Top 5 Beginner Bass Guitars
By Dan Cross, About.com
 
Buying a bass guitar for a novice can be tricky... there are a ton of cheap beginner basses out there, but many of them feature cheap hardware, and shoddy workmanship. The trick is to find a bass guitar that is both easy to learn on, yet also easy on the pocketbook. The following basses, all of which hover in the couple hundred dollar range, are some of the best valued bass guitars on the market.
 

1. ESP B50

This funky looking bass features a basswood body (a relatively soft wood), with maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard. For a couple hundred dollars, this dependable bass should be considered a bargain. If you like this look of this ESP bass, then you should consider this one for a beginner instrument.
 
2. Yamaha RBX374
Yamaha have earned a reputation for being a company able to produce quality instruments with low price tags. The RBX374, with it's fully alder body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and P-style pickup, is no exception. Although not the cheapest bass on this list, this model offers quite good value for the price.
 

3. Squier Standard Jazz

This is Fender's low priced version of the classic Fender Jazz bass. The pickups and electronics are inferior, and there are lots of other reasons why this Squier model isn't of the same caliber as the original, yet for the price tag, this instrument will still provide that Fender Jazz sound, without busting your budget.
 

4. Epiphone Accu Bass

This is a classic looking P bass, made by Epiphone, featuring a maple/alder body, and a split humbucking pickup. The Accu Bass is a very solid, durable instrument, so if you think you might be putting your bass through a lot physically, this might be the one for you.

 

5. Ibanez GSR200

This low-cost Ibanez bass guitar has an individual look and feel. The body is made from Athagis wood, the neck from maple, and the fingerboard from rosewood. The GSR200 features a rather thin neck, which many people might find easier to learn on. As is usually the case with low cost instruments, the electronics aren't top notch, but for the money, the GSR200 is a good bet.

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Modern Guitars Magazine - News Archive
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