Stringed instruments such as bass guitars are fundamental in producing epic music to leave your audience craving for more. Your audiences deserve the best and you can deliver top-notch performance with the best bass guitar under 500.
As a bass guitarist, you endeavor to pluck the four or five-stringed with gusto and permeate the souls of listeners with musical sounds that will linger with them for a while.
With a surfeit of bass guitars in the market, you would be spoilt for choice even if you have a modest budget to work with. To help narrow down your choices to make sure you get the best bass guitar under 500, consider the following.
Yamaha Bass Guitar, 4 String Right Handed, White (TRBX304 WH)
Graced with a mahogany body and a maple design neck, Yamaha 4 String TRBX304 WH is designed for protracted hours of use. The instrument accords you the freedom to sit, stand or move around as your hands unreservedly pluck the strings and your ears enjoy unparalleled musicality.
Yamaha 4 String TRBX304 has 4 control knobs, 4 movable saddles, 2 ceramic humbuckers, and its top section recedes as you enjoy the music from the strings. It has a robust die-cast bridge.
The mahogany body provides a perfect balance between tone and comfort as well as optimal weight distribution. It also features a performance EQ active circuit crafted to give instant access to requisite sounds and equalization to shape your tone as deem fit.
Yamaha 4 String TRBX304 also comes with a rosewood fretboard and a performance toggle switch for different playing techniques. It also features Controls such as Master Volume, Treble Boost, Bass Boost, Pickup Balancer, and Performance EQ Switch.
It’s suitable for novice and semi-professional bassists and studio musicians.
Pros
- Multi-faceted tone
- Massive bass tone
- Comfortable and easy to play
- Affordable
- Strong build quality
Cons
- Not for seasoned bass players
Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s Precision Bass
Inspired by the ‘60s Precision Bass, Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s is 100% designed by Fender. Its vintage body coupled with the legendary fat, punchy tone oozes that definite old-school vibe.
It resonates well with working bass players because of its comfortable contour body shape, ensuring stability when sitting or standing. This attribute makes it suitable for marathon playing sessions.
Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s Precision Bass classic body is made out of poplar and features a comfortable “C”-shaped neck profile that fills out your hand. The 9.5’ radius makes it pleasant for anxious hands and comfortable for complex styles. The bolt-on neck is made out of maple.
It embodies nickel-plated hardware, a vintage tinted gloss neck finish, 4 saddles vintage-style bridge, 20 Narrow Tall frets, and Fender-designed alnico pickup. The guitar also features a Master tone control, a bone nut, a standard split-coil passive pickup, vintage-style tuners, and bridge and neck volume controls.
Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s is best suited for rock, blues, and indie musical genres. It is perfect for intermediate players, live gigs, and recording stuff in the studio.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
Cons
- Uncomfortable static noise at the full tone
Ibanez 4 String Bass Guitar, Right Handed, Weathered Black (GSR200BWK)
If you are on a hunt for some of the best-looking guitars in the market, then Ibanez 4 String Bass Guitar, Right Handed, Weathered Black (GSR200BWK) perfectly fits that description. It is arguably better than other bass guitars in its price range in that it is less costly yet exudes good sound.
With an Agathis tonewood body, its slimmer profile is suitable for neophyte players. It features 22 frets, a B10 bridge, and a Rosewood fretboard.
Ibanez 4 String Bass Guitar’s bass tone is enhanced by the dynamic neck and bridge pickup. Its thick and strong maple neck ensures durability by rendering resistance to warping as well as improving your musicality.
The guitar also embodies a GSR4 maple neck, an EQ control that adjusts the amount of bass boost. It also boasts a salted maple top and Control options, including Master tone control and Volume control for each pickup.
Ibanez 4 String Bass Guitar is designed for bassists who crave a recognizable tone range in a comfortable bargain package. It is best suited for beginners.
Pros
- Affordable
- Huge tonal adaptability
- Useful EQ control
- Extensive warranty
- Comfortable
Cons
- Mediocre quality control
Schecter Stilleto Extreme-4 Bass Guitar (4-String, See-Thru Black)
It comprises a lightweight body and a comfortable neck. The guitar delivers a perfect combination of Schecter sound and stunning aesthetics.
It embodies a V-shaped inlay which makes playing easy for the bassist. The pair of active electronics and Schecter Diamond Bass pickups allow you to devise preferred bass tones, adding to its flawless finish.
The Schecter Stilleto Extreme-4 Bass Guitar is also graced with a rosewood fretboard that comprises 24 jumbo frets. It also features a maple neck, Schecter tuners, multi-ply bindings, and black chrome hardware.
Its body fits nicely on the user’s belly or knees, and its strap accords comfort. Its thinness makes it appealing to players with small hands.
In addition, the active EQ feature gives the user maximum control of the instrument. Its top-tier components ensure a stable bass tune.
Schecter Stilleto Extreme-4 Bass Guitar (4-String, See-Thru Black) is specially designed for modern music styles due to the pickup balance, which offers you the versatility of sound quality. It is also suitable for guitarists who enjoy the heavy sound.
Pros
- Effective EQ feature
- Excellent manufacturing and finishing quality
- Comfortable neck
- Ergonomically shaped body
Cons
- Both pickups sound similar
FAQs
1. Which Bass Guitar Should I Get?
The quest for a good bass guitar is pegged on the type of music you would like to play. For instance, if you are into jazz, then Squier or Yamaha would be a perfect fit. For rock, jazz, and metal, Schecter would be the best pick. Ibanez will suit you if you are playing in a metal band.
2. What Is The Best Bass Guitar Under 500?
Several quality bass guitars go for under 500. They offer epic sounds and outstanding performances, be it in music functions or in-studio recordings. Some options to consider include Yamaha 4 String Bass Guitar, Right Handed, White (TRBX304 WH), and Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s Precision Bass.
3. Should I Get A 4 Or 5-String Bass?
Bassists to lean towards 5-string bass guitars for metal. Rock and Jazz players fancy 5-string bass, which makes playing scales and chords easy. However, beginner players should start with a 4-string bass.
Conclusion
The market offers a wide variety of bass guitars. However, a moderate budget of 500 or less coupled with knowledge is enough to get you the best bass guitar under 500 that meets your musical needs, and the best choices are highlighted above.
