Some people have prejudices against "cheap" products, especially when it comes to long-term investments such as guitars.
In this article, we disassemble some of the most common myths – that inexpensive guitars are "just cheap", you get what you pay for, and others.
Read on to learn more about our argument on why you should try out a cheap bass guitar and what benefits they could bring you!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Cheap Bass Guitars
Table of Contents
How Much is a Cheap Bass Guitar?
Our reviewed products fall in a remarkably low price range, from around $70 to $270. Despite this, most buyers reported them as competing with other guitars under $1000.
Can You Find a Good Bass Guitar That’s Cheap and Affordable?
Bass guitars, similarly to most other products and services, come with different features that sometimes define their price range, along with brands. In this scenario, it is possible to find a cheap guitar that is also good. When people read the word "cheap", they usually think about mediocre materials that compromise on quality.
However, the main trade-offs between the guitars in this review and other more expensive alternatives are somewhat less evident. For instance, most guitars here come in a small-scale version. Since the guitar itself is smaller than a full-size one, it is quite easy to spot the price difference, which is not about compromising on quality. Well, this is not always the case, but this is why we make your job easier and list all the great cheap bass guitars.
Characteristics of Our Favorite Models
Here are a few of the characteristics and features of our favorite low-cost bass guitars.
Quality
Our favorite models, even though they are labeled as "cheap", do not refer to quality losses. You might indeed be able to spot the differences between an expensive guitar and an inexpensive one; however, in some cases, these differences can amount to a mere 5% quality improvement. In that regard, many of these lower priced options represent an immense bargain, which will be good news to any musician who is strapped for cash.
Playability
Another vital characteristic is playability. Some guitars have designs that make them challenging to play. They can be hard on your fingers, weigh too much, have an abnormal shape, etc. Playability is essential. It can make your experience a real joy or, especially if you are just starting, it can leave you discouraged about your hobby.
Comfort
Comfort is yet another crucial aspect. Most professional players have full-sized expensive instruments, and yet they prefer to play one that would be considered "cheap". How so? Because of their small size and lightweight body, these models can be played for longer hours without placing strain on your body.
Comparison of the Best Cheap Bass Guitars
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Review of the Best Cheap Bass Guitars
Here is our review of the best budget bass guitars you can find on the market:
Best Overall:
Ibanez GSRM20BWNF 4-String Bass Guitar
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This bass guitar features a very attractive shape and an even more attractive price tag. It is easy to play due to its modest size and the comfortable shape of its neck. It is a pure pleasure to play this high-quality guitar, especially if you are a beginner or if you have small hands. Many buyers claim that it sounds as good as any expensive bass guitar.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This affordable Ibanez bass guitar is our top pick for this list, doubtlessly because of its high standards in manufacturing and component quality. It delivers the same quality as full-scale bass guitars, and the same materials are used in its construction.
Who Will Use This Most
This small-scale affordable bass guitar is perfect for basically anyone. Whether you are an ambitious beginner, a seasoned bassist with small hands, or a gigging musician who travels a lot, the small size of this guitar makes it the perfect companion.
Bottom Line
Overall, this bass guitar offers you the chance to learn or practice guitar playing in a small-sized, comfortable, and highly playable design. In the end, if you do not enjoy your play time, you will be much less likely to keep playing. This excellent instrument is definitely worth a try!
Runner-up:
Squier by Fender Bronco Bass
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PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This bass guitar massively exceeded buyers’ expectations. It has great action, the maple fretboard is comfortable, and it has a beautiful glossy finish. It is an amazingly high-quality starter bass guitar, perfect for anyone who wants to learn for an affordable price with an instrument that offers outstanding quality and performance.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Our best alternative after our top choice is a Fender classic. This one comes with an agathis body and a beautiful glossy finish, all enhanced by the C-shaped maple neck and maple fingerboard. Additionally, it embodies a specially designed single-coil pickup in this small-scale bass guitar.
Who Will Use This Most
This bass guitar might seem beginner-zone due to its affordability. In fact, with proper tuning and set up, it can be as useful as any guitar. You can learn how to play on this guitar, due to its high comfort and playability, but the sound quality outmatches the price range, making it a popular choice for many musicians around the world.
Bottom Line
It is difficult to criticize this instrument, considering its outstanding performance. The price range is amazingly low for the quality and the overall feel. Easy to play, lightweight and compact, yet the sounds it delivers are magnificent. This guitar should be on your must-have list!
Best for the Money:
Ibanez Talman TMB100 Electric Bass Guitar
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Apart from amazing looks and sounds, another thing that is extremely impressive about this bass guitar is its versatility. The range of tones you can get out of this instrument is purely sublime. The nice satin finish is a great addition, and the neck is wide enough, but also comfortable.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Yet another Ibanez model earning the best budget option spot on our list; we're starting to get used to this. The TMB100 electric bass guitar stands out from the crowd due to its high-quality build, the wide variety of tonal choices, and its retro look. This guitar offers the full package in both looks and sound quality. The rich, vintage sounds are enhanced by the neck pickup and the DXK bridge pickup.
