Best Bass Guitars for Jazz (2023 Buyer’s Guide)

In this guide, we will take a look at some of the best bass guitars for jazz and the brands behind them. Choosing the right bass guitar for jazz music can be a little tricky, but throughout we will explore some of the best bass guitars that are perfectly suited for this musical style.

I am a professional musician and bass player with several years of experience creating soundtracks, rock, folk, and metal music with different bands and artists. I really enjoy the bass, as it adds a smooth and deep foundation to any good-sounding track.

Join me as a will go through some of the best instruments that have that balanced tone, perfect for jazz.

About Bass Guitars For Jazz

There is no consensus on what the perfect jazz bass guitar should look like, but there are certainly some models that offer that versatile tone that is so commonly used in this musical style.

You will find many fretless and 5-string bass guitars being used in jazz music as well, as they provide more precision on microtones and a wider dynamic range.

About Jazz Music

Jazz music first appeared in the United States in the late 19th and 20th centuries. This musical style is inspired by African musical styles that were brought to America and then mixed with styles.

Jazz music is characterized by the virtuoso display and constant improvisation, which makes this style more suited for the most experienced musicians.

Types of Bass Guitars For Jazz

There are several features that make a good bass guitar for jazz, this includes a versatile tone that has a great definition on low, mid, and high tones, which is very useful when you are doing these technical and fast bass solos, so typical in Jazz.

Jazz Bass

Jazz bass is the most obvious option, as it has Jazz in its name. This bass was created by Leo Fender in the 60s, which originally started as an upgraded version of the famous Precision Bass, but later grew into a beast of its own. Jazz bass offers a versatile tone with a thin and comfortable neck and body.

Precision Bass

Precision bass is more common for Rock and Blues, but you can find several jazz bands using this powerful tool. This bass guitar offers a deep and punchy sound, which is often overlooked when it comes to jazz music but can certainly fit into this musical style, providing a deep and powerful tone in the process.

Fretless Bass

Fretless bass guitar might be a little difficult to grasp and learn, but it offers a huge range of micro-tonalities for you to experiment with.

5-string Bass

The 5-string bass guitar has become quite popular in recent years. With the additional extra-thick string, the 5-string bass will add an extra punch for your Jazz tracks.

Top 7 Best Bass Guitars For Jazz

Let’s dive deeper into the best bass guitar for Jazz and the famous brands behind them.

Here you will find brands like Fender, Music Man, and Ibanez among many others.

1. Fender Player Jazz Electric Bass Guitar – Pau Ferro Fingerboard – Polar White

• Size: 49.5 x 15.1 x 4.7 inches
• Weight: 11 pounds
• Material & Finish: Alder body, maple neck, Polar White finish
  
• Sound: Balanced tone
  
• Best For: Intermediate and professionals
  

Fender Player Jazz Electric Bass Guitar – Pau Ferro Fingerboard – Polat White is a high-grade Jazz bass from the Player series. This series takes some of the most iconic instruments made by Fender and makes them much more accessible to most players.

Why I Recommend It

Although a little cheaper than the American Professional series, this J-Bass offers the same high-levels of quality and outstanding tonality.

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2. Ibanez SR370EF 4-String Fretless Electric Bass Brown Burst

• Size: 52.5 x 19.25 x 4.5 inches
• Weight: 10 pounds
• Material & Finish: Maple body, maple/rosewood neck, Brown Burst finish
  
• Sound: deep and punchy
  
• Best For: Intermediate and beginners
  

The Ibanez SR370EF 4-String Fretless electric Bass Brown Burst is a solid powerhouse and one of the best fretless bass guitars on the market.

Why I Recommend It

This bass made by Ibanez offers outstanding tonality and has a really good price-quality ratio.

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3. Schecter Stiletto Custom-4 Electric Bass Guitar (4 String, Vampyre Red Satin)

• Size: 46 x 6 x 19 inches
• Weight: 9.41 pounds
• Material & Finish: Maple top, mahogany back, Vampyre red satin finish
• Sound: Crisp and clean
• Best For: Beginners and intermediate
  

Schecter Stiletto Custom-4 Electric Bass guitar ( 4 String, Vampyre Red Satin ) is a unique bass guitar with a professional finish and a well-balanced tone.

Why I Recommend It

If you are looking for a really unique and distinctive instrument, this beautiful bass guitar is a perfect match for you.

