Best Signature Basses for Intermediate 2026
Perfect signature basses for intermediate - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.7/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Ibanez GWB205-TQF
by
Ibanez
Artist Emulation
Tribute Performance
Professional Playing
Key Feature:
• Unique features and appointments
✓ PROS
- • Collectible value
- • High-quality construction
✗ CONS
- • Premium pricing
- • Limited availability
Ibanez GWB205-TQF5-String Electric BassFretlessGary Willis (Tribal Tech) Signature ModelBody: AshBolted neck:...
⭐
4.7/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 484743
$1,759
#2
⭐
4.8/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Sadowsky MetroExp22 Will Lee 5 BK
by
Sadowsky
Tribute Performance
Professional Playing
Artist Emulation
Key Feature:
• Unique features and appointments
✓ PROS
- • Unique features and appointments
- • High-quality construction
✗ CONS
- • Can be overhyped
- • Premium pricing
Sadowsky MetroExp22 Will Lee 5 BK5-String Electric BassWill Lee Artist LineBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted...
⭐
4.8/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 599293
$1,484
#3
⭐
4.9/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Sadowsky MetroExp22 Will Lee 4 CAR
by
Sadowsky
Professional Playing
Artist Emulation
Specific Genres
Key Feature:
• Collectible value
✓ PROS
- • Unique features and appointments
- • Professional performance capability
✗ CONS
- • Can be overhyped
- • May not suit all players
Sadowsky MetroExp22 Will Lee 4 CARElectric BassWill Lee Artist Line ModelBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted...
⭐
4.9/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 599290
$1,374
#4
⭐
5.0/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Höfner H500/1-61-0 Cavern Bass Left
by
Höfner
Tribute Performance
Artist Emulation
Collection
Key Feature:
• High-quality construction
✓ PROS
- • High-quality construction
- • Professional performance capability
✗ CONS
- • May be too specific for general use
- • Limited availability
Höfner H500/1-61-0 Cavern Bass LeftLeft-Handed Electric Bass"The Original" - Paul McCartney's Cavern...
⭐
5.0/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 304708
$3,299
#5
⭐
5.0/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Spector Euro Artist Doug Wimbish 4 AG
by
Spector
Specific Genres
Tribute Performance
Artist Emulation
Key Feature:
• High-quality construction
✓ PROS
- • Collectible value
- • Professional performance capability
✗ CONS
- • May not suit all players
- • Can be overhyped
Spector Euro Artist Doug Wimbish 4 AGElectric BassDoug Wimbish Signature modelBody: MapleTop: Maple3-piece maple neck...
⭐
5.0/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 619757
$3,442
#6
⭐
4.8/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Sandberg Forty Eight 5 BK Victor Brandt
by
Sandberg
Collection
Specific Genres
Tribute Performance
Key Feature:
• Professional performance capability
✓ PROS
- • Collectible value
- • High-quality construction
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability
- • May be too specific for general use
Sandberg Forty Eight 5 BK Victor Brandt5 String Electric BassBody: AlderBolt-on neck: Maplecompletely blackFingerboard:...
⭐
4.8/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 573909
$3,134
#7
⭐
4.5/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Yamaha BBNE2 Nathan East Black
by
Yamaha
Professional Playing
Specific Genres
Tribute Performance
Key Feature:
• Collectible value
✓ PROS
- • Unique features and appointments
- • Collectible value
✗ CONS
- • Premium pricing
- • May be too specific for general use
Yamaha BBNE2 Nathan East Black5-String Electric BassBody: AlderTop: MapleNeck-through-body neck:...
⭐
4.5/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 536211
$4,949
#8
⭐
5.0/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Sterling by Music Man Pete Wentz Signature Bass FR
Tribute Performance
Artist Emulation
Collection
Key Feature:
• Unique features and appointments
✓ PROS
- • Exact specifications of famous players
- • Unique features and appointments
✗ CONS
- • Can be overhyped
- • Limited availability
Sterling by Music Man Pete Wentz Signature Bass FRElectric BassPete Wentz (Fall Out Boy) Signature ModelSting Ray...
⭐
5.0/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 583715
$956
#9
⭐
4.5/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
ESP LTD TA-604 FRX BLKS
by
ESP
Collection
Artist Emulation
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• High-quality construction
✓ PROS
- • Unique features and appointments
- • Collectible value
✗ CONS
- • Can be overhyped
- • May not suit all players
ESP LTD TA-604 FRX BLKSElectric BassTom Araya Signature ModelMaple body3-Piece neck: MaplePau Ferro fretboardNeck...
⭐
4.5/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 459245
$1,924
#10
⭐
4.5/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Warwick AL Bootsy Collins Spacebass
by
Warwick
Studio Recording
Professional Playing
Collection
Key Feature:
• Collectible value
✓ PROS
- • Collectible value
- • High-quality construction
✗ CONS
- • May not suit all players
- • May be too specific for general use
Warwick AL Bootsy Collins SpacebassElectric BassBootsy Collins Signature ModelMahogany bodyBolt-on neck: MapleWenge...
⭐
4.5/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 342593
$1,429
#11
⭐
4.8/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Sterling by Music Man Pete Wentz Signature Bass
Specific Genres
Artist Emulation
Tribute Performance
Key Feature:
• High-quality construction
✓ PROS
- • Exact specifications of famous players
- • High-quality construction
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability
- • May not suit all players
Sterling by Music Man Pete Wentz Signature BassElectric BassPete Wentz (Fall Out Boy) Signature ModelSting Ray Artist...
⭐
4.8/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 578884
$956
#12
⭐
5.0/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Sandberg Custom 5 Yolanda Charles Sig
by
Sandberg
Studio Recording
Artist Emulation
Tribute Performance
Key Feature:
• High-quality construction
✓ PROS
- • High-quality construction
- • Exact specifications of famous players
✗ CONS
- • May not suit all players
- • Limited availability
Sandberg Custom 5 Yolanda Charles Sig5-String Electric BassYolanda Charles Signature modelBody: AshBolt-on neck:...
⭐
5.0/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 616093
$2,749
#13
⭐
4.5/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Spector NC-4 Frank Bello
by
Spector
Collection
Tribute Performance
Artist Emulation
Key Feature:
• Professional performance capability
✓ PROS
- • Unique features and appointments
- • High-quality construction
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability
- • May be too specific for general use
Spector NC-4 Frank BelloElectric BassBody: AlderBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MaplePurple acrylic block fingerboard...
⭐
4.5/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 620810
$1,264
#14
⭐
4.9/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sadowsky MetroExp22 Will Lee 5 CAR
by
Sadowsky
Collection
Studio Recording
Artist Emulation
Key Feature:
• Exact specifications of famous players
✓ PROS
- • Collectible value
- • High-quality construction
✗ CONS
- • Premium pricing
- • Can be overhyped
Sadowsky MetroExp22 Will Lee 5 CAR5-String Electric BassWill Lee Artist Line ModelBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted...
⭐
4.9/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 599291
$1,484
#15
⭐
4.8/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Sandberg Basic Ken Taylor 4 RW TSB
by
Sandberg
Tribute Performance
Artist Emulation
Professional Playing
Key Feature:
• Exact specifications of famous players
✓ PROS
- • Professional performance capability
- • High-quality construction
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability
- • Can be overhyped
Sandberg Basic Ken Taylor 4 RW TSBElectric BassBody: AshNeck: MapleFingerboard: RosewoodScale: 34"Pickups: 2...
⭐
4.8/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 586537
$1,924
How to Choose the Best Signature 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 signature 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.
