near Heel | 24mm |
| Heel Cap | Pearl |
| Fingerboard Wood | Jatoba |
| Scale | 30" / 76cm |
| Nut Width | 42mm |
| Width At 12th Fret | 48mm |
| Inlays | Dots |
| Binding | White |
| Side Dots | Yes |
| Number Of Frets | 22 |
| Bridge Material | Ebony |
| Hardware Tuners | Single Nickel |
| Tuner Buttons | Pearl |
| Tailpiece | Trapeze Nickel |
| Nut Material | Plastic |
| Pickguard | White Pearl |
| Pickup Neck | Hofner Staple Nickel |
| Pickup Bridge | Hofner Staple Nickel |
| Potentiometer Knobs | Black and Silver |
| Strings | Hofner HCT Roundwound |
| Approximate Weight | 6lb |
| Setup Action Bass String at 12th Fret | 3mm |
| Action Treble String at 12th Fret | 2mm |
Reviews:
As a relative newbie to bass playing I thought I'd invest in something a bit better than my basic P bass. As soon as I picked it up it felt light and comfortable. I like compactness of the guitar and how easily could find the strings and frets when practicing . . which makes my learning process quite a bit easier. The sound quality is both good and varied with Hofners pick up set up. The bass just looks good too, which I know doesn't influence the playing experience etc but it makes you want to just pick it up and play. Overall I'm very pleased with my purchase and look forward to many an hour practicing . . . and maybe even making some progress too.Duncan S.
I got this exact bass in green here from Musician's Friend (stupid deal of the day). I have played about 20 or more live shows with it send it definitely holds up.. it has a very big sound and is extremely lightweight, which is fantastic because we move around a lot. The craftsmanship is pretty good, probably adequate to that of the Epiphone viola, but with a cooler color. I constantly get compliments on the color. The only thing I'd say I would have liked better is if they had put a little more quality or craftsmanship into the control panel. It's not horrible at all, it definitely does the trick, it just kind of looks plain Jane. I would suggest switching out the volume and tone knobs with the vintage style tea cup knobs. That's what I did, and it really helps dress the bass up.Arrow
I'm a keyboard player getting back into playing bass after decades away, so I did a fair amount of research before this purchase, and I'm glad I did. There is a very really difference in quality between the 'Contemporary' and 'Ignition' Hofners, both in terms of finish and sound – The contemporary has better sustain and more 'richness' in the bass end. If you are wanting either something approaching an 'electric upright' or a classic McCartney sound, then the Contemporary will get you nearer than the Ignition – it's not in the 'German Made' class but unless you've got 2 grand to spend… Mine arrived on time and well set up. Very pleased with it.Willow S.
5. Ibanez Tmb100 Talman Electric Bass Guitar (Tri-Fade Burst)
Product Details:
The talman bass standard series ibanez tmb100 is an electric bass featuring a poplar body in a tri fade burst finish. its bolt-on tmb4 maple neck is fitted with a 20-fret jatoba fingerboard with white dot inlay. the solid single-cutaway body delivers resonance and sustain while the tmb4 neck is smooth and fast, bolstering playability for the most demanding players. the dynamix dxp neck pickup and dxj bridge pickup offer a hefty, classic sound. the bass features two dual-concentric knobs with one knob offering a 2-band active eq that provides boost and cut over the treble and bass frequencies. the second knob offers control over master volume and balance. additionally, the tmb100 is fitted with chrome hardware, including a b10 bridge.
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.
6. Ibanez Tmb100 Electric Bass Guitar Soda Blue
Product Details:
The tmb100 gets back to basics and delivers a one-two punch by combining a passive p/j pickup configuration, with a retro ibanez body design for a bass that delivers in looks and sound. features include a poplar body for a warm, punchy tone, a maple neck with jatoba fretboard, a standard bridge and a tortoiseshell pickguard to complete the classic vibe. electronics consist of an ibanez dxp neck pickup and a dxj bridge pickup for that rich, vintage sound and a custom 2-band active eq for increased tonal options. case sold separately.
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.
