Best
BASS GUITAR UNDER 200
-
Overall: Special Designed Single-Coil Pickup For Rich Fender Tone
-
Best Feature: Classic Fender Die-Cast Tuning Machines
-
TedScore™: 9.5/10
Best
BASS GUITAR FOR BEGINNERS
-
Overall: Perfect For Players Who Want Delicious Definition With Every Note
-
Best Feature: Sleek Poplar Body Offers a Light, Mellow Tone
-
TedScore™: 9.8/10
Best
OVERALL BUDGET BASS
-
Overall: 34" Scale Maple Neck Is Profiled To Be Fast Playing And Sleek Feeling
-
Best Feature: DMT Design Pickup Delivers A Clean Low-End That Cuts Through The Thickest Mix
-
TedScore™: 8/10
Loads of **fantastic budget bass guitars** are available now, making it tricky to figure out which ones are truly worthy of a look.
This guide to the best bass guitars under 200 is here to help!
Things to consider when buying a bass guitar under 200
Build quality
The term build quality refers to the overall construction quality of the bass guitar itself. This is an area that the best cheap bass guitars have been moving forward in leaps and bounds over the last five years.
It used to be the case that if you spent under 200 on a bass then you’d get a bass guitar with poorly wired electronics, badly carved woods, poor balance and awful weight distribution. But this is no longer the case.
When you’re shopping for your next budget bass guitar then take a moment to notice how it feels to play. Understanding these physical characteristics will give you an idea of the build quality. Particularly for an entry level bass guitar you should try to find something that feels easy to play.
Neck
The neck is the long part of the bass guitar that comes out from the body and has all the metal lines (frets) running across it.
Bass necks vary in type and also in thickness. The neck of a precision bass, for example, is typically much thicker than that of a jazz bass.
Thinner necks are generally a little easier to play, and many bassists prefer them to thicker ones as they feel more mobile.
Then there’s the type of neck itself. You can have a bolt on the neck where the neck is bolted onto the body of the bass, a set neck where the neck is glued onto the body of the bass, and finally a through neck where the neck and body are carved out of the same piece of wood.
Through necks are very expensive and for this reason, you’ll be very lucky to find a through-neck bass for less than 200.
Bolt-on and set necks however are very common in this price range.
Some bassists feel that bolt-ons feel a little more sturdy but there are plenty of great set necks that provide that same level of stability too.
Next you should consider the wood the neck is made from. Different woods will give the overall sound of your bass a different colour so this is important.
A maple neck, for example, has a much brighter sound than a rosewood fingerboard does.
The best way to get to know the sound of all these different neck types is to try them out.
Finally there’s the scale length of the neck itself. Scale length simply refers to the length of the neck from the nut (where the strings sit at the top of the neck) to the bridge (where they sit at the bottom of the body).
A smaller scale length (known as short scale) means a shorter neck and a longer scale length is the opposite.
Short scale length basses are often great for children and beginners whose hands aren’t yet used to making the large stretches that playing the bass guitar requires.
Material
Just as the material of the neck affects the sound, the material of the electric bass as a whole will affect the sound and feel too.
Starting first with physicality, some woods are heavier than others.
Some bassists prefer heavier basses and others prefer something lighter. But think about your own build here too, because getting a good electric bass is very much about how you interact with that bass.
Likewise, if you’re buying a bass for a small child then avoid something heavy. They may not yet be strong enough to shoulder the burden (quite literally) of a heavy electric bass and they may end up with muscle problems later in life.
Next is the sound of the electric bass and how that’s changed by the material it’s made of.
It goes without saying to an extent that budget basses will be made out of cheaper materials. These cheaper materials tend to b, avoidsome materials are actually synthetic to aid in creating that lightness) and because these materls are cheaper, they tend not to be as characterful as some of the more expensive woods you would find in a vintage J bass for example.
However, at this end of the budget spectrum it’s much more important to find electric bass that sounds good to you (regardless of what it’s made from), that feels comfortable to play and that is affordable so follow your ears. Use your intuition and go for the bass that feels the best to play.
Finish
Basically, follow your preference here. The finish on electric bass is a purely visual thing.
If you like the matte finish on electric bass then get that. If you like a natural wood finish, that’s also fine.
There’s no right or wrong. Just your own preference is all that counts here!
Fretwork
Fretwork on a bass guitar is very important. For beginners especially. The two main reasons for this are navigation and playability.
Let’s start first with navigation.
In the context of the electric bass guitar, what exactly does navigation mean? Well, it refers to locating (and remembering the location of) notes on the neck of the bass.
