The bass guitar is an integral component of any rock, metal, or blues ensemble and requires skill and patience for optimal results. Yet its reward can make the experience truly fulfilling.
There are various popular bass guitar brands such as Fender, Ibanez, Yamaha and Gibson to consider when purchasing one of these instruments.
Fender
Since its initial introduction in 1951, the Fender Precision Bass has been revised and reintroduced several times, becoming one of the world’s most beloved basses and still beloved today by musicians worldwide. Its iconic solid alder body design, smooth-playing neck and iconic pearloid pickguard make it stand out among other bass guitars; furthermore it remains affordable, featuring Michael Bump-designed V-Mod pickups, Hi-mass bridge for optimal sustain and Narrow Tall frets for enhanced maneuverability – making it one of its predecessors from its legendary lineup.
Leo Fender designed his second bass guitar design, the Precision Bass, drawing inspiration from some elements found on the Jazzmaster guitar. Notable features of this instrument include its slightly slimmer and rounder neck than that found on previous designs; Fender also added a humbucking pickup which quickly made this model popular among musicians and consumers alike.
Though recent years have witnessed an ebb and flow in offset body and P and J-style pickup revival, none is quite as iconic as the Fender StingRay bass guitar designed by Leo Fender for Music Man company and popular with such legendary bassists as Joe Lally of Fugazi, Mark Hoppus of Blink-182, and Tony Levin of King Crimson who all rocked its distinctive oval pickguard onstage.
Fender Player Series bass instruments make an excellent option for beginner bassists looking to begin playing, such as the Squier Precision Bass. Available in different colors and featuring a maple neck with rosewood fingerboard. Its glued-on fingerboard has pearloid dot position markers and thicker than original models; making this bass an excellent way to begin.
Ibanez
Ibanez offers bassists looking for high-quality instruments at an attractive price a lot to be excited about. Their guitars are known for their sleek designs and transparent tone; prices can range from affordable beginner models up to professional instruments with plenty of pickups for different musical genres and features tailored specifically for bassists.
Ibanez is a Japanese company that has been producing bass guitars since the early 1970s. At first, its main focus was producing basses with unconventional designs; later however, Ibanez started manufacturing basses modeled after classic American instruments in order to remain competitive while providing players with unique instruments.
Ibanez guitars have long been known for their quality and innovation in electric and acoustic guitars, and their basses don’t disappoint either. These basses boast double cutaway bodies with smooth necks for ease of playing and come in various wood varieties that make them suitable for beginners or advanced bassists alike.
There is a range of models to choose from, such as the SR300 which offers great sound and is suitable for various genres. Metal fans might like the more traditional sound provided by the RG300 guitar.
Ibanez’s SR505E 5-string bass guitar, featuring an okoume body and Nordstrand Big Single pickups, is another popular model. Boasting outstanding sound and plenty of features – including an EQ bypass switch and 3-band EQ – this instrument makes an excellent option for bassists playing rock, metal, or jazz music genres.
Yamaha
Yamaha is well-renowned for their wide range of bass guitars. Crafted from top-quality wood and featuring advanced electronics, these bass guitars create an unmatched musical experience. Furthermore, Yamaha provides several finishes (natural or black). Furthermore, their RBX series serves as the ideal entry-level option for novice players while their TRBX and BB series cater to intermediate musicians – each series being versatile enough to meet any genre’s musical requirements.
Yamaha bass guitars come in all shapes and sizes, yet all share a similar design. Each instrument features a neck-through construction with an active pickup system that can be switched between passive and active modes to boost output while improving sound quality – making them suitable for musicians looking to perform live.
Yamaha produces an extensive variety of bass guitars, but two of their most sought-after series are the RBX and TRBX models. These instruments boast comfortable necks with rosewood fretboards and 24 medium-sized frets made of urea for optimal playback on stage performance. Furthermore, these three-band equalizers allow musicians to adjust the tone of their instruments for enhanced performances on stage.
For beginners, the RBX series bass guitars are an ideal option; featuring solid bodies with humbucking pickups and recessed volume knobs. As your skill progresses, the TRBX and BB series are an upgrade in terms of tonality – perfect for soul, RnB, and Jazz music styles alike!
Gibson
Gibson is an iconic brand with an esteemed history of producing quality bass guitars. Their pioneering designs often pre-empt industry trends, making these instruments enjoyable to play and known for their superior finishes and hardware. From their EB-3 to Ripper models, Gibson basses provide something suitable for bassists of any genre or style.
Gibson has been around for over 100 years and while they may not be as well-known as Fender, their instruments remain staples in rock. The Gibson EB bass is an iconic instrument, used by numerous bassists like Jack Bruce from Cream. Additionally, its wide tonal range makes it suitable for many styles of music – garage bands love using one!
Gibson’s Les Paul bass is another popular bass, featuring its classic solid mahogany body and maple neck construction, making it both reliable and versatile. Available with natural or vintage sunburst finishes, it makes an excellent first or intermediate bass purchase due to its ease of playback.
Gibson struggled during the early 1960s due to their sales slumping; they lost money and market share to rival Fender. To turn around their fortunes, they hired Ted McCarty as CEO. Under his guidance, changes were implemented into Gibson’s business model that improved its product offering – helping Gibson rebound and become an industry leader again.
Schecter
Schecter bass guitars are ideal for taking on the road or studio environments with confidence. Crafted from top-quality materials, these instruments boast various build options and pickup combinations to fit any musical genre imaginable, including reinforced bodies and sturdy fretwork to withstand hard playing styles. If you want your tone to stand out, choose an aggressive finish model or one with deep, punchy sound.
The Schecter Hellraiser Extreme 4 bass guitar is an affordable and versatile choice for bassists seeking an instrument with string-thru body design and high-quality hardware from Diamond, such as their Black Chrome bass bridge. Furthermore, two Diamond active pickups provide plenty of tonal variety while volume controls and mix knobs allow you to customize its overall sound based on individual pickups.
Michael Anthony bassists seeking his signature sound can find just the instrument in this model, the Hellraiser Extreme 4 bass guitar. Boasting classic appointments and powerful EMG active pickups, its swamp ash body delivers full and dynamic tone; plus it even comes available as a left-handed version – making it the ideal option for any bassist!
This bass is perfect for fans of metal music. Equipped with a humbucking pickup and high-output preamp for incredible power and definition, as well as being very simple to setup and maintain – perfect for playing anything from heavy metal to punk rock!