Best 4-String Basses Under $5,000 2026
Affordable 4-string basses under $5,000 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.9/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Duesenberg Triton Bass Goldtop
by
Duesenberg
Experimental Music
Custom Features
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Standard four-string configuration
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • No high C string for extended range
Duesenberg Triton Bass GoldtopElectric BassBody: solid alderBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: RosewoodCream-coloured body...
⭐
4.9/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 458184
$3,298
#2
⭐
4.6/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Rickenbacker 4003S W
by
Rickenbacker
Unique Designs
Alternative Styles
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Classic bass foundation
✗ CONS
- • Standard tuning limitations
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Rickenbacker 4003S WElectric BassBody: Walnut with rounded edgesNeck-through-body with Skunk StripeFretboard: Maple...
⭐
4.6/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 370313
$2,914
#3
⭐
5.0/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Music Man Stingray 4 Special Raspberry
by
Music Man
Unique Designs
Custom Features
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for most musical styles
- • Versatile tonal range
✗ CONS
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
- • No high C string for extended range
Music Man Stingray 4 Special Raspberry4-String Electric BassBody: selected hardwoodNeck: Bolt-on mapleNeck mounting:...
⭐
5.0/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 513610
$3,849
#4
⭐
4.8/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Music Man Stingray 4 Special HH B.Rock
by
Music Man
Distinctive Sound
Custom Features
Specialty Applications
Key Feature:
• Classic bass foundation
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for most musical styles
- • Standard four-string configuration
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
Music Man Stingray 4 Special HH B.RockElectric BassBody: Selected hardwoodBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleRoasted maple...
⭐
4.8/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 589570
$3,189
#5
⭐
4.4/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sandberg Forty Eight 4 AB Victor Brandt
by
Sandberg
Custom Features
Alternative Styles
Distinctive Sound
Key Feature:
• Versatile tonal range
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for most musical styles
- • Versatile tonal range
✗ CONS
- • No high C string for extended range
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Sandberg Forty Eight 4 AB Victor BrandtElectric BassBody: AshBolt-on neck: MapleCompletely black fingerboard:...
⭐
4.4/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 587821
$2,639
#6
⭐
4.6/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Music Man Stingray 4 H Special Ocean
by
Music Man
Distinctive Sound
Alternative Styles
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Classic bass foundation
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
- • No high C string for extended range
Music Man Stingray 4 H Special OceanElectric BassBody: Selected hardwoodBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.6/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 589263
$3,409
#7
⭐
4.9/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Höfner Vintage 500/1 62 Mersey
by
Höfner
Alternative Styles
Custom Features
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
✗ CONS
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
- • Standard tuning limitations
Höfner Vintage 500/1 62 MerseyElectric Bass<i>The</i> Beatles bassTop: Selected german spruceBody made of...
⭐
4.9/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 145035
$3,299
#8
⭐
4.4/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Ulrich Bass Retro57 P 4 Cream Relic
by
Ulrich Bass
Alternative Styles
Experimental Music
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Versatile tonal range
✓ PROS
- • Classic bass foundation
- • Standard four-string configuration
✗ CONS
- • No high C string for extended range
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Ulrich Bass Retro57 P 4 Cream RelicElectric BassBody: WalnutNeck: Bolt-on mapleFingerboard: MapleFingerboard inlays:...
⭐
4.4/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 590351
$3,299
#9
⭐
4.8/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sandberg Custom 4 PF BB
by
Sandberg
Specialty Applications
Alternative Styles
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Standard four-string configuration
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Sandberg Custom 4 PF BBElectric BassBody: MahoganyTop: Buckeye Burl (root wood)Bolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: Pau...
⭐
4.8/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 559634
$3,134
#10
⭐
4.7/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Music Man Stingray 4 HH Black
by
Music Man
Custom Features
Unique Designs
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Standard four-string configuration
✓ PROS
- • Versatile tonal range
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • May need alternate tunings for some styles
Music Man Stingray 4 HH BlackElectric BassBody: Selected hardwood5-Bolt neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard: Roasted...
⭐
4.7/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 599555
$3,079
#11
⭐
5.0/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Spector Euro LX 4 Nightshade matt
by
Spector
Alternative Styles
Unique Designs
Specialty Applications
Key Feature:
• Standard four-string configuration
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Standard tuning limitations
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Spector Euro LX 4 Nightshade mattElectric BassBody: European alder with a walnut stripeTop: Flamed maple3-piece...
⭐
5.0/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 599230
$2,969
#12
⭐
4.6/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Human Base BaseX 4 Amboina
by
Human Base
Alternative Styles
Experimental Music
Specialty Applications
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for most musical styles
- • Versatile tonal range
✗ CONS
- • Less range than extended scale basses
- • Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
Human Base BaseX 4 Amboina4-String Electric BassBody: Swamp ashTop: AmboinaNeck attachment: Bolt-onNeck:...
⭐
4.6/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 467831
$2,959
#13
⭐
4.4/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Ibanez SR5500-MHF Prestige
by
Ibanez
Unique Designs
Specialty Applications
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Perfect for most musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of pickup configurations
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • No high C string for extended range
- • Less range than extended scale basses
Ibanez SR5500-MHF PrestigeElectric BassBody: MahoganyTop: Ovangkol5-Piece neck: Maple/WalnutFingerboard: RosewoodMother...
⭐
4.4/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 606699
$2,859
#14
⭐
4.7/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Sandberg Basic VM 4 MN Zebra
by
Sandberg
Custom Features
Specialty Applications
Experimental Music
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
Sandberg Basic VM 4 MN ZebraElectric BassBody: AshBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: RosewoodAbalone Dot fingerboard...
⭐
4.7/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 577825
$2,309
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Music Man Pino Palladino StingRay
by
Music Man
Unique Designs
Custom Features
Alternative Styles
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of pickup configurations
✓ PROS
- • Classic bass foundation
- • Perfect for most musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Standard tuning limitations
- • No high C string for extended range
Music Man Pino Palladino StingRayElectric BassBody: PoplarBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: RosewoodWhite fingerboard...
⭐
4.5/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 619273
$4,619
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.
