Every time I get to introduce someone to a new instrument, I get excited. It reminds me of the very first time I was introduced to an instrument. It was not a bass guitar, not. It was something much simpler, but the feeling was the same as if I had been introduced to something as complicated and amazing as a bass guitar.
I was excited to hold it in my hands and happy when the first note left the instrument. It felt like I had created something exceptional out of nothing like I had cast a magic spell for the first time in my life. The excitement did not fade for a long time after I had picked up the instrument and ever since then I have enjoyed the process of getting new players to pick up new instruments. This is why it is so exciting for me to be talking about the best beginner bass guitars.
It reminds me of my first time picking up an instrument and that time I helped my friend pick out his first bass guitar as a teenager. It reminds me of the sweet times of my youth that sometimes feel further away than they really are. Writing about beginners and instruments for them is like an awakening to the fact that, yes my first time might have been a long time ago, but this happiness and excitement will be felt again and again in the world, and I will have a role in helping these emotions be felt again.
What’s The Best Beginner Bass Guitar
| Image | Bass Model | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Squier by Fender Affinity Jazz Beginner Electric Bass |  (4.8 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro 3/4 Size Electric Bass | (4.8 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Squier by Fender Affinity Series Precision |  (4.7 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Ibanez GSRM20BWK GIO 4-String Mikro Electric Bass | (4.7 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Crescent Electric Bass Guitar Starter Kit |  (4.6 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
Squier by Fender Affinity Jazz Beginner Electric Bass
There are few designs in the world that come even close to the popularity of the Squier design. Taking over the market the very first day it was created, the design has become as much iconic as it is beautiful. It is deeply ingrained into the minds of all guitar players, whether they be playing bass or a plain guitar. This is why you can find the design in every part of the guitar world, from beginner bass guitars to luxury bass guitars to anywhere else in the market. The Squier by Fender Affinity Jazz Beginner Electric bass is one of these children of Squier, and it is also one of the best beginner bass guitars. Affordable to a fault, the guitar rocks 2 single coil pickups for extra tone, warmth, and crisp sound produced. While you’re appreciating that your wallet does not feel as light as you thought it would, you will also realize that the guitar rocks a sturdy tonewood in its body and a great sound. Definitely worth a buy for any beginner looking to save.
Pros:
- Incredibly Affordable
- Decent, funky sound
Cons:
- Alder Body
- String Noise
- Tuning Stability Issues
Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro 3/4 Size Electric Bass
If you are a young rebel spirit like I once used to be, you will appreciate all the options that you will be getting to express your rebelliousness when you dive into the bass guitar world. What you will appreciate even more is that Ibanez has thought about what you might want, put it into a guitar, and made it available in many colors. The Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro ¾ Size electric bass, available in more colors than there are in a rainbow, is one of the best ways to start off your bass guitar career, whether you are starting as a young one with big ambitions or a big one with old ambitions. The ¾ size means that the guitar will be easy and comfortable to hold and play, especially if you are not prepared for the full burden of the bass. The Agathis body and the PSNDP pickups mean a solid sound that any beginner will appreciate.
Pros:
- Great price
- Beginner-friendly
- Nuanced, rich sound
Cons:
- Not the best strings
- Fret buzz
Squier by Fender Affinity Series Precision
| Build Quality: | |
| Hardware: | |
| Electronics: | |
| Sound: | |
| Value: | |
| Average: | |
No matter what instrument we play and how much experience we have, precision is the word we’ve all encountered at some point. It usually relates to the sound but sometimes can even be utilized to describe a technique. But thanks to Fender, now it relates to their guitar, as well. Squier Affinity Series Precision is one of the best beginner basses you can get for the price. It has all the essential features that you’ll need as a novice, but more advanced players could really enjoy it too. This fella has an alder body, which comes in three shades: Olympic White, Black, and Race Red. All three models have 3-ply black pickguards to protect the body from scratches. The maple neck is topped with an Indian Laurel fingerboard and happens to be really smooth. You can do chords and transition between them easily, since there are no sharp edges. Though it seems like a small detail, it does make a lot of difference when you’re learning. It’s worth noting that we have two pickups here: Standard Single-Coil Jazz Bass on the bridge and Standard Split Single-Coil Precision Bass in the middle, a.k.a. ‘PJ’ configuration. Who said that the learning process can’t be fun?
