12 best bass guitar bodies
Bass guitar bodies are a fundamental component of electric basses, contributing significantly to the instrument's overall tone, playability, and aesthetics. Here are some key points about bass guitar bodies:
Materials: Bass guitar bodies are typically made from various types of wood, with each wood type influencing the instrument's sound. Common wood choices for bass guitar bodies include:
Alder: Alder is known for its balanced tone with good sustain and a broad frequency range. It is often used in classic-style bass guitars.
Ash: Ash bodies can provide a bright and clear tone with excellent sustain.It is used in many high-end basses.
Mahogany: Mahogany is valued for its warm, rich, and full-bodied tone. It is often used in neck-through and set-neck bass designs.
Maple: Maple bodies can produce a bright and snappy tone with pronounced upper frequencies. It is commonly used as a top wood in bass guitars with multiple layers.
Body Shapes: Bass guitar bodies come in various shapes and styles, including:
Precision Bass: Known for its iconic offset waist and split single-coil pickup design, the Precision Bass body is one of the most recognizable in the bass guitar world.
Jazz Bass: Jazz Bass bodies typically have a narrower waist and two single-coil pickups, offering a versatile tonal range.
S-style: Some bass guitars feature body shapes similar to Stratocaster-style electric guitars. These bodies often offer ergonomic contours and various pickup configurations.
Custom Designs: Many bass manufacturers create custom body shapes to distinguish their instruments and offer unique aesthetics.
Weight and Density: The weight and density of the body wood can affect the overall balance and sustain of the bass. Heavier woods may provide longer sustain but can be less comfortable to play for extended periods.
Finish: Bass guitar bodies are usually finished with various coatings, including solid colors, translucent finishes, and natural wood grain. The finish can impact the look, feel, and resonance of the instrument.
Construction Techniques: Bass guitar bodies can be constructed using different methods, including solid body, semi-hollow, and hollow body designs. Solid-body basses are the most common and offer excellent sustain and feedback resistance.
Routing and Cavities: The body of an electric bass often contains cavities and routing for pickups, electronics, and other components. These cavities can affect the overall weight and resonance of the instrument.
Scale Length Compatibility: The design and dimensions of the bass guitar body should match the instrument's scale length (the length of the vibrating portion of the strings). Different scale lengths can affect string tension and playability.
Customization: Some bass players choose to customize their instrument's body with unique paint jobs, graphics, or hardware modifications to make their bass guitar stand out.
In summary, bass guitar bodies are a crucial element in the design and construction of electric basses. The choice of body wood, shape, finish, and construction methods all contribute to the instrument's sound, feel, and appearance, allowing bass players to find the perfect bass guitar to suit their playing style and preferences.
Below you can find our editor's choice of the best bass guitar bodies on the market
Muslady DIY Guitar Body,Polished Wood Type Electric Guitar Barrel Maple For JB Style Bass Guitar
Muslady
- Material: maple
- Unfinished guitar body for JB style bass guitar.
- Polished Body and fine workmanship.
- Body is predrilled.
- For DIY your electric guitar.
Product features
Specifications: Unfinished guitar body for JB style bass guitar.
- Material: maple
- Item size: as picture show
- Item weight: 1100g / 2.42lb
- Package size: 530 * 380 * 55mm / 20.87 * 14.96 * 2.16in
- Package weight: 1300g / 2.87lb
Package List:
1 * JB Style Bass Guitar Barrel
Note:
Due to the different display screen and light effect, the actual color of the item might be slightly different from the color showed on the pictures.
Specifications: Unfinished guitar body for PB style bass guitar.
- Material: maple
- Item size: as picture show
- Item weight: 1150g / 2.53lb
- Package size: 540 * 350 * 55mm / 21.26 * 13.78 * 2.16in
- Package weight: 1350g / 2.98lb
Package List:
- 1 * PB Style Bass Guitar Barrel
Note:
Due to the different display screen and light effect, the actual color of the item might be slightly different from the color showed on the pictures.
Specifications: Unfinished guitar body for TL style guitar.
- Material: Maple
- Item size: as picture show
- Item weight: 1230g / 2.71lb
- Package size: 440 * 350 * 55mm / 17.32 * 13.78 * 2.16in
- Package weight: 1430g / 3.15lb
Package List:
1 * TL Style Bass Guitar Barrel
Note:
Due to the different display screen and light effect, the actual color of the item might be slightly different from the color showed on the pictures.