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4. Squier 0374531500 Classic Vibe 60s Jazz Bass Fretless, Laurel Fingerboard, 3 Col

• Size: 3 x 3 x 3 inches
• Weight: 14 Pounds
• Material & Finish: Alder body, maple neck, 3-Color Sunburst finish
  
• Sound: Deep and punchy
  
• Best For: Intermediate and professionals
  

Squier 0374531500 Classic Vibe 60s Jazz Bass Fretless, Laurel Fingerboard, 3 Col is a budget-friendly fretless bass guitar that is perfect for anyone who is learning to play fretless basses. Comfortable and easy to play, this bass has fast action with a deep and punchy tone.

Why I Recommend It

Squier brand is kinda famous because of their budget-friendly instruments and great price-quality ratio. This brand is commonly found in the hands of many beginners and students.

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5. Ibanez 5 String Bass Guitar, Right, Mahogany Oil (GSR105EXMOL)

• Size: 44 x 13 x 2.3 inches
• Weight: 8.4 pounds
• Material & Finish: Mahogany body, maple neck, Mahogany oil finish
  
• Sound: Balanced tone
  
• Best For: Beginners
  

Ibanez 5 String Bass Guitar, Right, Mahogany Oil (GR105EXMOL) is a comfortable and quite cheap bass guitar with 5-strings. This model is certainly one of the most affordable 5-string guitars currently on the market.

Why I Recommend It

Although quite cheap, this bass guitar offers incredible levels of sound quality and design for any beginner to enjoy.

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6. Sterling by Music Man StingRay Ray4 Bass Guitar in Black

• Size: 45 x 1.5 x 13.5 inches
• Weight: 9 pounds
• Material & Finish: Basswood body, maple neck, Black finish
  
• Sound: Deep and punchy
• Best For: Intermediate
  

Sterling by Music Man StingRay Ray4 Bass Guitar in Black is a high-grade bass model that is now available for a modest price. This bass made by Music man is considered one of the best bass guitars on the market that offers high-grade sound quality and beautiful design.

Why I Recommend It

What better than an iconic Music Man for your Jazz band? This model will deliver outstanding sound and great comfort for any player, no matter what entry-level.

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7. Fender American Ultra Precision Bass RW Ultraburst w/Hardshell Case

• Size: 44.5 x 18.7 x 7 inches
• Weight: 11 pounds
• Material & Finish: Alder body and back, Ultra Burst finish
• Sound: Deep and punchy
• Best For: Professionals
  

Fender American Ultra Precision Bass RW Ultra Burst w/Hardshell Case is a professional bass guitar with that iconic P-bass sound and tone. This model is not that commonly used in Jazz, but some bands do use this bass, as it offers a deep and punchy tone that can enhance any song or track.

Why I Recommend It

With this classic P-bass model you will never go wrong, as Fender is famous for creating outstanding instruments for any entry-level.

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Best Bass Guitars Brands For Jazz

There are numerous brands that produce decent bass guitars, but which one creates instruments that can fit the Jazz style?

Well, let’s find out in this section, as we will explore some of the most important brands and their history.

Fender

Fender brand is synonymous with Jazz bass guitars, as they created the first Jazz-inspired bass guitar model in the 60s, called Jazz Bass. This unique instrument was an upgrade of the previous Precision Bass and offered a more versatile and balanced tone with a thin comfortable neck and fast action all around the spectrum.

See More: Best Fender Bass Guitars Buyer’s Guide

Music Man

Music Man company was founded by Leo Fender when he sold his original Fender company. This brand took all that Leo learned over the years and upgraded with modern ideas and methods. Music Man bass guitars are considered some of the most stylish bass guitars with professional levels of performance and accessibility.

Ibanez

Founded in 1957 in Nagoya, Japan, Ibanez rapidly became a great mid-range option for many musicians around the world. Their unique quality and accessibility make this brand so popular, as they offer some of the best fretless and 5-strings bass guitars.

Things To Consider When Choosing An Bass Guitars

There are several things to consider when choosing the right bass guitar for your Jazz tracks. This includes your level of experience, size, material, and overall price.

Level Of Experience

Some bass guitars like fretless type might require higher levels of expertise, as you will need to have an almost perfect hearing to be able to play with any other musician. Let’s take a look at each level of entry.

Beginner Bass Guitars For Jazz

The best bass guitar for a beginner is preferably a short-scale and lightweight instrument, as it will offer the necessary comfort for numerous hours of practice.

