Top 20 Bass Guitars

I think it does. The wooden basses have a warmer, mellower sound, but I also like the thudding sound of a Fender P-bass. Depends on the set-up, of course, and what type of strings and amps you're using.

To start things off though my favorites are Alembics and Jaydees - I'm torn between these, and can't choose a winner!

Maybe you can: cast your vote below, or add another bass if your favorite isn't there.

At the moment, I own two basses:

• The first one I got is a white Encore E4, currently with light-gauge strings, a split pick-up and 21-fret. It's basically a Fender Precision copy.
  
• The second is an alder wood Wesley Monarch. Much lighter, and a little smaller than the Encore, but with heavy gauge strings - which I need to change to preserve my sense of touch! It's a 24-fret with double humbucker pickups.
  

Alembic was formed in 1969 by Ron and Susan Wickersham. It is still a distinctly family affair to this day, employing 26 people.

Notable basses include: the Signature Standard and Deluxe, and the Series I and Series II basses.

Artists who play Alembic include: Mark King and Stanley Clarke.

For more info visit Alembic.

John Diggins - aka JD - set up Jaydee Basses & Guitars in 1977. Initially, the company repaired and customised guitars, but followed a natural progression, and began making them also.

Notable basses: Supernatural Mark King Series, and GA24s.

Artists who play Jaydee: Mark King and George Anderson.

For more info visit Jaydee.

Warwick is a German bass maker founded by Hans-Peter Wilfer in 1982.

Notable basses: Corvette, Fortress, Streamer and Vampyre.

Artists who play Warwick basses include: John Entwistle, Sam Rivers, Prince, John Deacon, Tye Zamora and Russell Thompson among many others.

For more information visit Warwick Basses.

Fender is perhaps one of - if not the - best known makers of guitars and basses (and other music equipment, eg amps). It is famed for its iconic lead guitars, the stratocasters and telecasters. But Fender is equally a giant in the world of bass.

Notable models include: the Precision or P-bass, and the Jazz or J-bass.

Artists who play Fenders: Sting, Marcus Miller, Stu Hamm, Geddy Lee, Jaco Pastorius among many others.

Check out Fender on their site.

Notable basses: S2-Classic, KingBass and Empathy.

Artists who use Status basses include: Mark King, Tony Levin, Pino Palladino, Suzy Quatro, John 'Rhino' Edwards and others.

Visit Status-Graphite at their site.

Notable examples: StingRay and Bongo.

Artists who play Music Man basses: Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Louis Johnson (The Brothers Johnson), Dave 'Phoenix' Farrell (Linkin Park), Tony Levin and many others.

For more info visit Music Man.

GB is a custom bass and guitar maker in Brighton on the south coast of England.

Notable examples: the Standard, Spitfire & Rumour

Artists who play GB: Mark King

For more info visit GB Guitars.

Moon is a Japanese guitar and bass manufacturer.

Notable models: JJ4 and JB4 Series

Artists associated with Moon: Larry Graham, Mark King

For more information, visit Moon Guitars.

Ibanez is a Japanese guitar and bass maker with a long history. Originally called Hoshino Gakki Company in 1908, the association with Spanish guitar maker Salvador Ibanez started in 1929. The modern era started over the 1950s and 1960s.

Notable models: the K5, SR1006, ICB200.

Artists playing Ibanez: Fieldy (Korn), Sean Andrews (Redemption), Sharlee D'Angelo (Arch Enemy), Terry Butler (Six Feet Under), Paul Gray (Slipknot) and loads of others!

For more info, visit Ibanez.

Rickenbacker are a US company - based in Santa Ana, California - which produces guitars and basses. They started making basses, the 4000 series, in 1954. Later, in 1961, the very popular 4001 series were produced.

Notable models: 4001 and 4003.

Artists who play Rickenbacker: Chris Wolstenholme (Muse), Geddy Lee (Rush), Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister (Motorhead), Paul McCartney (Beatles/Wings) and Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) and many others.

For more info, visit: Rickenbacker.

Epiphone was founded in 1873, but the company was bought by Gibson in 1957. The more expensive Gibson and Epiphone guitars have a similar look (similar to Fender and Squier).

Notable instruments: Viola bass, Blackbird and Rumblekat.

Artists associated with Epiphone: Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue), Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna).

More about Epiphone.