This can be very difficult for beginners, especially since many electric bass guitar makers will add dot inlays to the neck of the bass.
Dot inlays are small, bead-like objects which are set into the wood of the electric bass neck and they serve as visual markers to help bass players navigate the neck.
There is a school of thought out there that feels that electric bass guitars shouldn’t use them but personally, I’ve found them very helpful and I know many young bass guitar players out there who have really benefited from having them in their bass.
Because they are so useful, dot inlays have become a staple of the vast majority of electric bass guitars and the best bass guitars of all price brackets tend to use them now.
To me, this is a clear indicator of the value and utility they add to an electric bass guitar. And whilst you may struggle to find a cheap bass guitar that doesn’t have them, ultimately this is again down to your preference.
If you don’t like them then that’s fine. They don’t change the sound. Just the look.
The next thing to look at when considering the fretwork of the best budget electric bass guitars on the market is the frets themselves.
The main things to think about here are the height of the frets and how those frets feel.
Fret height can affect playability but in very much a subjective way. The best electric bass guitar isn’t the one with the highest or lowest frets after all, it’s the one that feels good to you.
So if you’ve got no experience, try doing a quick Google search about fret height to see what others think. Or better still, go to your local music shop and try out a few basses to get an idea of what they feel like to play.
To put it simply, if you’re curious about the medium jumbo frets you’ve been told are on a certain electric bass then the best way to see if you like them is to try that bass guitar.
The feel of the frets is important too. Some cheap electric bass guitars have slightly sharper frets at the edges. The Glarry J bass and P bass models are examples of this.
Both are very cheap basses and offer a lot for the price, but the frets can catch your hands with their sharp edges.
These can of course be sanded down but if you’re a beginner and you don’t have the tools or knowledge to do this well then why not make life simple and buy an electric bass that has more comfortable frets right out of the box?
The Ibanez Talman TMB100 would be a great example of a great-feeling cheap electric bass for example.
Strings
The strings on an electric bass guitar are one of the areas where you have a little more wiggle room to experiment because the strings are relatively easy to change when compared to the electronics, neck, bridge or frets.
The two most common types of strings you’ll find on basses will be nickel roundwound strings and steel roundwound strings.
Every string has a “core” which is the material at its center. Every string also has a layer of wire that is wrapped around its core. If this wrapping is made of nickel then it’s a nickel string and the same is true of a steel string.
But what does roundwound mean?
The term “roundwound” refers to the shape of the wire wrapping that goes around the core. If that wire is circular then it’s a roundwound string. If that wire is flat then it’s a flat wound string.
Roundwounds have a much brighter and more aggressive tone. They’re great for many modern music styles but they do particularly well in rock, pop, metal, and funk.
Flatwounds have a much mellow and darker tone to them which has much more of a thumping “thud” quality to it. Each of these string types can be made of nickel or steel.
If a string is made from nickel then it tends to have much more of a growl-like quality to its midrange. There’s much more warmth and clarity but the low end and high end of the sound aren’t as clear.
Stainless steel strings on the other hand offer a lot of power in the low end and give clean, crisp highs but don’t have the midrange warmth of nickel.
The next way that different electric bass strings can affect the sound is through what’s known as the string gauge.
The term “string gauge” refers to the thickness and overall mass of the string.
If a string is smaller then we say it has a lighter gauge and if it’s larger then it’s described as being a heavier gauge.
The gauge will change the sound subtly but differently from the string material.
Since music is all vibration then having a heavier or lighter gauge will mean that there is more or less mass on the string to vibrate when it is plucked.
Since there’s more mass on heavier strings they tend to have a bigger, bulkier sound. Lighter gauge strings will have a thinner sound, often described as “wire-like”.
It’s important to note too that different string gauges will feel different to play.
Heavier gauge strings are much more work for the fingers because they are bigger and bigger, heavier objects are typically more work to move and manipulate than lighter ones. This means that lighter gauge strings are often easier to play.
So there’s a trade-off to be had here. On the one hand, you can have a bigger sound with heavy strings but they will be harder to play.
Or you can have more mobility (perfect if you want to play fast) but a smaller, less powerful tone with light strings.
Does this mean that you’re somehow stuck with one set or that maybe a certain set won’t work with your particular electric bass?
Not at all. All electric bass strings expensive and cheap alike will work just fine on any bass guitar. Even the best cheap electric bass guitars like the ones mentioned later in this article.
Sound quality
The best advice here is to use your ears. Some basses sound great out of the box like the Fender Bronco Electric Bass guitar.
But considering that basses at this price range are meant for beginners and newbie’s, there’s not much point in getting bogged down in the technical detail of sounds, frequencies and the like.