Pros:
- Smooth fret edges
- Great build quality
- Suited for beginners and more advanced players
Cons:
- You might not be able to rest your hand on pickups due to sharp edges
- Pickups aren’t the best
Ibanez GSRM20BWK GIO 4-String Mikro Electric Bass
Alright everybody, I have some news that will make you happy. You don’t have to be a millionaire to have a nice bass guitar. You don’t even need to be putting in overtime or planning to rob banks. The only thing you need is to not order food for a few days in a single month and you too can have a nice, beginner bass guitar that comes with a bonus tuner and a gig bag. We should all thank Ibanez for that because they love to make cheap things that are good quality. Which is how they show their appreciation for those who are interested but not yet ready to fully commit to the instrument. The Ibanez GSRM20BWK GIO 4 string mikro electric bass is a good place to start. Equipped with some really nice pickups this bass guitar promises to be a dedicated and loving partner in your journey towards learning to play the music right.
Pros:
- Improbably Affordable
- Part of a Bundle
- Decent Sound
Cons:
- Derivative Design
- Agathis Body
- Cheap Nut
- Tuning Stability Issues
Crescent Electric Bass Guitar Starter Kit
Sometimes even the cheapest options contain opportunities that one might find unbelievable. These opportunities are not always of best quality or best promise, but they are always a good place to start. Especially if this opportunity offers to give you all the basics for a laughable price. The Crescent Electric Bass Guitar comes as a part of a starter a kit, centered around those looking for a way to jump in without having to lose a lot. While it might not be the best electric bass guitar ever created, or even the most adequate one, it is definitely part of a deal that gives so much value. It will be a nice place to take off from for a beginner like you, with a decent-sounding guitar and a whole bunch of stuff that you will need when playing your bass. An amp as part of the kit is something you should be jumping at the opportunity of. Don’t expect to subvert mountains with this guitar, but I expect you to enjoy what it has to offer for a beginner level player.
Pros:
- Extensive Bundle
- Too affordable to be true
- Split Coil Pickup
Cons:
- Tuning Stability Issues
- Cheap Nut
- String Noise
- The output is not powerful
How to choose bass guitar for beginner?
Buying a beginner bass guitar means several things. One is that by picking up this instrument you are promising yourself and the instrument that you will be spending the next years practicing and getting better. The investment has been made, now you have to gain the benefits. Two is that the commitment you are making will feel like a burden only if you let it. The idea is to have fun, not to stress out about not practicing. Three, there are a lot of things you need to learn about the bass guitar, including how they are made and how they can be played, which, inadvertently will lead you to learning the history of the guitar and its players, some of whom you might already know about and be aspiring to be like.
Things to know when choosing bass guitars
The first thing you need to know is that there are numerous types of wood that the body of a bass guitar is made of, with each one having a different effect on the sound of the bass guitar. This will not be useful to you until you decide to buy your second, more professional guitar, but will remain important so that you do not end up trying to buy something out of your league both financially and sound wise.
Bass guitars usually have humbucking pickups, but that depends entirely on the manufacturer and, eventually, on your preferences. There are choices you will have to make when picking the right pickups for your axe, which will mainly mean the difference between a mellow, warm sound and a snappy, bright sound.
Finally, there are many techniques used in playing the bass guitar. Slapping, pulling, snapping, etc. etc.. All of them are techniques worthy of learning as they will enhance your repertoire of songs and sounds. There is nothing better than going from a smooth bass line into an energetic bass solo and then keeping the song going with a little bit of funky play. This is only possible if you decide to diversify your bass guitar playing technique repository. Otherwise, you might just end up being one of those players who play C note all the time and are getting extremely existential and unsure of their decisions in life.
And, before you leave all happy that you finally have all the things you need to play the bass, don’t forget to pick up some additional equipment and necessary accessories. An amp is something you will definitely need for an electric bass guitar, and so is either a gig bag or a case. A guitar stand might come in useful, as well as an electronic tuner, especially since you are a beginner. These are the basics so far and if you remember all these things, then you will be set to start your musical journey.
Conclusion
You might have read one of my many stories about me and my friend going to buy his first bass guitar. You might have heard the prelude and the aftermath, but what truly matter most is the moment when we walked into the shop and he knew. It must have been after about a month of searching, so many shops scoured for bass guitars both old and new. The cumulative exhaustion of searching for so long makes my feet hurt even today, so many years later. The thing is, we walked into the shop which we had been into at least twice before, during the evening. The sun had been slowly going down and had been our hope. We walked in, knowing that they would be picking up new stock this month. Maybe there would be something for him that he would like? The shop was lit with a yellowish light. It was not a big shop, it was a single room, but that room was very square and very large on its own. The walls were full of instruments, the floor was full of instruments as well. It felt like a museum for things that were yet to happen. We walked up to the counter and, the sales guy shining a smile of recognition at us, said that he might have something interesting. He said it was one of the best beginner bass guitars he had ever had in his shop. He took us towards one of the corners of the room, where a sunburst body, pickguard-bearing bass guitar hang. He took it down and he gave it to my friend. He looked like he was hypnotized, playing a few notes. We left that night with a new guitar.
