Best 4-String Basses Under $2,000 2026
Affordable 4-string basses under $2,000 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 7, 2026 • Next update: January 14, 2026
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY34HH Spalted BOB
Distinctive Sound
Specialty Applications
Alternative Styles
Key Feature:
• Standard four-string configuration
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • No high C string for extended range
Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY34HH Spalted BOBElectric BassBody: NyatohTop: Spalted mapleBolt-on neck: Roasted...
⭐
4.6/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 585252
$1,484
#2
⭐
4.8/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY34 Dorado Green
Custom Features
Unique Designs
Specialty Applications
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • No high C string for extended range
Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY34 Dorado GreenElectric BassBody: NyatohBolt-on neck: Roasted maplefingerboard:...
⭐
4.8/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 585268
$1,176
#3
⭐
4.5/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Human Base BaseX.oc4 OPNT
by
Human Base
Specialty Applications
Alternative Styles
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Classic bass foundation
✓ PROS
- • Classic bass foundation
- • Versatile tonal range
✗ CONS
- • No high C string for extended range
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Human Base BaseX.oc4 OPNTElectric BassBody: Swamo AshThree-piece bolt-on neck: MapleDual action truss rodFingerboard:...
⭐
4.5/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 528591
$1,738
#4
⭐
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
#5
⭐
4.9/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vint MJ4 Morado SGR
by
Sadowsky
Distinctive Sound
Custom Features
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Standard four-string configuration
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
- • Standard four-string configuration
✗ CONS
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vint MJ4 Morado SGRElectric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.9/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 597182
$1,242
#6
⭐
5.0/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Reverend Decision P Bass Midnight Black
by
Reverend
Alternative Styles
Specialty Applications
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Standard four-string configuration
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Standard tuning limitations
- • No high C string for extended range
Reverend Decision P Bass Midnight BlackElectric BassBody: KorinaBolt-on 5-piece neck: Roasted maple and...
⭐
5.0/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 622288
$1,209
#7
⭐
4.7/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vintage MJ4 RM CAO
by
Sadowsky
Experimental Music
Custom Features
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for most musical styles
- • Versatile tonal range
✗ CONS
- • Standard tuning limitations
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vintage MJ4 RM CAOElectric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard: Roasted...
⭐
4.7/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 597134
$1,209
#8
⭐
4.6/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Hagstrom Nekromant 4 Black Gloss
by
Hagstrom
Custom Features
Distinctive Sound
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Classic bass foundation
✗ CONS
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Hagstrom Nekromant 4 Black GlossElectric BassBody: MahoganySet-in neck: MahoganyFingerboard: ResinatorPearloid Hagstrom...
⭐
4.6/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 600984
$1,176
#9
⭐
4.7/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Sadowsky MetroExp24 Modern 4 Morado BK
by
Sadowsky
Alternative Styles
Distinctive Sound
Specialty Applications
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Classic bass foundation
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Sadowsky MetroExp24 Modern 4 Morado BKElectric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.7/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 599325
$1,209
#10
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vint M4 Morado CH
by
Sadowsky
Distinctive Sound
Experimental Music
Specialty Applications
Key Feature:
• Versatile tonal range
✓ PROS
- • Classic bass foundation
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
- • Standard tuning limitations
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vint M4 Morado WHElectric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard: MoradoFingerboard...
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 597921
$1,198
#11
⭐
4.4/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sterling by Music Man Sting Ray RAY34BKR2
Specialty Applications
Custom Features
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Standard four-string configuration
- • Versatile tonal range
✗ CONS
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
- • Standard tuning limitations
Sterling by Music Man Sting Ray RAY34BKR2Electric BassBody: MahoganyNeck: roasted mapleFingerboard: Rosewood21 Medium...
⭐
4.4/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 457606
$1,099
#12
⭐
4.8/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sandberg California Central 4 Black PF
by
Sandberg
Custom Features
Unique Designs
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Classic bass foundation
✓ PROS
- • Standard four-string configuration
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • No high C string for extended range
Sandberg California Central 4 Black PFElectric BassBody: AshNeck: Bolt-on mapleFingerboard: Pau ferroFingerboard...
⭐
4.8/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 540204
$1,869
#13
⭐
4.6/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Ibanez EHB1000-AOM
by
Ibanez
Unique Designs
Custom Features
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Standard four-string configuration
- • Versatile tonal range
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
Ibanez EHB1000-AOMElectric BassEHB-SeriesBody: American basswood5-Piece bolt-on neck: Roasted maple /...
⭐
4.6/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 582089
$1,140
#14
⭐
4.7/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sadowsky MetroExpress 24-4 M MO CAR
by
Sadowsky
Experimental Music
Unique Designs
Alternative Styles
Key Feature:
• Standard four-string configuration
✓ PROS
- • Standard four-string configuration
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
- • Standard tuning limitations
Sadowsky MetroExpress 24-4 M MO CARElectric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard: MoradoFingerboard...
⭐
4.7/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 598316
$1,099
#15
⭐
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
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.