We do discuss this later but for now, go with the electric bass that you like the sound of. Simple as that!
Versatility
When looking for the best cheap electric bass, it’s important to consider the instrument’s versatility. This might sound strange at first. Particularly if you’re buying for a beginner, how versatile does a bass need to be?
Well, put it this way, if your child who’s currently a beginner takes an interest in the electric bass and wants to learn some songs of contrasting styles or that require different techniques to play then having a versatile bass will help them pursue their interests.
So when we talk about bass being versatile is what we really mean “expensive’?
Thankfully, no.
Versatile in this context simply means an electric bass that can get a lot of different sounds and be comfortably played in a number of different ways.
We’ll discuss playing techniques in the playability section of this article so whilst here, let’s focus on the instrument’s sound.
The sound will be produced through a combination of the wood that makes the bass, the electronics inside it, and, of course, the way it’s played.
Let’s start with electronics.
The first thing to note is what we call the pickups. The pickups are the small (usually black) bars that sit in the body of the electric bass underneath the strings.
Their job is to capture (or pickup) the sound of the strings, send them out of the bass, down the cable to the amplifier where that sound can then be amplified to the listener.
Now, there are different types of pickups which all have their own unique sound.
Single coil pickups are very common in the best cheap electric bass guitars because they are the type of pickups used in the famous Fender Jazz Bass range. And the jazz bass is hailed as one of the most versatile basses of all time.
They provide warmth, depth, clarity and bite to the sound. There’s pretty much nothing you can’t do with them.
Next are split single coil pickups.
These can be found in the equally famous Fender Precision Bass range and they aren’t as versatile when used on their own (commonly there’s only one in a precision bass) but they do provide a lot of warmth and a very satisfying “thud” sound which many electric bass players crave.
Put it this way, there’s a reason why beginner bassists and professionals alike love the precision bass.
You can combine the best of both worlds in what’s known as a PJ configuration which has the split single coil of the precision bass near the bridge and the single coil of a jazz near the neck.
This has become a very popular option for many cheap electric bass guitar makers – it even has its own name of the PJ bass – and provides the best of both worlds.
Either of these pickup configurations listed above are proven in a very wide variety of genres including pop, rock, funk, jazz and blues so all the basses (excuse the awful pun) are covered when it comes to the type of music you’ll likely want to learn as a beginner.
However, you may wish to explore other sounds through humbucker pickups such as those found in the very popular Musicman Stingray models currently made by Ernie Ball.
But if you really want to take a deep dive into pickups then be sure to read through this excellent article.
Playability
As well as sounding great, the best cheap electric bass guitars need to feel easy to play. There are a number of factors that affect the playability of good bass guitars so let’s run through a few of them now.
The first is the body shape.
It’s important to stress that what makes a body shape “good” on an electric bass guitar is very much a matter of preference. One beginner may find a body shape comfortable but that same body shape can be very difficult to a seasoned pro. The reverse is also true.
But, regardless of your preferences, the fact that the body shape will affect how comfortable the electric bass feels to you – and as such, how easy it feels to play – is something you need to take into account.
The material of the body is also worth considering because this will affect the weight and the body shape will also affect how that weight is distributed.
A common criticism of the jazz bass is that it’s “neck heavy” meaning that the neck is heavier than would be ideal. However, this is something that has been addressed in many of the better entry level electric bass limitations such as the Squier and Sire jazz bass models.
To put it simply, the better balanced your electric bass is, the less work it will be on your arms and hands and the easier it will be to play.
Tuning knobs
Last of all we come to tuning knobs and volume knobs.
Starting with tuning knobs – or tuning pegs to use the more common term – are the small pegs that are attached to the headstock of the bass and tune the strings when they are turned.
These come with four, five and six string bass guitars a like and they’re also included as standard from every bass maker you can name.
The most important thing to look for with tuning pegs is how well they keep the bass in tune. It’s inevitable that the tuning of the strings will slip and this can happen for a number of reasons.
For example, if your bass guitar takes a knock as you put it inside its case then the tuning might be affected. This can be fixed easily by adjusting the tuning pegs but, having bad tuning pegs can also lead to the tuning slipping on its own and this is a much bigger problem because it means there’s something wrong with the bass guitar itself.
Although most entry level bass guitars are getting better and better with their production, it may be best to stick to the tried and true big names brands here and look at their best budget bass guitar models.
The squier affinity series are great. Their bronco bass is particularly good! So perhaps it’s worth the piece of mind you get when buying from a bigger brand.
