Best Small Bass Guitar (2026): 5 Picks Compared
Updated Oct 24, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank
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The Glarry Electric Bass Guitar leads this list for the best small bass guitar, with 4 strings, a basswood body, a rosewood fingerboard, and a full beginner kit in the box. If you want the Mini option, the Cordoba Mini II pairs a 580mm scale length with all-mahogany woods and a pickup for plugging in.
The picks at a glance
Which one should you buy?
- Beginners who want a full kit with bag and strap: Glarry Electric Bass Guitar See pick 1More picks: Best Bass Guitar for Beginners
- Beginners who want a full kit with bag and amp cord: GLARRY 4 String GJazz Electric Bass Guitar See pick 2
- Beginners who want a bass kit with cable and wrench: Ktaxon 4 String Electric Bass Guitar See pick 3
- Players who want a Mini bass with a 580mm scale length: Cordoba Mini II Acoustic Electric Bass MHE See pick 4
- Players who want a PJ pickup configuration and slim neck: Fender Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass 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
Glarry Electric Bass Guitar
- Case or gig bag included
- Strings: 4
- Pickup layout: Single-Coil
It earns Best Overall with 4 strings, a basswood body, a rosewood fingerboard, and a full kit with bag, strap, pick and amp cord.
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a full kit with bag and strap
- Players who want 4 strings and 2 volume knobs
Skip it if
- You want a bass under 6.7 lb
- You want a bass with more than 4 strings
The 4-string bass pairs a basswood body with a rosewood bridge and fingerboard. The split single-coil pickup works with 2 volume knobs, and string height adjusts with neck tuning at the top of the fingerboard. The box holds a bass bag, a shoulder strap, a bass pick and an amp cord. The white bass weighs 6.7 lb.
2Runner-Up
GLARRY 4 String GJazz Electric Bass Guitar
- Case or gig bag included
- Strings: 4
- Pickup layout: Single-Coil
- 1 year warranty stated
It earns Runner-Up with 4 strings, a rosewood fretboard, a basswood body, and two pickups covering neck and bridge.
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a full kit with bag and amp cord
- Players who want two pickups for neck and bridge
Skip it if
- You want a bass under 7.3 lb
- You want a bass with more than 4 strings
The 4-string bass pairs a basswood body with a rosewood fretboard. The single-single-coil design uses two pickups, one for the neck and one for the bridge. The box holds a bass bag, a shoulder strap, a bass pick and an amp cord. The sunset gold bass weighs 7.3 lb and carries a 1-year warranty.
3Also Great
Ktaxon 4 String Electric Bass Guitar
- Case or gig bag included not stated in the listing
- Strings: 4
- Pickup layout: Single-Coil
- 30-day warranty stated
It earns Also Great with 4 strings, a solid basswood body, a maple neck, and 2 volume and 2 tone control knobs.
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a bass kit with cable and wrench
- Players who want 2 volume and 2 tone knobs
Skip it if
- You want a bass with more than 4 strings
- You want a warranty longer than 30 days
The 4-string bass pairs a solid basswood body with a maple neck and a rosewood fingerboard. The pickup set combines 1 split single-coil pickup and 1 single pickup with 2 volume and 2 tone control knobs. The C-shaped neck profile suits players of all skill levels. The box holds a premium cable and a wrench, with a 30-day warranty.
4Also Great
Cordoba Mini II Acoustic Electric Bass MHE
- Case or gig bag included not stated in the listing
- Strings: 4
- 3-year warranty stated
It earns Also Great with a 580mm scale length, all-mahogany woods, and a Cordoba MB103 pickup for plugging in.
Who it suits
- Players who want a Mini bass with a 580mm scale length
- Musicians who want all-mahogany woods and Standard E tuning
Skip it if
- You want a bass with more than 4 strings
- You want an electric-only bass with no acoustic body
The Mini II Bass pairs all-mahogany woods with a 580mm scale length that tunes to Standard E. The Cordoba MB103 pickup lets the bass plug in, while the deeper body depth keeps it playable acoustic. The box holds a Cordoba manual and coated phosphor bronze strings with a nylon core. The bass carries a 3-year warranty.
