Best neck-through 4-string electric bass guitars

Top pick: Spector NS Ethos HP 4 — the only true neck-through 4-string here, with a 3-piece maple neck-thru and poplar burl top. Neck-through gives you sustain and upper-fret access that bolt-ons can't match, and Spector's slim neck is easy on smaller hands. Note it's listed pre-owned.

Who the others suit:

• Spector Euro 4 Classic — same Spector feel and tone, but bolt-on; pick it if you want the brand's sound with a more traditional build.
• Rickenbacker 4003 — for players chasing that classic jangle and look; set-neck, not neck-through.
• Yamaha TRB1004J — 35" scale for low tunings and tight B-string feel; bolt-on.
• Yamaha BB434 / TRBX304 — budget-friendly first basses; neither is neck-through.

If neck-through is non-negotiable, the Spector NS Ethos is the one to get.