Best Basses for Intermediate 2026
Perfect basses for intermediate - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
GENRES & STYLES:
For Folk
For Unplugged
For Acoustic Sessions
For Singer-Songwriter
For Jazz
For World Music
BRANDS:
Höfner
#1
⭐
4.9/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Steinberger Guitars Spirit XT-2 Standard Bass FB
Singer-Songwriter
Folk
World Music
Key Feature:
• Natural acoustic resonance
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for intimate performances
- • Natural acoustic resonance
✗ CONS
- • Limited volume output
- • Less versatile than electric
Steinberger Guitars Spirit XT-2 Standard Bass FBElectric BassBuild: HeadlessBody: Basswood3-Piece neck-thru-body:...
⭐
4.9/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 449984
$494
#2
⭐
4.7/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Steinberger Guitars Spirit XT-2DB Standard Bass BK
Unplugged
Singer-Songwriter
Folk
Key Feature:
• Rich, woody tone
✓ PROS
- • Natural acoustic resonance
- • No amplifier needed for small venues
✗ CONS
- • Less versatile than electric
- • May need pickup for larger venues
Steinberger Guitars Spirit XT-2DB Standard Bass BKElectric BassDesign: HeadlessLime bodyContinuous 3-striped maple...
⭐
4.7/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 261858
$538
#3
⭐
4.7/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Steinberger Guitars Spirit XT-2 Standard Bass HY
Acoustic Sessions
Unplugged
World Music
Key Feature:
• Rich, woody tone
✓ PROS
- • No amplifier needed for small venues
- • Natural acoustic resonance
✗ CONS
- • May need pickup for larger venues
- • Requires good room acoustics
Steinberger Guitars Spirit XT-2 Standard Bass HYElectric BassBuild: HeadlessBody: Basswood3-Piece neck-thru-body:...
⭐
4.7/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 449987
$538
#4
⭐
4.8/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Höfner Violin Bass 500/1 Relic 61
by
Höfner
Acoustic Sessions
Unplugged
Singer-Songwriter
Key Feature:
• No amplifier needed for small venues
✓ PROS
- • Natural acoustic resonance
- • Authentic unplugged bass sound
✗ CONS
- • Less versatile than electric
- • Limited volume output
Höfner Violin Bass 500/1 Relic 61E-BassInspired by the McCartney bassTop: SpruceBack and sides: Flamed...
⭐
4.8/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 437322
$4,169
#5
⭐
4.6/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Höfner H500/1-61-0 Beatles CavernBass
by
Höfner
Singer-Songwriter
Unplugged
Folk
Key Feature:
• Natural acoustic resonance
✓ PROS
- • Authentic unplugged bass sound
- • Perfect for intimate performances
✗ CONS
- • Limited volume output
- • May need pickup for larger venues
Höfner H500/1-61-0 Beatles CavernBassBeatles Cavern Bass"The original" Paul McCartney Cavern bassTop made of...
⭐
4.6/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 262297
$3,189
#6
⭐
4.6/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Fender Vintera II 70s Tele Bass VWT
by
Fender
Acoustic Sessions
Jazz
Folk
Key Feature:
• Perfect for intimate performances
✓ PROS
- • Authentic unplugged bass sound
- • No amplifier needed for small venues
✗ CONS
- • Less versatile than electric
- • Limited volume output
Fender Vintera II 70s Tele Bass VWTElectric BassVintera II SeriesBody: AlderNeck: MapleNeck profile: Mid '70s...
⭐
4.6/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 571500
$1,209
#7
⭐
4.8/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Steinberger Guitars Spirit XT-2 Standard Bass BK
Singer-Songwriter
World Music
Unplugged
Key Feature:
• Perfect for intimate performances
✓ PROS
- • No amplifier needed for small venues
- • Rich, woody tone
✗ CONS
- • Weather sensitive construction
- • Limited volume output
Steinberger Guitars Spirit XT-2 Standard Bass BKElectric BassBuild: HeadlessBody: Basswood3-Piece neck-thru-body:...