Unfinished Electric PJM Bass Guitar Body, Bass Wood Made Body
Product description
* unfinished PJM bass body for PJM bass guitar, only body as listing pictures showing * item dimensions: L. 18 3/4" ; W. 11 3/4" ; H 1 1/2"; item weight: 4lbs * width of neck pocket: 2 1/2"; pocket depth : 4 1/4"
- unfinished PJM bass body for PJM bass guitar
- solid bass wood body
User questions & answers
| Question: | This body seems to require a short scale neck. Any suggestions as to where I could get one |
| Answer: | I would think so But....I would go to YouTube and research this. With the electronics in the Peavey, you don't want to take any chances of frying your amp.Most questions can be answered by going to Google or YouTube. Good Luck. |
| Question: | How wide is the neck pocket |
| Answer: | I never tried this but I would imagine you could do all kinds of cool stuff with this amp and a keyboard. As far as the amp goes it is the best one I own and super loud with so many variables. I Love It... Don't know if this will help... Good Luck |
Fender Alder Precision Bass - Brown Sunburst
Fender
Product description
Genuine Fender Precision Bass guitar alder body routed for a traditional split single-coil pickup and pre-drilled with three bridge-mounting screw holes and bridge ground wire channel. Durable gloss-polyester finish. Crafted at Fender’s Ensenada, Mexico, manufacturing facility.
- Durable Gloss-Polyester Finish
- Routed for a Split Single-Coil Pickup Configuration
- Pre-Drilled Bridge Mounting Screw Holes
User questions & answers
| Question: | This body are made in USA |
| Answer: | U can try a local guitar store or amazon |
| Question: | Will it accept a neck from a 2019 fender deluxe active precision bass special? better yet, what are the neck pocket dimensions |
| Answer: | It's about 2 and half inches . Had to sand some to put my neck on .Also the body is very light |
| Question: | Will this body accept a late 90s jazz neck without any modification |
| Answer: | Yes these particular tubes are ECC83S. Thank you for your interest! Y2PLAY Stores - 800-695-4808. |
| Question: | how heavy is the body its self |
| Answer: | I haven't heard one in a Vox amp, but I have used them in several other EL84 based amps with great success. The Peavey Super 7 12AX7s are currently made by JJ tubes, and are excellent. |
Electric PB Bass Guitar Unfinished Body,okoume wood Body
Product description
* unfinished PB bass body part is for PB bass guitar, only body as listing picture showing * item dimensions: L.19 3/8"; W. 13" x H 1 1/2"; item weight: 3lbs width of neck pocket: 2 1/2"
- unfinished electric PB bass body
- solid okoume wood body, linden veener top & back
User questions & answers
| Question: | is that a hole or a blem/dent on the front of the body |
| Answer: | Maybe...? More than likely Mexico. The white body I ordered was Mexican Fender,it was great! Light and resonant,perfect off white color. |
| Question: | wont a 3lb body give it neck dive |
| Answer: | It’ll fit any Mexican or American Fender 4 string bass neck. It also fit vintage Fender necks. |
| Question: | What type of wood is it |
| Answer: | Should accept the neck heel size,no problem. You may have to shim it(use metal washers or wood) to get the neck angle correct. I might suggest plugging the holes in the neck with dowels and re-drilling new holes that line up with the holes in the body properly. |
| Question: | What are the dimensions to the pickups |
| Answer: | They ALL vary,from what I recall,it was roughly about 6 pounds without anything on it,as far as parts go. |
ivy IMM-305 Bass Solid-Body Electric Guitar, Natural
Unknown
Product description
Inyen guitars have strong fingerboard without bending ,good tapering, good shape and good sounds because they are made by cnc machine with 3D computer programming
- all guitars are made punctually by CNC machine with computer programming
- Perfect neck with almost no defectiveness
- All guitars with good specification
User questions & answers
| Question: | What are the brand name of the strings on this bass guitar? I purchased this bass guitar in 2018 and want to get the same kind of strings for replacem |
| Answer: | That is the hole indicate, not dent. Thanks! |
| Question: | What do each of the knobs do? There are 4 knobs and only one pickup |
| Answer: | i use hipshot lightweight tuners when i build with light bodies. balances well. |
| Question: | how much does it actually weight |
| Answer: | It's bass wood. Thanks! |
| Question: | Active or passive pick ups |
| Answer: | I put in a pair of EMG GZRP Geezer Butler P Bass Pickups and they fit no problem. Any standard size fender precision pickups should fit without issue. |
DIY Electric Guitar Kits For JASS Style bass Guitar.Okoume Body
Unknown
Product description
* DIY electric guitar kits for JB style bass guitar * comes with unpolished solid okoume body, maple neck & composite ebony fingerboard * white pickguard and all electronic parts * it is easy to build your DIY own guitar After purchase,the instruction(PDF) will be sent to you via Amazon message.(Please don't shield your Amazon message to seller,or we could not send you the instruction)