Intermediate Bass Guitars For Jazz

Intermediate bass guitars will offer better wood quality and overall higher quality intonation. They might require some setup to become playable, but soon after that, they’ll transform into solid tools for any musician.

Pro Bass Guitars For Jazz

At the most professional levels, we have some of the most iconic and famous models like Precision Bass and Jazz Bass by Fender. If you are looking for an instrument that will last for many years without losing its tonality, this type of bass guitar will fit right in.

Size

Best bass guitars for Jazz are normally smaller than normal bass guitars. One of the most important factors for playing Jazz with the bass is the slim neck, which will provide fast action and great comfort for long hours of improvisation and practice.

Material

The most common types used are alder, mahogany, maple, or basswood, as these types provide that deep and rich bass tone. For bass guitars made to play Jazz they usually use a mix of different wood types, creating this way a smooth and balanced tonality.

Finish

You will find several types of varnishes used in most bass guitars. This includes nitrocellulose, acrylic, oil, and polyurethane.

Color

As for the color types, you will find a huge selection of colors and color schemes. The color types are quite similar to what you could find with the electric guitar, but with more pure colors and simple patterns.

The Overall Tone & Sound

The best tonality for playing Jazz is to have a versatile and balanced tone, that nowt only has deep and rich lows, but also has some definition on mid and high-end frequencies. This way your high-pitch solos will have more volume and detail.

Price

The price range is very wide for most bass guitars. You can find quite cheap instruments around $200 and some high-tier professional models for several thousand dollars. Nowadays you can find a perfect bass for almost any playstyle.

Budget Bass Guitars For Jazz

Budget bass guitars for jazz offer decent sound and durable construction. At this price range, you can find even some good 5-string models with decent tones. Most budget bass guitars can cost from $100 to $400.

Midrange Bass Guitars For Jazz

The mid-range bass guitars for jazz offer better wood and quality hardware but might require some setup. Mid-range bass guitars for jazz can cost from $400 to $700.

Top-End Bass Guitars For Jazz

Here you will get the most professional instruments on the market. Top-end bass guitars can cost from $700 to several thousand dollars.

What Are The Best Bass Guitars?

Let’s review some of the best bass guitars for jazz we presented in this article.

Ibanez 5 String Bass Guitar, Right, Mahogany Oil (GR105EXMOL) – Best for Beginners

With Ibanez 5 String Bass Guitar model, you will not only get a great and affordable instrument for beginners but also one of the most accessible 5-string bass guitars on the market.

Sterling by Music Man StingRay Ray4 Bass Guitar in Black – Best for Intermediate

Sterling by Music Man StingRay Ray4 bass guitar will deliver a jazzy balanced tone and high-quality construction. If you are looking for that professional signature Music Man sound, this bass guitar is a perfect match for you.

Fender Player Jazz Electric Bass Guitar – Pau Ferro Fingerboard – Polat White – Best for Professionals

What better than an iconic Fender Jazz Bass? Fender Player Jazz Electric Bass Guitar model from the affordable Player series will deliver that signature J-Bass sound that will fit any type of Jazz music.

Where Are The Best Bass Guitars For Jazz Made?

Most of the best bass guitars for jazz are made in the United States, as this country is a home of Jazz, where the unique sensibilities of this style are truly understood and appreciated.

What is The Best Sounding Bass Guitar For Jazz?

I personally prefer Music Man bass guitars, but it’s common knowledge that Fender Jazz bass is very well suited for this musical style.

Where To Buy Bass Guitars For Jazz?

Nowadays there are several music stores and online retailers that offer good bass guitars suited for Jazz. Let’s take a closer look at some of them.

Amazon

Amazon is one of the most important companies when it comes to online retail. The huge selection of products, fast delivery, and useful customer reviews are what made this company so popular.

Online Music Retailers

There are other online music retailers that offer decent prices and a great selection of models. Here at Into Strings we highly recommend GuitarCenter.com, Sweetwater.com, and Fiddlershop.com

Your Local Music Store

In your local music store, you might not find a huge selection of instruments, but you can always count on the advice from the salesman and the possibility of trying out any instrument in-store.

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In Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this guide about the best bass guitars for Jazz. In this article, we explored some of the most interesting and versatile instruments that can fit in Jazz music.

If you really liked this article, feel free to share or leave a comment.

Stay safe, have fun, and good luck with your sonic adventures.