How To Select The Perfect Bass Guitar? 6 Things You Should Consider In 2022

When looking for a bass guitar, certain factors must be considered, such as the price, the type of music desired, and the performance expected. This article will give you tips on how to choose the best bass guitar for your needs and budget. Even the most expensive bass can sound trashy, and vice versa, so here are a few things that every bass player should be aware of when shopping for a bass guitar.

Types Of Bass Guitars

There are three main types of bass guitars on the market: four, five, and six string bass guitars. A 4 string bass guitar is ideal for beginners due to its classical and simple design, whereas a 5 and a 6 string guitar are used by more advanced musicians who want to add more creativity and variation to their music.

Neck Lengths

When buying a bass guitar, the next step is to choose the neck type and length. Again, there are three neck lengths available for bass guitars: short, medium, and long. Short necks are more common in 4 string guitars, making them ideal for beginners and people who want to practise learning. As you gain experience, your neck length will lengthen, giving you more variation in your notes. Long necks are also preferred for hitting low-pitched notes.

Neck Designs

There are many different neck shapes to choose from, including round, oval, flatback, V-shaped, and asymmetrical designs.

Bolt-on/ Neck Through

The Bolt-on neck design has a separate neck and body that are bolted together. This design is more common, as it is more traditional in nature, and it allows the user to replace the neckpiece if it becomes damaged. The Neck-through, on the other hand, is a single-piece guitar that produces powerful sound while providing more sustain and resonant notes. It is the preferred option among users because it uses high-quality wood, which improves tone quality.

Pickup

When choosing a bass guitar, you should be well-versed in pickups. The job of a good pickup is to produce an even sound across all of the strings. The two types of pickups are ‘Active’ pickups, which are battery operated and provide individual control over the treble, bass, and tone, producing a bright and clear sound, and ‘Passive’ pickups, which are not. The ‘Passive’ pickup, on the other hand, does not require a battery, is powered by an amplifier, and produces a fuller, warmer tone.

A single-coil pickup produces a sharp tone, but it picks up on external noises and emits a background hum. A humbucker, or double coil pickup, is more effective at reducing external hum. However, due to its high-quality results, the split-coil pickup is the most popular choice.

Fretboard

You can opt for a fretted or fretless neck. Steel strings divide a fretted neck into a scale that provides a wide range of tones. A fretless neck, on the other hand, lacks such strings and necessitates greater skill to play. Nonetheless, when played properly, a fretless neck produces smoother, warmer notes. Fretboards are available in 21, 22, and 24 fret configurations, depending on user preference.

Aside from these details, when choosing a bass guitar, the material for the bass plays an important role in its sound production. The tone is greatly influenced by wood, acrylic, and even metal.

Wood, for the most part, comes in two varieties. Hardwood-like maple has good articulation and a very energetic and crisp tone, whereas softwood has a milder tone. The enclosed turning machine, along with an uncoated fingerboard, is preferred by bass guitar players. The combination of materials influences the weight and versatility of a guitar.