The popularity that jazz and rock gained in the 20th century revolutionized the development of musical instruments. Acoustic guitars, double basses, violins gave way to their electrified counterparts at concert venues. Famous virtuosos of electric guitars have become idols of youth.
The desire to learn how to play the bass guitar has determined the increase in demand for them. Taking this into account, the editors of the site "bestx.htgetrid.com/en/" presented for you a rating of quality tools, prepared advice on what the best models can be bought in the online store to satisfy your desires.
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Best Bass Guitar Makers
Before the invention of the bass guitar, the bass function was performed by the contrabass. In the second half of the last century, ensembles of popular music began to multiply like mushrooms. The dynamism of its performance did not fit in any way with the design features of the contrabass. Heavy, floor-standing, fretless and relatively quiet, they could not satisfy the musicians' demands.
In the 50s in the USA, entrepreneur Leo Fender released the first bass guitars, which were popularly called "bass fender", which is still present in the lexicon of musicians. The average price of these works of art is quite high, so the aspiring bass player should look to other manufacturers.
The second most popular are Japanese-made YAMAHA instruments. They are also in the upper price range and are recommended for professional musicians.
For newbies, it is best to pay attention to such already famous brands as South Korean CORT and SCHECTER, Belgian STAGG, Japanese IBANEZ and German Warwick. The ratio of their price and sound quality is quite consistent with the requirements of beginners and already experienced bassists. Guitars for left-handers are produced in small batches.
In our country, only the only company produces electric guitars under the Inspector Guitars brand. As for bass guitars, there is no such instrument of Russian production at the moment.
Which wood is best for bass guitar
The quality of the wood plays a decisive role in the sound of acoustic instruments. It would seem that this parameter is not essential for an electric guitar. But this is a deep misconception. It is necessary, first of all, to pay attention to the type of wood from which the body is made.
Different companies use different types of wood. Such preferences are explained by both the price and the timbre of the sound. Different breeds sound differently. For example, soft ash and basswood resonate better in the high frequencies. Medium-dense alder and poplar wood skips mid frequencies, while dense mahogany, agathis and walnut woods - low frequencies. Very few guitars are made from cedar and they are quite expensive.
Guitar necks are made from solid maple or glued from several pieces with hardwood inserts. The cedar neck is very rare. The bars are usually bolted to the body. Less commonly, an anchor system is used, when a long through bolt passes inside the neck, pulling it to a socket in the body.The advantage of this attachment is that you can compensate for neck flex from string tension.
Extract sound
The process of making a sound is simply converting the vibrations of a string into an electric current in a pickup made up of coils. This system is called guitar electronics. It is passive when the signal from the pickup goes to an external amplifier and then to the speakers. The active electronics contains a battery powered preamplifier, after which the signal goes to the main amplifier. Its disadvantage is that it is necessary to control the charge of the battery; when it is discharged, the sound changes.
To eliminate background and interference, the case is shielded with a special coating. There are pickups:
- singles, consisting of magnetic cores with one winding, transmit high and medium frequencies well;
- humbuckers, consisting of opposed cores with opposed windings, suppress hum and background noise.
Adjustment of volume, tone and balance of pickups is carried out by knobs on the front panel of the guitar.
To fix the dead ends of the strings on the body, a bridge is used. The types of breeches are simple and with a tremolo system, which includes a lever for changing the tension of the strings. This achieves the effect of sounding vibrato.
Before purchasing a musical instrument, you need to look through the recommendations on specialized forums, where you can find out where to buy a guitar, how much it costs, whether it can be ordered online and how to distinguish a fake.
Ranking of the best bass guitars for beginners and pros for 2020
| Model | Housing | Electronics circuit | Of frets | Price, p. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASHTONE AB-12 BK | Paulownia | Passive | 20 | 10150 |
| YAMAHA RBX 170 RM | Agathis | Passive | 24 | 8100 |
| Cort GB14PJ-BK GB Series | Poplar | Passive | 20 | 13050 |
| CORT ACTION-BK | Agathis | Active | 24 | 10800 |
| STAGG P300-BK | Alder | Passive | 20 | 12500 |
| YAMAHA TRBX174 | Alder | Passive | 24 | 18990 |
| YAMAHA TRBX304 | The Red tree | Active | 24 | 32990 |
| IBANEZ GIO GSR200-BK | Agathis | Active | 22 | 20000 |
| SCHECTER STILETTO SESSION-4 ANS | Swamp ash | Active | 24 | 46500 |
| ROCKBASS CORVETTE BASIC 4 N TS | Alder | Active | 24 | 53990 |
ASHTONE AB-12 BK
The Chinese-made four-string bass guitar represents budget models on the Russian market. The classic Jazz Bass look, reminiscent of the famous Fender, is combined with a rich sound. Recommended for beginners to familiarize themselves with the basic skills of the game.
