Finding a Bass Guitar

Finding a bass guitar at any price level is not difficult; any guitar store will most likely have at least a few basses at various price points; the really good news is that the quality of even the cheapest entry-level instruments has become quite good in recent years.  With that in mind, and as this site is generally designed for beginners, let’s focus on entry-level options:

Here are some local stores that sell bass guitars:

Guitar Center

Sam Ash Music

Willis Music

Although entry level 5-string basses are becoming more common, most beginners will be better off starting with a 4-string. Also be aware that there are a variety of string-lengths that are available, most commonly 30 inch, 34 inch, and 36 inch.  Beginners will generally find that the shorter string length basses are easiest to start out with. For younger beginners, Ibanez makes a “short scale” bass with a 28-inch string length called the “Mikro Bass“.

When buying a bass guitar, it is also recommended that one buy a case, strap, amp, and tuner.