Customer Kudos
"I've used every mail-order, catalog, app, major websites out there to get my gear for 15+ years. ONLY zZounds in the past 5. Customer service, knowledge, communication and compassion is top notch! Traits no longer available in our big corps! zZounds is the best!"
February 15, 2024
All-Star Gear: Bass Guitars
Your Top-Rated Basses
Whether you like to slap and pop or chug with a pick, finding the right bass makes all the difference for your playing and the low end of your band's mix. Our All-Star list of basses is packed with player favorites both classic and contemporary, with prices at all levels.
If you're shopping for your first bass or you're considering adding another to your collection, you can't go wrong with these well-reviewed picks. Hear what happy owners have to say and see if your favorites made our list!
See more All-Star Gear Guides! »
If you're shopping for your first bass or you're considering adding another to your collection, you can't go wrong with these well-reviewed picks. Hear what happy owners have to say and see if your favorites made our list!
Epiphone Thunderbird IV Electric Bass
Our Customers Say...
"Great value, great tone, great looks...I also own a Gibson T-bird so to compare these instruments has been easy...for the money you spend on this you get a lot more than you bargained for."
- Barry in Seattle, WA
"This thing is a tank. I've bumped it a few times. I'm sure it could dent, but I would definitely use this thing in a fight. Seriously, I don't keep a backup. This thing is basically indestructible...I've had this bass for a couple years now and I don't see it ever wearing out."
- A Happy Customer
"I feel the price was a steal. It's all the amenities of a $2000 bass minus the price tag."
- Dean in Burlington City, NJ
"Great value, great tone, great looks...I also own a Gibson T-bird so to compare these instruments has been easy...for the money you spend on this you get a lot more than you bargained for."
- Barry in Seattle, WA
"This thing is a tank. I've bumped it a few times. I'm sure it could dent, but I would definitely use this thing in a fight. Seriously, I don't keep a backup. This thing is basically indestructible...I've had this bass for a couple years now and I don't see it ever wearing out."
- A Happy Customer
"I feel the price was a steal. It's all the amenities of a $2000 bass minus the price tag."
- Dean in Burlington City, NJ
Dean ML Metalman Electric Bass
Our Customers Say...
"Perfect bass for me...I play nothing but extreme metal, mainly grindcore, death metal, and their various sub-genres. This bass is perfect for getting a nasty high-gain tone thanks to the hot soapbar right next to the bridge, which is also a nice touch since I play with a pick and there's no neck pickup to get in the way when I'm digging in the strings. The neck is very slim for a bass so it's easy to get around quickly on it...The overall quality to price ratio is unbelievable."
- Raymond in Stanardsville, WA
"Perfect bass for me...I play nothing but extreme metal, mainly grindcore, death metal, and their various sub-genres. This bass is perfect for getting a nasty high-gain tone thanks to the hot soapbar right next to the bridge, which is also a nice touch since I play with a pick and there's no neck pickup to get in the way when I'm digging in the strings. The neck is very slim for a bass so it's easy to get around quickly on it...The overall quality to price ratio is unbelievable."
- Raymond in Stanardsville, WA
Sterling by Music Man StingRay Electric Bass
Our Customers Say...
"This thing plays very nicely, and sounds like its daddy (the real StingRay)... If you want a StingRay tone without the StingRay price, here you go."
- Jules in Leesburg, GA
"It's a great introduction to the StingRay basses. The active EQ is very useful. Lots of tones can be dialed in with just a single pickup... Sustain is no joke with this bass. A note seems to sing noticeably longer than most other basses I've played."
- Wes in Kingwood, TX
"Great bass for any price. Insane play-ability and sound...right out of the box...The fret ends were perfect. It had great hardware, polished frets, heavy mass bridge, seamless finish and it sounded f'ing great...I opened it up and the electronics were clean, solders were perfect and the cavity was finished. Even the saddles were better than expected...Love this bass."
- Vincent in Brooklyn, NY
"This thing plays very nicely, and sounds like its daddy (the real StingRay)... If you want a StingRay tone without the StingRay price, here you go."
