Deciding on the best bass guitar under $500 that fits your style and plays great can be hard. There are several bass guitars in the $500 price range that all have amazing features with very different sounds and tones.
The main thing is that you find a bass that fits your musical taste and playing style. Some basses have a more grooving tone whereas other are more metal. Also, it’s important to look at the shape of the neck to see if it will be comfortable to play. Some bassists like bigger, thicker necks while others like thinner profiles. It’s all about what feels right to you.
Let’s check out some of the most popular and top-rated bass guitars under $500 and review their features, pros, and cons, so you can pick the right one for you.
Compare the Top Bass Guitars Below $500 in 2020
Contents
- 1 Compare the Top Bass Guitars Below $500 in 2020
- 1.1 ESP LTD B-204SM FL Fretted or Fretless Bass Guitar
- 1.2 Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60’s Precision Bass Guitar
- 1.3 Yamaha TRBX304 WH 4-String Bass
- 1.4 Ibanez SR300E 4-String Electric Bass
- 1.5 Fender Squier ’70s Vintage Jazz Bass
- 1.6 Fender Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI
- 1.7 Schecter 2522 4-String Bass Guitar
- 1.8 Hofner HOF-HI-BB-SB-O 4-String Bass Guitar
- 1.9 G&L JB2 4-String Electric Bass Guitar
- 2 What We Recommend
Here’s a complete list of the best basses under $500 to bring your tone and bass guitar skills to the next level.
- ESP LTD B-204SM FL
- Fender Squier Classic Precision Bass Guitar
- Yamaha TRBX304 WH
- Ibanez SR300E 4-String Electric Bass
- Fender Squier ’70s Vintage Jazz Bass
- Fender Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI
- Schecter 2522 4-String Bass
- Hofner HOF-HI
- G&L JB2 Bass Guitar
ESP LTD B-204SM FL Fretted or Fretless Bass Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
The ESP LTD B-204SM FL is one of ESP’s finest basses. It comes in either fretted or fretless designs, so you if you don’t feel like you are advanced enough to tackle a fretless bass, you can choose the fretted model.
The fretless design is meant for advanced-level players. The top of the bass guitar is made of maple that has been spalted to give it an ash body. It ends in a satin finish that naturally breathes and resonates for impressive sound quality.
The U-shaped design on this guitar ensures an ergonomic hold for comfortable playing. The guitar also features bolt-on construction with 34″ scales with a pc jatoba/maple neck. Besides a classy design, ESP ensures that the B-204SM FL is an affordable bass guitar.
Pros and Highlights
- Natural design – despite a low price tag, it does not compromise with the quality of its satin finish that has been naturally included over its spalted maple ash body. The neck has been made extra thin with a U-shaped design for a comfortable hold;
- High resonating sound – Besides the high-end strings used in this bass guitar, the satin finish also offers an extra layer of thickness to it. This enables the guitar to resonate efficiently;
- Price – it is quite affordable compared to other fretless satin finish spalted maple bass guitars in this range.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Fretless Design – a fretless bass guitar may not be suitable for all types of guitar players. It does require a balance of pressure and accuracy to get the best sound.
Bottom line
In a nutshell, the ESP LTD B-204SM Fretless model is a high-efficient bass guitar with a beautiful design and a comfortable grip. It is a recommended model for expert bass guitarists, who are looking for quality at an affordable price.
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60’s Precision Bass Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Squier by Fender brings forth one of its finest precision bass designs flaunting a classic 1960s look. Fender’s Squier range of bass guitars ensures an impeccable playing experience for beginners and intermediate bass guitarists. The design features a three-tone sunburst laurel wood body with a glossy finish, which resembles the iconic vintage layouts.
It uses two split-coil pickups made of alnico magnetic alloys for high-end sound quality. The neck on this classic bass guitar stretches from an ergonomic C shaped curve with a radius fingerboard of 9.5”. The frets on the fingerboard are also tall and narrow with threaded saddles supported by a classic bridge. It adds a nostalgic vibe courtesy of the vintage-style markings on the headstock that is truly inspired by the 1960s.
Pros and Highlights
- Beautiful vintage style design – the beautiful combination of laurel wood, nickel-plated components, thin and glossy neck finish, and a three-tone sunburst color scheme gives it a classic look;
- Comfortable fingerboard – the narrow and tall frets on the fingerboard ensure an easy and precise reach on the notes without compromising with sound.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Does not come with a bag – you will need to get a case for this guitar separately.
Bottom line
This classic 60s precision bass guitar is a dedicated tribute to the vintage bass guitars of the past. It delivers great sound thanks to a long and comfortable fingerboard. Not to mention, the price it packs for this masterpiece is quite affordable as well.
Yamaha TRBX304 WH 4-String Bass
Specs, features, and benefits
The TRBX304 is manufactured using mahogany wood in a while, keeping the comfort and performance balanced. Yamaha achieves the optimum foundation with its EQ circuits to ensure that a guitarist can easily play its notes.
