The bass guitar is a vital instrument in any musician’s arsenal. Its ability to compliment sounds from guitars and other instruments to itself, as well as its musical range makes it stand out when played in a band, thus making it a necessity when songwriting and playing.
Thanks to brands like Fender and Yamaha, they have mastered the craft, making high-quality bass guitars available and accessible for all.
But with its great potential comes its hefty price tags, making this particular instrument one of the more expensive ones in the bunch. In this article, I’ll be showing you a list for the best bass guitars under $1000.
Contents
Here is our review on the best bass guitars under $1000 in 2024
- Fender Standard Precision Bass
- Ibanez SR800
- Fender Standard Jazz Bass
- Schecter Hellraiser Extreme-4
- Yamaha TRBX604 Bass
- MTD Kingston “The Artist” Bass
- Schecter 2840
Runner Up | Editor's Choice | Also Great |
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Fender Standard Precision Bass
The Fender Standard Precision Bass is a widely available bass guitar for the right reasons. It is very versatile, creating bass sounds that are right for almost all genres.
It’s a great professional starter guitar for its price from one of the best guitar makers around the globe.
- Sound goes great with most genres
- Sturdy and well-crafted
- Customizable
- Has a basic design for its price
Ibanez SR800
Now we’re talking. The Ibanez SR800 boasts its unique body and design, with matching pickup and neck to give us probably one of the most beautiful guitars I have ever seen.
Its majestic sound rivals that of the Precision, but its beauty along with its price tag definitely makes this a guitar to check out.
- Beautiful body
- Great sound for most genres
- Unique
- A tad bit pricey
- Not for beginners
Fender Standard Jazz Bass
The Fender Standard Jazz Bass needs little introduction. It’s a lot like the Precision, but its sound compliments Jazz very well, given its name.
Despite its basic appearance, it is a monster on the stage thanks to its smooth and jazzy tones. Definitely a classic that’s been made better.
- Customizable
- Very sturdy for long-term
- Great jazz sound quality
- Much like the Precision
- Still looks basic
Schecter Hellraiser Extreme-4
A bit more expensive guitar on the list, the Schecter Hellraiser Extreme-4 is an incredible 4 to 5-string bass that plays beautifully. Its black chrome-covered EMG 81/89R pickup is sure to give you one hell of a time while playing it, because it just sounds so good.
Along with its unique and amazing body-to-neck design, it’s a guitar designed to make you go crazy.
- Beautiful body design
- Fretboard feels great
- Well-rounded
- Great for most genres
- Pricey There are better
- More cheaper alternatives
Yamaha TRBX604 Bass
Yamaha joins our list with their TRBX604, a quality 5-stringed bass designed for the professional consumer. It features a YGD H5 pickup which gives it that clean bass tone that it delivers. With their beautiful craftsmanship, as well as its overall sound, this is a bass worth checking out.
- Comes in a variety of colors
- Flexible sound
- Great for playing live
- Looks quite basic
MTD Kingston “The Artist” Bass
Michael Tobias enters this list with the MTD Kingston “The Artist”, a great guitar choice for beginners and pros alike. With an ergonomic design for minimal fatigue, a Buzz Feiten tuning system that ensures quality, and a stylish body-and-neck design, it surely deserves a spot on my list.
- Easy to play
- Newb-friendly
- Great sound
- Looks basic
Schecter 2840
The Schecter 2840 isn’t well-known in the music industry, and that’s why it’s the last item on this list. It is a cheap well-rounded 4-string bass with quality that rivals leading brands like Yamaha and the like. Despite its oddly-shaped body, it is a decent budget guitar.
- Looks okay
- Sounds fantastic
- Oddly-shaped body is uncomfortable
- Weird design
Bass Guitars: Choosing the Best One for You
I personally love the bass guitar – it’s essentially an instrument that almost anyone can play, newbie or not. But when you’re on a budget, it’s not right to just pick ANY kind of bass guitar. Remember that you’re looking for quality, and these tips will help you out.
Brand-new VS. Used?
On the internet, you will find lots of people selling their guitars for prices lower than expected, and sometimes you might think that it’ll be a steal if you purchase them. But in reality, it isn’t recommended to get a used instrument for a lot of reasons. To make sure that you get the best quality possible, buy brand new guitars from reputable shops. It’ll be worth it in the long run.
How well do you play?
The bass guitar seems easy to play at first but over time, it gets much more difficult and new playing styles must be learned. Different guitars call for different genres and thus, different play styles. Make sure that you’re comfortable with playing the guitar and make sure that it best suits your ability and level.
Also Read: 10 Best Bass Guitars in 2024 (Reviews): Great for All Styles & Budget
What Bass Amp Should I Get?
I totally understand your concern. I mean, how can you play the bass guitar without an amp, right? If you’re looking for a high-quality yet cheap bass amp, we recommend getting the Hartke HD25 Bass Combo. positive reviews from verified owners hereYou don’t have to take our word for it, but there have been a lot of . Or you can check out our full list of best practice bass amps here.
Our Choice
Fender Standard Precision Bass is the perfect example of excellent performance, elegant design & aesthetic, and great craftsmanship. All the guitars in this list are viable choices, but it stood out for me simply because of its quality along with its price tag. It puts up well with other quality brands, it looks professional AF, and it just sounds majestic. It’s worth checking out.
And that concludes our list. These bass guitars are all great choices if you want to start playing bass more, or if you need an upgrade to your current bass guitar. Nonetheless, whatever your decision would be, make it a good one. Happy plucking!