The Ibanez BTB Series BTB705LM 5-string bass has been specifically designed with expressive and creative performance in mind. This Bass Workshop model features a neck-through construction where the 5-piece maple/walnut neck has a 15.75-inch-radiussed rosewood fretboard and comes bound to a double-cut, ash-and-okoume body so you can effortlessly reach all twenty-four medium frets, including a zero fret so your open and fretted notes sound the same.The Ibanez BTB705LM: Fanned Frets & Custom ElectronicsThe scale length of this modern five-string runs from 35 to 34 inches, which means your low notes sound tight-and-clear while the treble strings have the nimble feel that comes with lower tension. To give bassists a wide range of active sounds to play with, Ibanez have opted for a pair of T1 double-coil pickups and a Custom Electronics 3-band EQ section complete with bass, mid and treble boost/cut options. You even get an EQ bypass switch so you can go from active to passive output at will.

With the American Ultra Series, Fender take yet another leap forward with as-fresh-as-it-gets playability combined with enhanced vintage bass sound. As such, the Ultra Precision only improves on iconic perfection. Having been given a modern D-profile neck and a compound fretboard radius ranging from 10 to 14-inches, this bass is built like a playground for agile lines and supple, thundering riffs while modestly offering the highest possible level of comfort. Also, since this is a limited edition, it comes with a gorgeous flamed maple top and Tiger's Eye finish.American Ultra Precision Bass: Pure Playing Pleasure and Even More SoundAs you glide further up the neck of this Fender bass, the pleasantly rounded heel and contoured cutaway give more space to your fret hand and ease your transitions while the bellycut back rests comfortably against your body. This all-American Ultra P-bass has been mounted with a PJ pickup configuration. A classic split-coil sits at the middle position and a single-coil (usually exclusive to Jazz Basses) sits at the bridge position to expand and heighten this instrument's sound palette. Noiseless PJ Configuration and Active / Passive Electronics Both pickups are from the much improved Fender Noiseless Series and have been developed to maintain that authentic Precision and Jazz Bass sound without any interrupting buzz and grumble typical of older generations. In addition, the foundation sound of this Ultra Precision can be flipped from modern to vintage by simply switching the electronics between passive and active, making for an incredibly versatile bass. The HiMass bridge, tuners with tapered shafts and bone nut lengthen sustain, strengthen tuning stability and make for easy string replacements. This Ultra comfortable, Ultra playable and Ultra dependable Precision bass comes complete with its own Elite case.

The Jackson X Series Spectra IV is a brilliantly affordable bass guitar that offers the broadly adaptable sound needed to operate in any style. The neck-through nyatoh body of this gig-ready four-string features a long upper horn that doesn't just look cool, but distributes the weight evenly for a balanced feel with none of that unwanted neck dive. Reinforced Neck and Compound Fretboard Radius To make sure that the maple neck remains stable at all times, Jackson has shot it through with a graphite rod but also opted for a scarf joint for extra sustain and extra stability at the headstock. The laurel fretboard, meanwhile, has been given a compound radius which means it feels flatter as you make your way down to the twenty-fourth jumbo fret, allowing for comfortable chord-work and fast solos alike. Adaptable Sound, Coil-Split Switch and 3-Band Active EQThe SBX IV Spectra Bass owes its extreme sonic versatility to a pair of Medium-Output humbuckers teamed up with a 3-band active EQ, a push/pull volume pot for switching between active and passive sound, a two-way pickup coil split switch for toggling the single-coil voicings, and a Blend control for mixing the output of the active circuit with the output of the pickups. By giving you the option to switch to passive sound, this smart and flexible set-up ensures that you can keep slinging licks even if the battery dies in the middle of a gig.

If you're after a comfortably contoured, modern bass that offers the stunning look of a poplar burl art grain top and all the advantages of active electronics, then you can't go wrong with the Jackson JS Series Concert Bass CB JS3P. This relatively lightweight, poplar-bodied model has been equipped with two Covered High-Output humbuckers and 3-band EQ controls for masses of sonic versatility, while the 12-to-16-inch compound fretboard radius and twenty-four jumbo frets ensure a tight feel at the lowest frets and a more supple feel at the highest frets. To finish, Jackson has mounted a black HiMass bridge to guarantee ample stability and extra sustain.

The Markbass CMD 102P Little Mark V is an excellent choice for pro-level bassists. This 2x10 combo has a 500W power capacity and packs the same mix-slicing power as a hefty stack without weighing nearly as much. Conveniently, this upgraded model also comes with front-mounted controls to guarantee quick-and-easy access to the important bits, while the slanted cabinet means it can be set up as standard or used as a floor monitor.The CMD 102P Little Mark V: Wide-Ranging SoundThanks to the built-in 4-band EQ, the various frequency ranges can be cut or boosted by up to 16dB. You can also toggle the Old School filter to get rid of the highs for a rounded, more supple tone, and you get a 3-way switch for selecting the super-balanced FLAT mode, the SCOOPED preset for a mid-scooped, slap-style sound, or the FSW mode so you can control mute and scooped EQ with a dual footswitch.

Featuring a thinline body without a sound hole to eliminate the risk of feedback, the Sire Marcus Miller GB5 5-string electro-acoustic bass guitar literally gives you the best of both worlds. While not as loud as a full-size acoustic bass, this lightweight, chambered model features a solid spruce soundboard for an extra rich-and-resonant foundation sound, with the mahogany back and sides adding just the right amount of warmth.The Marcus Miller GB5: Edgeless FretboardThe bolt-on, 3-piece mahogany neck is seriously stable and combines with a C-profile and an edgeless rosewood fretboard for maximum playing comfort. The sound of the steel strings is picked up by a piezo pickup before being sent to the specially-developed Vividx-B preamp, which kits you out with a 3-band equaliser and a phase switch for extensive tone-shaping options.