Top 10 of the most beautiful electric basses

Like many musicians, do you collect instruments?

Are your guitar and drums not enough for you?

Or your

acquired to start limiting your progress?

Do you want to upgrade to a more aesthetic model, or treat yourself to an iconic electric bass?

Our guide to the most beautiful electric basses tries to orient you among the wide variety of models that are on the market today, from ultra-classic models signed Fender to the legendary basses used by the biggest names in 4-string, passing by basses more modern with particularly neat finishes… Because if each one has its own sound, it must be admitted that the aesthetics of the bass plays a big role in the choice of the musician.

In this guide, we focus on essentially aesthetic criteria that may seem subjective.

A metal lover will not turn to the same type of bass as a jazz player.

The bass player of a blues band will not have the same expectations as a punk or reggae bassist.

That's why we offer you several different styles with a tendency for the most versatile and timeless models, starting with the two flagship models of the Fender brand: the Precision Bass and the Jazz Bass.

We will also discover three contemporary basses signed Ibanez, Warwick and Spector, as well as three basses made legendary by those who popularized them.

We will also focus on two particular models that look like semi-hollow guitars.

Our selection :

Fender Player Jazz Bass 3 colors sunburst

• Cdiscount

  835 €

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• Fnac

  €904.21

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Timeless.

Our favorite comes as no surprise.

The Fender Jazz Bass is one of the most legendary basses in the history of music and arguably the most used.

It shines with its versatility, and if the sound of the Jazz Bass is suitable for all styles of music, its style is also appreciated by all bass players.

To embark in the studio as in concert, the Jazz Bass comes in a multitude of colors.

• Elegance

• Manufacturing quality

• Versatility

• Value for money

• Common style

• Shape copied by many brands

Ibanez Standard BTB745-NTL Natural Low Gloss

• Amazon

  €985.10

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• eBay

  888 €

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Ibanez is one of the biggest brands in musical instruments, and its know-how is particularly appreciated in the world of electric basses.

This 5-string displays a unique style: a unique shape with very neat finishes right down to the back of the instrument.

Walnut, maple, mahogany, ash… noble woods for a bass that will leave no one indifferent.

All for a weight of 5 kg.

• 5 strings

• inimitable style

• Natural finish

• Build quality from a major specialist brand

• Not suitable for all styles of music

• Not suitable for beginners

Höfner Ignition Bass Violin

• Amazon

  €367.64

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• eBay

  €390.96

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Funny instrument that this Höfner electric bass, because, under its violin tunes, it is indeed a 22 fret bass which hides behind this mythical 4 strings.

Popularized by Beatles bassist Paul McCartney, this very vintage-looking bass continues to be emulated.

Its particular style has also been copied by other brands.

In spruce, maple and Jatoba wood, it offers a totally unique style.

• Originality

• Price

• mythical instrument

• Form that lacks modernity

• Form plagiarized by other brands

Warwick Corvette Premium 4

• Cdiscount

  €1,147.99

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• Amazon

  €1,135

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• Fnac

  €1,146.99

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• eBay

  €1,157.70

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This 4-string with active electronics has become a reference.

It must be said that Warwick develops high quality electric basses.

This model manages to combine the modernity of today's electric basses with the finish of traditional luthiers' instruments.

Note that the touch of the Rockbass Corvette gets its pretty chocolate hue and its sublime grain from wenge, an African wood.

• Flamed table

• Wenge fingerboard

• Versatile instrument

• Weight (8kg)

• Non-French manufacturing

Hagstrom Viking Bass Tobacco Sunburst

• Cdiscount

  €811.99

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• Amazon

  799 €

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• Fnac

  €810.99

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• eBay

  €814.98

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With its semi-hollow body and soundholes, this uniquely styled electric bass looks just like a guitar, but it is a bass that the Hagstrom brand offers with its flagship model in a sunburst version.

Appreciated for its versatility and vintage design, the Viking Bass will suit many blues, rock, soul or jazz bassists.

Its weight is 9.53 kg.

• Successful design

• Originality of the Long throw tailpiece

• Versatility

• Style close to semi-hollow guitars

• Its weight (9.53 kg)

Fender Player Precision Bass Polar White

• Fnac

  €880.99

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• Cdiscount

  €881.99

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Classic and authentic, the Fender Precision Bass is the bass par excellence.

Intensity of sound and soft touch have made this model one of the most sought after by rock bass players.

Powerful and direct, this electric bass is equally at home on stage and in the studio and will never disappoint its owner.

Here we offer the Polar White model which stands out for its simplicity.

• Timeless

• Legendary model

• Value for money

• Power

• Style imitated by many brands

• Lack of versatility

Epiphone Jack Casady Bass

• Cdiscount

  729 €

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• Amazon

  729 €

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• Fnac

  729 €

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Rarely is a signature musical instrument model better known than the musician who crowned it.

Jack Casady was certainly a legendary rock bass player in the 1970s, but it was his work with the Epiphone brand to create this electric bass that we celebrate today.

This semi-hollow guitar-like bass is particularly successful and is distinguished by its gold soundboard.