The body of the guitar blends from the sides in 3D curves for impeccable weight distribution. It also has a bolt-on neck fitted precisely for punchy and clear tones. Plus, its 5-pc mahogany/maple built is designed for outstanding flexibility. The pickups on this guitar comprise of ceramic magnets for a powerful, clear, and defined tone. Its bridge has been cast keeping the mass high for effective transfer of sound vibrations through the body.
Yamaha’s metal plate-mounted standard jack socket offers superior durability and easy maintenance.
Pros and Highlights
- Beautiful 3D design – a good and solid mahogany fretboard design and complete white body;
- Good electronics – it comes with batteries to support its active bass sounds that are amplified in high quality for maximum efficiency;
- Excellent pickups – the twin coil or humbucker pickups used in this guitar ensure maximum frequency for clear sounds.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Fret buzz – it can show some fret buzzing at the lower strings that may need some tuning from time to time.
Bottom line
Overall, this Yamaha TRBX304 serves its purpose favorably well. The high-end electronics, courtesy of active bass, and the Performance EQ setting will make you feel like playing it for hours. Its affordability also makes it a recommended bass guitar.
Ibanez SR300E 4-String Electric Bass
Specs, features, and benefits
Ibanez SR range of bass guitars has been adding the classic touch to modern electronically-efficient instruments. The SR300E is another efficient bass guitar in the series that is lightweight, smooth, and perfectly balanced for high-quality sounds.
With a very competitive price for its range, the SR300E includes a 5pc SR4 rosewood/maple lightweight neck bolt joined perfectly to a smooth mahogany body. The edges on the body have been rounded to give a comfortable hold and faster response while accessing the upper frets.
Considering its electronics, the guitar uses the PowerSpan humbucking (dual-coil) pickups. Furthermore, it includes a switch for power tapping through its 3-band Custom EQ. It ensures that the tons are clearer and effective.
Pros and Highlights
- Elegant rounded design – the guitar features a minimalist design;
- Powerful electronics – a custom EQ and active bass pickup makes it a worthy choice for prolonged playing;
- Price – it has a competitive price for ensuring quality and affordability;
- Great for recording sounds – with the right amplified, it can record great sounds irrespective of low or high volumes.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- The placement of the output jack may not suit you – some guitarists did not like the placement of the output jack on this bass guitar, but it is subjective.
Bottom line
The Ibanez SR300E is worth an investment thanks to a well-balanced setup. It can be used by beginners and expert players because of the solid electronics built in this instrument. Above all, the affordable price makes it one of the most competitive bass guitars.
Fender Squier ’70s Vintage Jazz Bass
Specs, features, and benefits
The Squier by Fender is a bass guitar designed for perfection, keeping in mind the tone and classic feel of the 1970s Jazz. It uses two single-coil pickups designed by Leo Fender for amplifying the bass. It also flaunts the classic C-shaped neck with a maple fretboard covered with 20 medium-sized jumbo frets.
It is a great choice for a Jazz bass guitarist who does not want to spend a lot, yet still, choose an instrument that has great feel and tone. The nostalgic 70s look is not just for a gimmick, but also for ensuring a comfortable hold for precise sounds.
Pros and Highlights
- Classic 70s design – constructed using solid wood with a maple neck and fretboard to ensure a lightweight but solid body, which feels great in the hands;
- Decent tone – it has a decent sound quality that can play Jazz bass sounds impeccably;
- Good active bass pickups – great vibrations because of the single coil pickups used in this bass guitar;
- Price – even with Fender components, it comes at a very affordable price or most beginner and intermediate bass guitar players.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Average String quality – while the electronics and hardware are decent, the string quality is favorable. You might need to change the strings on this guitar for great performance.
Bottom line
The Squier 306702505 bass guitar for Jazz players is a great instrument for serving its purpose efficiently. Even at an affordable price, it still gives you the necessary hardware you need to play mesmerizing Jazz sounds. If you are a beginner, then you can choose this guitar for learning Jazz bass tones.
Fender Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI
Specs, features, and benefits
Another classic guitar that Squier by Fender brings for its fans is the Bass VI. This elegant beauty is a well-balanced setup comprising of decent feel, good looks, and an optimized bass tone. At such an affordable price segment, it ensures to maintain the standards Fender is known for. The high-end lightweight body has been manufactured using poplar wood with Jaguar-style shape for a comfortable hold.
The design is so sleek that it easily adjusts to the body of the guitarist for long playing sessions. This model comprises of triple single-coil pickups made using alnico alloy to deliver the vintage-style vibe that Bass VIs are famous for. This pickup configuration lays perfectly beneath the 6 strings to ensure that the guitar does a fair deal of justice to the treble and bass outputs. The glossy neck finish with its C shape design promises comfort and playability for which Fender guitars are known.
Pros and Highlights
- Superior finish – the polyurethane finish over its poplar body ensures comfort and fast playable performance;
- Long and ergonomic neck – the maple neck comprises of 30” scale that is suitable for finger placement comfortably;
- Adjustable controls – it comes with a tone and master volume controls for easy volume adjustments;
- Detailed fretboard – ergonomic dot inlays with 21 tall narrow frets, and a 9.5” curve radius designed with laurel wood;
- High-end pickups – triple single-coil Fender pickups made of alnico alloy for unmatched performance.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Tuning – with multiple controls and pickups, it can be tricky to tune this guitar for beginners.