- Jules in Leesburg, GA
"It's a great introduction to the StingRay basses. The active EQ is very useful. Lots of tones can be dialed in with just a single pickup... Sustain is no joke with this bass. A note seems to sing noticeably longer than most other basses I've played."
- Wes in Kingwood, TX
"Great bass for any price. Insane play-ability and sound...right out of the box...The fret ends were perfect. It had great hardware, polished frets, heavy mass bridge, seamless finish and it sounded f'ing great...I opened it up and the electronics were clean, solders were perfect and the cavity was finished. Even the saddles were better than expected...Love this bass."
- Vincent in Brooklyn, NY
Ibanez TMB100 Talman Electric Bass
Our Customers Say...
"Wanted a low-priced but good bass guitar for home practice. The Ibanez TMB100 Talman delivered in spades! ...The tone and ease of play are mind-blowing. No annoying rattles, buzzes, or dead spots...Highly recommended."
- A Happy Customer
"Sweet Ibanez bass with ZERO quality control issues. Sounded decent right out of the box. Changed strings, even better. Upgraded the pups and it became a tone monster, nailing everything between punk, country, rock, jazz, etc., with ease."
- A Happy Customer
"Wanted a low-priced but good bass guitar for home practice. The Ibanez TMB100 Talman delivered in spades! ...The tone and ease of play are mind-blowing. No annoying rattles, buzzes, or dead spots...Highly recommended."
- A Happy Customer
"Sweet Ibanez bass with ZERO quality control issues. Sounded decent right out of the box. Changed strings, even better. Upgraded the pups and it became a tone monster, nailing everything between punk, country, rock, jazz, etc., with ease."
- A Happy Customer
Fender Player Precision Electric Bass, Maple Fingerboard
Our Customers Say...
"Over many years I played and owned several basses including two MIA Precisions. This is the best of the three Precisions I have owned...many of the parts are exactly the same ones used on the MIA basses. As far as durability, it's a no-brainer -- every bit as good."
- Hans in North Conway, NH
"This is a killer of a bass. The maple neck is smooth and fast...Quality construction and a very nice weight. Played great right out of the box."
- Keith in Dover, NH
"Over many years I played and owned several basses including two MIA Precisions. This is the best of the three Precisions I have owned...many of the parts are exactly the same ones used on the MIA basses. As far as durability, it's a no-brainer -- every bit as good."
- Hans in North Conway, NH
"This is a killer of a bass. The maple neck is smooth and fast...Quality construction and a very nice weight. Played great right out of the box."
- Keith in Dover, NH
Epiphone EB-3 Electric Bass
Our Customers Say...
"Killer tone, easy to play...FULL SCALE!"
- Kelly in San Leandro, CA
"Wow you get that deep bass sound of the '60s and '70s. I used this bass at my last gig it did the job and has a nice bass tone. If you play classic rock, this is the bass for it."
- Robert in Saint Johnsbury, VT
"Smooth, clear-sounding bass, quiet controls for both volume and tone. Easy fretting plus has a great finish."
- Robert in Sparks, GA
"Killer tone, easy to play...FULL SCALE!"
- Kelly in San Leandro, CA
"Wow you get that deep bass sound of the '60s and '70s. I used this bass at my last gig it did the job and has a nice bass tone. If you play classic rock, this is the bass for it."
- Robert in Saint Johnsbury, VT
"Smooth, clear-sounding bass, quiet controls for both volume and tone. Easy fretting plus has a great finish."
- Robert in Sparks, GA
Schecter Model T Session Electric Bass
Our Customers Say...
"Amazing value...The feel, the tone, the looks and playability are all boutique quality at a price that is unbeatable."
- Paul in Clearwater, FL
"Classic look, but with a tonal range that goes from snappy and bright and back to the classic basics. I used it on 4 jobs last week and it cut thru the band and the acoustics of each and every room and best of all with no hum...EMG PU's growl big time, especially when using the bridge pickup."
- Ray in Chicago, IL
"Amazing value...The feel, the tone, the looks and playability are all boutique quality at a price that is unbeatable."
