Best 4-String Basses Under $500 2026
Affordable 4-string basses under $500 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Sterling by Music Man StingRay2 Misty Green
Specialty Applications
Alternative Styles
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Versatile tonal range
✓ PROS
- • Classic bass foundation
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • No high C string for extended range
- • Standard tuning limitations
Sterling by Music Man StingRay2 Misty GreenElectric BassBody: PoplarBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleDual action...
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 612713
$428
#2
⭐
4.8/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Marcus Miller Z3-4 Silver Sparkle
Alternative Styles
Experimental Music
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Versatile tonal range
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
- • No high C string for extended range
Marcus Miller Z3-4 Silver SparkleElectric BassBody: MahoganyBolt-on neck: MapleEdgeless fingerboard: RosewoodBlack dot...
⭐
4.8/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 610509
$494
#3
⭐
4.7/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Marcus Miller Z3-4 Antique White
Distinctive Sound
Unique Designs
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Standard four-string configuration
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • No high C string for extended range
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Marcus Miller Z3-4 Antique WhiteElectric BassZ SeriesBody: MahoganyBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleBlack dot...
⭐
4.7/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 584165
$494
#4
⭐
4.8/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Marcus Miller Z3-4 Sparkle Black
Alternative Styles
Distinctive Sound
Specialty Applications
Key Feature:
• Classic bass foundation
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
- • Standard four-string configuration
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Marcus Miller Z3-4 Sparkle BlackElectric BassZ SeriesBody: MahoganyBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleBlack dot...
⭐
4.8/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 584158
$494
#5
⭐
4.8/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton HBZ-2004 Deluxe Series Bundle
Specialty Applications
Unique Designs
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Standard four-string configuration
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Harley Benton HBZ-2004 Deluxe Series Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton HBZ-2004 Deluxe Series*Electric...
⭐
4.8/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 539300
$347
#6
⭐
4.8/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Yamaha BB234 VW
by
Yamaha
Custom Features
Unique Designs
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • Standard tuning limitations
Yamaha BB234 VWElectric BassAlder bodyBolt-on maple neckRosewood fretboard (Dalbergia latifolia)Scale: 864mm (Long...
⭐
4.8/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 450319
$472
#7
⭐
4.5/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Yamaha TRBX 304 CAR
by
Yamaha
Custom Features
Unique Designs
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Classic bass foundation
✓ PROS
- • Classic bass foundation
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
- • Standard tuning limitations
Yamaha TRBX 304 CARElectric BassBody: MahoganyNeck: 5-Piece maple/mahoganybolt-onFretboard: Dalbergia LatifoliaScale:...
⭐
4.5/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 312991
$499
#8
⭐
4.8/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Epiphone Newport Bass Cherry
by
Epiphone
Unique Designs
Distinctive Sound
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Classic bass foundation
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
Epiphone Newport Bass CherryElectric BassBody: MahoganyGlued-in neck: MahoganyFingerboard: Indian LaurelPerloid Dot...
⭐
4.8/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 549141
$461
#9
⭐
4.7/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Epiphone EB-3 EB
by
Epiphone
Specialty Applications
Alternative Styles
Unique Designs
Key Feature:
• Versatile tonal range
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for most musical styles
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Epiphone EB-3 EBElectric BassSG StyleBody: MahoganySet-in mahogany neckRosewood fretboardTrapezoid inlaysPickups: 1...
⭐
4.7/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 112625
$458
#10
⭐
4.5/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Marcus Miller M2 TBK 2nd Gen
Unique Designs
Experimental Music
Specialty Applications
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for most musical styles
- • Classic bass foundation
✗ CONS
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
Marcus Miller M2 TBK 2nd GenElectric BassBody: Mahogany (Swietenia)Neck: MapleNeck profile: CFretboard: Rosewood...
⭐
4.5/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 446386
$395
#11
⭐
4.9/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Jackson JS3P Concert Bass TR BLK
by
Jackson
Distinctive Sound
Experimental Music
Alternative Styles
Key Feature:
• Classic bass foundation
✓ PROS
- • Standard four-string configuration
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • Standard tuning limitations
Jackson JS3P Concert Bass TR BLKElectric BassBody: PoplarTop: burl poplar with art grainNeck: MapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.9/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 583803
$472
#12
⭐
4.8/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Epiphone Viola Bass
by
Epiphone
Custom Features
Experimental Music
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Versatile tonal range
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for most musical styles
- • Classic bass foundation
✗ CONS
- • Standard tuning limitations
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Epiphone Viola Bass, Viola bass guitarShort-scale basses may have become a bit outdated, but if you love the sounds of...
⭐
4.8/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 152095
$424
#13
⭐
4.6/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Epiphone Embassy Bass Graphite Black
by
Epiphone
Experimental Music
Alternative Styles
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for most musical styles
- • Versatile tonal range
✗ CONS
- • No high C string for extended range
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
Epiphone Embassy Bass Graphite BlackElectric BassBody: mahoganyNeck: MahoganyMedium C ProdilIndian Laurel fretboardNut...
⭐
4.6/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 502737
$461
#14
⭐
4.6/5
(12 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Ibanez SR300E-SVM
by
Ibanez
Alternative Styles
Specialty Applications
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for most musical styles
- • Versatile tonal range
✗ CONS
- • Standard tuning limitations
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Ibanez SR300E-SVMElectric BassBody: Nyatoh5-Piece neck: Maple / walnutFretboard: JatobaWhite fingerboard inlaysScale...
⭐
4.6/5
(12 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 509714
$406
#15
⭐
4.7/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Ibanez SR300EB-CA
by
Ibanez
Specialty Applications
Experimental Music
Unique Designs
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Standard four-string configuration
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • Standard tuning limitations
Ibanez SR300EB-CAElectric BassSoundgear SeriesBody: Nyatoh5-Piece neck: Walnut24 Medium fretsFretboard: JatobaNeck...
⭐
4.7/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 379370
$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.
