Best Bass Guitar Under $400 (2026): 5 Picks Compared

Updated Oct 24, 2026 · By Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank

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The Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light leads for players on the move: a 30-inch scale, 22 frets and a gig bag in the box. If you want a 4-string bass with a split single-coil pickup, the Squier Sonic is the Runner-Up.

The picks at a glance

#	Pick	Product
1	Best Overall	Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Gloss Black Bass Guitar	Check on Amazon
2	Runner-Up	Fender Squier Squier Sonic Precision Bass	Check on Amazon
3	Also Great	Ibanez GSRM25BK MiKro	Check on Amazon
4	Also Great	Fender Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass	Check on Amazon
5	Also Great	Squier Mini Precision Bass Guitar	Check on Amazon

Which one should you buy?

Players who want a 30-inch scale bass with a gig bag: Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Gloss Black Bass Guitar See pick 1
Beginners who want a 4-string bass with a split single-coil pickup: Fender Squier Squier Sonic Precision Bass See pick 2More picks: Best Beginner 4 String Bass Guitar
Players who want a 5-string bass with 22 frets: Ibanez GSRM25BK MiKro See pick 3More picks: Best 5 String Bass Guitar
Players who want a PJ pickup configuration: Fender Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass See pick 4
Players who want a short-scale 28.6-inch bass: Squier Mini Precision 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

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Gloss Black Bass Guitar

Frets: 22
Case or gig bag included
Strings: 4
Lifetime warranty stated

9.8Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Best Overall with a 30-inch scale, 22 frets and a gig bag for players on the move.

Who it suits

Players who want a 30-inch scale bass with a gig bag
Players who want a headless bass with a piezo pickup

Skip it if

You want more than 22 frets
You want more than 4 strings

The bass has a 30-inch scale with 22 frets, a maple neck-through-body design and an acoustic piezo pickup with a standard 1/4-inch output jack. It comes with a detachable lap rest and a gig bag. It carries a lifetime warranty.

2Runner-Up

Fender Squier Squier Sonic Precision Bass

Frets not stated in the listing
Strings: 4
Pickup layout: Single-Coil
2-year warranty stated

9.3Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Runner-Up with a split single-coil pickup, 4 strings and a 30-day Fender Play subscription.

Who it suits

Beginners who want a 4-string bass with a split single-coil pickup
Players who want a 30-day Fender Play subscription

Skip it if

You want a warranty longer than 2 years
You want more than 4 strings

The bass has 4 strings with a split single-coil pickup and a California Blue finish. It comes with a 30-day Fender Play subscription with instructional videos. It weighs 9.9 lb and carries a 2-year warranty.

3Also Great

Ibanez GSRM25BK MiKro

Frets: 22
Strings: 5
Pickup layout: Single-Coil
1-year warranty stated

9.2Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Also Great as a 5-string bass with 22 frets, a maple neck and a jatoba fingerboard.

Who it suits

Players who want a 5-string bass with 22 frets
Players who want a maple neck and jatoba fingerboard

Skip it if

You want more than 5 strings
You want a warranty longer than 1 year

The bass has 5 strings with 2 single-coil pickups, a maple neck and a jatoba fingerboard. It has 22 frets and a fixed bridge. It weighs 7 lb and carries a 1-year warranty.

4Also Great

Fender Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass

Frets not stated in the listing
Strings: 4
Pickup layout: PJ
1-year warranty stated

9.1Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Also Great with a PJ pickup configuration, a thin body and a 4-saddle bass bridge.

Who it suits

Players who want a PJ pickup configuration
Players who want a slim C-shaped neck profile

Skip it if

You want more than 4 strings
You want a warranty longer than 1 year

The bass has 4 strings with a PJ pickup configuration, a thin body and a slim C-shaped neck profile. It has open-gear tuning machines and a 4-saddle bass bridge. It weighs 10 lb and carries a 1-year warranty.

5Also Great

Squier Mini Precision Bass Guitar

Frets not stated in the listing
Strings: 4
Pickup layout: Single-Coil
2-year warranty stated

9.0Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Also Great as a short-scale bass with a 28.6-inch maple neck and a split single-coil pickup.

Who it suits

Players who want a short-scale 28.6-inch bass
Players who want a split single-coil pickup

Skip it if

You want more than 4 strings
You want a warranty longer than 2 years

The bass has 4 strings with a split single-coil pickup and a short-scale 28.6-inch maple neck. It has a laurel fingerboard and sealed die-cast tuning machines. It carries a 2-year warranty.

Side by side

Product	Amp included	Frets	Case or gig bag included	Strings	Pickup layout	Weight	Warranty
Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Gloss Black Bass Guitar	Not stated	22	Yes	4	Not stated	Not stated	lifetime
Fender Squier Squier Sonic Precision Bass	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	4	Single-Coil	9.9 lb	2-year
Ibanez GSRM25BK MiKro	Not stated	22	Not stated	5	Single-Coil	7 lb	1-year
Fender Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	4	PJ	10 lb	1-year
Squier Mini Precision Bass Guitar	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	4	Single-Coil	Not stated	2-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 400

Count the strings

String count sets the range you can reach. The Ibanez MiKro has 5 strings, while the Traveler, the Squier Sonic, the Affinity and the Squier Mini each have 4 strings. If you want 5 strings, the Ibanez is the pick here.

Match the scale length to your hands

Scale length is the distance from nut to bridge, and shorter scales mean closer frets. The Traveler bass has a 30-inch scale, the Squier Mini has a 28.6-inch scale, and the Affinity has a 32-inch scale. The Squier Sonic and the Ibanez measure 28.6 inches as well. Compare the scale before you choose, since the frets sit closer together on shorter scales.

Check the warranty and the extras

Warranty terms and included extras differ across these picks. The Traveler bass carries a lifetime warranty and comes with a gig bag, while the Squier Sonic carries a 2-year warranty with a 30-day Fender Play subscription. The Ibanez and the Affinity carry a 1-year warranty each, and the Squier Mini carries a 2-year warranty. Compare the warranty and the extras together before choosing.

Frequently asked questions

What is a short-scale bass?

A short-scale bass has a shorter distance from nut to bridge than a longer scale bass. The Squier Mini has a 28.6-inch scale, and the Traveler bass has a 30-inch scale.

How many strings do these basses have?

The Ibanez MiKro has 5 strings, and the Traveler, the Squier Sonic, the Affinity and the Squier Mini each have 4 strings.

Which bass here comes with a gig bag?

The Traveler bass comes with a gig bag and a detachable lap rest.

What warranty do these basses carry?

The Traveler bass carries a lifetime warranty, the Squier Sonic and the Squier Mini carry a 2-year warranty each, and the Ibanez and the Affinity carry a 1-year warranty each.