Top 10 Gift Ideas for Bassists
Some suggestions for the bass player in your life.
It’s the time of the year when bass players, like everyone else, look forward to holiday parties, New Year’s gigs, and cool new gear under the Christmas tree. With that in mind, here’s a list of 10 recommendations for bassists of all stripes: the beginner, the intermediate player and the pro alike.
1. A NEW BASS
Entry level
If there’s someone on your gift list who’s ready for their first bass, Yamaha TRBX models are a great choice. The TRBX174EW is lightweight (less than 9 lbs.), and its 34″ scale length, ergonomic body design and 19 mm string spacing make it easy to play. To top it off, the exotic mango top sets this one apart from the pack with its beautiful wood grain.
Intermediate
Selected Yamaha TRBX basses offer upgraded body tonewoods (alder/maple and mahogany), maple/mahogany necks and fancier tops, plus more colors, more body-design options, and superior pickups and EQ options, as well as the ability to switch between active and passive modes. With its alder/maple body, flame maple top, maple/mahogany five-piece neck, three-band EQ and battery alert LED, the TRBX604FM four-string is a great option for the bass player whose beginner days are in the rearview mirror.
Professional
Yamaha BB basses are the first choice for many pros. These solid alder- and alder/maple/alder-bodied basses, available in several cool finishes, stand out from the crowd thanks to their distinctive look, 5-piece necks, and six-bolt neck joints. The BBP34 four-string model boasts a wide variety of tones, and thanks to Yamaha I.R.A. (Initial Response Acceleration) technology, it feels “played-in” right out of the box.
Professional Plus
What about the bass pro who’s got everything? Consider one of the signature models inspired by four longtime Yamaha endorsers. Fans of punk and Peter Hook’s singular tone will love the BBPH; rock legend Billy Sheehan has created the Attitude 30th and the Attitude Limited 3; jazz maven John Patitucci, a six-string inspiration for over four decades, plays the TRBJP2; and studio icon Nathan East’s BBNE2 has everything it takes to support a band at the highest level. Each of these basses pulls off the neat trick of being distinctive but versatile.
2. AN ACOUSTIC BASS GUITAR
Guild’s fretted, fretless and jumbo models of its acoustic bass guitars are great for songwriting, acoustic jams and solos around the campfire. With a solid Sitka spruce top, an arched flame maple back and an ebony fingerboard, the Jumbo Junior Bass aims for tone that’s both deep and clear. It can be played using the onboard preamp or completely unplugged — either way, this 23 3/4″-scale beauty will come in handy.
3. A MINI-BASS
Full-size basses usually take up more space than a guitar, but if you need something that fits into the overhead compartment of a plane, look no further. The 22 7/8″ scale length Cordoba Mini II Bass MH-E, which could easily be mistaken for a ukulele, is strung with phosphor-bronze strings, tunes to standard E, and just might inspire something completely different from the bass player in your life.
4. STRINGS
Choosing the right strings is so important that we’ve devoted a whole blog posting to it, and to make matters more interesting, it’s common for different bassists to have completely opposite experiences with the same set of strings! If you aren’t sure what strings to buy for your favorite electric bass player, my recommendation is that you head over to the Dunlop bass strings website, which has something for everyone. Their Hybrid Nickel set is my favorite; it manages to be warm and direct, with juicy mids and just the right string tension.
5. A STRAP
Beyond being a fashion statement, a good strap doesn’t slip, is adjustable to your ideal height, and helps cushion your shoulder instead of digging in. Levy’s Leathers offers many options, from itty-bitty skinnies to ultra-wides; their cool 3 1/4″-wide Signature Legacy Series strap, a perennial favorite, features leather-wrapped 1/4″ foam padding, and it’s adjustable from 38″ to 52″.
6. A NEW BASS AMP
Ampeg is one of the original kings of the bass-amp jungle, and the SVT just might be the most famous bass amp on earth. The SVT-CL, a standout from the company’s Classic line, delivers 300 watts of juicy tube tone that’ll (almost) make you forget that it weighs 80 lbs. Need the perfect matching speaker cabinet? The SVT-410HLF is a 4×10 that’s deep, powerful … and 74 lbs all by itself. You might need a little extra help getting this amp stack under the Christmas tree, but your hard work will not be in vain.
7. A MULTI-EFFECTS PROCESSOR
Bassists who want to dive deep into the world of effects will appreciate the Line 6 HX Stomp’s 14 bass amp models, 37 cabinet models, 16 microphone models and 200 effects. Other similar products from Line 6 include the HX Stomp XL, which offers even more options, and the Helix Effects (HX-FX), with just effects, no cab models.
8. A BASS PEDAL
If the bassist in your life is into portability, he or she will love the Line 6 POD Express Bass, which offers seven amp models, seven cab models, four compressors, four synths, four distortions, three modulation effects and a delay — all in a box that weighs less than a pound and runs on three AA batteries. In short essential sounds that are easy to find and use, in a single compact device that fits in any backpack.
9. HEADPHONES
Everyone appreciates a good pair of headphones, and bassists are no exception. A good gift choice would be the Yamaha HPH-MT7. Inspired by the classic Yamaha NS-10 studio monitors, these closed-back headphones offer clinical, pro-level reference sound with low end that is solid but not exaggerated, making them ideal for practicing, recording and mixing bass.
10. A KEYBOARD
As discussed in a previous posting, playing keys makes you a better bass player. Yamaha offers plenty of ways to get started. One of the most accessible options is the reface CS, a 37-key polyphonic mini-keyboard that’s flexible and fun yet non-threatening to newbies. Playing a reface CS is an easy way to develop any bassist’s knowledge of chords and work on their synth bass chops, too.
No matter what you choose to give the bass player in your life, here’s hoping that it’s received in the spirit of the season — with good will, joy, gratitude and optimism. Happy Holidays!
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