Finally, the volume control knobs (as you may have guessed) change the volume of the bass itself, so you can manipulate the master volume.
Best brands of bass guitar
Squier
Squier have been making great budget basses for years now. Whilst they have great J and P bass options, I feel that the pick of the bunch right now is their version of the Fender Bronco Bass. It sounds great, looks fantastic and is a highly playable instrument.
DESIGNED FOR: Beginners
COMES WITH: Maple neck and fingerboard offer effortless playing
FEATURES: Special designed single-coil pickup for rich Fender tone
Fender Squier Bronco Bass
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Crafted from lightweight poplar for a lightweight feel
- Short-scale design is ideal for beginners and younger players
- Only good for beginners
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Fender
Fender are great contenders for the best bass guitar brand title. After all, they pretty much defined the electric with bass with the invention of their very own precision bass and jazz bass ranges.
Ibanez
Ibanez have made a name for themselves making great but affordable basses for years now.
DESIGNED FOR: Players looking for vintage-inspired styling
COMES WITH: smooth jatoba fretboard and maple neck
FEATURES: custom electronics with 2-band EQ
Talman TMB100
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Sleek poplar body offers a light, mellow tone
- Sensationally warm, vintage tones are produced by Dynamix pickups
- None
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best bass guitars under 200
DESIGNED FOR: Beginners
COMES WITH: Maple Neck with Rosewood Fingerboard
FEATURES: Twin Cutaway Body Shape
Encore E4
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Comfortable, Ergonomic Design
- ¾ size for playability
- Left handed models available
- Comes with accessories
- You'll outgrow the guitar pretty quickly
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
DESIGNED FOR: Beginners
COMES WITH: Robust design with die case hardtail bridge and chrome hardware
FEATURES: Compact junior size with 30-inch scale length
Dean Hillsboro
Juniour
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Rich tones provided by basswood body and maple neck
- Strong low end from DMT design split coil pickup
- Not the best sound in the world
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best bass guitars under 200 for beginners
DESIGNED FOR: Beginners
COMES WITH: Basic Package and ¾ size for playability
FEATURES: Affordable
Dean Edge PJ Bass
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Full sized model
- No accessories
- More expensive
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
DESIGNED FOR: Beginners
COMES WITH: Free Jack Cable and Gig Bag
FEATURES: Paulownia wood construction
LA ¾ Sized Bass
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Crisp Clear Tone & Punchy Low End Depth
- Built From Lightweight Woods For Comfort & Playability
- Smaller size doesn’t work for everyone
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best value for money bass guitars under 200
DESIGNED FOR: Players of all levels and sizes
COMES WITH: Enhanced playability and comfort with smaller design
FEATURES: Huge, punchy tone from single Split Coil pickup
Squier Mini Precision
Bass
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Plays exceptionally thanks to smooth maple neck and laurel fingerboard
- None
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
DESIGNED FOR: Beginners or travelling musicians
COMES WITH: P slit coil pickup
FEATURES: A mahogany body and walnut fretboard
Greg Bennet Corsair
MCR-1
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Fantastic playability provided by short scale maple neck
- Perfect for beginners and travelling musicians thanks to compact size
- There are nicer sounding instruments
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Accessories for the bass guitar
Bass Amps – If you want a bass then you’ll need a bass amp so you can hear it!
This Vox Pathfinder 10B is a great practice amp which will be just fine for those initial practice sessions at home.
If you’re looking for more options, take a look at our 13 Best Bass Guitar Amps article.
DESIGNED FOR: Beginners
COMES WITH: Basic Package
FEATURES: Affordable
Vox Pathfinder 10B
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Affordable
- Good for home practice
- Not powerful
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Guitar Strap
Most bass playing musicians want to play standing up so a strap is a must. Whilst you’ll want something comfy, there’s no need to break the bank. Particularly if you’re buying your first strap.
Gig bag
Every bass needs a case. If you want to make sure your shiny new bass isn’t picking up knocks at your next hard rock gig then be sure to get a good protective case.
Hard cases offer more protection and soft cases offer more portability. So simply pick your preference.
12 Best Bass Guitar Under 200
Summary
Ultimately, I feel it’s best to go with tried and true basses when it comes to instruments in this price range. We hope the this curated list of the best bass under 200 helped you in finding the best bass guitar.
Yes there are a few interesting new contenders to the market, but they don’t have the history and reliability that big names like Fender have.
The big names not only understand the market, in many ways, they’re instruments are the reason the market exists. Their basses are the reason that so many of us, young and old alike, want to learn.
So if you want to become a bassist, why not choose a budget model but one that also has some pedigree?
