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Beginner's Bass Guitar Guide

Beginner's Gear Guides: Bass

Ready to start playing electric bass? Start building your first rig here.

Picking out a bass setup can be a daunting experience for a first-time player. We've put together this guide to help you find everything you need, from entry-level basses and amps to must-have practice accessories.

See more Beginner's Gear Guides »

Electric Basses
To start building your bass setup, we've got a wide selection of affordable bass guitars that are great for beginning players. While guitarists often start learning on acoustic guitars, most bassists go with a comfortable electric bass as their first axe. Offering versatile tones and easy playability for newcomers, these beginner basses are an excellent value.
See More Entry-Level Electric Basses »
ONLY 3 LEFT

Sterling Intro Series StingRay Electric Bass

$299.99
FREE 2-day Shipping
Get it Thursday, Jun 11
FREE delivery Thursday
  • 8 payments of 
    $37.50/mo
  • No Credit Check
    6 payments of 
    $50.00/mo

Luna Tattoo Electric Bass

$349.00
FREE Shipping
FREE Shipping
  • 8 payments of 
    $43.63/mo
  • No Credit Check
    6 payments of 
    $58.17/mo

Epiphone Newport Bass Guitar

$349.00
FREE 2-day Shipping
Get it Thursday, Jun 11
FREE delivery Thursday
  • 8 payments of 
    $43.63/mo
  • No Credit Check
    6 payments of 
    $58.17/mo
BACK IN STOCK

Sterling by Music Man StingRay 5 Electric Bass, 5-String

$459.99
FREE 2-day Shipping
Get it Thursday, Jun 11
FREE delivery Thursday
  • 8 payments of 
    $57.50/mo
  • No Credit Check
    6 payments of 
    $76.66/mo
Electric Bass Amplifiers
The next step in building your bass rig is to find the right amplifier to pair with your bass. Look for a combo amp that combines the amplifier itself with a speaker cabinet in one unit, and choose an amp with a built-in headphone jack for late-night practicing. These affordable bass amps pack plenty of punch for when you join your first band.
See More Entry-level Bass Amplifiers »
BACK IN STOCK

Ampeg RB-112 Rocket Bass Combo Amplifier (100 Watts, 1x12")

$499.99
FREE 2-day Shipping
Get it Thursday, Jun 11
FREE delivery Thursday
  • 8 payments of 
    $62.50/mo
  • No Credit Check
    6 payments of 
    $83.33/mo
PRICE DROP

Blackstar Unity 60 Bass Combo Amplifier (60 Watts, 1x10")

$419.99
FREE 2-day Shipping
Get it Thursday, Jun 11
FREE delivery Thursday
  • 8 payments of 
    $52.50/mo
  • No Credit Check
    6 payments of 
    $70.00/mo
BACK IN STOCK

Vox VX50BA Bass Combo Amplifier with Nutube (50 Watts, 1x8")

$349.99
FREE 1-day Shipping
Get it Tomorrow, Jun 10
FREE delivery Tomorrow
  • 8 payments of 
    $43.75/mo
  • No Credit Check
    6 payments of 
    $58.33/mo

Boss Dual Cube Bass LX Bass Guitar Amplifier

$329.99
FREE 1-day Shipping
Get it Tomorrow, Jun 10
FREE delivery Tomorrow
  • 8 payments of 
    $41.25/mo
  • No Credit Check
    6 payments of 
    $55.00/mo
Cables, Tuners, and Picks: Must-Have Accessories
There are a few simple accessories that no budding bassist should be without. A reliable cable is essential to connect your bass to its amp. For new players, a simple tuner can save hours of agony while practicing. And while many bass traditionalists dismiss the use of picks, a pack of heavy-gauge picks can be extremely helpful for novice players.
See more Accessories »
Bass Strings, Gig Bags, and More Useful Tools
Round out your bass setup with other useful tools and gear. Every bassist breaks a string from time to time, so it's always a good idea to have some extra packs lying around. A basic gig bag and guitar stand are great ways to help keep your bass in pristine condition.
See all Bass Guitar Strings »
Bass Effects Pedals and Preamps
There's nothing like pressing down a bypass switch on your favorite bass effects pedal and upping your tone to the next level. Pedals not only give your rig versatility when playing live or at practice, but offer inspiration for bass part composition and future tones. From single stompboxes to multi-effect pedalboards, bass effects are pivotal in finding your unique bass footprint.
See all Bass Guitar Effects »