To start playing bass you need five things: a 4-string electric bass, a bass amp or a pair of headphones with a bass headphone amp, an instrument cable, a strap and a tuner. A gig bag helps if you'll carry it to lessons. Use a bass amp, not a guitar amp: low notes at volume can damage a small guitar speaker.
The easiest way to get everything at once is a starter set; buying separately gets you a better amp.
The beginner bass checklist
- A 4-string bass. Standard long scale (34 inches) for most adults; short scale (about 30 inches or less) for smaller hands and kids.
- A bass amp of 15 to 25 watts for home, with a headphone output for quiet practice.
- A cable, a strap and a clip-on tuner. A few dollars each, and included in starter sets.
- A gig bag to carry it.
The all-in-one option
Squier Affinity P Bass PJ Set, $415
A 34-inch-scale Squier Precision Bass with P and J pickups, plus a Harley Benton bass amp, gig bag, strap, clip-on tuner and cable. #1 of 41 bass guitar sets.
Building your own kit
Ibanez GSRM20B miKro, $220
A 28.5-inch short-scale bass with P and J pickups, easy for small hands. One of the highest-ranked short-scale basses we track: #1 of 51 short scale basses.
Squier Mini P Bass, $188
Another short-scale option with the classic Precision Bass look. #3 of 51 short scale basses.
Fender Rumble 25, $199
A 25-watt bass combo with an 8-inch speaker, overdrive, an aux input for playing along and a headphone output. #1 of 85 solid-state bass combos.
Fender Rumble 40, $366
40 watts through a 10-inch speaker with a more detailed EQ and a line out, loud enough for jamming with a drummer at low volume. #1 of 85 solid-state bass combos.
Questions
Can I play bass through a guitar amp?
Quietly, for a short while. Low frequencies at volume can damage a guitar speaker, so get a bass amp.
Should a beginner get a short-scale bass?
If you have small hands or the bass is for a child, yes. Most adults are fine on a standard 34-inch scale.
How we picked. Every product comes from an AudioFu ranking, scored on demand, price, specs and brand; specs and set contents from Thomann's product data. Prices are converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate and updated every night, as are the ranks.
Share this story
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.
All stories by Denis Kataev →
