Top Bass Guitars Under $100: An In-Depth Review and Buying Guide

Last updated on December 14th, 2023

We gotta be honest, finding a good quality bass guitar under 100 dollars isn’t an easy task, after all, this is a very limited budget. However, it is still possible to find some great deals if you search well.

A great thing is that most bass guitars in this price range come with a few extras, such as a shoulder strap and a gig bag. And, the fact that by getting a cheaper instrument you will be able to spend more on other equipment like amps and effect pedals is a pro too.

Today, we are reviewing 4 instruments (and 2 extra ones under 200) to find the best bass guitar under 100. Most of the products on the list are very versatile and can be employed in a variety of music genres and playing styles but differ in a lot of details, so there is an option for everyone.

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We Tested 7 Products and Found the GLARRY GJazz to be The Best Bass Guitar Under $100

The Lykos Fashion White was our Runner-Up

Best Bass Guitars Under 100 – In-Depth Review

Table of Contents

1. Goplus Electric Bass Guitar
2. GLARRY 4 String GJAZZ Electric Bass
3. Cciduviki IB Electric Bass Guitar
4. Lykos Fashion White

1. Goplus Electric Bass Guitar

The Goplus Electric Bass Guitar has a silhouette inspired by the Fender Precision Bass. It is made out of paulownia wood which is an unusual choice but still sounds close to more expensive types of wood such as swamp ash. The bass’ reviews are pretty positive so we decided to see for ourselves.

Product Specifications

• 4 Strings
• Available in 4 Colors
• 1 Split-Coil Pickup

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• This bass guitar is out of paulownia wood, which has a unique tone and has a lighter weight than other types.
• As it features only 1 pickup, we would say that it is fairly easy to upgrade this bass guitar in the future.
• Similarly, the minimalist design makes it very easy to use for beginners.
• Comes with a few extras such as a shoulder strap and a gig bag.

Cons

• May require a pickup upgrade in the future.

Conclusion

We were impressed by the quality of this bass guitar considering the very low price. It stands very close to our budget maximum but still offers a great value. As with many instruments in this range, the pickups aren’t a strong point: you may need to do an upgrade in the future so keep that in mind.

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2. GLARRY 4 String GJazz Electric Bass

The GLARRY 4 String GJazz is based on the famous Fender Jazz Bass. It has a great design and a beautiful natural wood color that matches the black pickguard perfectly. Like most of the other options on the list, it is shipped with a few extras.

Product Specifications

• 4 Strings
• Available in 2 Colors
• 2 Single-Coil Pickups

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• Considerably lightweight.
• Great for fans of the Fender Jazz Bass as it features 2 single-coil pickups and a very similar configuration and shape.
• The finish looks pretty good with its natural wood color and black pickguard.
• The bridge saddles are simple and easy to adjust.
• Comes with a gig bag.
• The material is ok for the price. It is made out of basswood, similar to brands like Squier by Fender.

Cons

• The pickups may need an upgrade. In the case of this bass guitar, there are 2, so it is an added cost.

Conclusion

For fans of the Fender Jazz Bass, the GLARRY GJazz is an excellent budget alternative. It has practically an identical configuration and you can easily get some “Fenderish” tones with it, making it optimal for those who play funk and r&b or would like a guitar with more bite in the highs. The pickups may need an upgrade in the future though.

Related: Best Lightweight Bass Guitar 

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3. Cciduviki IB Electric Bass Guitar

We would say that the Cciduviki IB is a great option for metal bassists, but it is still very versatile, as it reminds us a lot of the Ibanez bass guitars. This model has a beautiful natural sunburst color and bears lots of great reviews across the internet.

Product Specifications

• 4 Strings
• Available in 1 Color
• 1 Single-Coil Pickup and 1 Split-Coil

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• Two distinct pickups for optimal versatility.
• Very comfortable neck profile, especially good if you favor speed and agility in your performances.
• Can also be a great choice for advanced players looking for a new bass guitar to their collection for modifications.
• Good quality components.
• Basswood body, ok for the price.
• High-quality rosewood scale.
• The bridge has a simple design and is easy to adjust, even for those who don’t have any prior experience.

Cons

• We couldn’t find more information about the brand on the internet.

