Best Bass Guitar for 500 (2026): 4 Picks Compared

Updated Nov 14, 2026 · By Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank

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The WishMade 5 String Acoustic Electric Bass leads this list as Best Overall: the only acoustic-electric bass here, with a built-in three-band EQ pickup and a 5.5 lb body. The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 5-String Jazz Bass follows as Runner-Up with Fender-Designed alnico pickups, and the Orange Terror Bass is the 500-watt amp head of the group.

The picks at a glance

#	Pick	Product
1	Best Overall	WishMade 5 String Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar	Check on Amazon
2	Runner-Up	Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 5-String Jazz Bass	Check on Amazon
3	Also Great	Fender Affinity Active Jazz Bass Guitar	Check on Amazon
4	Also Great	Orange Terror Bass 500 Watts Bass Guitar	Check on Amazon

Which one should you buy?

Players who want a 5-string with a low B string: WishMade 5 String Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar See pick 1More picks: Best 5 String Bass Guitar
Beginners who want a 5-string Jazz Bass: Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 5-String Jazz Bass See pick 2More picks: Best Bass Guitar for Beginners
Players who want active pickups and a preamp: Fender Affinity Active Jazz Bass Guitar See pick 3
Players who already own a bass guitar: Orange Terror Bass 500 Watts Bass Guitar See pick 4

Want the full range? Best Bass Guitar ranks the top bass guitars for every buyer, or browse all 37 guides.

The 4 picks, ranked

1Best Overall

WishMade 5 String Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar

Strings: 5
5.5 lb, the lightest here

9.8Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Best Overall as the only acoustic-electric 5-string here, with a built-in three-band EQ pickup for plugged-in play and unplugged practice.

Who it suits

Players who want a 5-string with a low B string
Players who want to plug in or play unplugged

Skip it if

You want a four-string bass
You want a solid-body electric bass

The flamed okoume top has a tiger-stripe grain under a matte finish, with an F-hole body, a sapele back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard with clear fret markers. A three-piece mahogany neck with dual carbon fiber rods holds string tension, and the C-shaped neck keeps all five strings within reach. The built-in three-band EQ pickup adjusts bass, mid and treble, and the bass weighs 5.5 lb.

2Runner-Up

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 5-String Jazz Bass

Strings: 5
1-year warranty stated

9.5Spec score View on Amazon

It takes Runner-Up with Fender-Designed alnico pickups, a maple fingerboard with inlays and a vintage-tinted gloss neck.

Who it suits

Beginners who want a 5-string Jazz Bass
Players who want a maple fingerboard

Skip it if

You want an acoustic-electric bass
You want a bass under 11 lb

The Squier is a 5-string Jazz Bass inspired by 1970s-era models, with Fender-Designed alnico pickups and nickel-plated hardware. The maple fingerboard has inlays, and the neck has a vintage-tinted gloss finish. It is 100% designed by Fender and carries a 1-year warranty.

3Also Great

Fender Affinity Active Jazz Bass Guitar

2-year warranty stated

9.1Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Also Great with an active 9-volt preamp, Squier Noiseless pickups and a thin and lightweight body.

Who it suits

Players who want active pickups and a preamp
Players who want a laurel fingerboard

Skip it if

You want a passive bass
You want a maple fingerboard

The Affinity has a thin and lightweight body with a slim C-shaped neck and inlays. Squier Noiseless pickups feed an active 9-volt preamp with controls for volume, blend, and bass and treble boost and cut. It has a 4-saddle bass bridge and carries a 2-year warranty.

4Also Great

Orange Terror Bass 500 Watts Bass Guitar

2-year warranty stated

9.0Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Also Great as the 500-watt amp head here, with a tube preamp and a Class D power amp.

Who it suits

Players who already own a bass guitar
Players who want a tube preamp

Skip it if

You want a bass guitar, not an amp
You want more than one channel

The Terror Bass is a 500-watt single-channel hybrid bass amp head with a tube preamp and a Class D power amp. An effects loop is included, and the head weighs 11 lb. It carries a 2-year warranty.

Side by side

Product	Amp included	Frets	Case or gig bag included	Strings	Pickup layout	Weight	Warranty
WishMade 5 String Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	5	Not stated	5.5 lb	Not stated
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 5-String Jazz Bass	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	5	Not stated	11 lb	1-year
Fender Affinity Active Jazz Bass Guitar	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	12.3 lb	2-year
Orange Terror Bass 500 Watts Bass Guitar	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	11 lb	2-year

How we ranked these bass guitars

Every pick ranks in Amazon's best-seller list for its category and has a listing with real specifications. The order mixes two things: how each model compares on the specs below (higher share of the best value in this group scores more), and how widely it is bought. The spec score runs from 9.0 to 9.8 and only compares these picks with each other. A spec the listing does not state is left out and the other specs are re-weighted; a listing with fewer than 2 stated specs is scored at half. We do not test gear in person. Full method.

Amp included weight 2
Frets weight 1
Case or gig bag included weight 1

Buying advice: bass guitar for 500

Match the string count to your playing

Five strings add a low B string below the usual four, which suits players who want lower notes without retuning. The WishMade and the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 5-String Jazz Bass are both 5-string basses. The Orange Terror Bass is an amp head, so string count does not apply to it.

Weigh the bass before you buy

Bass guitars vary in weight, and the figure matters if you play standing for long sets. The WishMade weighs 5.5 lb, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 5-String Jazz Bass weighs 11 lb, the Orange Terror Bass weighs 11 lb, and the Fender Affinity Active Jazz Bass weighs 12.3 lb. Compare the weights in the specs table above, since the case and the box add their own weight.

Decide between acoustic-electric and solid-body electric

An acoustic-electric bass has a hollow body and a built-in pickup, so it can be played unplugged or plugged in. A solid-body electric bass needs an amp to be heard. The WishMade is the acoustic-electric bass here, with an F-hole body and a built-in three-band EQ pickup. The Orange Terror Bass is the amp head that can power an electric bass.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 5-string bass harder to play than a 4-string?

A 5-string bass adds a low B string and a wider neck, so the reach across the strings is longer. The WishMade has a C-shaped neck and clear fret markers to guide finger placement, and the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 5-String Jazz Bass has a maple fingerboard with inlays.

Do I need an amp with an acoustic-electric bass?

No. The WishMade plays unplugged for practice and plugs in through its built-in three-band EQ pickup for amplified performances. An electric bass like the Fender Affinity Active Jazz Bass needs an amp, and the Orange Terror Bass is a 500-watt amp head that pairs with one.

What does an active preamp do on a bass?

An active preamp boosts and shapes the signal before it reaches the amp, with controls for volume and tone. The Fender Affinity Active Jazz Bass has an active 9-volt preamp with controls for volume, blend, and bass and treble boost and cut.