Below is a list of what I consider to be the best five on the market. All of them are affordable, sound and play great, and are well-suited to a wide variety of musical styles. What’s interesting about this group is that they’re all improvements on classic designs, but maybe that’s a big part of their appeal—they’re old-fashioned on the outside and modern on the inside.
I’ve been playing a long time and have owned a lot of basses. One thing I’ve learned is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to own a great instrument, and I know a lot of bass players who feel the same way. With that in mind, here are my five favorite basses, all great instruments, especially for the money.
Why it's best: The longtime industry standard has been updated to compete with boutique and custom-shop basses. It may not have changed very much on the outside, but the latest incarnation of the Precision Bass has several significant upgrades usually found on basses costing more than twice as much.... Read Full Review
Why it's a best pick: The SB4001 is Carvin's great leap forward in the electric bass market. This built-to-order bass is available direct from the manufacturer in 4- or 5-string versions, with a wide selection of neck and body woods, inlays and finishes to choose from, along with optional active electronics, all for a surprisingly low price.... Read Full Review
Why it's a best pick: Even after eight decades in the electric guitar business, Rickenbacker has maintained its relevance, thanks in no small part to the 4003 Bass. This premium handmade instrument has a broad tonal palette with remarkable sustain and clarity all the way up the neck.... Read Full Review
Why it's a best pick: Jack Casady established his reputation in 1966 with his big, aggressive bass tone. He carries that tradition into the present with his signature bass, a long-scale hollow body featuring his specially designed low-impedance humbucker and a 3-way Varitone switch that creates three very distinctive sounds.... Read Full Review
Why it's a best pick: The violin bass made quite a comeback in the 1990s, and it's still going strong as one of the best buys in the bass guitar market. The Douglas WVEB is the least expensive of the bunch, but has the same great sound, lightweight body and player-friendly neck as brands costing twice as much.... Read Full Review
Geez, I didn't know I had comments waiting for me all this time. And so authoritative! I'll have to talk to Bestcovery about the notification process.
So anyway, here's the thing: I write a lot of these lists, and I mention a lot of different models and brands. This one was simply the first of many. You don't like Fender? Well, I know a lot of working players who do, the Mexican & Japanese models as well as the American. If they don't like the sound, they change the pickups or the strings. I've tried a few and I like them better than the CBS Fenders made in the '70s & '80s.
After 40+ years of playing, I don't get too hung up on the boutique stuff. It's nice and all, but who can afford it? Sure, I'd like to have an Alembic Series 1, but I needed the money for a car.
Part of my job here is to recommend basses that people can actually go to the store and try out. Not a lot of stores carry those boutique models. Another thing you should know is that a big part of the readership here consists of amateurs, semi-pros, hobbyists and beginners. I have to address their needs as much, if not more, than the small handful of super-pro fusion guys with big bank accounts. The majority of these readers are looking for something affordable that gets the job done. Yes, these ratings are subjective, but I'm doing my best to put the readers' needs ahead of my own preferences.
Seriously?: I've mentioned most of those basses in subsequent lists.
Ralph: That includes G&L, which I'm partial to as well.
Chief: I know a Lakland owner who says his bass can beat up yours. It's all a matter of taste.
There's a reason there's a term "Roscoe-heads." I've tried every high end bass under the sun, shopped for literally over a year to find just the right bass, and nothing, NOTHING came close to the Roscoe. I have a Century Signature V, and here name is 5025 (the serial number, with a letter of authenticity signed by Keith Roscoe himself. Fender's are no longer great basses (if you have your heart set on a Fender, buy a used OLD one, and I'm talking 25-30+ years old, when they cared about quality) and I agree with the guy who said the day Fender is mentioned as one of the best, marketing has taken over. If money isn't an object and you're literally just looking for the one best bass you'll ever WANT to own, find yourself a Roscoe, IF you can. Most of us who own them will never part with them. Yes, I'm a converted Roscoe-head now, but wasn't until I compared it to all the other bass guitars out there.
Okay, I've said what I needed to say.
LEO FENDER WAS SO EMBARRASSED WITH THE GUITARS BEING MANUFACTURED UNDER HIS NAME that he started up G&L Guitars. Get a G&L Bass in your hands and you won't want to play anything else!!!
The day a Fender Precision is the best bass guitar is the day the marketing department took over the selection process. There are a large number of incredibly expensive boutique basses that put anything Fender makes to shame. Certainly you'll pay for them - many are upwards of $2,000 - but if you're using the word "best", you shouldn't be restricted by price unless you qualify it with "value" or "affordable" first.
While it's definitely a workhorse bass and one should be in any bass player's collection, the Precision's not the best at anything. I would rank the Music Man Stringray or Sterling above the Fender as a better overall workhorse bass. There are also a large number of far superior basses that cater to specific music styles that are still incredibly affordable. Warwick makes some fine basses. Peavey also makes some of the best value basses out there - their Cirrus line has some exceptional choices. Spector makes some fine basses as well. And the Bunker and Treker basses are some of the most innovative, best sounding, and simply the worst marketed basses on the planet... anything they put out smokes the Fender, but you'd never know because they don't have the money to promote them.
If you're really looking for the best, though, you'll need to look at Alembic, Modulus, Ken Smith, Pedulla, Tobias, Dingwall, or something really expensive where the luthier really put a lot of effort into making all of the components work together.