Best bass guitar under 400 dollars?

Do you live near a store that sells basses?

 

easiest answer among the multitude of easy answers... an LTD B-50 for a typical $100-$200

 

It all starts with knowing what you're looking for. I like the current production Ibanez SR 300s myself, I own a six string model. Can be had super cheap used. Once saw the 6er change hands for 200, bought mine new at around 380. Just because I missed the used one and it was the only one I ever saw for sale in Europe.

 

Buy used

 

I can tell you what I like, others definitely will, but you really have to try as many as possible.
A good start might be a Squier Classic Vibe, the older models, if you like a jazz bass.

G&L L2000 or SB-2...Tribute models are around $400.


Plenty of other basses for that price. These are readily available for $300. Talman 310...the Talman 300s are the same without the sparkle finishes.

 

Ibanez TMB100

 

Brand spaking new
Both under $300


And I am loving both of them.

Dean Paramount and Juggernaut

$259 & $264 respectively

Try before you buy if possible
I say this because they have thin satin finish necks which might not be your thing

Available at GC and MF

Both are being discontinued

You can buy used at lower prices, which I have done, but sometimes you just gotta have new without someone's grubby mitts and DNA all over it

OP wasn’t clear about new or used

 

+1 for the talman 300s. P pickup, jazz, or humbucker sounds with active eq. I run mine completely flat on everything with a flat amp

 

I don't know where you live but based on your user pic, you can buy a used MIM Fender Jazz bass for $400 or less. Perhaps a used G&L Tribute L2000 too (I bought mine for $300).
If you want brand new, perhaps a Sire V3 Jazz bass. It's both active and passive, great bass for the price of $369 shipped to your door.

Sire Marcus Miller V3 4st 2nd Generation – Sire Webstore-USA

 

The best answer is ALWAYS a good used bass.

The best way to get the best quality bass for the least amount of money is buying from a pawnshops or seeking one out on CL.

These 2 places will always trump any deal you could find at GC, Sam Ash or any other guitar shop, and you'll be able to try before you buy.

I've bought all my basses from pawnshops and they were always amazing deals, and always WAY lower than wholesale prices.

Here's the ones I've bought in the last few years at pawnshops.

$64.64 - '74 Fender Jazz Bass
$400 - '78 Fender B-Bass
$115 - '90 MIJ Fender '57RI P-Bass
$204 - '94 Fender Jazz V Plus
$190 - '92 USA Hamer Chaparral Bass

 

Buy something at a pawn shop that you can play for cheap. Then, hit every pawn shop you can and don't settle. I started with a Peavey Fury for $150 and ended up with an American Fender for $399.

 

I recommend a Fender Squier Classic Vibe Jazz Bass ’60s.