Get on your shiny shoes because the mirror ball is about to come down. Yes, ladies and gentlemen! It’s funky time!
We all know the groove that makes your feet move and your hips dance comes from that powerful rhythm section. Well, drummers can’t handle it all, they need ferocious, groovy, hip, bombastic bass lines to get the crowd moving.
That’s exactly why you have to pick the right instrument to deliver those fine lines for the thirsty crowd. But the moment you google “best bass for funk” a zillion results come your way putting an end to the illusion of fun.
Top 3 - Bass Guitars for Funk
Fear not because you’re in the right place to clear all your doubts and pick the right four-string funky machine to get your groove on.
Read on, pick wisely, and let the funk begin!
The Best Bass Guitars for Funky Playing
1. Sterling By Music Man StingRay RAY4HH
Plugging a humbucker-equipped StingRay is the closest you can get to jumping on a real Corvette muscle car. Yes, especially the whole “muscle” part. This Sterling by Music Man StingRay HH is a worthy heir of that impeccable reputation and mighty legacy.
But that’s when things start getting interesting because this bass can offer you much more than just the quintessential StingRay sound. Yes, the whole sonic revolution this bass proposes is located on a single 5-way pickup selector that can give you a broad sonic palette from the dual-humbucker configuration.
Sterling by MusicMan StingRay RAY4HH
With the selector all the way back, I call the “pure mayhem” position because the bass goes all in. This instrument is equipped with dual ceramic passive humbuckers (anyone said power?) wired to an active preamp.
This means EQ knobs (bass and treble) not only cut but can also boost the signal. Therefore, you can go from subtle finger-played tones to mayhem turning a single knob.
Positions 2 and 4 were rather interesting since you can turn this StingRay into something similar to a Jazz Bass by using a single coil from each humbucker. This is ideal for heavy slapping.
Talking about slapping, the second mayhem position is the selector all the way up when you engage the neck humbucker entirely. This way, you can play those Precision-friendly lines that lock in with your drummer’s kick drum to create that funky groove we all love.
The neck is a beauty with a matte finish and a jatoba fingerboard with a player-friendly 9.5” radius. Although the body is made of basswood, the definition and punch on this bass are way more than you would expect from its price tag.
I tried playing Chili Peppers’ classic songs with it from “Californication” to “If You Have to Ask” or “Breaking the Girl” and it all sounded great. Moreover, I went for some more sophisticated Sly and the Family Stone grooves and it was all there.
If you’re in search of a do-it-all, affordable, great-looking bass this is a must-try.
2. Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazz Bass
Let me begin this review by telling you that the Squier Classic Vibe Series is quite a discovery. Yes, I’m not comparing this bass to my American Deluxe Jazz Bass, but it sounds much better than any other Squier bass I played during my learning years in the late ‘90s.
Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazz Bass
To begin with, the super-thin, characteristic Jazz Bass neck is recreated perfectly and feels just like it should (sorry for stealing your line, Jamiroquai). The neck is this instrument’s main asset and also its main flaw. How so? Well, the finishing of the frets isn’t anywhere near perfect. There were some rough and sharp edges here and there.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, that’s nothing an experienced technician can’t fix. Nevertheless, it also means it’s not gig-ready from the box. Yes, although a modest gig bag would have been nice, it comes in a cardboard box.
The body is made of poplar, which is, to me, the best thing you can read at this price point. Yes, it’s not as defined and punchy as alder is, but it doesn’t cost that much money either.
The Indian laurel fretboard came in a nice 9.5” radius which makes you want to play fast and go for those whole Marcus Miller virtuoso runs. I’m not going to tell you I nailed the technique but I did get a very close tone.
Speaking of which, the Fender-designed dual single-coil pickups work great with the bass’s blend knob. I could play the intro to “Around the World” by RHCP and also go for Pino Paladino-approved melodic single lines with a tone that was close to his P-Bass.
If you’re looking for a bass that can give you a plethora of tones to play, looks amazing, has the thin Jazz Bass neck, and won’t break the bank try this Squier Classic Vibe Jazz Bass before buying.
