Best 4-String Basses 2026
Top-rated 4-string basses 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: January 7, 2026 • Next update: January 14, 2026
#1
⭐
4.9/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY34HH Charc Frost
Alternative Styles
Specialty Applications
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Versatile tonal range
✓ PROS
- • Standard four-string configuration
- • Versatile tonal range
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY34HH Charc FrostElectric BassBody: NyatohBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.9/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 585249
$1,429
#2
⭐
4.6/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY34 Spalted 3TSB
Alternative Styles
Distinctive Sound
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
- • Versatile tonal range
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY34 Spalted 3TSBElectric BassBody: NyatohTop: spalted mapleBolt-on neck: roasted...
⭐
4.6/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 585257
$1,374
#3
⭐
4.7/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Sting Ray 4 MG
Alternative Styles
Custom Features
Specialty Applications
Key Feature:
• Versatile tonal range
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • Standard tuning limitations
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Sting Ray 4 MGElectric BassBody: BasswoodNeck: MapleFretboard: Maple21 FretsNut width: 38...
⭐
4.7/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 435000
$516
#4
⭐
4.9/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Sting Ray 4 WS
Unique Designs
Alternative Styles
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Standard four-string configuration
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for most musical styles
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
- • Standard tuning limitations
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Sting Ray 4 WSElectric BassBody: BasswoodNeck: MapleFretboard: Jatoba21 FretsNut width: 38...
⭐
4.9/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 435006
$516
#5
⭐
4.5/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Sterling by Music Man StingRay2 Electric Blue
Alternative Styles
Unique Designs
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • No high C string for extended range
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Sterling by Music Man StingRay2 Electric BlueElectric BassBody: PoplarBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleDual action...
⭐
4.5/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 612710
$428
#6
⭐
4.5/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Franz Bassguitars Sirius 4 DC Poplar Burl
Unique Designs
Alternative Styles
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Classic bass foundation
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
- • Classic bass foundation
✗ CONS
- • No high C string for extended range
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Franz Bassguitars Sirius 4 DC Poplar BurlElectric BassTop: Burl poplarBody: AlderNeck-thru-body 3-piece neck:...
⭐
4.5/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 560546
$5,335
#7
⭐
4.6/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Rickenbacker 4003S FG
by
Rickenbacker
Distinctive Sound
Custom Features
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Versatile tonal range
✓ PROS
- • Standard four-string configuration
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Rickenbacker 4003S FGElectric BassBody: Maplewith rounded edgesNeck-through-body maple neckFretboard: Unvarnished...
⭐
4.6/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 360915
$2,969
#8
⭐
5.0/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Sterling by Music Man Sting Ray Classic 24 BSC
Custom Features
Specialty Applications
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Classic bass foundation
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
Sterling by Music Man Sting Ray Classic 24 BSCElectric BassBody: MahoganyNeck: MapleFretboard: Maple21 FretsScale:...
⭐
5.0/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 435305
$824
#9
⭐
4.7/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B Sting Ray4 HH Cobra Blue
Experimental Music
Unique Designs
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Versatile tonal range
✓ PROS
- • Classic bass foundation
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Standard tuning limitations
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B Sting Ray4 HH Cobra BlueElectric BassBody: JabonNeck: Bolt-on mapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.7/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 585145
$659
#10
⭐
4.6/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Sterling by Music Man StingRay2 Black
Distinctive Sound
Alternative Styles
Specialty Applications
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Classic bass foundation
✗ CONS
- • Standard tuning limitations
- • No high C string for extended range
Sterling by Music Man StingRay2 BlackElectric BassIntro SeriesBody: PoplarBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleBlack...
⭐
4.6/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 612689
$428
#11
⭐
4.5/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Marcus Miller Z3-4 Rosegold
Custom Features
Unique Designs
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Versatile tonal range
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Marcus Miller Z3-4 RosegoldElectric BassZ SeriesBody: MahoganyBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleFingerboard inlays:...
⭐
4.5/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 584177
$494
#12
⭐
4.5/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY24CA Olympic White
Experimental Music
Specialty Applications
Alternative Styles
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
- • Versatile tonal range
✗ CONS
- • Standard tuning limitations
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY24CA Olympic WhiteElectric BassBody: NyatohBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.5/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 585272
$846
#13
⭐
5.0/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Danelectro 58 Longhorn Bass Black Red
by
Danelectro
Experimental Music
Alternative Styles
Unique Designs
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • No high C string for extended range
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Danelectro 58 Longhorn Bass Black RedElectric Bass"Moonlight Delight Editon"Top with F-hole: MasoniteBack:...
⭐
5.0/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 609212
$769
#14
⭐
4.5/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Marcus Miller Z7-4 Antique White
Unique Designs
Distinctive Sound
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Standard four-string configuration
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Classic bass foundation
✗ CONS
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
- • Standard tuning limitations
Marcus Miller Z7-4 Antique WhiteElectric BassBody: AlderBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: EbonyWhite dot fingerboard...
⭐
4.5/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 584203
$659
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Sting Ray4 Chopper Blue
Experimental Music
Specialty Applications
Unique Designs
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Sting Ray4 Chopper BlueElectric BassBody: BasswoodNeck: MapleFingerboard: MapleScale:...
⭐
4.5/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 585133
$504
How to Choose the Best 4-String Basses
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced 4-string basses typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
