Best Bass Guitar Under $300 (2026): 5 Picks Compared

Updated Oct 23, 2026 · By Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying through the Amazon links on this page costs you nothing extra. Full disclosure

The Ibanez Talman TMB30 leads for the best bass guitar under 300 as Best Overall: its PJ pickup layout combines a split-coil and a single-coil pickup in one bass. All five picks are 4-string basses, and the TMB30 adds a maple neck and a 1-year warranty to the PJ setup.

The picks at a glance

#	Pick	Product
1	Best Overall	Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass Guitar	Check on Amazon
2	Runner-Up	Ibanez GSRM20BWNF MiKro	Check on Amazon
3	Also Great	Squier Mini Precision Bass Guitar	Check on Amazon
4	Also Great	Yamaha TRBX174 Old Violin Sunburst Agathis Body	Check on Amazon
5	Also Great	Yamaha TRBX174 RM 4-String Electric Bass Guitar	Check on Amazon

Which one should you buy?

Players who want a PJ pickup layout on a 4-string: Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass Guitar See pick 1More picks: Best 4 String Bass Guitar
Players who want a short-scale 4-string bass: Ibanez GSRM20BWNF MiKro See pick 2
Players who want a split single-coil Precision pickup: Squier Mini Precision Bass Guitar See pick 3
Players who want a mahogany body and vintage bridge: Yamaha TRBX174 Old Violin Sunburst Agathis Body See pick 4
Players who want P/J pickups and a maple neck: Yamaha TRBX174 RM 4-String Electric Bass Guitar See pick 5

Want the full range? Best Bass Guitar ranks the top bass guitars for every buyer, or browse all 33 guides.

The 5 picks, ranked

1Best Overall

Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass Guitar

Strings: 4
Pickup layout: PJ
1-year warranty stated

9.8Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Best Overall with a PJ pickup layout, a maple neck and a 1-year warranty for this search.

Who it suits

Players who want a PJ pickup layout on a 4-string
Players who want a maple neck and 1-year warranty

Skip it if

Players who want a short-scale bass
Players who want a split-coil Precision pickup

The TMB30 is a 4-string bass with P/J pickups and a maple neck. It has a 1/4-inch jack, nickel strings and an 11.1-pound weight. The warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship for one year.

2Runner-Up

Ibanez GSRM20BWNF MiKro

Frets: 22
Strings: 4
Pickup layout: PJ
1-year warranty stated

9.6Spec score View on Amazon

It takes Runner-Up with a short-scale 4-string layout, 22 frets and a 28.6 scale length for new players.

Who it suits

Players who want a short-scale 4-string bass
New players who want 22 frets and a strap

Skip it if

Players who want a standard scale length
Players who want a 2-year warranty

The MiKro is a short-scale 4-string bass with dual single-coil pickups and a maple neck. It has 22 frets, a 28.6 scale length and a 1/4-inch jack, and it weighs 6.9 pounds. The box includes a strap, and the warranty covers one year.

3Also Great

Squier Mini Precision Bass Guitar

Strings: 4
Pickup layout: Single-Coil
2-year warranty stated

9.4Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Also Great with a split single-coil Precision pickup, a short-scale 28.6-inch neck and a 2-year warranty.

Who it suits

Players who want a split single-coil Precision pickup
Players who want a 2-year warranty

Skip it if

Players who want PJ pickup layouts
Players who want a standard-size bass

The Squier Mini is a 4-string bass with a split single-coil Precision pickup and a laurel fingerboard. The short-scale maple neck measures 28.6 inches with a C-shaped profile, and the body is poplar. It carries a 2-year limited manufacturer warranty.

4Also Great

Yamaha TRBX174 Old Violin Sunburst Agathis Body

Strings: 4
1 year warranty stated

9.0Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Also Great with a mahogany body, a vintage style bridge and a 1-year manufacturer warranty.

Who it suits

Players who want a mahogany body and vintage bridge
Players who want a 1-year manufacturer warranty

Skip it if

Players who want PJ pickups
Players who want a short-scale neck

The TRBX174 is a 4-string bass with a mahogany body and a vintage style bridge. It has a 6.35mm jack and alloy steel strings, and it weighs 5121 g. The warranty is a 1-year manufacturer warranty.

5Also Great

Yamaha TRBX174 RM 4-String Electric Bass Guitar

Strings: 4
Pickup layout: Split-Coil
1 year warranty stated

9.0Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Also Great with P/J configured pickups, a bolt-on maple neck and a 1-year manufacturer warranty.

Who it suits

Players who want P/J pickups and a maple neck
Players who want a deep cutaway for high frets

Skip it if

Players who want a short-scale bass
Players who want a single-pickup bass

The TRBX174 RM is a 4-string bass with P/J configured pickups and a bolt-on maple neck. The deep cutaway gives access to the higher frets, and the fingerboard is sonokeling. It has a 1/4-inch jack and a 1-year manufacturer warranty.

Side by side

Product	Amp included	Frets	Case or gig bag included	Strings	Pickup layout	Weight	Warranty
Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass Guitar	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	4	PJ	11.1 lb	1-year
Ibanez GSRM20BWNF MiKro	Not stated	22	Not stated	4	PJ	6.9 lb	1-year
Squier Mini Precision Bass Guitar	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	4	Single-Coil	Not stated	2-year
Yamaha TRBX174 Old Violin Sunburst Agathis Body	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	4	Not stated	11.3 lb	1 year
Yamaha TRBX174 RM 4-String Electric Bass Guitar	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	4	Split-Coil	Not stated	1 year

How we ranked these bass guitars

Every pick has at least 100 customer ratings on Amazon and 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 under 300

Start with the pickup layout

Three of the picks name PJ or P/J layouts: the Ibanez TMB30, the Ibanez MiKro and the Yamaha TRBX174 RM. The Squier Mini names a split single-coil Precision pickup. A PJ layout gives two voices in one bass, while a single Precision pickup keeps the controls simple. Pick the layout whose listed voices match the music you want to play.

Check scale length and weight

The Ibanez MiKro and the Squier Mini name short-scale necks, and the MiKro names a 28.6 scale length with 22 frets. The Squier names the same 28.6-inch scale on its maple neck. The TMB30 weighs 11.1 pounds and the MiKro weighs 6.9 pounds. If your hands are small, start with the picks that name short-scale.

Compare the warranties

The Squier Mini names a 2-year limited manufacturer warranty. The other four name one year: both Ibanez picks cover defects in materials and workmanship for one year, and both Yamaha picks name a 1-year manufacturer warranty. Pick the 2-year term if warranty length decides it for you.

Frequently asked questions

What is a PJ pickup layout on a bass?

PJ means one split-coil and one single-coil pickup on the same bass. The Ibanez TMB30, the Ibanez MiKro and the Yamaha TRBX174 RM name PJ or P/J layouts. You get two pickup voices in one instrument.

Is a short-scale bass good for beginners?

A short-scale neck puts the frets closer together, which helps smaller hands. The Ibanez MiKro and the Squier Mini name short-scale necks, both at 28.6 inches. Try one if a standard bass feels like a stretch.

Do these basses come with a strap or cable?

The Ibanez MiKro names a strap in the box. For the other picks, plan to buy a strap and cable separately.

How long are the warranties on these basses?

The Squier Mini names a 2-year limited manufacturer warranty, and the other four name one year each. Both Ibanez picks cover defects in materials and workmanship.