- * DIY electric guitar kits for JB style bass guitar
- comes with unpolished solid okoume wood body, maple neck & composite ebony fingerboard
- white pickguard and all electronic parts
- it is easy to build your DIY own guitar
- After purchase,the instruction(PDF) will be sent to you via Amazon message.(Please don't shield your Amazon message to seller,or we could not send you the instruction)
User questions & answers
| Question: | What is the nut width |
| Answer: | Width does not matter its just the measurement from the nut to the 12 fret. The nut should be no Wider than the neck up by the head stock |
| Question: | What is the fretboards radius? Seemed about 9.5" but I don't have the proper tools to measure it correctly |
| Answer: | It's 9/10". Thanks! |
| Question: | Our kit had a missing bridge how would we go about gettng the missing part... It is kind of an important part to have |
| Answer: | Mine was missing some screws. What i did is went to the stewmac site and bought replacements. You might find a bridge for an inexpensive cost. The kit isn't very expensive so the small cost will be neglegent and you may end up with a better bridge. |
| Question: | Is it possible to buy just the body for this kit |
| Answer: | Yes, body only, please check Amazon ASIN# B074CLPH5D. Thanks! |
Fender Alder Jazz Bass Body - Black
Fender
Product description
Genuine Fender Jazz Bass guitar alder body routed for a traditional SS pickup configuration, with pre-drilled bridge-mounting screw holes and bridge ground wire channel. Durable gloss-polyester finish. Crafted at Fender’s Ensenada, Mexico, manufacturing facility.
- Durable Gloss-Polyester Finish
- Routed for SS Pickup Configuration
- Pre-Drilled Bridge Mounting Screw Holes
- Package Weight: 9.2 pounds
User questions & answers
| Question: | This body is for 4 strings or 5 strings |
| Answer: | Passive |
String Swing Guitar Holder Horizontal Low-Profile Narrow-Body for Flat Wall Mount Bass and Electric Guitars- 1 Piece Unit CC151-LPN-FW
Product description
Displays your narrow body instrument horizontally. Fits guitars with body depth up to 2.5 inches. Fully adjustable for right handed or left handed guitars. To be mounted to a flat wall surface. This handmade hanger is built to last. It is constructed of powder-coated steel and protective padding, and is covered by a lifetime structural warranty.
- ✔UNLIKE THE “TYPICAL” GUITAR HANGERS OF UNKNOWN origin and quality that potentially puts even the finest guitars like Yamaha, Jackson, Fender and Ibanez in “life threatening” danger, the STRING SWING GUITAR HANGERS are CERTIFIED 100% MADE IN USA and backed by a LIFETIME STRUCTURAL WARRANTY, all that to provide maximum structural integrity and safety, so no matter if you are playing your instruments or not, they are always in the “right hands”
- Protective padding gently and securely supports the instrument
- Durable black powder coated steel
- Mounting hardware included
- Structural lifetime warranty; handmade in the U.S.A.
User questions & answers
| Question: | Would this work for a chandler lap steel? i am wanting to hang it on the wall |
| Answer: | Provided the dimensions match up, it’ll hold it just fine. Though for an 8 lb lap steel, I would recommend screwing the bracket of this directly into a stud. It’s a cool display hanger, I recommend it! |
| Question: | Anyone use this with an electric? My tele is heavy and I'm suspicious |
| Answer: | Here's what you want to get for an electric guitar and it holds my Les Paul (heavy guitar) just fine.String Swing CC151-LPN-FW Horizontal Low-Profile Narrow-Body Guitar Holder for Flat Wall Mount - 1 Piece UnitThe one you are listing is pretty wide (made for an acoustic guitar) |
| Question: | Can this be used for a 34" 9.5lb bass guitar, and if so, would you recommend the low profile or standard profile |
| Answer: | The weight and size are fine. As for the low or standard profile, it is completely personal preference. The low profile hanger shows more of the front of the guitar and is less likely to make contact with dials or switches. The standard profile hooks come up in front of the guitar to prevent tipping which we recommend for areas that experience frequent earthquakes. |
| Question: | Can I use this product safely in American fender jazz bass |
| Answer: | Yes, it might actually be a little wide for a Bass, I amusing it for a Yamaha acoustic guitar. It is a good looking high quality hanger. |
Guitar Body,DIY Unfinished Electric Guitar Body Sycamore Wood Blank Guitar Barrel PB-T02 for PB Style Bass Guitars DIY Parts
Product description
Specifications:
Brand: Muslady
Body Material: Sycamore wood
Body Type: for PB style bass guitar
Item Size: 49.5 * 32.5 * 4.2cm / 19.49 * 12.8 * 1.65in (refer to picture for specific size)
Item Weight: 1158g / 40.85oz
Package Size: 52 * 35 * 6cm / 20.47 * 13.78 * 2.36in
Package Weight: 1418g / 50.02oz
Note:
Due to the different display screen and light effect, the actual color of the item might be slightly different from the color showed on the pictures.
