A new electric bass costs from about $110 to more than $18,000. Of the 2,113 basses Thomann had in stock in October 2026, a quarter cost less than $500, half cost less than about $1,120, and 125 cost more than $5,000. As with guitars, the brand sets the level: the median Harley Benton bass costs $258, Squier $374, Fender $1,833 and Music Man $3,757.
For a beginner, $200 to $350 buys a playable 4-string, or a set with an amp. A bass you'll keep for years costs $600 to $1,100. Above that, you're paying for American or boutique building, not an easier instrument to play.
How much does a bass guitar cost for beginners?
Start on a 4-string Precision (P) or Jazz (J) bass: the two designs most music has been played on. A starter set with a small amp is the cheapest complete option (97 sets at Thomann, median $291).
Squier Sonic Precision Black, $201
Fender's cheapest Precision Bass, with the classic single split pickup. #8 of 89 4-String P-Basses.
Squier Affinity P Bass PJ LPB, $302
A P bass with an added J pickup at the bridge for more tonal range, a popular first bass. #6 of 89 4-String P-Basses.
Squier Mini P Bass Black Set, $307
A short-scale bass (726 mm instead of the standard 864 mm) for children and small hands, sold as a set. #1 of 41 bass guitar sets.
The value step: $600 to $1,100
Fender Standard P Bass MN WPG CND, $602
Fender's new entry-level Precision Bass, at a price close to Squier's best. In our P-bass ranking it sits above many basses that cost twice as much: #1 of 89 4-String P-Basses.
Fender Player II Jazz Bass MN CGR, $1,059
The Mexican-made Jazz Bass with two pickups, the most versatile classic bass. The highest-ranked J-bass under $1,200 in our index when we checked: #1 of 100 4-String J-Basses.
Bass guitar prices by brand
| Brand | Models | Cheapest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harley Benton | 320 | $111 | $258 |
| Squier | 61 | $190 | $374 |
| Marcus Miller | 210 | $393 | $674 |
| Ibanez | 169 | $204 | $917 |
| Sadowsky | 286 | $989 | $1,124 |
| Fender | 167 | $604 | $1,833 |
| Sandberg | 213 | $955 | $2,362 |
| Music Man | 61 | $3,071 | $3,757 |
Prices are Thomann's as of October 18, 2026.
When to spend more
Fender Am Pro Clsc J-Bass RW FFMG, $1,737
The American Professional Classic Jazz Bass, built in Fender's California factory. #2 of 100 4-String J-Basses.
4 strings or 5?
A 5-string adds a low B string for deeper notes, used in modern rock, metal, gospel and much pop. It costs only a little more (the median 5-string J-bass at Thomann is $1,124 against $1,012 for a 4-string), but its wider neck is harder for beginners. Start on four unless your music needs the low notes.
Questions
How much should a beginner spend on a bass guitar?
$200 to $350. The Squier Sonic Precision costs $201; a set with an amp costs a little more.
Is a $200 bass good enough?
For learning, yes, as long as it's set up properly so the strings sit low and the neck is straight.
Are 5-string basses more expensive?
Slightly. The bigger cost is a wider neck that's harder to play at first.
How we measured. We took every electric bass Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026, 2,113 in total, converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate. Products show today's price and rank, updated every night; the tables are fixed to October 18.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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