⭐
4.8/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 261849
$463
#8
⭐
4.8/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Bass 4-String BL
Folk
Singer-Songwriter
World Music
Key Feature:
• Authentic unplugged bass sound
✓ PROS
- • Natural acoustic resonance
- • Authentic unplugged bass sound
✗ CONS
- • May need pickup for larger venues
- • Weather sensitive construction
Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Bass 4-String BLAcoustic-Electric Traveler BassTotal length: 857 mmNeck: Eastern American...
⭐
4.8/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 474831
$439
#9
⭐
4.9/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Höfner Violin Bass 500/1 Relic 63
by
Höfner
Acoustic Sessions
World Music
Unplugged
Key Feature:
• No amplifier needed for small venues
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for intimate performances
- • No amplifier needed for small venues
✗ CONS
- • May need pickup for larger venues
- • Requires good room acoustics
Höfner Violin Bass 500/1 Relic 63E-BassInspired by the McCartney bassTop: spruceBack and sides: Flamed MapleTwo-piece...
⭐
4.9/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 437305
$3,949
#10
⭐
4.9/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Höfner Club Bass Vintage Relic
by
Höfner
Folk
World Music
Singer-Songwriter
Key Feature:
• Authentic unplugged bass sound
✓ PROS
- • Authentic unplugged bass sound
- • Natural acoustic resonance
✗ CONS
- • Less versatile than electric
- • May need pickup for larger venues
Höfner Club Bass Vintage RelicElectric BassTop: SpruceBody: flamed maple2 Piece maple neckFretboard: RosewoodScale:...
⭐
4.9/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 571314
$3,666
#11
⭐
4.7/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Ibanez BTB747-NTL 7 String
by
Ibanez
World Music
Singer-Songwriter
Folk
Key Feature:
• Authentic unplugged bass sound
✓ PROS
- • Natural acoustic resonance
- • Rich, woody tone
✗ CONS
- • Weather sensitive construction
- • Less versatile than electric
Ibanez BTB747-NTLElectric Bass7-StringBody: Mahogany/ash wingsTop: Walnut9-Piece neck-through: Maple/Panga...
⭐
4.7/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 430985
$1,231
#12
⭐
4.5/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Harley Benton BZ-7000 II NT
Unplugged
Jazz
Singer-Songwriter
Key Feature:
• Perfect for intimate performances
✓ PROS
- • Natural acoustic resonance
- • Authentic unplugged bass sound
✗ CONS
- • May need pickup for larger venues
- • Limited volume output
Harley Benton BZ-7000 II NT7-String Electric BasDeluxe SeriesBody: Mahogany / ash / mahogany / ashTop: AAA flamed maple...
⭐
4.5/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 521731
$659
#13
⭐
4.4/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton GuitarBass VS V. Series w/Bag
Folk
Acoustic Sessions
Singer-Songwriter
Key Feature:
• Rich, woody tone
✓ PROS
- • Natural acoustic resonance
- • No amplifier needed for small venues
✗ CONS
- • May need pickup for larger venues
- • Requires good room acoustics
Harley Benton GuitarBass VS V. Series w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton GuitarBass VS Vintage...
⭐
4.4/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 542144
$270
#14
⭐
4.9/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton GuitarBass VS Vintage Series
World Music
Acoustic Sessions
Singer-Songwriter
Key Feature:
• No amplifier needed for small venues
✓ PROS
- • Natural acoustic resonance
- • No amplifier needed for small venues
✗ CONS
- • Less versatile than electric
- • Requires good room acoustics
Harley Benton GuitarBass VS Vintage Series6-String Bass/Baritone GuitarVintage SeriesTuning: EADGBE - one octave lower...
⭐
4.9/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 402283
$241
#15
⭐
4.8/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Fender Vintera II 60s Bass VI LPB
by
Fender
Acoustic Sessions
World Music
Unplugged
Key Feature:
• Rich, woody tone
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for intimate performances
- • Natural acoustic resonance
✗ CONS
- • May need pickup for larger venues
- • Limited volume output
Fender Vintera II 60s Bass VI LPB6-String Electric BassVintera II SeriesBody: AlderNeck: Bolt-on mapleFingerboardd:...
⭐
4.8/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 571504
$1,403
How to Choose the Best 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 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.