3. Sire Marcus Miller M7
If you’ve ever seen the man himself in action, you’ll know Marcus Miller is one of the most prolific, amazing virtuoso players to ever set foot on Earth. This instrument is the perfect do-it-all bass to cover this man’s larger-than-life list of credits. You can get it in its 4, 5 and even 6 string avatar.
Sire Marcus Miller M7
Marcus Miller has produced and recorded with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Elton John, and the list goes on forever. What kind of instrument does a bass player like him need? Well, one that can cover all that ground, sounding amazing at every stop.
He arguably achieved that with this bass. It’s the instrument’s best asset and also its biggest flaw in my (humble) opinion. The control layout features 7 knobs and 3 switches. This became too much to process in a live situation but makes the bass a Swiss knife in the studio, capable of any tone you can think of.
What kind of sounds can you get from the controls? Well, you can use it as a passive or active bass and use the Marcus Pure-H Revolution humbuckers along with the Heritage-3 preamp in series, split, or parallel mode. Needless to say, you can go from full-bodied lows to sharp mids to singing highs without any problems. This bass shines in every frequency.
But speaking of mids and highs, the swamp ash body along with the ebony fingerboard give it a particular spank that can easily cut through any mix. Also, the 24 frets and the 35” scale with a 12” radius fingerboard (with beautifully rolled edges) allow you to play anything you want with ease and comfort.
If your budget allows it and you’re in search of a do-it-all bass, this is a must-try before you buy.
4. Danelectro Longhorn Bass
Hold on! The cool meter just made it to ELEVEN! Oh yes, it doesn’t get much cooler in bass land than a Danelectro Longhorn Bass. I mean, playing the funk is all about being funky and it doesn’t get any funkier than these dual horns and lipsticks on this short-scale groove machine.
Let’s begin by talking about how this thing feels because it’s a one-of-a-kind design. The short scale (only 29.75") packs 24 frets that are easy to access due to the horn design.
Danelectro Longhorn
Moreover, with a 14” radius pau ferro fingerboard and aluminum nut, this is a thumpy, comfortable instrument to play. Speaking of which, with an average weight of 5 lbs. you won’t have a sore back after any gigs.
Although this bass is lightweight, it’s a heavy thumper. Yes, when you activate the neck pickup, this little guy turns into a beast that’s capable of carrying the groove and defying the horn section of your funk band.
Moving over to the bridge pickup gives you a razor-like midrange with a lot of high-end. You have to be very aware of what you’re doing not to go into piercing territory.
When both pickups are engaged together, you get this full, big sound that’s enough to bring a crowd to headbanging and foot-stomping craziness.
The one thing I didn’t like is that this bass has tone and volume controls mounted over each other, which makes it impractical to change sounds, especially in a live situation. Perhaps, if you play it for some time, you get used to this feature, and it becomes very practical. In my case, it was rather confusing.
That said, this bass delivers all the lows you can expect from a short-scale instrument and a very usable bridge pickup at the weight of a light electric guitar and with a ton of stage-ready mojo.
5. Schecter CV-4
This Schecter CV-4 is a modern take on a couple of timeless classics. Yes, it looks like Schecter put a StingRay and a Jazz Bass inside a blender and came up with this bass.
Schecter CV-4
But don’t let the retro vibes confuse you since this is a very powerful modern funk machine ready to blow the roof off any venue. Wait, let me rewind and start from the beginning.
The 34” scale maple neck with 22 extra jumbo frets has a satin finish on the back which makes it a very comfortable instrument to play. You can really feel the difference playing fast with those extra jumbo frets being taller and wider.
Also, speaking of comfort, the ash body makes it lightweight, which is a relief for extended show nights.
The body and the neck are joined by six springs (just like a StingRay) and the access to the highest frets is easy due to the deep cutaway.
But how does this funk machine sound?
I’m glad you asked because, with the dual Diamond J-Bucker humbuckers and the series/split/parallel mini switches, you can get 9 sounds! That’s 3 sounds out of each pickup and 3 more with both pickups engaged.
Believe me, I tried making this bass sound bad but I just couldn’t do it. I went from full-on fuzz for “Around the World” to slapping with “Coffee Shop” and ended up with some Pino Paladino and the whole thing sounded perfect.