Package List:
1 * unfinished guitar body
- 【Unfinished Guitar Body】 Suits for PB style bass guitar parts.
- 【Body Material 】Made of solid sycamore wood with fine workmanship, durable and safe to use.
- 【Predrilled and Polished】Body has been predrilled and polished, perfect for custom your own bass guitar.
- 【Body Type】For PB style bass guitar
- 【 Brand 】100% brand new and inpressive quality.
User questions & answers
| Question: | Did you drill bridge holes? Also do you have a string through? Thanks mate |
| Answer: | I have 2, it depends on the cut of wood. I have one that’s about 8 1/2 and the other is 9 lbs. and whoever said their neck started waving after a few weeks I’m sure you know about climate change and the effects on wood. You’re gonna say you keep everything in a climate controlled studio or something like that, adjust the truss rod. |
Electric JB Bass Guitar Unfinished Body
Product description
* unfinished JB bass body part is for JB bass guitar, only body as listing picture showing * item dimensions: L. 20 1/2" x W. 13" x H 1 1/2"; item weight: 4lbs, width of neck pocket: 2 1/2"
- unfinished electric JB bass body
- solid bass wood body
User questions & answers
| Question: | Will this fit a mim fender precision neck |
| Answer: | It is for a 4-string bass. |
| Question: | is it alder wood |
| Answer: | DR |
| Question: | Does it fit a kmise bass neck width at nut: approx. 38mm heel width: approx. 64mm heel depth: approx. 21mm / 27mm with |
| Answer: | 2 volumes and 2 tone knob, 1 for each pickup |
Squier Mini Precision Bass (Dakota Red)
Squier
Product description
The Squier Mini Precision Bass is the perfect companion for players seeking a reduced-size instrument with classic styling and familiar Fender tone. Highlights include a thin and lightweight body, a short-scale neck with an easy-to-play C -shaped profile, a Squier split single-coil pickup with volume and tone controls for sonic variety, and a hardtail bridge for solid tuning stability.Features:Mini Precision Bass Poplar Body w/ Gloss Polyurethane Finish28.6 Scale Maple Neck w/ Indian Laurel FingerboardSplit Single-Coil Precision Bass Neck PickupVolume Tone Controls4-Saddle Vintage-Style Bridge, Synthetic Bone NutChrome HardwareCase Not IncludedGet your Squier Mini Precision Bass today at the guaranteed lowest price from Sam Ash with our 45-day return and 60-day price protection policy.
- Mini Precision Bass Poplar Body w/ Gloss Polyurethane Finish
- 28.6" Scale Maple Neck w/ Indian Laurel Fingerboard
- Split Single-Coil Precision Bass Neck Pickup, Volume & Tone Controls
- 4-Saddle Vintage-Style Bridge, Synthetic Bone Nut, Chrome Hardware
- Case Not Included
Ibanez 4 String Bass Guitar, Right, Mahogany Oil (GSR100EXMOL)
Ibanez
Product description
An affordable lightweight string perfect for a new player or a working musician. For more than 30 years, Ibanez Sound gear series have given bass players a modern alternative. With its continued popularity, Ibanez is constantly endeavoring to answer the wider needs of a variety of players, at a variety of budgets. But no matter what the specs, the key features are the same-SR continues to excite with its smooth, fast neck, lightweight body.
- Fast, slim Maple neck
- Compact, light-weight Body
- Ppd4 pickup
- Hand orientation: Right
User questions & answers
| Question: | Does the the bridge have adjustable string spacing |
| Answer: | No, this bass doesn't have adjustable string spacing. The string spacing is fixed to 18mm from string to string. |
| Question: | Does this come set up right out of the box |
| Answer: | Yes. You need an amp and cable, however the guitar was strung and ready to go out of the box. |
| Question: | what does it come with in terms of a strap |
| Answer: | It doesn't come with a strap, but I've never seen a bass or guitar that does except for those that are part of a starter pack. |
| Question: | Does this have a Jatoba fretboard? If so I don’t like it |
| Answer: | It does. Too bad you don't like it - I think it's pretty nice. |
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