7. Yamaha Trbx305 5 String Electric Bass White
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:
| Bass Guitar Type | Solid Body Bass |
| Body Style | Double Cut |
| Orientation | Right-Handed |
| Number of Frets | 24 |
| Scale Length | 34" |
| Top Material | Mahogany |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard Material | Rosewood |
| Bridge Type | Fixed |
| Nut Material | Urea |
| Active or Passive | Passive |
| Number of Pickups | 2 |
| Pickup Configuration | H-S |
| Bridge Pickup | Double-Coil / Ceramic |
| Neck Pickup | Double-Coil / Ceramic |
| Hardware Color | Chrome |
| Case Included | No |
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
8. Yamaha Mango Wood 4-String Electric Bass Guitar Natural (Trbx174ew)
Product Details:
The trbx174ew represents a price breakthrough for the trbx range with exotic mango wood. you're the bedrock of your music. you need an instrument with the strength and power to perform. that instrument must give you the freedom to innovate, to create and push the boundaries. you need a bass where everythings just right. sound, feel, looks nothing comes second. scale length: 34'' (863.6mm). neck: maple. fingerboard: sonokeling. radius: 10'' (250mm). nut width: 40mm. body: mango.
Specifications:
Reviews:
Other reviewers' complaints about the front veneer are specific to this color (you can see the odd 2-tone effect in the photos). This model also comes in "root beer," tobacco burst, and translucent black. Those finishes all blend the front veneer pretty seamlessly with the mahogany back, while still showing some nice front grain (very subtly in black). Yamaha's Indonesian-made 174 series mixes together fairly unbeatable features and tone in this price range. They aren't the world's fanciest basses, but they make no serious compromises. Necks are 1-piece maple (no 5-piece matchsticks). Bodies are made from real tonewoods: 3-piece mahogany (174EW) or 3-piece alder (174). The P/J pickup combination offers a wide range of tones, with solid electronics throughout. Nice touches: The neck is skinny (like a Jazz Bass') but extended to 24 frets. The downsized body is really lightweight, while substantial enough to be resonant. With the right EQ, these can really punch. Only downsides: I played 2 of these at my local GC, and noticed a real difference in tone. So I'd recommend buying from a local store where you can compare 2-3 copies. Also, the neck's satin finish feels a bit coarse to me. (I love satin finishes, but like them smoother.) While priced like a beginner's bass or impulse purchase, these are well-made, viable, giggable instruments. I've had my similar RBX270F fretless for years, and love it. (Especially since Victor Wooten signed its headstock.)Bass Desires
I was playing guitar, but thinking about getting a bass again. I wanted a solid bass, without investing a lot. The Yamaha was a perfect pick. The construction and finish of the bass I received was perfect. The bass I got is really good looking, in person. It plays great. I've had so much fun playing it, that I've put my guitars aside, and I am now studying bass seriously. After many months playing it daily, I think I am going to lower the action slightly. Tone wise, the two pickups, along with the tone control, cover a lot of ground. I've gone from playing this through a guitar amp, to playing it through two different 100/150W combo amps – the better of which cost 3x what the bass cost. The amps make a huge difference – more than a change of bass. I've thought about trying to mod the bass with higher end pick-ups, but frankly I'm afraid I'll mess up what is currently good about the bass' tone. As I progress, I will probably buy a much higher end bass, something on the order of 1-3K in price. But I believe this bass is decent enough to gig with, unless you are in Victor Wooten's class of player. For comparison, I bought one of those Steinberger Spirit basses (5 string) also. The Yamaha bass plays better and has much, much better tone.Kulokoo
They say this is a beginner bass well call me a beginner. I love it!! I have nothing bad to say about this bass. Light weight easy to play great feel! I love the mango look I've had many good comments on how great it looks on stage. And yes I bought a second one. And to think I bought the first one by mistake wow I guess that's how it happens. Don't get me wrong I love American made basses, but they are killer on my old back. LOL.Muss
9. Ibanez Gsr200b Gsr Bass Guitar, Walnut Flat
Product Details:
Ibanez gsrs offer the famous soundgear sleekness, comfort, tone, and playability at prices that will astound. not only do gsr soundgears look and play better than everything else in their price range, every gsr gets the same warranty, rigorous set-up and inspection of ibanez’s more expensive models. phat ii active bass boost offers additional low-end power on all gsr200 models. case sold separately. specifications; body type: soundgear 4 string. body wood: agathis. fingerboard: rosewood. finish: walnut black.
