Which active bass guitar offers the best value for money under £500?
This page compares 5 active bass guitars with verified specifications and prices. Top options include Sire M2 4, Sterling by Music Man SUB StingRay4, Sterling by Music Man SUB StingRay5. Prices range from £239 to £522. All data is sourced from manufacturer documentation and specialist retailers.
| Product ⇅ | Price ⇅ | Number of Strings ⇅ | Scale Length (inches) ⇅ | Nut Width (inches) ⇅ | Active Electronics ⇅ | Pickup Configuration ⇅ | Tuner Type ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sire M2 4
US
|
£521.69 ≈ | 4 | 34 in | 38 mm | ✓ | Marcus Blue Humbucker Set | Basic Diecasting Gear |
|
The Sire M2 4 is a modern four-string bass with a 34 in scale, mahogany body, rolled-edge fingerboard and a pair of Marcus Blue humbuckers. Its Marcus Heritage-3 preamp, three-band EQ and active/passive switching suit players who need versatile tones for funk, rock, pop and heavier styles. ★ Ideal forIt offers strong value under £500 with active/passive flexibility, a three-band EQ, dual humbuckers, a comfortable 34 in scale and a 38 mm nut width suitable for versatile modern bass playing.
Sources:
|
|||||||
|
Sterling by Music Man SUB StingRay4
US
|
£294.32 ≈ | 4 | 34in | 38 mm | ✓ | H-1 ceramic humbucker | Open gear |
|
The SUB StingRay4 is a four-string bass with a 34in scale, active 2-band EQ, 9V preamp and a low-noise ceramic humbucking pickup. Its punchy StingRay-style tone and adjustable bridge make it suitable for beginners, practice, recording and live performance. ★ Ideal forIt suits the best-value active bass category under £500 because it combines a 9V active 2-band EQ, ceramic humbucker and full 34in scale with a relatively low retail price.
Sources:
|
|||||||
|
Sterling by Music Man SUB StingRay5
US
|
£316.39 ≈ | 5 | 34 in | 1.77 in | ✓ | HH - 2 ceramic humbuckers | Open Gear |
|
The Sterling by Music Man SUB StingRay5 is a 5-string bass with a 34 in scale, dual ceramic humbuckers, a 2-band active preamp, and a 5-way pickup selector. Its expanded tonal range and flexible electronics suit beginners, gigging players, and bassists wanting an affordable modern workhorse. ★ Ideal forIt suits the best-value-under-£500 category because it combines a 5-string design, 34 in scale, dual ceramic humbuckers, 2-band active electronics, and versatile 5-way switching at a current UK price of £499.
Sources:
|
|||||||
|
Squier Squier CV Act 70s J Bass MN BPG MOC
US
|
£324.50 ≈ | 4 | 34 in | 1.5 in | ✓ | 2 Fender-designed Alnico Noiseless single coils | Vintage-style machine heads |
|
A Classic Vibe-style active Jazz Bass with 2 Fender-designed Alnico Noiseless J pickups and onboard active/passive electronics for Treble/Bass Boost. It's built with a long 34 in scale and a 1.5 in bone nut, using vintage-style hardware for a 1970s vibe. This suits players who want traditional Jazz Bass feel with active control options for live flexibility. ★ Ideal forIt suits under £500 best because it combines a 4-string 34 in Jazz Bass layout with a 9-volt active/passive preamp featuring Treble/Bass Boost and two Fender-designed Alnico Noiseless J pickups, giving versatile tone without needing separate outboard EQ.
Sources:
|
|||||||
|
Ibanez Ibanez SR300EB-CA
US
|
£239.14 ≈ | 4 | 34 in | 38 mm | ✓ | HH 2 PowerSpan Dual Coils | — |
|
Ibanez SR300EB-CA is a 4-string active bass with 2 PowerSpan Dual Coil pickups and Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band EQ plus a 3-way Power Tap switch for multiple pickup voicings. It's built on a 38 mm nut with a 34 in scale for a fast, modern SR-style feel. It's well suited to players who want one bass that can cover clean, full humbucker, and single-coil tones via the switch. ★ Ideal forFor an active bass under £500, the SR300EB-CA's Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band EQ plus 3-way Power Tap switch (with Dual Coil HH pickups) lets you access multiple tonal setups without needing extra pedals, while it's listed at 325.00 USD at Thomann.
Sources:
|
|||||||