• Retro design

• signature model

• Delivered without accessories

• Its perfectible

Sire Marcus Miller V7 Swamp Ash-4 Natural MN 2.0 Natural

• Fnac

  555 €

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• Amazon

  555 €

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• eBay

  €780.38

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It is a new signature that we present to you here.

The great Marcus Miller has indeed collaborated with the Sire brand to develop a series of high-end electric basses at an affordable price.

This one has the shape of a Jazz Bass and stands out thanks to its most elegant natural finish and its swamp ash body: lovers of minimalism will love it.

On the other hand, its weight is 8 kg!

• Price

• Signature of a legendary bassist

• Natural styling

• Unoriginal shape

• Signature among others

SPECTOR GSP LG4ST-BC

• Cdiscount

  551 €

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• Fnac

  549 €

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• eBay

  688 €

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This electric 4-string displays the characteristic line of the Spector brand.

The GSP LG4ST Black Cherry model is one of the most affordable of the brand, but also one of the most successful with its flamed maple body.

Equipped with an active system, this electric bass has a wide range of sounds, impressive tonal dimensions and amplified sustain thanks in particular to its wide, high-density bridge.

• Value for money

• The production quality of a brand specializing in electric basses

• Versatility of sounds

• Available in 5 strings

• Marked style that will not suit all bassists

• Its weight (10 kg)

Guild Starfire Bass II Emerald Green

• Cdiscount

  €2,355

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• Fnac

  €2,240

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Pour clore cette sélection des plus belles basses électriques, nous vous proposons un petit bijou : la Guild Starfire Bass II dans son habit vert émeraude. C’est sur le modèle emblématique de la Guild Starfire Bass chère à de nombreux bassistes des années 1970 que se sont appuyés les ingénieurs de la marque. L’ajout du micro manche offre un son plus chaud et une meilleure flexibilité tonale.

• Modèle rare
• Basse mythique améliorée
• Style et coloris original
• Savoir-faire d’une marque haut de gamme

• Fabrication non française
• Les cordes vibrent beaucoup

Quel est le meilleur type de bois pour une basse électrique ?

Bien sûr, on ne peut pas baser son choix uniquement sur des critères esthétiques. Le son de l’instrument est le premier paramètre à considérer, et si les micros jouent naturellement un grand rôle dans la reproduction sonore amplifiée, il ne faut pas négliger le matériau principal de la basse : le bois. Ce sont d’ailleurs plusieurs essences de bois qui sont utilisées pour construire une basse électrique. La partie principale, le corps, est souvent composée d’érable, un bois dur. Le frêne des marais et l’acajou constituent de très bonnes alternatives. En revanche, si le corps d’une basse est en tilleul ou en pin, c’est qu’il s’agit d’un instrument d’entrée de gamme. Le manche et la touche (entre le manche et les cordes) sont souvent réalisés à partir de bois différents : wengé, ébène, palissandre, panga-panga… Ces bois exotiques de grande qualité permettent de concevoir des instruments dont le son pourra évoluer en fonction des choix opérés. Certains modèles de basses électriques se déclinent d’ailleurs sous plusieurs formes avec des manches différents selon les préférences de toucher, de profondeur de son, de sensation et de couleur de chacun. Car les bois utilisés donnent aussi leur caractère visuel à l’instrument, notamment pour les modèles naturels.

Precision ou Jazz : quel type de basse privilégier ?

Chez Fender, il y a toujours deux écoles. Les guitaristes ont le choix entre deux modèles incontournables : la Stratocaster et la Telecaster. Les bassistes sont quant à eux souvent amenés à essayer deux modèles tout aussi mythiques : la Jazz Bass et la Precision Bass. Cependant, si on différencie en un clin d’œil une Stratocaster d’une Telecaster, la frontière entre la Jazz et la Precision est plus ténue. À savoir que la Precision est l’aînée puisqu’elle est sortie en 1951, soit neuf ans avant la Jazz. Les deux silhouettes se distinguent rapidement avec un peu d’expérience. La Precision a été inspirée par la fameuse Fender Stratocaster, et la Jazz affiche une forme plus asymétrique que sa consœur. Le son qui donne tout son caractère à l’instrument dépendra du système de micro utilisé. On vous épargne les détails techniques, mais la Precision est une basse puissante au son simple et direct qui est très apprécié dans le rock. La Jazz Bass offre plus de nuances et de polyvalence, faisant d’elle un instrument à sa place aussi bien dans le reggae que le blues, le hip-hop ou, bien sûr, le jazz.

Quelle est la différence entre une basse passive et une basse active ?

Une basse active est alimentée par une pile et un préampli qui permettra de booster les aigus, les médiums ou les basses là où une basse passive ne peut que couper certaines tonalités. Les basses actives permettent donc de mieux sculpter le son, et offrent à la fois une meilleure polyvalence et plus de puissance à l’instrument. Ce n’est pas pour autant que la basse active doit être préférée à la basse passive. Cette dernière a l’avantage d’être plus facile d’emploi. Aucun risque par ailleurs de tomber en panne de pile au milieu d’un concert. Quant à la polyvalence, il existe des pédales qui offrent d’incroyables possibilités sonores. Dernier argument en faveur de la basse passive : elle est plus écolo. Elle est un peu ce que le vélo traditionnel est au vélo électrique.

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