-
Michael Kelly Pinnacle 5 Bass 5-String Bass Guitar
$899.99The Michael Kelly Pinnacle 5 is designed for today’s demanding bass player. Thoughtful design details created an evenly balanced instrument which feels comfortable whether you play standing or sitting. The deep cut ...12 Payments of $75.00
- Back in Stock
Ibanez TMB100 Talman Electric Bass Guitar
$279.99The TMB100 gets back to basics and delivers a one-two punch by combining a passive P/J pickup configuration with a retro Ibanez body design for a bass that delivers in looks and sound. Features include a poplar body...6 Payments of $46.67
h m s
- Back in Stock
Ibanez GSRM20 Left-Handed Mikro Bass Guitar
$279.99The Ibanez Mikro offers anyone who needs a compact axe or the comfort of a smaller neck (most especially young rockers) a real alternative to small guitars that are really only toys. This Ibanez GSRM20L is a left-ha...6 Payments of $46.67
h m s
-
Sire Marcus Miller Z3 Bass Guitar
$499.00The Sire Marcus Miller Z3 blends classic elegance with modern performance and introduces satisfying deeper lows from active equalization suited for players looking for groovy humbucker sound. With the new Z-bass bod...8 Payments of $62.38
h m s
-
Schecter C-5 Standard 5-String Bass Guitar
$499.00Low end thunder, the Schecter C-5 Standard 5-string bass, where affordability meets exceptional performance, style, and playability. Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first axe or a seasoned professional n...8 Payments of $62.38
h m s
-
Sterling StingRay RAY5LH 5-String Left Handed Bass Guitar
$499.99Unleash the deep, resonant tones that define your music with our exquisite 5-string bass guitar. Designed for bassists who crave an exceptional blend of playability and aesthetic, this instrument is a testament to c...8 Payments of $62.50
h m s
-
Jackson JS3V Concert Bass 5-String Guitar Amaranth Neck
$479.99The five-string Concert Bass JS3V is a 35”- scale model featuring a lightweight and resonant poplar body and fully bound bolt-on maple neck with graphite reinforcement and scarf joint, and a 12”-16” compound radius ...8 Payments of $60.00
h m s
-
Squier Classic Vibe Active 70s Jazz Bass Guitar Maple Fingerboard
$589.99The Squier Classic Vibe Active ’70s Jazz Bass draws its inspiration from the infamous basses that defined the funky tones of the 1970s, adding an onboard preamp for the ultimate combination of vintage looks and mode...8 Payments of $73.75
h m s
- Back in Stock
Jackson JS3Q Kelly Bird Bass Guitar Amaranth Fingerboard
$319.95 - $439.99Deliver thunderous tone with the formidable look, the JS3 Kelly Bird bass look is based on the iconic classic Kelly body style. The Kelly Bird JS3Q four-string bass features a 34”-scale length, a lightweight poplar ...8 Payments of $55.00
h m s
-
Ibanez SR300EBL Left Handed Bass Guitar
$429.99Designed for the experienced left-handed bassists, the SR300EBL bass features a smooth, fast neck, lightweight body and perfectly matched electronics. For 30 years the SR has given bass players a modern alternative....8 Payments of $53.75
h m s
-
Epiphone Viola Electric Bass Guitar
$449.00The Epiphone Viola Electric Bass Guitar is Epiphone’s take on one of the most recognized basses in the world. A popular bass for British Invasion bands, the Viola's unique construction and woody tone produce uniqu...8 Payments of $56.13
h m s
- Back in Stock
Sire Marcus Miller V3P Bass Guitar
$449.00The Sire V3P is a passive addition to the incredibly popular V series! Sire V3P's Marcus Miller-approved hardware, body build, neck features, and now passive electronics, complete this bass' efficiency for its cost....8 Payments of $56.13
h m s
Skip to Content
Get FREE shipping on all orders!
Fast FREE shipping on all orders!
Electric Bass Guitars
Hey Mr. Bassman! Whether you like to snap, strum, pop, pick, or pluck, having the right Electric Bass Guitar can make all the difference and AMS has an incredible selection. Choose the wood, color, style, and scale length to make your performance stand above the rest. Stay centered with a standard four-string bass, or stretch out with five- and six-string models.
American Musical Supply is excited to be your stop for electric basses from top brands! We offer True 0% interest payment plans - applying is easy. Use your own debit or credit card, enjoy fast and free shipping, and add an electric bass to your creative setup.
