7 Bass Guitars You Need to Try in 2025!
Bassists! When was the last time you played something other than a P or J-style bass?
I get it: they are wonderful instruments, and they cover almost all of the ground you need as a player. Why should you stray away from what you know?
Why You Should Try a New Style
But there’s more out there: more amazing basses with a different feel, style or sound to the ones that you’re using right now. Changing up instruments changes not only our sound but our approach to music. Different neck profiles will have your hands going to new places. Unfamiliar electronics oblige you to engage with them and try out options; even a new body shape will alter how you interact with the instrument. New riffs and parts will emerge. Tried and tested basslines will sound and feel somehow new…it’s definitely worth it!
Choosing a Different Bass
Today, I’ll present you with 7 basses, none of which are a Fender Precision or Jazz bass. Please don’t misunderstand: as a P-Bass player myself, I fully understand how well these two styles apply themselves! But we’re entering the spirit of adventure here, and there are lots of thrills to be had by merely venturing off-piste. Join me on a trip to the other side of the bass universe. Let us see what we can see…
The Basses at a Glance
Dingwall John Taylor 4 String
Do you want something eye-catching for when you’re on stage? I reckon I’ve found just the thing! All of Dingwall’s basses are distinctive looking, but this signature model from Duran Duran’s John Taylor is outstanding!
It’s not just a cool look, either. Dingwall have gone for a bold choice of using three neodymium pickups, arranged closely together for a range of fat, creative and unorthodox sounds. These are connected to a preamp designed by Rupert Neve, no less! Unique styling, powerful tones and high quality are all on the menu here if you choose this Wild Boy!
Music Man DarkRay 5
Outside of Fender, Music Man are one of the world’s biggest bass brands. This reputation rests largely on the fantastic StingRay bass, a true alternative to the Fender models.
There are loads of great StingRay models to choose from, but I wanted to highlight this particular one - the Music Man DarkRay5 - for a couple of reasons. One, it’s a fantastic 5-string bass that is still easy to play, so you can experiment with lower ranges without feeling like you’re starting out again! Music Man’s build quality and neck carves are legendary in the industry, and you’ll find out what I mean when you try one for yourself!
The other feature of this bass - indeed, what makes it a DarkRay instead of a StingRay - is the Darkglass preamp. Darkglass are the same team behind the Neural DSP stuff (including the Quad Cortex), and have fast become a real go-to for bassists who want great tone and no fuss. This preamp has three gain modes (clean, Alpha distortion and Omega fuzz), with a gain control and a blend so bring some clean punch into your sizzling on-board gain. Very cool, and very versatile. If you don’t already have a 5-string bass, why not try one made by top American builders, which has a built in fuzz pedal?
Rickenbacker 4003
When it comes to sheer attitude, it’s hard to beat Rickenbacker. Rickenbackers have such an idiosyncratic feel that they kind of play you, rather than you playing them. Do you know what I mean? There’s a little bit of fight involved, but the rewards are worth it. You play differently on a Ricky, and all you have to do is check out who favoured them in the past (Lemmy, Cliff Burton, Youth) to get a good idea about the vibe.
Rickenbackers are made in California, just the way they always did ‘em. This means lots of maple (bright and heavy), lacquered fingerboards (I don’t really notice it) and a sound that is unlike any other bass.
You can be as punk or as agile as you like on the Rickenbacker 4003, but it’ll definitely invite you to play a certain way. If you are used to jazzy noodling and finesse, this bass could be just the ticket for opening up your sound.
Sandberg California VM2
I feel that the Sandberg California VM2 is like a halfway ground between a P-bass and a StingRay. That puts it in a pretty perfect space for a lot of players! Sandberg (not to be confused with headless Swedish brand Strandberg) have been dedicated bass masters for decades now, and I’ve always been impressed by their instruments whenever I’ve played them. There’s a level of refinement that make these real ‘go to’ instruments.
This particular model, the Sandberg California VM2, has two powerful humbuckers onboard alongside an active EQ. To me, this is what’s needed for contemporary tones, not to mention versatility. As a sucker for relic finishes, I’m totally into this worn down ‘hardcore’ black finish, too!
Lakland Skyline 44-02 Deluxe
How gorgeous is this Lakland Skyline 44-02 Deluxe? That’ll be the spalted maple top over an ash body, finished in a lovely Violet Burst. What a cool, fresh look!
Lakland, like Sandberg above, are bass specialists who have years of experience and success. They are a brand to depend upon, and their Skyline range of basses bring the brand to a more accessible price point.
One of the many great things about this bass is that it has the same USA-made pickups and preamp as the ones they put into their top-end American builds. You get a lot for your money here, with a feel, fit and finish that would be impressive on a bass of twice the price.
Gibson SG Standard Bass
Everybody knows the Gibson SG guitar thanks to Black Sabbath and AC/DC. But what about the bass model? If you like Jack Bruce then you’ll be well acquainted, but otherwise it is surprising how few people know about the Gibson SG Standard Bass.
My reason for its inclusion is because it’s a short scale bass. Many of us consider short scale basses as beginner/student affairs, or for players who are physically smaller.
I disagree! I think you’ll play completely differently on a short scale bass, and not just your fretting hand. I think you’ll find that the smaller scale length and correspondingly small body shape will change your whole approach to right hand technique, physical position and other playing elements.
It’s a cool looking bass from one of the big legendary companies. It’s super easy to play and encourages lots of fun playing. Finally, it has a thick and powerful sound. What else do you need?
Squier Bass VI
Now this is one that you can really have fun with! The Squier Bass VI is a really affordable way to change up your playing. Fender call this a bass, but I think it’s neither a bass nor a guitar, but an interesting ‘middleman’. With 6 strings, tuned an octave below a guitar, it’s definitely able to create bass tones, but there’s tons more you can do too!
The Jaguar-style pickups mean that more treble is emphasised in the sound than bass, and the thinner strings allow you to dig in to hefty rhythms and melodies in ways that basses might not encourage.
The Bass VI can sort of replace a bass, and it can sort of replace a guitar to a degree, but I think the way to think about this is that it’s an extension of both, and a very cool, musical one at that! Fender also do a Bass VI model in their Vintera range, though bizarrely, the Squier model is more authentically vintage!
Changing Things Up is Good For You
As I mentioned earlier, I’m fully onboard with the P-basses and J-basses of this world. They are the very cornerstones of the whole concept of ‘electric bass guitar’ and are justifiably popular. But, as we’ve seen today, the world of bass is far bigger than just two great bass models. From 5 strings with built in distortion to short scale classics, there are many more colours we can apply to our craft as bassists.
I hope today’s blog has given you a little taster of what else is out there. I hope you check some of them out, and see what they can do for your own music making. Good luck!
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