Top 5 Best Bass Guitars

[bigjames]

This is an impossible question...I will reframe it such, Top 5 Types of Bass Guitars (one should consider owning):

1) P-Bass
2) J-Bass
3) MusicMan-style
4) Fretless Bass
5) Semi-acoustic / Acoustic Bass

Maybe not in that order? I have a fretted PJ (sort of covers 1 and 2) and a Fretless with some chambers (sort of covers 4 and 5).

 

[AncientNoob]

sometimes i just wonder if threads like these are here just to drive viewer counts......

Made ya look

 

[CryingBass]

Five is the loneliest number that I ever knew....

 

[jlm00013]

I'm going to reply to this with the most iconic models in no particular order:

Fender Precision Bass
Fender Jazz Bass
Music Man StingRay
Rickenbacker 4001
Hofner 500/1

 

[JKB1957]

1951 P-Bass, 1957 P-Bass, 1961 J-Bass, 1972 Rickenbacker 4001, 1964 Hofner violin bass.

 

[Plectrum72]

Don't know about best, but my favorites are:
1. MIJ Fender Jazz Bass Special (white)
2. MIA Peavey Fury (red)
3. MIC Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV (white)
4. MIA Rickenbacker 4003S (fireglo)
5. MIC Hofner Ignition Club (green)

 

[jd56hawk]

My top five.

 

[96tbird]

Oh good! This isn't spam.

 

[Passinwind]

It's time to let your thoughts be known.

I know nothing. Wait…is there an echo in here or is that reverb?

 

[Stock]

The Yamaha is great value for money and they make a nice bass. I own the Ibanez. I own four various Sound gear basses actually, so there's my choice. It feels like no other bass. I prefer the tonal options too.

It's time to let your thoughts be known.
View attachment 4540358

The top 6 of the ones I've owned- 1. 1973 Fender J Bass (sold it in college, big mistake) 2. Fender Kingman V3 Acoustic 3. 2000ish Fender J Bass Deluxe (stolen) 4. 2011 ish Fender J Bass Deluxe 5. Unknown age Teisco Del Rey Vox knockoff (sold) 6. 1972 Fender Music Master (sold)

 

[TTA]

1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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I might be biased though

The first two and the last are very cool.

 

[Deleted member 365158]

The first two and the last are very cool.

Ha! thanks,
#3 is the closest stock one and is probably only special to me, there aren't many fans of the ibanez EX but that was the first one i ever bought. I bet if more people played them, they would realize how nice they can play

 

[Manticore]

"Top" is too loosely defined to really answer the question. Assuming most requested sound, or tone, I think the four on the left pretty much covers everything you really need. The one on the right can replicate the tones found in each of the four on the left, so I guess I'd say it is the top. As for "top" meaning the best bass for me? All five top five slots are covered by Alembic, either Elan or Europa body styles, preferably six-strings, with various different electronics packages. I currently own three Alembic Elan sixes, so I guess I need two more...

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

My top 5
Ernie Ball MusicMan StingRay5 Special
Sandberg Ida Nielsen 5
Pre Ernie Ball MusicMan StingRay
Ernie Ball MusicMan StingRay 5 Classic/ US SUB5
Warwick Dolphin

 

[5StringBlues]

Mothmanx5

 

[Koshchei]

For me:
1)

2…n) Everything else.

 

[dkelley]

I've owned MANY basses. Very inexpensive through to absurdly expensive.

Nearly every one had amazing qualities when setup right. Nearly....

 

[Bassinthemudd]

View attachment 4541017

If I'm going fishin' I gotta open it!

 

[Gizmot]

Here are my choices:
1). Rickenbacker 4001 / 4003
2). G&L L-2000 / L-2500
3). MusicMan Sting Ray HH 4 or 5
4). Dingwall ZX3
5). Serek Sacramento

What? No Fenders? Yep - that's it. I don't think Fenders are bad - but if you compare them side-by-side with G&L, there's no contest. Also - if you check out this list, these are all basses with personality.

 

[thewildest]

I pile them randomly, so the top 5 are whichever 5 that would rest on top.

Then there are the infamous bottom 3.

Those are trouble, yes Sir….