We make buying an electric bass quick and easy - in-stock items that are ordered before 5PM will ship out the same day! (see our Shipping Information Page for more details) Do you have questions about basses and want to know which one would be best for you? Give us a call at 800-319-9043 - our experts are standing by.
What is the best electric bass? Well, that all depends on what you’re looking for in terms of size, feel, tone perspective, and price point. American Musical Supply is stocked with a huge collection of basses that touch on those different characteristics in unique ways – we’re here to help you find the instrument you have been looking for!
You can’t talk about the bass without bringing up Fender – most notably the Fender Precision Bass (or P Bass) and the Fender Jazz Bass. With their trademark ‘double horn’ designs and substantial solid bodies that have been built to provide support, strength, and resonance, these rock-solid electric basses have provided the low-end support for bands and ensembles of all types for over sixty years. The split pickups of the P Bass provide all of the power and punch needed for all types of rock music. The special single-coil layout found on the Jazz Bass means smooth, bright, complex tones – jazz, funk, fusion, and all types of dance-driven pop and EDM genres are tailor-made for the Fender Jazz Bass.
We know that Gibson is known for their electric and acoustic guitars, but their bass guitars have a history of making serious contributions to the world of music. The EB Bass was released in 1953 and was their very first production bass. That was followed by a number of iconic instruments including the Thunderbird Bass and SG Bass. AMS carries the newest versions of these historic American-made models - wonderful blends of famous looks and powerful low frequency performance.
Building basses takes a certain mindset and there are companies that dedicate serious time and effort to the unique quirks of the electric bass. After all, these creative tools aren’t just guitars with fewer strings. Electric basses are their own beasts - serving as the foundation, the driving tonal pulse, and the support that anchors your music’s chord voicings and rhythmic patterns. AMS is fortunate to carry Music Man, Spector, Warwick, and PRS – just a few of the brands that go above and beyond when it comes to sculpting unique tone wood bodies, implementing modified hardware and pickups, and finishing it all out with special appointments and visual touches. To these companies, building a bass is not just making a tool for music, it’s creating a true work of art!
If you’re looking for a comfortable electric bass that has a bit more of a streamlined body shape - something that is a bit lighter, that’s nicely balanced, and is easy to get around - you should be sure to check out Ibanez and Yamaha. Their popular basses are incredibly reliable, look great, and are known for their versatility across the music spectrum. Do you need the distinct growl and boom of a heavy metal bass guitar? ESP and Schecter have the menacing designs and snarling pickups you need to feed that intensity!
What kind of bass is best for a beginner? Go ahead and take a look at our selection of Epiphone, Sterling, Ibanez Gio, and Squier basses, which provide many pro-level features at a more comfortable price point. American Musical Supply has lots of different models to choose from and these instruments are approved by performers, educators, and technicians. If you’re looking for an all-in-one gift for an aspiring bass player, be sure to check our selection of Electric Bass Guitar Packages. These instruments are perfect for our 4-pay and 6-pay plans – these are the easiest ways to buy a gift for someone, period!
When it comes to choosing your electric bass, there are a few important characteristics to consider. The first thing is the number of strings. 4-String Electric Basses - usually tuned E-A-D-G from lowest to highest - are the most common and are the instruments taken into consideration when bass music is written. 5-String Electric Basses - usually tuned B-E-A-D-G from low to high - are also very popular for players seeking a bit more extra range down low. Are you a player that is looking to push the limits on range and technique ever further? We also carry a wide selection of electric basses with 6 Strings or more.
Next, it’s about choosing an instrument with either an active or passive pickup setup. What’s the difference between an active pickup and passive pickup? Well, an active pickup includes a built-in preamp that is powered by a 9-volt battery. First and foremost, this boosts the signal of the bass before it hits the effects chain or Bass Guitar Amp. Active basses often have extra levels of tone control at the source, allowing you to tweak the parameters of various color-shaping controls and the instrument’s low, middle, and higher frequencies (EQ) in much more detail. The result? A wider palette of sounds to choose from. Just remember to take this extra boost of gain into consideration and keep plenty of spare batteries so that your active controls can work properly.
An electric bass with a passive pickup performs just like a standard electric guitar – simply plug it into your amplifier and you’re ready to go from there. Tone controls are much more limited on a passive bass – usually a low and high EQ – and there can be a bit more extraneous noise if you’re using longer cable runs. Passive basses are much more straightforward and user-friendly. That means that your clean bass sound is a bit more limited, although if you’re using Bass Guitar Effects and controlling tone parameters on a Bass Guitar Amp, you’re still open to a wide catalog of tonal options.