The 10 Best Electric Bass Guitars

The Fender American Standard Precision (about $1500) splits its pickup, devoting two magnets to each string, with the lower end pair closer to the neck and the higher end nearer to the bridge. The result is an uptick in clarity exactly where you need it.

Fans of Paul McCartney and The Beatles will instantly recognize the iconic Hofner Ignition Violin (appx. $300). Its shape is decidedly singular, and it carries a punch in its sound that has more articulation in the mid ranges than many other models.

The Fender Road Worn '60s Jazz (appx. $1125) delivers an ideal combination of style and substance. The finish on its solid wood body bears the scars and wear of an instrument that's seen thousands of miles of touring, and its tone holds true to the era in which it was first designed.

No sound quite compares to the smooth, flowing lines you can create on the Fender Tony Franklin Fretless (around $1700), though you can expect to spend a few extra hours practicing to get the hang of a fret-free neck. Once you do, however, you may never go back.

The Epiphone Thunderbird Natural Pro IV (about $919) takes one of the company's classic designs and outfits it with T-Pro humbuckers. These active pickups run on a 9-volt battery and provide exceptional response that can keep up with even the loudest, heaviest guitar playing.

The Ibanez SR500 Soundgear (around $599) features ovular abalone fret markers, the color of which beautifully accents the finish on the body itself. The design of its Accu-Cast B20 bridge makes it exceptionally easy to change the strings.

The tone of the Warwick Corvette 5-String (about $950) has an edge to it that is largely a result of the vibrations created in its exceptionally lightweight alder body, giving it a growl that pedals and other effects can't quite replicate.

The ESP LTD Series B-50 (appx. $499) is built with a spalted maple top that bears natural levels of discoloration, adding a unique finish to every body that comes off the production line. It's available in 4-, 5-, and 6-string configurations.

The Fender Player Jazz IV (around $724) adds an extra string to the instrument that helped put low end in the hands of countless young musicians. That added range gives players the opportunity to access frequencies that are becoming more important in modern music.

For newbies who are prepared to make a little bit of an investment in their future, the Yamaha TBN 500 Series Premium (about $500) will give you a sound and playability that you can still enjoy as your skills and style improve over time.