Specifications:
| Number of Strings | 4 |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Body Shape | SR |
| Body Finish | Satin |
| Neck Material | Maple, Bolt-on |
| Neck Shape | GSR4 |
| Radius | 12" |
| Fingerboard Material | Jatoba |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Dots |
| Number of Frets | 22, Medium |
| Scale Length | 34" |
| Nut Width | 1.614" |
| Nut Material | Plastic |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | B10 |
| Tuners | SR Standard |
| Middle Pickup | PSNDP split single-coil |
| Bridge Pickup | PSNDJ Single-coil |
| Controls | 2 x volume, 1 x master tone, 1 x Phat II EQ |
| Strings | 045-.105 |
Reviews:
Ordered one of these (In Pearl White) because of a good experience with another one. Of course I had to do some set up to alleviate fret buzz, adjust neck, string height etc. Once it was set up to my liking and a fresh set of my gauge strings, this bass was ready for just about anything! I have used it for a couple of outdoor shows with medium and very large P.A support and the sound was very good overall. Through my stage amp, I was able to dial in a very usable sound quickly. The bass is very light weight .(Which helps those of us with back issues.) Yet is still able to get a decent tone. The bass I received was a newer model with a poplar body and a Jatoba fret board which still has the characteristics of rosewood (slightly lighter in color) with a hint of a maple type bite. Personally, I liked the overall sound with this particular fret board. Speaking of which, the fret board is very easy to play (when properly set up) with a smooth, fast neck. The electronics are decent enough although the "bass boost" knob should be used sparingly and judiciously just to add some deep flavor on occasion for certain styles. All in all, a pretty decent machine that can easily be used by beginners and seasoned pro's (ok, it won't match up with a "boutique bass" by any means but still a very usable product!) Very good value for the price!Heard the Bass
This bass is really amazing for the price of it. The neck is so smooth and a bit thinner than other regular bass, perfect for my small hands and the weight wow it is really light. the built quality is top notch. The sound is really good and you've got plenty of sound you can experiment with it. Overall it's an all rounder bass from beginners to pronelson c.
The Ibanez GSR 200 is one of the best "bang for your buck" basses on the market. They are made with excellent quality, lightweight wood, agathis, maple, rosewood. The onboard P/J pickups and electronics sound good. They play good out of the box but they play excellently if set up by a guitar tech. These were choice basses for many of the bass players supporting MWR tours. Musicians would take Ibanez GRS 200 basses on tour and raffle them off to service members on the last gig.matt4717
10. 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.
11. 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
12. Squier Affinity Bronco Bass Shell Pink
Product Details:
A superb gateway into the time-honored fender family, the squier affinity series stratocaster delivers legendary design and quintessential tone for today's aspiring guitar hero. this strat features several player-friendly refinements such as a slim and comfortable 'c'-shaped neck profile, a vintage-style tremolo bridge for expressive string-bending effects and sealed die-cast tuning machines for smooth, accurate tuning. loaded with a trio of squier single-coil strat pickups with 5-way switching for genre-defying sonic variety, this model is ready to accompany any player at any stage.designed for players seeking an affordable, stylish and versatile instrument, the bullet stratocaster sports the classic looks and tone that made the strat one of the most popular guitars of all time. highlights include a thin and lightweight body, an easy-to-play 'c'-shaped neck profile, three single-coil pickups with five-way switching for sonic variety and a tremolo bridge for expressive string-bending effects.a superb gateway into the time-honored fender family, the squier affinity series bronco bass delivers legendary design and quintessential tone for today's aspiring bassist. the bronco bass features several player-friendly refinements such as a thin and lightweight body, an easy-playing 30' short scale length and sealed die-cast tuning machines for smooth, accurate tuning. loaded with a squier single-coil pickup for clear, articulate tone, this model is ready to help lay the foundation for any player at any stage.
Specifications:
| Body Finish | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Neck Finish | Satin Urethane |
| Neck Shape | "C" Shape |
| Scale Length | 30" (762 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Maple |
| Fingerboard Radius | 9.5" (241 mm) |
| Number of Frets | 19 |
| Frets Size | Medium Jumbo |
| String Nut | Synthetic Bone |
| Nut Width | 1.5" (38.1 mm) |
| Position Inlays | Black Dot |
| Truss Rods | Head Adjust |
| Middle Pickup | Special Design Single-Coil |
| Neck Pickup | Special Design Single-Coil |
| Controls | Master Volume, Master Tone |
| Bridge | 2-Saddle Chrome |
| Hardware Finish | Chrome |
| Tuning Machines | Die-Cast Mini |
| Pickguard | 1-Ply White |
| Control Knobs | Knurled Dome |
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 Gsr200tr Electric Bass Guitar, Transparent Red
Product Details:
The gsr series offers the famous soundgear sleekness, comfort, tone, and playability at prices that will astound. not only do gsr soundgears look and play better than everything else in their price range, every gsr gets the same warranty, rigorous setup and inspection of ibanez's more expensive models. the transparent red finish gsr200tr features a gsr4 neck, agathis body, psnd j & p pickups and a phat ii eq.