Who Will Use This Most
The versatility of this guitar, paired with its great setup, can make it the best choice for any musician out there, experienced or not. It allows you to enjoy performing, whether you have just started or you have been already playing for many years. This affordable bass guitar packs in all the features of a high-end, professional one.
Bottom Line
Overall, this bass guitar is a great choice, packing in professional qualities in a compact, lightweight, and extremely versatile instrument. High-quality components, such as strings, pickups, and hardware make it a great play even out of the box; even better, it can reach incredibly high standards with some tweaking.
Best Under $100:
Goplus Electric Bass Guitar
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This bass guitar is perfectly balanced, featherweight, and has no neck dive. The accessories included with the bass also have acceptable quality, and it is a great start for any beginner. This product represents an excellent value, well capable of delivering strong, rich tones. It is a pleasure to play.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This Goplus bass guitar brings stability and consistency in quality, all in a fashionable design ready to impress even the pickiest audience. The wood body offers stability and a solid feel, reliability, and comfort. It is shiny and polished, while sound qualities are smooth -- great for blues, rock, and many others. The bright, natural sounds of the bass are perfectly complemented by the warm sounds of the wood body.
Who Will Use This Most
This bass guitar comes with all accessories needed to play straight away. It might take a few minutes to adjust it to your needs; however, there is nothing you cannot achieve in 5-10 minutes. It is perfect for any blues lover who is willing to dive into the world of music.
Bottom Line
Overall, this bass guitar is extremely capable of competing with much more expensive options on the market. It is the ‘real deal’, as it includes anything you need, from a bag to straps to picks. It looks impressive, feels solid, and has enhanced playability, making your first experience a true joy.
Best Cheap 5-String Bass Guitar:
Ibanez GSRM25BK 5-String Bass Guitar
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This Ibanez bass guitar with 5 strings holds its own! It scores high on playability, sound quality, and consistency. It is a sturdy, long-lasting bass guitar that allows you to reach those growly sounds you are looking for. Extremely lightweight, it is well balanced and will enable you to play for hours at a time while enjoying every moment of it.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Similar to other Ibanez picks, this guitar might resemble a small-sized guitar, looking somewhat similar to a toy. Nonetheless, once you touch it, you will be thrown back by the sturdy and solid construction, smooth feel, and great action. It is nothing short of any other full-sized bass guitar.
Who Will Use This Most
If you are a beginner, this is definitely an excellent choice for you due to its affordability and exceptional quality sounds. Even gigging musicians or professional ones choose this model due to its high-quality performance; this is especially true if you are looking for a micro bass guitar that allows you to play for many hours without fatigue.
Bottom Line
Overall, this Ibanez guitar will definitely surprise you with its qualities. You might need to slightly adjust it from the box, similar to other ‘budget’ options; however, the action is up to the highest standards. If you are looking for a 5-string guitar, this is the one for you!
Best Left Handed Cheap Bass Guitar:
Ibanez GSR 4-String Bass Guitar
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This instrument feels smooth, yet solid, and it plays unexpectedly well. The finish is beautiful, while the neck is relatively thinner than other models, which makes it easier to play and more comfortable. It is highly versatile and a great starter for any musician.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This bass guitar is our top pick for left-handed players due to its consistent quality and sturdy, long-lasting design. It has a smooth, fast neck for enhanced playability and comfort and a lightweight body. The electronics don’t fall short either, as they can accommodate any tunes you might want to play.
Who Will Use This Most
This guitar is especially for the left-handed players out there. It embeds most of the features in our other models, such as great finish, fantastic sound quality, and lightweight body. The neck is significantly thinner, so it is a great and easy to play bass guitar for beginners.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Ibanez GSR 4-String Bass Guitar is our top pick for left-handed bass guitar players. It delivers high on sound quality and performance; the design is fashionable, and it is easy to play. It may need minor adjustment as you go; however, it is still very playable out of the box.
Cautious Considerations to Keep In Mind
Our top products for best cheap bass guitars are great options for budget restraints, or if you are a beginner and you do not want to spend more. These products, however, as great as they are, might also need adjustment when you first try them out. This is nothing out of the ordinary, as many of the more expensive alternatives still need professional setup. If you are concerned about this, you can ask a professional player to give you a hand with setting up.
Another heads-up with a budget bass guitar is that most players might want to change some of the included accessories, such as strings, swapping them for better quality ones. Once again, this is often an issue with expensive models, as stock versions sometimes fail to deliver on quality control or you want better accessories.
Just because your cheaper bass guitar might have some fret buzz does not mean that it is a bad product. Keep in mind that you need to set up and adjust it; not only to standards but as you learn how to play, you will also want to personalize your instrument to match your play style.
Conclusion
Overall, our review of the best affordable bass guitars introduced you to some excellent options that you would be well advised to try out. Although we defined them as "cheap", this strictly refers to their price range, and not to their quality. Most advanced players even choose some of these instruments because they are much more comfortable and playable than full-size alternatives.