Bottom line
With high-end hardware and design, the Squier Vibe Bass VI is a tribute to classic high-end guitars of the previous generation of rock. It gives you the output you need without compromising with the quality. Even the price is quite affordable despite the high-end components used in this guitar.
Schecter 2522 4-String Bass Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Schecter brings forth the elegant 2522-4 in black satin variant to offer guitar players with an excellent experience. This guitar not only packs a lightweight body with basswood but also ensures that the edges are smooth enough for a comfortable grip. The body is further connected to maple wood neck, which displays quality with style.
Furthermore, the emphasis in this model is on the dual bass pickups by Schecter Diamond, which ensures high-end active bass electronics. Addition of active pickups provides with the flexibility to play any bass tone. Furthermore, this guitar features a solid twin-band EQ setup, which can skillfully play deep and high sounds.
Pros and Highlights
- Comfortable body – it has a contoured body made of basswood for a comfortable hold and a lightweight;
- Good tones – the addition of dual-band EQ configuration ensures high-end tones;
- Killer looks – black satin finish with black-colored hardware embellishes its looks;
- High stability – uses 6 bolts for the bolt-on joint to keep the guitar stable while playing;
- Good humbucking performance – the single coil pickups presented by Schecter Diamond speak of its quality.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Volume control – the volume control is a little tricky to adjust on this bass guitar.
Bottom line
The Schecter 2522 Black Stealth guitar can be a great choice if you are a fan of black! It also delivers great performance with high-end hardware and pickups. The tone output on this unit can be greatly improved with the right amplifier setup. It is a recommended choice for all types of bass guitar players.
Hofner HOF-HI-BB-SB-O 4-String Bass Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
The Hofner HOF-HI-BB-SB-O bass guitar is an iconic masterpiece that has been made famous not just for the design but also for the excellent sound quality it possesses. This instrument includes an electrifying maple body constructed on both sides and the back. Plus, the top of the guitar is made of natural spruce to give it a high-quality resonance for playing the deepest bass sounds perfect.
Furthermore, the body is fully hollow, except the neck, giving it a lightweight design for a comfortable hold. Use of rosewood for the fretboard ensures a rounded finish for easy placement of fingers while playing tones. The pickups on this Hofner guitar can be removed and customized as per your liking. Moreover, it gives an adjustable bridge similar to violins.
Pros and Highlights
- Beautiful Design – the lightweight design resembles the iconic violin bass guitar;
- Removable pickups – you can personalize the pickups to modify the sound quality and output;
- Price – it comes at a very affordable price in its price segment;
- Adjustable bridge – it can be helpful in going up and down with the sounds.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Built quality – despite a solid design, the built quality material could have been better.
Bottom line
The HOF-HI-BB-SB-O by Hofner can be a great choice if you are interested in a lightweight, hollow body configuration with decent sound quality. The vibrant sunburst color pattern used on it gives the vintage-style feel to it. Even the customizable parts, like the pickups, ensure that there is enough flexibility to experiment with sounds. So, it is a decent recommendation for intermediate and expert players.
G&L JB2 4-String Electric Bass Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
The G&L JB2 is a Tribute Series 4-string electric bass guitar features a beautiful fretboard made of maple. The sunburst design comprises of the classic 3-tone color design equipped with solid electronics. With its single coil pickup, the JB2 ensures flexibility of controlling volume through each of the pickups individually. Furthermore, the addition of a single tone ensures clearer sounds.
As for the hardware, G&L has added its own-patented saddle lock bridge that harmonizes the vibrations from each of the saddles as if they were one single body. Each string on this bass guitar can also be adjusted individually for their heights. This ensures maximum sustenance and impeccable pitch performance.
Pros and Highlights
- High-end design – beautiful shape with vibrant sunburst colors and solid body makes it feel good in the hands;
- Good sound – vibrations on this guitar feel great, thus giving clear and good sound;
- Great pickup – the dual setup of single-coil pickups designed by Leo Fender add high-end value to this bass guitar;
- Good Saddle Lock – the bridge ensures that minimum vibrations are lost while playing the sounds.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Fret buzz – it might need a little tuning to reduce the fret buzz occurring in this bass guitar.
Bottom line
This Tribute series from G&L is a decent bass guitar that has its perks. With high-quality patented components, like the single coil pickups and the saddle lock bridges makes it a decent choice for playing high-quality sounds. I would recommend it for beginner and intermediate players.
What We Recommend
After detailed consideration of all 9 bass guitars, we would recommend you to go for the Yamaha TRBX304, as it’s a great value at such an affordable price. Not to mention, it is a decent choice for all types of guitar players. Its active tone setup and included batteries ensure quality tones with decent amplification. Plus, it has a great-looking design and can be purchased in a variety of colors!
The problem with the Yamaha basses for me is they don’t make left-handed models!
That’s a bummer. I like the look of the Squier Vintage P Bass, I noticed your review didn’t mention the tone, just that it looked good… is it good?
Thanks!