The 10 Best Electric Bass Guitars

Bassists rarely get the credit they deserve, so if you want to stand out in your group, you're going to need an instrument that can take you to the next level. The electric guitars on our list offer a wide range of tones and string configurations, allowing you to customize and expand upon your current sound. We've rated them here by their playability, tonal quality, and durability. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. Fender American Standard Precision

The Fender American Standard Precision (around $1500) splits its pickup, devoting two magnets to each string, with the lower end pair closer to the neck and the higher end nearer to the bridge. The result is an uptick in clarity exactly where you need it.

Graphite support rods
Fluted machine heads add sustain
Rosewood fretboard

2. Hofner Ignition Violin

Fans of Paul McCartney and The Beatles will instantly recognize the iconic Hofner Ignition Violin (appx. $300). Its shape is decidedly singular, and it carries a punch in its sound that has more articulation in the mid ranges than many other models.

Semi-hollow body
Pickup kill switches
Incredibly lightweight

3. Fender Road Worn '60s Jazz

The Fender Road Worn '60s Jazz (about $1125) delivers an ideal combination of style and substance. The finish on its solid wood body bears the scars and wear of an instrument that's seen thousands of miles of touring, and its tone holds true to the era in which it was first designed.

Nitrocellulose-lacquer coating
Soft gig bag included
Brass bridge with four saddles

4. Fender Tony Franklin Fretless

No sound quite compares to the smooth, flowing lines you can create on the Fender Tony Franklin Fretless (around $1700), though you can expect to spend a few extra hours practicing to get the hang of a fret-free neck. Once you do, however, you may never go back.

Jazz and precision pickups
Available in sunburst or black
Includes a deluxe hard case

5. Epiphone Thunderbird Natural Pro IV

The Epiphone Thunderbird Natural Pro IV (appx. $919) takes one of the company's classic designs and outfits it with T-Pro humbuckers. These active pickups run on a 9-volt battery and provide exceptional response that can keep up with even the loudest, heaviest guitar playing.

Seven-piece through-body neck build
20 medium-jumbo frets
Extended pick guard

6. Ibanez SR500 Soundgear

The Ibanez SR500 Soundgear (around $599) features ovular abalone fret markers, the color of which beautifully accents the finish on the body itself. The design of its Accu-Cast B20 bridge makes it exceptionally easy to change the strings.

Active bartolini pickups
Onboard three band equalizer
Does not come with a case

7. Warwick Corvette 5-String

The tone of the Warwick Corvette 5-String (appx. $950) has an edge to it that is largely a result of the vibrations created in its exceptionally lightweight alder body, giving it a growl that pedals and other effects can't quite replicate.

Great top fret access
Two-part bridge
Not the best for jazz or classical

8. ESP LTD Series B-50

The ESP LTD Series B-50 (about $499) is built with a spalted maple top that bears natural levels of discoloration, adding a unique finish to every body that comes off the production line. It's available in 4-, 5-, and 6-string configurations.

Black nickel hardware
Deep bottom cutaway
Arrives in need of a setup

9. Fender Player Jazz IV

The Fender Player Jazz IV (about $724) adds an extra string to the instrument that helped put low end in the hands of countless young musicians. That added range gives players the opportunity to access frequencies that are becoming more important in modern music.

Noticeably minimal hum
Good model to grow into
Not made in the usa

10. Yamaha TBN 500 Series Premium

For newbies who are prepared to make a little bit of an investment in their future, the Yamaha TBN 500 Series Premium (around $500) will give you a sound and playability that you can still enjoy as your skills and style improve over time.

Also available as a five-string
Body is solid mahogany
Action is on the high side

Last updated by Daniel Imperiale

Daniel Imperiale holds a bachelor’s degree in writing, and proudly fled his graduate program in poetry to pursue a quiet life at a remote Alaskan fishery. After returning to the contiguous states, he took up a position as an editor and photographer of the prestigious geek culture magazine “Unwinnable” before turning his attention to the field of health and wellness. In recent years, he has worked extensively in film and music production, making him something of a know-it-all when it comes to camera equipment, musical instruments, recording devices, and other audio-visual hardware. Daniel’s recent obsessions include horology (making him a pro when it comes to all things timekeeping) and Uranium mining and enrichment (which hasn’t proven useful just yet).

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