Conclusion

This is an interesting choice. The IB Electric Bass Guitar is an honest entry-level beginner instrument, but could also be a great option for advanced players who would like to try their hand at modifications. If you fit in some EMG or Fender pickups, it will perform even better.

We couldn’t find any information about the brand Cciduviki on the internet so this was a significant con for us, as we would like to know more about the manufacturer.

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4. Lykos Fashion White

The Lykos Fashion White is very similar to another option on the list, the Goplus Electric Bass Guitar, but with a few different details. It also follows the style of the famous Fender Precision Bass, with 1 split-coil pickup.

Product Specifications

• 4 Strings
• Available in 6 Colors
• 1 Split-Coil Pickup

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• This bass guitar is available in 6 colors.
• Comfortable body shape, great for prolonged practice sessions.
• Made out of basswood.
• Decent quality tuning pegs and hardware in general.
• Lightweight.

Cons

• The pickups may need an upgrade in the future.

Conclusion

The Lykos Fashion White is fairly decent. As we said, it is very similar to the Goplus Electric Bass Guitar, with the only difference being the wood used and that there are more color options available (which is a huge pro for us).

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Extra: 2 Bass Guitars Under $200

As you could see, the options under 100 dollars are pretty limited, so we decided to include two options under 200 as well so you can decide whether or not it is worth it to spend a bit more right now. The huge benefit, in our opinion, is that a slightly more expensive bass guitar may need fewer upgrades.

1. Squier by Fender Bronco Bass

The Bronco Bass, by Squier (the entry-level line from Fender), can be found for as low as $200. This bass guitar has a short-scale, something that can be great for those with small hands, as well as pretty honest build quality and components.

Product Specifications

• 4 Strings
• Available in 2 Colors
• 1 Single-Coil Pickup

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• The Bronco Bass has a unique tone due to its reduced size and pickup type.
• Very easy to upgrade in the future if you need to as it only has one pickup.
• Easy to adjust bridge saddles with a simple design.
• Short-scale, optimal for those with small hands as it offers a great deal of comfort and playability.
• Made out of ash wood. It is hard to find bass guitars made with this kind of wood in that price range.
• C-shaped slim neck profile.

Cons

• More expensive.

Conclusion

In our opinion, it is worth getting a Bronco Bass if you can spend the extra $100. We reviewed this bass guitar in other articles and the quality of the instrument surprised us very much, especially the comfort factor, so that’s why we decided to include it on our list.

Tip: If you want to check more short-scale options of bass guitars, take a look at this article.

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2. Yamaha TRBX174

Yamaha products are known for their high quality and the TRBX174 is no different. This very versatile bass guitar has a dual set of pickups that are extremely versatile for bassists across all music genres and playing styles.

Product Specifications

• 4 Strings
• Available in 7 Colors
• 1 Single-Coil Pickup and 1 Split-Coil

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• A very versatile bass guitar. It features 2 distinctive pickups for a wide range of tone possibilities.
• Available in 7 colors, more options than any other bass guitar that we reviewed on our list.
• Quality components and hardware made out of alloy steel.
• Very lightweight if compared to other bass guitars.

Cons

• More expensive.

Conclusion

The Yamaha TRBX174 also costs about $200, just like the Squier by Fender model. Between the two, this model has a more versatile sound due to its dual pickup configuration. It will come down to a matter of personal choice. We particularly like the quality of the components used to build this bass guitar.

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What to Expect from a Bass Guitar Under $100

100 dollars is a difficult budget to work with. The options are very limited but you still can find some pretty good deals if you’re a beginner. Here are some factors you must pay attention to.

Quality of the Wood

Most bass guitars in this price range and those on our list are made of basswood, with the exception of the Goplus Electric Bass Guitar which is made out of paulownia wood. For beginners, this isn’t a huge concern: they will largely offer the same tone qualities.

Build Quality

It is hard to judge the build quality of a product over the internet so this may be a problem for most buyers. We recommend checking reviews from other people that bought the product to ensure that the instrument is sturdy.

Scale Size

Most of the bass guitars reviewed on this list feature a standard full-sized scale, except for the Squier by Fender Bronco Bass, which has a short scale. A short-scale may be the best option for those who have small hands due to its improved playability. The choice will come down to preference.

