History of the Bass

The modern bass guitar is a descendant of the double bass, which has been around since the 17th century. In the 1930s, the first guitar-style bass was constructed to be held horizontally, and thus be more mobile than its predecessor. The new model was also fretted, allowing the instrument to be easier to learn and follow tunes.

In the 1950s a popular version on the modern bass was invented by Leo Fender. The Fender Precision Bass became the first mass-produced electric bass and set the bar for industry standards. Seeing the success of Fender, other companies such as Gibson, Rickenbacker and Hofner followed suit, helping popularize the modern bass guitar in all styles of music.

The first six-string bass was built in 1959 by Danelectro, followed by five-string models created by Gibson and Fender. The five-string models took off in popularity, and by the 1990s they were more affordable and desirable by musicians for the increased range. Around this time battery-powered electronics such as preamplifiers and equalizer circuits were also becoming more common on moderately priced bass guitars.

In the 2000s, some manufacturers began to install digital circuits inside bass guitars to mimic a wide range of sounds from different basses, such as Line 6's Variax bass. However, even with all the new technology and innovative designs, the traditional bass designs such as the Fender Precision Bass and Fender Jazz Bass remain popular even today.