- Paul in Clearwater, FL
"Classic look, but with a tonal range that goes from snappy and bright and back to the classic basics. I used it on 4 jobs last week and it cut thru the band and the acoustics of each and every room and best of all with no hum...EMG PU's growl big time, especially when using the bridge pickup."
- Ray in Chicago, IL
Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jazz Electric Bass, with Maple Fingerboard
Our Customers Say...
"Fender sounds at half the price...This bass nails the tone. Never have a problem being heard in the mix...Not gonna get a better classic sounding bass at this price point."
- A Happy Customer
"Excellent overall quality. I've played basses 2 or 3 times the cost that didn't play as well."
- Joshua in Paducah, KY
"Wow! This is probably the best Squier bass I've ever played. I'm so impressed over it, I'm buying the Sunburst & Natural before they stop making these rare gems."
- LeRoy in Vancouver, WA
"Fender sounds at half the price...This bass nails the tone. Never have a problem being heard in the mix...Not gonna get a better classic sounding bass at this price point."
- A Happy Customer
"Excellent overall quality. I've played basses 2 or 3 times the cost that didn't play as well."
- Joshua in Paducah, KY
"Wow! This is probably the best Squier bass I've ever played. I'm so impressed over it, I'm buying the Sunburst & Natural before they stop making these rare gems."
- LeRoy in Vancouver, WA
ESP LTD B206SM Electric Bass, 6-String
Our Customers Say...
"This bass is awesome. It comes setup right outta the box. No modifications needed at all. It's easy and smooth, comfortable. It feels great and it has the type of sound you'd find in a high price guitar."
- Brett in Florence, MS
"Well crafted, details are tight, setup out of the box was just fine. I'm a professional musician, playing since the late '70s."
- Paul in Martinsburg, WV
"This bass is very well made. Very solid. The specs on this are remarkable. It could cost much more! The price is stupid affordable."
- Greg in San Diego, CA
"This bass is awesome. It comes setup right outta the box. No modifications needed at all. It's easy and smooth, comfortable. It feels great and it has the type of sound you'd find in a high price guitar."
- Brett in Florence, MS
"Well crafted, details are tight, setup out of the box was just fine. I'm a professional musician, playing since the late '70s."
- Paul in Martinsburg, WV
"This bass is very well made. Very solid. The specs on this are remarkable. It could cost much more! The price is stupid affordable."
- Greg in San Diego, CA
Sterling by Music Man RAY4HH Electric Bass
Our Customers Say...
"The sounds you can get just off the configure switch is mind-altering...there's nothing cheap about the sound. The neck is crazy, it's the thinnest one I have ever played. This bass is definitely underpriced."
- Anthony in Cincinnati, OH
"Having never played a StingRay type bass with humbuckers, I was blown away! This sound ranges from standard StingRay with the bridge pup soloed, to in your face thumping with both on. Then in between that, it coil taps each pup and it has a very cool Jazzy growl...The 5 way switch is awesome...Flip of that switch, turn of the knobs, and it’s like a different bass! I love it."
- A Happy Customer
"Versatile, fast, amazing! The 5 way switch gives you just about every pickup configuration there is...The neck on this thing is what really sets it apart. I have never played a bass that felt so easy!"
- Kyle in Lancaster, OH
"The sounds you can get just off the configure switch is mind-altering...there's nothing cheap about the sound. The neck is crazy, it's the thinnest one I have ever played. This bass is definitely underpriced."
- Anthony in Cincinnati, OH
"Having never played a StingRay type bass with humbuckers, I was blown away! This sound ranges from standard StingRay with the bridge pup soloed, to in your face thumping with both on. Then in between that, it coil taps each pup and it has a very cool Jazzy growl...The 5 way switch is awesome...Flip of that switch, turn of the knobs, and it’s like a different bass! I love it."
- A Happy Customer
"Versatile, fast, amazing! The 5 way switch gives you just about every pickup configuration there is...The neck on this thing is what really sets it apart. I have never played a bass that felt so easy!"
- Kyle in Lancaster, OH
