Bass Guitar Product Reviews
This is the website for bass guitarists, written and run by bass guitarists! With that said, you may find that this is the most helpful section for you when deciding which bass to add to your collection, or which one will be chosen as your first “baby.” This where you’ll find out which basses have the best comfort, the best sound, and the best value. Here you’ll find what bass is best if you want to play jazz, metal, or rock, what you should choose if you want something that stands up to the hammering of being on tour, and which bass fits your budget and style of play perfectly.
This is the Home Page for bass guitar reviews. Here you will find a brief description of each make, its reliability, and perhaps even a bit about popular bassists and which makes they prefer.
Fender
They didn’t make the first bass guitar, but they did make the first electric bass guitar. All of that history and tradition comes through in one of the most popular bass guitar manufacturers ever. It all started with the P-Series bass. Set up strictly for that Jazz sound, many of the early Fenders provide a unique pitch and feel that cannot be remade today.
However, don’t be fooled into thinking that this is yesterday’s bass manufacturer – they are very much into the now. This is why musicians in every genre from punk to pop to popular use Fender basses. The P- and J-Series basses are, to this day, one of the top selling bass lines in the world.
Known more for sound than durability, one thing that can be said about Fenders – if you don’t like them, you can always change them! Fender provides one of the most customizable basses in the industry. Common in both fretted and fretless, the P- and J-Series can stand up to pretty much anything you can throw at them. Change the pickups, remove the frets, raise the bridge, take it apart and butcher it with spray-paint, it doesn’t matter; Fender basses will always adapt to what you want them to do.
You won’t find many knocks against this corporate powerhouse, however, if you’re looking for one, it can be said that some of the newer-models don’t stay in tune as well as the old workhorses. Other than that, the only negatives you may find are with minor cosmetic issues (gap in the neck pocket, tonal differences, etc.).
Popular Fender musicians include: John Entwistle (The Who), Geddy Lee (Rush), Jaco Pastorius, Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith), Ginger Pooley (The Smashing Pumpkins), Pino Palladino, Sting (Solo, The Police), Monk Montgomery, and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).
Gibson
Known for its production of the famous Les Paul guitar (and bass as well, for that matter), it is Gibson’s production of the EB Series, SG Series, Ripper Series, and Thunderbird Series, which make them a powerhouse in the bass market.
Perhaps one of the most reliable basses on the market, the EB Series is popular with many leading bass guitarists as well as weekend-warrior garage bands. Despite being incredibly durable, most bassists enjoy this series enough to not wish to tour with it for fear of breakage. Blessed with a warm, thick tone (a standard in most Gibsons from ’68 on), the EB Series is durable, sonorous, and reliable to a fault.
The Classic SG is another favorite, taking a page out of the EB Series’ book. The one knock against this series is its lack of midrange depth. However, for pure sound, adaptability, and comfort, it stands up to all others in the Gibson family.
If there is one knock against Gibson basses, it’s their lack of proper customer support. While the reliability standard doesn’t really leave much need for a vast amount of customer support, being in business for more than 100 years should have allotted them a bit more in the way of accessibility and consumer etiquette. Still, what they lack in support, they make up for in product.
Popular Gibson musicians include: Jack Bruce (Cream), Paul McCartney (The Beatles), Gene Simmons (Kiss), Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue), Twiggy Ramirez (Marilyn Manson, Goon Moon), and Ron Wood (The Rolling Stones).
Music Man
A subsidiary of the Ernie Ball Corporation (you may recognize the “Super Slinky” strings), Music Man basses have caught on quick in several genres. Anyone who has played a Music Man bass knows that they are all about the sound. Common for manufacturing 4- and 5-stringers, it is the StingRay 5-string that seems to find the most popularity among players.
Music Man deleted a lot of the flash, bells, and whistles in the production of their bass series (which also includes the Sabre, Cutlass, Sterling, Bongo, Big Al, and SUB). By all standards, the early basses may have been technologically superior to their much larger competitors. However, they lack the glamour and flash cosmetically that most players wish to display onstage.
Popular Music Man musicians include: Flea (The Red Hot Chili Peppers), John Myung (Dream Theater), John Deacon (Queen), Ross Valory (Journey), Cliff Williams (AC/DC), and Robert Trujillo (Metallica).
Ibanez
Known more for their standard guitars, don’t count Ibanez out of the race for bass title just yet. A very popular brand for the Heavy Metal, Nu Metal, and Hard Rock genres, Ibanez basses deliver a clean, low growl and are common for their ever-changing headstock designs.
The Ibanez series basses can be attributed more to their players than to their makers. The ARTCORE, Ergodyne, GWB, Musician, Roadstar, and Soundgear series are the most common base models sold, however, it is the Ibanez signature series basses (e.g. - K5 inspired by Fieldy, DWB inspired by Doug Wimbish, PGB inspired by Paul Gray) which have kept this company in the industry for more than 40 years.
Most Ibanez basses are of a sleek design and are accompanied by hi-tech pickups and electronics. A very popular bass for feel and comfort, however, they can be a bit burdensome for their weight if you’re onstage for long periods of time.
Popular Ibanez players include: Doug Wimbish (Living Colour), Paul Gray (Slipknot), Fieldy (Korn), and Greg K (The Offspring).
Rickenbacker
Undoubtedly one of the most distinct tones of any bass, Rickenbacker is known for prolonged sustain and explosive staccato. The first series manufactured by Rickenbacker, the 4000, became a staple for early rock-‘n-roll. Depending on the model chosen, they are slightly lighter in weight than many of their counterparts, due to their common use of hollow bodies and neck-through designs. Rickenbackers are known for their durability and ability to stay in tune.
Popular Rickenbacker musicians include: Lemmy Kilmeister (Motorhead), Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), Peter Quaife (The Kinks), Nick Oliveri (Queens of the Stone Age), Rick James, John Taylor (Duran Duran), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), and Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones).
Modulus
If you want a guitar that can stand up to the punishment, Modulus may be your best choice. Known for their carbon fiber necks, these rugged beasts are resistant to bowing, dead spots, and falling out of tune. They are typically much lighter than many basses due to the fact that the entire neck is no longer steel-reinforced hardwood. Inspired by Phil Lesh (The Grateful Dead) and designed by an aerospace engineer, Modulus basses combine glamour and reliability into one. If you are just starting out, however, you may find them somewhat out of your price range.
Popular Modulus musicians include: Mike Gordon (Phish), Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam), Flea (The Red Hot Chili Peppers), Stefan Lessard (The Dave Matthews Band), and Phil Lesh (The Grateful Dead).