So, I would say that if it fits your budget and you’re looking for a versatile instrument that can cover a huge sonic ground excelling at every frequency, this bass has to be on your funky list.
6. Squier Classic Vibe '70s Precision Bass
Squier Classic Vibe has been putting out some great recreations of timeless classics and this ‘70s-inspired P-Bass is no exception to that rule. Believe me, out of the box it already looks like time-traveling to the funky seventies. Groovy, man!
Squier Classic Vibe '70s Precision Bass
No, before you ask, I didn’t wear my platform shoes during the trial of this bass.
But that was the only funky element missing from the mix because this bass really delivers some funky tones. Not that much on the slapping side (we all know slapping a P-Bass sounds weird) but definitely on that funky groove, tight with the kick drum like James Jamerson, Pino Paladino, or the absolute queen, Carol Kaye.
That said, this is not the instrument to request the definition and snap of an alder body P-Bass because it’s made of nato. Nevertheless, with that C-shaped maple neck with a 9.5” radius, you can play killer funk lines all night long. It won’t sound as punchy and defined but it sure carries that thumping P-Bass DNA.
Furthermore, with only a volume and a tone knob, you can’t go wrong dialing in the tones that you need.
What I didn’t like about this bass is that, instead of going for a string-through-body design, the company made it a top-loader. Therefore, you lose some of that natural resonance that makes Precision Basses incredible rhythm machines.
Other than that, and with the price tag it has, this is a great P-Bass to play funky rhythms on whether as a second, third, or fourth instrument, or as a beginner, or even as a session player after upgrading the treble-oriented pickup.
If it fits your budget and you’re more into groovy lines than funky slaps, this Squier Classic Vibe ‘70s P-Bass is something you must try.
Active or Passive?
This is a very important question when buying your next bass for funk. You’ll hear people telling you that the extra oomph of an active bass is needed to propel the band forward. Well, you’ll also hear other people swear by their old-school passive instrument.
Let’s clear this right now.
Who Should Pick an Active Bass?
These instruments offer you the possibility to boost the signal. This means your bass sounds “hotter” than a passive bass. This can be translated into thumping power but can also be muddiness ruining your band’s mix.
For example, if you play with a horn section and keyboards, you might step into some other people’s territory. For smaller bands, and especially if you like slapping a lot, it might be exactly what you need.
Who Should Pick a Passive Bass?
These basses, on the other hand, offer you an edgier sound with more of a sharp midrange that can be perfect to cut through a dense mix. Also, for players who like that old-school P-Bass sound locked in perfectly with the kick drum, a passive bass can be a great find.
Finally, if you love slapping, the Jazz Bass slapped sound feels quintessential to funk (looking at you, Flea). For smaller bands that might need a little more power in the lower registers, an active bass might be a better option.
If you often play both scenarios, what you can do is buy one with both circuits and adapt to whatever scenario life sends your way.
Some Funky Effects
Sometimes, funk needs to be really funky. To get really funky and groovy, what you need is to add some effects to your bass sounds. Let’s go through some of my favorites.
Envelope Filter
I have a theory: every funk song could benefit from using an envelope filter to play it. These pedals are also known as auto-wah pedals and basically react to your attack to simulate the sweeping of a filter.
Wah
What if instead of controlling the filter with the attack of your picking hand you could just do it with your foot as you play? Well, guitar players have been doing it for decades, and we need to catch up with that.
It’s kind of annoying staying at a single spot as you rock the wah, but on the other hand, you can do wah-friendly faces and get the audience to funk along with it.
Phaser
Phasers are really groovy. They are great for adding another dimension to whatever you’re playing. This is especially true when you’re playing staccato lines or doing fast runs.
Compressor
Avoiding volume differences is a must when you play in a band. Therefore, having a compressor is also a must. There are many on the market, what’s important is that it sounds musical instead of choking your bass sound and taking dynamics away from you.
The Bottom End
Being the bass player of a funk band means being in charge of the groove section. Yes, your playing might be the reason the crowd dances and goes mad or it can be the muddiest part of the mix.
Pick the right instrument, comb that funky hair up, and entertain that smokey dance floor until dawn.
Happy (funky) playing!