Specifications:
| Right/Left Handed | Right-Handed |
| Number of Strings | 4 |
| Cutaway | Double-Cutaway |
| Neck Type | Bolt-On Neck |
| Neck Wood | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Number of Frets | 22 |
| Type of Frets | Medium |
| Scale Length | 34.00" / |
| Radius | 12" |
| Nut Width | 41 mm |
| Bridge Type | Fixed |
| Pickguard | No |
| Controls | Tone Control- x 2 Volume Control- x 2 |
| Amplifier Type | Solid-State |
| Output Power | 25 W RMS |
| Channels | 1 |
| Master Volume | Yes |
| Tone Section | Channel 1- Bass, Mid, Treble |
| Outputs | 1 x 1/4" Stereo Headphone |
| Configuration | 1 x 8" Speaker |
| Power Rating | 25 W RMS |
| Cabinet Type | Straight Closed Mono |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 14.0 x 15.2 x 10.0" / 35.6 x 38.6 x 25.4 cm Combo |
| Connector 1 | 1 x 1/4" TS Male Straight |
| Connector 2 | 1 x 1/4" TS Male Straight |
| Contact Plating | Gold |
| Cable Length | 10' / 3.05 m |
| Conductor Material | Bare Annealed Copper (BAC) |
| Wire Gauge | 24 AWG |
| Jacket Type | Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) |
| Shielding | 95% Copper Spiral |
| Insulation Type | Polyethylene |
| Certifications | CE, RoHS *as per Manufacturer |
| Display | Full-color LED Rotates 360° |
| Tuner | Chromatic |
| Dimensions | Not specified by manufacturer |
| Maximum Length | 52" / 132.08 cm |
| Material of Construction | Celluloid |
| Thickness | 0.70 mm |
Reviews:
The Ibanez GSR 200 is one of the best "bang for your buck" basses on the market. They are made with excellent quality, lightweight wood, agathis, maple, rosewood. The onboard P/J pickups and electronics sound good. They play good out of the box but they play excellently if set up by a guitar tech. These were choice basses for many of the bass players supporting MWR tours. Musicians would take Ibanez GRS 200 basses on tour and raffle them off to service members on the last gig.matt4717
I bought the jewel blue one and named it "Jewel". No, not like the singer. I thought it was totally beyond all expectations. I played it for a couple of years before I lost it when my marriage fizzled. Now I want another one. I'm no novice. I've been playing guitar for over 35 years, and Jewel was my third bass. I liked her better than a Fender Jazz. I want another one. To nitpick, I didn't like the square corners on the top of the neck (past all the frets), so I took the neck off and rounded them. Problem solved. I also didn't like that the threads stripped out on the E string bridge piece when I tried to back it up far enough to get the intonation right. But I think the real problem is solved with an Earvana nut. Anyway, if you can't afford to buy the bass everyone is telling you to buy – or even if you can – buy this one. If you don't sound good on it, you don't need a Fender or a Rick, you need lessons.Gravity Zen
14. 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!
15. Ibanez Afb200 Bass Transparent Black Sunburst
Product Details:
Afb200 the artcore bass series offer players the enveloping warmth of a hollow body instrument. these instruments capitalize on the inherent tonal roundness that emerges from a short scale bass (30.3” scale), and couples that with broad and open acoustic voice. they serve as the ideal solution for the electric bassist seeking a mellower, upright-like sound for more laid-back performances. artcore – ibanez first introduced artcore back in 2002 and it has remained a workhorse hollow-body guitar for musicians all over the world ever since. the artcore’s combination of quality workmanship and affordability has created legions of devoted fans from diverse genres as blues, country, rock and jazz. artcore offers musicians the purity of an old school jazz-box or a hybrid semi-hollow rocker. the line is highly respected for its tone, sustain and, expressive playability.product features 3pc nyatoh/maple neck the 3pc nyatoh/maple neck provides a rich mid-low end and great resonance. walnut fretboard a walnut fretboard features a well-balanced tonal character from low to high end. medium frets medium sized frets enhance the accuracy of your notes. linden top / linden back and sides linden delivers a natural and flat, yet accurate, tone. classic elite bass pickups classic elite bass pickups deliver classic tone, punch and extra output. art-1 wooden bridge the art-1 wooden bridge gives a more natural acoustic sound. fbt40 tailpiece fbt40 tailpiece provides excellent tuning stability.