Pickups

In that price range, the electronics and the pickups aren’t going to have the best quality. They are fairly decent for beginners though, but as soon as you start recording and performing live with your bass, you might want to upgrade these components, especially the pickups. A decent set shouldn’t cost you much, including installation.

Bonus: Amp vs iRig vs Audio Interface

You’re going to need a bass guitar amp or similar device to plug your instrument into. We have a few recommendations under $100 that may be interesting for the beginner player.

JOYO Portable 10W Mini Bass Amp

JOYO is a quite reputable budget brand in the music world. This mini bass amp was priced at around $50 by the time this article was written and has interesting features such as an aux-in and dual-channel modes.

Features

• Dual-channel mode: normal and drive.
• Aux-in.
• Headphone output.
• Can be powered both by a power adapter and by batteries.
• Shoulder strap buckles for easier transportation.

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Donner 25W Bass Guitar Amp

The Donner Bass Guitar Amp is a bit more expensive than the previously reviewed JOYO, but it is also considerably more powerful and you could use it both for practice and for small gigs and concerts in the future.

Features

• Headphone output.
• EQ controls.
• Aux-in for playing with a backing track.
• Lightweight.
• Includes a few extra cables.

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IK Multimedia iRig 2

This rechargeable little unit can be connected to your smartphone and used with specialized apps that feature hundreds of different amps, effects, and also recording capabilities. It is a great solution for the beginner bassist.

Features

• Compatible with iOS devices.
• Hundreds of bass amps and effects emulations with specialized apps.
• You can record your sessions directly into your device.
• Headphone output.
• Extra output for connecting the iRig 2 to your computer.

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M-Audio M-Track Duo Audio Interface

An audio interface can be used to connect your bass to your computer or laptop. There, you can play and record using a digital audio workstation software (DAW), such as Logic Pro X and Pro Tools (or even free ones such as GarageBand).

Compared to other options, an audio interface offers you more versatility, as you can practice, explore new sounds and tones and record your sessions more easily.

Features

• Two combo XLR inputs.
• +48V Phantom Power
• Headphone Output
• USB Connection

Tip: Learn more about audio interfaces here.

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Which One is the Best?

It will largely depend on your use case. For most beginners, we would recommend the IK Multimedia iRig 2, as you can plug it into your smartphone and have practically infinite sound and tone possibilities, as well as record your sessions and songs into it. But we also like the JOYO Portable 10W very much.

As we said before, an audio interface along with a digital audio workstation (DAW) software to plug your bass guitar into your computer or laptop is also a pretty versatile option. The biggest benefit is that you will have access to hundreds of amp-modeling and audio effects plugins, as well as the ability to record your practice sessions and own songs.

FAQs

Conclusion

Even though the options in this price range and budget are limited, we managed to find some good bass guitars under 100. The best one by far was the GLARRY GJazz, due to its versatility and the fact that it has lots of positive reviews across the internet from buyers who are happy with the instrument.

We also included a runner-up, the Lykos Fashion White, which brings the same decent quality as our top-pick but with a different pickup configuration and style; And the Squier by Fender Bronco Bass, a slightly more expensive alternative. Keep reading to learn more about our favorites.

GLARRY GJazz – Overall Best

The GLARRY GJazz is an excellent choice for the beginner bassist. With two single-coil pickups, it will give a great deal of versatility and a wide range of tone possibilities. The build quality is pretty honest, especially the finishing.

Lykos Fashion White – Runner Up

A decent bass guitar for the price, the Lykos Fashion White has a shape and configuration based on the Fender Precision Bass. If you’re a fan of the tone and sound of this legendary instrument, we recommend choosing this product.

Squier by Fender Bronco Bass – Extra Option Under $200

The Squier by Fender Bronco Bass is a little more expensive than the other bass guitars on our list, but we suggest that you consider, if you can, spending a little extra as this is an excellent, high-quality instrument that probably won’t need any upgrades in the future.

How to Buy

The links for each of the products reviewed in this article are at their respective titles on the list. Consider all of the possible choices before making a commitment.We hope our best bass guitar under 100 article was helpful. If you can, share this article with your friends who might be interested in it, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions for our website!