5Also Great
Fender Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass
- Case or gig bag included not stated in the listing
- Strings: 4
- Pickup layout: PJ
- 1-year warranty stated
It earns Also Great with a thin body, a slim C-shaped neck, a PJ pickup configuration, and a 4-saddle bridge.
Who it suits
- Players who want a PJ pickup configuration and slim neck
- Musicians who want a 32-inch scale length and 4-saddle bridge
Skip it if
- You want a bass under 10 lb
- You want a bass with more than 4 strings
The Precision Bass pairs a thin body with a slim C-shaped neck profile. The PJ pickup configuration works with open-gear tuning machines and a 4-saddle bass bridge. The poplar body and laurel fingerboard sit under a Lake Placid Blue finish. The bass weighs 10 lb and carries a 1-year limited warranty.
Side by side
| Product | Amp included | Frets | Case or gig bag included | Strings | Pickup layout | Weight | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glarry Electric Bass Guitar | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | 4 | Single-Coil | 6.7 lb | Not stated |
| GLARRY 4 String GJazz Electric Bass Guitar | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | 4 | Single-Coil | 7.3 lb | 1 year |
| Ktaxon 4 String Electric Bass Guitar | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 4 | Single-Coil | Not stated | 30-day |
| Cordoba Mini II Acoustic Electric Bass MHE | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 4 | Not stated | Not stated | 3-year |
| Fender Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 4 | PJ | 10 lb | 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: small bass guitar
Check scale length for a smaller bass
Scale length decides how long the strings run on the bass. The Cordoba Mini II uses a 580mm scale length, and the Fender Squier uses a 32-inch scale length. The Glarry, GJazz and Ktaxon basses are full size models with 4 strings each. If you want a shorter reach, compare the scale length figures before you buy.
Compare pickups and control knobs
Pickups and knobs decide how the bass signal is shaped. The Glarry bass uses a split single-coil pickup with 2 volume knobs. The GJazz bass uses two single-coil pickups for neck and bridge. The Ktaxon bass uses 1 split single-coil pickup and 1 single pickup with 2 volume and 2 tone knobs. The Fender bass uses a PJ pickup configuration, and the Cordoba bass uses a Cordoba MB103 pickup.
Look at what comes in the box
Beginner kits differ on what they include. The Glarry and GJazz boxes hold a bass bag, a shoulder strap, a bass pick and an amp cord. The Ktaxon box holds a premium cable and a wrench. The Cordoba box holds a manual and coated phosphor bronze strings. If you already own a strap and a cable, compare the bass itself instead of the kit.
Frequently asked questions
Do these basses all have 4 strings?
Yes. The Glarry, GJazz, Ktaxon, Cordoba and Fender basses each have 4 strings. They differ on scale length, pickups and body woods. Pick the string count and size that match your playing.
Can the Cordoba Mini II bass plug into an amp?
Yes. The Cordoba Mini II uses a Cordoba MB103 pickup for plugging in. It also plays acoustic with its deeper body depth. The 580mm scale length tunes to Standard E.
What beginner kits include a bag and strap?
The Glarry and GJazz kits include a bass bag, a shoulder strap, a bass pick and an amp cord. The Ktaxon kit includes a premium cable and a wrench. Check the box contents before you buy.
Which bass here has the shortest scale length?
The Cordoba Mini II is the Mini model here, with a 580mm scale length. The Fender lists a 32-inch scale length, and the Glarry, GJazz and Ktaxon basses are full size models.
Gear that goes with it
Best Bass AmpTop pick: Fender Rumble 25 V3 Bass Guitar Amplifier
Best TunersTop pick: KLIQ UberTuner-MAX USB Rechargeable Clip On Guitar
Best Guitar StrapTop pick: Levy's Leathers 3" Wide Amped Leather Series
Best Guitar CordTop pick: JSAUX Guitar Cable 10 ftMore bass guitars guides
Specifications and availability come from each Amazon listing on Oct 24, 2026 and can change. Check the listing before you buy.