If you grab a bass guitar for beginners, you can quickly do your low-note efforts. If you are in a band, you know how important it is to have those bass notes at a point – it can make or break a song. Even if you are a solo artist, it is great that you are looking for a new hobby (or will we say passion) – we have even heard that many musicians say that starting a bass guitar can be a gateway to other strings instruments on the way if you are interested in becoming a multi-instrumentalist in the future (or are already!). When it comes to the Best Bass Guitars For Beginners, there are quite a few different models that we discovered is great to start strumming or plucking on. Let’s have a look at them.
Things To Know Before Buying The Best Bass Guitars For Beginners
- Budget: For the best bass guitars for beginners, our opinion about price and money is finding a balance between something that is worth keeping as an investment for the long term, as well as a bass that will not cost an arm and a leg when we first start – the will just be so unnecessary for now. However, when it comes to musical instruments in general, the price starts to get muddled because we know a lot of professional musicians who use guitars that are not the most expensive in the world – it all comes down to the feeling you want to achieve, and frankly determines money that is not always.
- Type: Then we have one of the most important questions here: what type of bass guitar are you looking for? We have a very common acoustic vs. electric bass debate. The main difference is not only how it feels to play, but especially how it sounds. The overall tone of each is very different, with their titles that are relatively self-evident – for acoustic, think similar to acoustic guitars (some also say an advantage with acoustic-electric bass guitars is their ability to play without having to use a loudspeaker and amplifier ), which is electrically powered by an external source and which has classical, ‘electric’ sound that many are familiar with.
- String count: We will always recommend staying with the traditional 4-string bass guitar, especially if you are just starting out. These not only have much narrower necks than other strings but are traditionally tuned in the standard E-A-D-G format to help you learn optimally. If you want to go higher with the number of strings, be our guest – there may be a number of advantages, such as which style you want to learn (about which we will speak later). Certain styles, such as country or worship music, usually contain songs arranged in B which can be beneficial with 5-string bass (their tuning changes to B-E-A-D-G).
Squier Affinity
For our choice, we have the Squier Affinity, which in our opinion is one of the best bass guitars for beginners if you’re looking for a combination of overall bass quality, a learning curve for the future, and value for money when it comes to an investment for the long-term. Reviews are full of praise here because of its sturdy three-part handle, “PJ” pickup configuration (stands for Precision and Jazz) and the overall value, given the price and quality you get.
In terms of building, the Squier has a contoured solid alder body, which is the same style of choice from some of the best bassists ever. You get our recommended 4-string number and ‘not too big or small’ of a size and weight. It also comes with die-cast tuners to provide easy tuning and stability – both important components for beginners. The head has the classic ’70s’ big’ feel, along with a vintage 6-screw rocking trem. The alder body is very stable and the maple neck plays quite fast (34 “scale length), but also feels good enough where it is not too fast for beginners.
Ibanez AEB5E
Next, we have the Ibanez AEB5E – an acoustic-electric bass that provides great playability with an attractive design that is also affordable, making it one of the best bass guitars for beginners that go against Affinity. The Ibanez features an AEL body of 32 “, a spruce top, a mahogany body and a galvanized tunic of abalone rosette with chrome to give it a beautiful and clean finish, in terms of feeling it is characterized by a spicy low-end sound, amplified or not, and with the acoustic touch the body (and sides) gives the bass a warm tone in any environment – at home, studio and performances.
It also comes with an Ibanez piezo pickup and Ibanez AEQ-202T preamplifier With 2-band EQ and built-in tuners for fast tuning and easy amplification with natural acoustic sound, the Ibanez AEB5E emits a warm, low-end resonance sound that brings songs to life that many can hardly miss. It is a viable option for beginners because it offers both a unique sound and a modest price to start with those who start with bass adventures. Overall, this is one of the best bass guitars for beginners.
Yamaha TRBX174
Further on, we have the Yamaha TRBX174, a 4-string, a red-metal electric bass guitar that provides a great feel, build and modern look for the novice bassist. It combines a comfortable alder body with a fast-acting maple neck and sonokeling key to give beginners the necessary tools to be a great bass player. The Yamaha bass also comes with a P/J arrangement of split-coil/single-coil pickups that spur a powerful, spicy tone. There are many reasons that make it one of the best bass guitars for beginners.
The double pickups make this model one of the best basses for beginners who want a variety of sounds, because the Precision Style split coil serves the deep, solid foundations, while the Jazz style delivers the growl with powerful midtones and highs – how you want to combine the two together depends on which tone you want. The Yamaha TRBX174 is a viable option for starters who do not have a big budget but are still looking for quality since Yamaha has been participating in the bass game for quite some time.
Rogue LX205B
Here we look at another electric model that is considered by many to be the best bass guitars for beginners, the Rogue LX205B. This has a different option for strings – it’s a 5-string bass guitar with an extended maple neck, a quick and easy-to-use key for fleet action. It has a good-looking basswood double cutaway body that gives it a classic bass guitar look and also comes with a J-style pickup and 2 volume and 2 tone controls. The J-style pickup delivers a good slice of classic tone that can be switched via the 2 volume and tone controls.
Although it has a traditional look, the double molded machine heads and black hardware give it a bit of a modern finish. The LX205B also comes with a highly adjustable saddle bridge for reliable playability. The Rogue LX205B can provide beginners with a bass guitar that is not only durable but also easy to learn and serves as a solid package for the price you pay. Overall, this is one of the best bass guitars for beginners.
Dean EAB
Last but not least, Dean EAB is another amazing and fairly famous acoustic-electric bass guitar. The EAB is a full-sized bass guitar that combines a natural-looking spruce top with a mahogany body. It produces a deeper, fuller tone that is great for bands or really those who prefer it because the sound of deep bass really compliments other instruments. The EAB has a standard 34 “scale body and 1-5 / 8” nut. It offers bass that is hard enough to hit with acoustic guitarists and has the necessary electronics on board to take you on stage when you pull up.
Although the Dean can be used in any environment, it really is one of the best basses for beginners when it comes to home recording, because it produces a sound that is loud enough, without having to worry about connecting to your amplifier ( and speakers) at home. On the other hand, it comes with a passive piezo pick-up system if you choose to go the plug-n-play route. The Dean EAB is also reasonably affordable, and if an acoustic bass interests you, this can be the perfect fit. Overall, this is one of the best bass guitars for beginners.
Final Words
Learning to play bass guitar is both exciting and difficult. Compared to an electric guitar, bass works in a completely different environment. If you are interested in which bass guitars belong to that group, read our recommendations for the Best Bass Guitars For Beginners that you can buy right now. By the time you finish reading here, you should have enough info to pick out the best bass guitar that suits your needs and budget.
