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Sterling by Music Man Bongo 5 5-String Bass Guitar
$899.99Sterling by Music Man Bongo 5 5-String Bass The Bongo 5 has joined the Sterling by Music Man lineup, offering one of the most unique and modern bass designs at an accessible price. Known for its bold and divisive...12 Payments of $75.00
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Fender Player II Modified Active Precision Bass Guitar with Bag
$1,149.99Gear up and get ready to take your performance to the next level with Fender Player II Modified. Featuring key upgrades for the modern guitarist and bassist, these versatile instruments are designed to handle anythi...12 Payments of $95.83
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Schecter Stiletto Studio 4 Electric Bass Guitar
$1,149.00The Stiletto Series Basses are hands down Schecter's most popular basses. The Studio 4 combines Euro-High Tech looks and upper-register playability so it is the perfect match for many styles of playing! These neck-t...18 Payments of $63.83
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Fender American Ultra II Precision Bass Guitar Ebony Neck with Case
$2,299.99Built for players boldly seeking the best, American Ultra II is our most advanced series of instruments. American Ultra II guitars and basses feature premium materials, precision craftsmanship and cutting-edge desig...12 Payments of $191.67
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Gibson SG Standard Bass Guitar with Hard Case
$1,699.00 - $1,999.00Gibson SG Standard Bass If the classic SG had a low-end sibling with attitude, it would be the Gibson SG Standard Bass. This short-scale icon packs the same legendary double-cutaway looks that made rock history, ...12 Payments of $166.58
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Squier Classic Vibe 70s Jazz Bass V 5-String Guitar Maple Neck
$399.95 - $559.99The evolution of the 70s Jazz Bass by combining the luxurious playability that made it famous with versatility and massive tone. The Classic Vibe '70s Jazz Bass V features dual Fender-Designed alnico single-coil pic...8 Payments of $70.00
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Schecter Daniel Firth Hellraiser Extreme 5 Bass Guitar
$1,599.00Schecter Daniel Firth Hellraiser Extreme-5 Bass Guitar If you've ever listened to the notorious British extreme metal institution Cradle of Filth and thought, "I need that exact bass tone to summon the dark lord...18 Payments of $88.83
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Ibanez Bass Workshop BTB605 Multi Scale 5-String Bass Guitar
$1,199.99Ibanez Bass Workshop BTB605 Multi Scale Pearl White Matte Step into the realm of boutique bass craftsmanship with the Ibanez Bass Workshop BTB605 Multi Scale 5-String Bass. This isn't just another production inst...12 Payments of $100.00
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Ibanez Premium BTB1935 5-String Bass Guitar with Bag Caribbean Islet
$1,615.00 - $1,899.99The Premium BTB1935 5-string bass is designed to inspire and ready to rock! At a certain point, the word ”boutique” comes to mind: Select-grade materials, neck-thru construction, and top quality components. A stunni...12 Payments of $158.33
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Sire Marcus Miller V8 2nd Generation 5-String Bass Guitar with Bag
$1,099.00Introducing the Sire Marcus Miller V8 2nd Generation 5-String Bass Guitar. This is ultimately your all-in-one bass guitar that aims to provide you with unparalleled performance level whenever and wherever. Crafted w...12 Payments of $91.58
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Fender American Pro II Jazz Bass V 5-String Bass Maple with Case
$2,149.99Fender American Professional II Jazz Bass V The Fender American Professional II Jazz Bass V 5-string bass draws from more than sixty years of innovation, inspiration, and evolution to meet the demands of today’s ...12 Payments of $179.17
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Sterling RAY5HH 5-String Bass Guitar
$529.99S terling RAY5HH 5-string bass: Redefining the Low-End Powerhouse Unlock the full potential of your bass performance with the Sterling Bass—a pinnacle of innovation and quality craftsmanship designed for discern...8 Payments of $66.25
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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.