Specifications:
| Product Dimensions | 44.88 x 15.75 x 2.76 inches |
| Country of Origin | Indonesia |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Back Material | Linden |
| Color Name | Transparent Black Sunburst |
| Fretboard Material | Walnut |
| Guitar Pickup Configuration | Magnetic Combination |
| String Material | Nickel |
| Top Material | Linden |
| Neck Material Type | 3pc Nyatoh/Maple |
| Number of Strings | 4 |
| Guitar Bridge System | Fixed |
| Battery type | Zinc Carbon |
| Finish Type | Powder Coated |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Operation Mode | Electric |
Reviews:
I'd been looking for an affordable but quality 4 string for a long time. I originally bought a Hofner but it was not up to par so my advisor suggested this Ibanez AFB200. I love the size and weight. The hollow body is great because you can jam unplugged if you want and it still projects. Plugged in sounds great too. Not for Metal or Heavy Rock but perfect for acoustic, funk, blues, country and just jamming. Pretty enough to have it sitting in the living room. Perfect purchase for me.TI Singer Dude
Love the look, love the feel, and love the sound. I have been using it since I got it. Thank you!rgaceworld11
16. 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
17. Sawtooth Ep Series Right-Handed Electric Bass Guitar Kit
Product Details:
Sawtooth bass guitars are the best value in bass guitar design. the highly versatile electric bass guitars are crafted to give you a great-sounding, sleek-looking, easy playing, electric bass guitar with modern and vintage vibes. these bass guitars are perfect for any student, beginner or aspiring musician.
Specifications:
| Handedness | Right-Handed |
| Strings | 4 String |
| Neck | Maple |
| Frets | 20 |
| Scale Length | 34" (86.36cm) |
| Inlays | Dot Position Inlays |
| Nut Width | 42mm |
| Pickups | P Style Ceramic Split Pickups |
| Bridge | Top Loaded Adjustable Bridge |
| Tuners | Classic Open Gear |
| Controls | 1 Master Volume, 1 Tone Control |
| Dimensions | 46 x 13 x 2" (116 x 33 x 5.08cm) |
Reviews:
Mine came with a warped neck, body is super soft and easily dings,and finish as you would expect is consistent with most low cost cost Asian basses. Electronics also. Required a lengthy setup but still could not optimize with bad neck. There are better options in a beginner bass. The Rondo SX and the lower end Ibanez lefty basses are just two examples.kraigster414
Absolute junk. ReturningTERRY
18. Epiphone Thunderbird Iv Electric Bass, Vintage Sunburst
Product Details:
Epiphone thunderbird iv bass at a glance: nearly four decades ago, the thunderbird bass design was introduced by gibson. bassists could now enjoy some distinctively shaped instruments and get their moment in the spotlight. it doesn't hurt that the epiphone thunderbird iv sounds amazing. much thought went into the design of this bass, including a thicker middle/thinner wing alder body construction for a substantial yet lightweight playing experience. great tone – the pickup configuration on the epiphone thunderbird iv is unique. rather than placing a pickup near the neck, which could muddy up the tone and reduce its effectiveness, epiphone gives the bass essentially middle and bridge pickups. this lets you dial in everything from growling tones to funky punch. each pickup gets its own volume control, along with a single tone knob for fine tweaking. epiphone thunderbird bass features:color: vintage sunburst. body: mahogany. neck: maple. fingerboard: rosewood. inlays: dot. scale: 34". width at nut: 1.73". electronics: 2 humbucking pickups. 2 volume controls and 1 tone control. hardware: black. the epiphone thunderbird iv bass gives you a distinctive, great-sounding playing experience. 4-string bass guitars
Specifications:
| Neck Profile | C |
| Neck Thickness (IN) | .87" (1st), .97" (12th) |
| Fingerboard Radius | 12.00" |
| Nut Width | 1-3/4" |
| Scale Length | 34 |
| Pickup Measurements | 13.62k (neck), 13.84k (bridge) |
| Modifications/Repairs | None. |
| Case Details | With Hard Shell Case |
| Year | 1999 – 2020 |
| Made In | China |
| Finish Style | Gloss |
| Fretboard Material | Rosewood |
| Number of Strings | 4 String |
| Offset Body | Yes |
| Pickup System | Passive |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
Reviews:
Overall: This is a long term review of this bass. I didn't get mine from zZounds but have bought from them before. I want to mainly go over how this bass holds up and how it works in a band long term. When it was new it was good quality out of the box. Just needed a set up. I've used this bass on countless gigs over the years. If you play rock then it will definitely get the job done. Finish quality is good and durable. It doesn't like to chip but will if it takes a hard hit. Scratches are only really cosmetic, the poly is pretty thick. Keep it clean and don't abuse it and the bass will look good years down the road. The neck is pretty stable, I rarely need to adjust the truss rod. The three point bridge is fairly solid too, Paint on it is durable as well. The posts for the bridge can pull out the bushings but mine has not. The tuning keys are starting to get worn out. I'd replace them if possible. They still hold tune but not as well as new. Pickups and electronics are good too. No scratchy pots. Output Jack is still solid. Frets are pretty worn as well. Still got a lot of life but will wear faster than a more expensive bass. Overall a very durable bass considering what it's been through.Dominic
I read many glowing reviews of this bass on the sites of MF and GC, so I decided to buy one. Huge disappointment. Maybe I got a stinker or maybe the writers of the reviews don't venture beyond the 7th fret…who knows. Mine looks and sounds GREAT. However, the fret finishing beyond the 12th fret is essentially non-existent. Frets 15 and 16 are completely dead unless you keep the action at factory height, which is just not practical. The old-school three-point bridge looks great, but it's time to retire this dinosaur, even at this price point. It would be functional if Gibson/Epiphone would replace saddles 4 and 5 with additional 1 and 2 saddles for the E and A strings respectively (three-point bridge users will understand that lingo…). Even an inexpensive Gotoh bridge would improve the function immensely; a Hipshot would send it through the roof. I've played both professionally and casually here in Nashville since 1999, and have played bass for 30 years. I've owned some Gibson USA basses in my time (vintage G3 and Victory), and currently have two USA guitars (SG and LP). Gibson simply doesn't design basses for bassists who do anything more than play the root. I considered having the frets dressed by a service center, but have elected to simply return it to GC. Again, if you subscribe to the Dusty Hill Doctrine ("I promise to play the root, the whole root, and nothing but the root."), then this bass is fine. If you like to do ANYTHING more, then look elsewhere. I really wish Gibson would re-evaluate their approach to bass design, because I love to support local business. They're missing a huge market share by choosing to offer poorly designed and poorly executed instruments. Even a Babicz bridge can't correct a flawed blueprint…M
While this is my second Epiphone bass, this one is a bit disappointing. It is very eye catching but the style comes with a price: it does not hang well standing no matter what strap type or size I try. Not just neck drop but also the guitar casts away from your body like it is attempting to crash face first into the floor. Was supposed to be inspected and setup when purchased but was not. One tuner was mis-aligned, the bridge was improperly set, and the neck was back-bowed. The inspected by Epiphone sticker is a real joke! After a real setup, it plays well and sounds fine but then so do a half dozen other bass guitars I own. Just had to try one and did not want a thru-neck design so the cheaper Epiphone seemed like the choice. Guess I was wrong. I have to wonder if a Gibson would be any better – especially these days with Gibson almost on the rocks as a company…. Buy it to look pretty but do not expect much more than a barely passable bass guitar after you fix the issues it comes with. I would not recommend this for any bass player, even a beginner.cibulajb4
19. 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
20. Hagstrom Viking Bass Black
Product Details:
The hagstrom viking bass is a reconstruction of the classic concord bass from yesteryear. keeping the soul and look of this retro classic, however providing the functionality and versatility to satisfy the modern day player as well. the pickups on this bass are "vintage voiced", however a six position rotary switch has been placed in the lower horn to provide the player with a pallet of different voices. this bass provides a warm vintage tone, with an amazing sustain thanks to the h-expander truss rod. this medium scale length bass will please the performing musicians in thought to the lower weight of the bass, but also continue to impress due to the multitude of different tonal variations to suit many playing styles.gigbag.
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
