Best Bass Guitars Under $500
$500 buys a genuinely good bass today, new or used. The budget lines from the big makers are well built and gig-ready, and the used market stretches the same money a lot further.
Series worth starting with in this range include the Squier Classic Vibe and Affinity basses, Yamaha TRBX and BB models, Ibanez SR and GSR, Sterling by Music Man (the more affordable StingRay-style line), and Schecter. Used, $500 can also reach some Mexican- and Japanese-made Fenders.
What to look for
- Buy used to stretch the budget. A used bass that originally sold for $700–$900 often lands under $500.
- Pickups shape the sound. A single P pickup gives the classic punchy tone, JJ is brighter and more growly, and PJ gives you some of both.
- Check the neck and frets in photos, or in person if you can: a straight neck and even frets matter more than the finish.
- Budget for a setup. A $50–$75 setup from a local tech makes an inexpensive bass play like a much pricier one.
For sale right now (292)
☆
Sterling by Music Man RAY2 Intro Series StingRay Bass
MM/HH pickups
$270$30010% off
Sweetwater · 1 hr ago
Compare☆Fender Squier Sonic Precision Bass Guitar, Laurel Fingerboard Black Bundle with Tuner, Strap, and Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD
P pickups
$270$33018% off
Micheo Music · 1 hr ago
Compare☆Sterling by Music Man SB4 4-String Electric Bass Guitar
4-string
$320$40020% off
Musicians Friend · 1 hr ago
Compare☆Epiphone Newport Bass
$349$3593% off
zZounds · 4 hr ago
Compare☆Rogue LX200B Series III Electric Bass Guitar
$130$18028% off
Target · 4 hr ago
Compare☆Rogue Sx100b Series II Electric Bass Guitar
$100$15033% off
Target · 4 hr ago
Compare☆Gretsch Streamliner Jet Club Bass Single-Cut
$330$3506% off
Sweetwater · 4 hr ago
Compare☆Squier Limited Edition Sonic Bronco Bass
$208$26020% off
Guitar Center · 7 hr ago
Compare☆Squier Affinity Series Limited-Edition PJ Bass Guitar
PJ pickups
$320$37014% off
Musicians Friend · 7 hr ago
Compare☆SQUIER AFFINITY SERIES PRECISION BASS PJ
PJ pickups
$300$35315% off
West Main Music Academy · 16 hr ago
Compare☆Jackson JS Series Concert Bass Minion JS1X
$220$25012% off
Sweetwater · 19 hr ago
Compare☆Rogue LX205B 5-String Series III Electric Bass Guitar
5-string
$140$18022% off
Target · 19 hr ago
Compare☆San Francisco Semi Acoustic Bass by Gear4music
Acoustic
$179$22821% off
gear4music.com · 19 hr ago
Compare☆Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass Guitar
Short scale
$187$22015% off
B&H Photo-Video-Audio · 22 hr ago
Compare☆Rogue LX205B 5-String Series III Electric Bass Guitar
5-string
$140$18022% off
Target · 22 hr ago
Compare☆Rogue LX200B Series III Electric Bass Guitar
$130$18028% off
Target · 22 hr ago
Compare☆Cordoba Mini II Bass MH-E
$300$3309% off
Melhart Music Center · 22 hr ago
Compare☆LA Select Bass Guitar by Gear4music
$134$17122% off
gear4music.com · 22 hr ago
Compare☆Ibanez miKro Bass Guitar
Short scale
$216$2285% off
Lisbon Music Shop · 22 hr ago
Compare☆Sterling by Music Man SB4 4-String Electric Bass Guitar
4-string
$320$40020% off
Musicians Friend · 22 hr ago
Compare☆Best Choice Products Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar
Acoustic
$120$15020% off
Best Buy · 22 hr ago
Compare☆Jackson JS Series Concert Bass Minion JS1X
$213$25015% off
Guitar Center · 22 hr ago
Compare☆Squier 60s Classic Vibe Fretless Jazz Bass Neck + Tuners 2026
4-string · Fretless · JJ pickups
$180$20010% off
Reverb · Very Good · 1 days ago
Compare☆Jackson X-Series Concert Bass Sunburst
4-string · Active
$423$47010% off
Reverb · Good · 2 days ago
Compare