The body of the guitar is made of soft Paulownia wood, which grows in the Far East. Maple neck with dotted rosewood fretboard and screw-fastened to the soundboard. The neck has 20 frets, a scale of 34 inches.
There are two single coil pickups installed: neck and bridge. The neck produces a richer sound in low tones, while the bridge gives predominantly high frequencies. There are three controls on the deck for control: two for tone and one for volume.
A chrome bridge and red tortoiseshell pickguard complete the striking look.
Advantages:
- keeps the system well;
- the price corresponds to the quality.
Disadvantages:
- passive electronics;
- jack connector on the front panel.
YAMAHA RBX 170 RM
Four-string guitar of the famous Japanese brand of Indonesian production for beginner bass guitarists. The popularity of these models is due to the optimal combination of quality characteristic bass sound, classic design and value.
The body material is solid agathis. The classic 24-fret maple neck features a rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl position markers. Scale 34 inches. Bolted type of fastening.
Two Split Coils close to the head and Single Coils near the bridge ensure high quality sound without unnecessary noise.
Advantages:
- long duration of sounding notes - good sustain;
- balanced guitar design, reduces stress on the left hand.
Disadvantages:
- according to buyers, some lack of strength and depth of sound;
- there is not enough pickup “strength” to play with frequency vibrato.
CORT GB14PJ-BK GB Series
The representative of the South Korean brand of Indonesian production with four strings presents inexpensive popular models of instruments for hobbyists. It combines the design features of the classical and modern approach to sound.
Poplar body, bolted hard maple neck with rosewood fingerboard inlaid with mother of pearl position markers. Scale 34 inches, 20 frets with open peg mechanical system. Its harshness improves the sound in the midrange closer to the top.
The classic bass pickup system P and J is applied. The P type is located closer to the head and provides a roaring sound of rock music, and the J type is closer to the fixed bridge, adds clarity and melodious sound for jazz performance.
The body design allows easy access to the upper frets and relieves hand strain.
Advantages:
- pickup set P and J.
Disadvantages:
- passive electronics.
CORT ACTION-BK
Musical instrument of Indonesian production - agathis four-string bass guitar for beginners. The characteristic shape of bass guitars combines elements of classic and modern design.
Screwed down Canadian maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with inlaid position markers. The hardwood head is glued in at an angle, which in some specimens can lead to geometry distortion in the area of the upper frets over time. Scale 34 inches, 24 frets. Cast tuning pegs provide a long action of the instrument.
The active electronics system with a two-way preamplifier includes two P and J pickups, four adjustments for volume, balance, bass and treble. Battery required for operation. Fixed chrome bridge. Perfect for both rhythm and solo rock and jazz.
Advantages:
- good sustain;
- with active electronics;
- holds the line for a long time;
- lightweight construction.
Disadvantages:
- "Weak" pickups;
- the rock sound falls short of the classic sound.
STAGG P300-BK
The instrument of the famous Belgian brand of Chinese production is a copy of the famous Precision Bass model of the American company Fender. Due to its design features, this budget instrument does not contain anything superfluous and is perfect for novice musicians.
Solid alder body with screwed maple neck. Rosewood fingerboard inlaid with mother-of-pearl position markers. The number of strings is 4. A cast-in-place tuning machine provides stability to the tuning of the guitar. Has 20 frets, 34 inches scale. White mother-of-pearl pickguard complements the aesthetic appearance of the instrument.
The passive electronics system consists of a single humbucker pickup. Bridge type PB Classic. Two controls for volume and tone. The jack connector is located on the front panel.
Advantages:
- ratio of sound quality and price of the instrument;
- balanced sound for both rock and jazz compositions.
Disadvantages:
- ascetic passive electronic filling from one pickup;
- only two controls for volume and tone.
YAMAHA TRBX174
Brand four-string guitar manufactured in Indonesia. The design harmoniously combines the characteristics of the instrument for a versatile sound. Suitable for beginner guitarists and experienced bassists.
The body is crafted from alder with a hard maple neck. The number of frets is 24, the scale is 34 inches. Rosewood fingerboard inlaid with white markers. Bolted to the soundboard, delivering a tight sound with strong bass.
Equipped with two P and J pickups. The electronics are passive. The functionality includes two volume controls and one tone control, a fixed bridge. This setup gives a "growl" sound for heavy tracks and bright enough for pop music.
Advantages:
- velvet depth of sound.
Disadvantages:
- insufficient sound rigidity;
- passive electronics - no preamp.
YAMAHA TRBX304
The iconic brand presents a four-string bass guitar that combines aggressive traditional looks with quality sound. A versatile instrument for different directions in music. Designed for professional musicians.
The guitar soundboard is made of solid mahogany. The neck is a special glued construction made of mahogany and maple inserts, bolted on. The whole design is balanced for ease of play. Scale 34 inches, number of frets 24. Cast tuning pegs, straight head. There is no lateral displacement of the strings, which has a positive effect on maintaining the tuning of the guitar.
Active electronics consists of two humbuckers with sintered magnets, excluding background and extraneous interference. The grooves in the pickups serve as a thumb rest for easy playing. The presence of a two-band preamplifier (equalizer) ensures effective sound tuning for any performance.
The deck contains controls for volume, balance, bass and treble. The five-position switch allows you to adapt to any technique of the game. The jack connector is placed on the side of the instrument and is mounted in a metal plate.
The cast fixed bridge accurately transmits string vibration to the body for a deep, rich sound.
Advantages:
- easy access to high frets;
- glued neck of increased rigidity;
- active electronics from two humbuckers.
Disadvantages:
- overpriced according to buyers.
IBANEZ GIO GSR200-BK
The four-string guitar of a well-known Japanese brand is considered the most common universal instrument for training and for professional playing. The value for money makes this model the most attractive in the bass market.
The body of the guitar is made from agathis, the latest models are made from New Zealand pine. The maple neck features a rosewood fingerboard with white mother-of-pearl markers. Scale 34 inches, number of frets 22. Straight head construction, strings are not bent and are tensioned by cast chrome pegs.
The active electronics consist of a P-neck pickup and a J-type bridge pickup. The Phat II two-band equalizer is powered by a Krona battery. There are four controls on the front panel: two for volume, tone and preamp. Fixed chrome bridge.
Advantages:
- the tuning system keeps the tuning for a long time;
- expressive sustain.
Disadvantages:
- plastic knobs of regulators.
SCHECTER STILETTO SESSION-4 ANS
South Korean manufacturer SCHECTER launches the Session Bass series of guitars for professional bass players. The presented instrument is intended for concerts and studio recordings.
The soundboard of the guitar is made from swamp ash, which improves resonance, midrange transmission and gives the sound its characteristic color. Maple-glued anchor type neck is bolted to the body. Position markers on the frets are made of ebony and are glued to the side. The guitar has 24 frets, 34 inches scale.
Two sintered metal humbuckers are combined with a 3-band preamp-EQ for high-quality sound in all frequency ranges. The parameters of the three-band preamplifier are controlled by knobs on the body. Additionally, volume and sound balance are regulated. The battery compartment is designed for two Krona batteries for 18 V.
The original bridge with the "strings through the body" function is used.
Advantages:
- metal corrugated knobs;
- original bridge design.
Disadvantages:
- overpriced according to buyers.
ROCKBASS CORVETTE BASIC 4 N TS
Guitars of the German brand Warwick are versatile and suitable for professional performers of various genres. The presented four-string guitar has a rich and varied sound palette, both for live performance and for recording.
The body of the instrument is made of solid alder.The neck is glued in three pieces and bolted to the guitar. On the frets there are inserts made of fine wood veneer. Number of frets 24, scale 34 inches. The cast chrome-plated tuning system keeps the guitar in tune for a long time. The original two-piece fixed bridge.
The active pickup system consists of two humbuckers with two sintered metal magnets per string. The two-band preamplifier is controlled by two metal knobs. The sound and balance control is displayed on the deck.
Advantages:
- glued neck of three inserts;
- original two-piece bridge.
Disadvantages:
- lack of position markers.
Conclusion
Our article is devoted to the question of how to choose the best bass guitar for training and for professional performance on stage. The review of the best guitars on the Russian market in terms of technical characteristics and price was carried out.
The criteria for choosing a tool are presented, answers are given to what they are and which one is better to buy. A description of the advantages and disadvantages of various models will help you find out what to look for when buying a bass guitar, so as not to make mistakes when choosing.
If you are an experienced musician and can advise which company is better to buy an instrument, leave your feedback in the comments.
