Bassists aren’t tricky to shop for, especially if you shop here at Sweetwater. But, if you’re not a bass player, it might not be immediately apparent what makes an excellent gift for the bass player in your life. That’s why we’ve put together this list of everything from stocking stuffers to full-scale instruments that are sure to please the low-end enthusiasts you know.
Fender American Pro II Jazz Bass
Light up the year of that special someone with the American Pro II Jazz Bass from Fender. This jaw-dropping J Bass features a mesmerizing “Dark Night” color on a resonant alder body that will delight any player and their audience. A duo of V-Mod II single-coil Jazz Bass pickups delivers a lush low-end tone that is great for various styles from jazz to rock to blues. A slim, C-profile maple neck and maple fingerboard with smooth rolled edges will keep your bassist running different lines and riffs for hours due to its stellar comfort and response.
Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2
If the bass player in your life wants to upgrade their rig, then the Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2 is a great way to do it. This preamp/direct box pedal is based on the classic SansAmp bass pedal — the same one at the heart of countless pro-level bassists’ rigs. The SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2 features a massive range of tonal control that’s guaranteed to take any bass rig from drab to fab. This pedal is tailor-made for not only 4-string, but even 5- and 6-string basses, thanks to its expanded low-end control, and its adjustable midrange accommodates a wide range of pickups. The SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2 could be the sonic game changer your favorite bassist needs!
Keeley Bassist Limiting Amplifier Bass Compressor Pedal
Add a little spice to your bassist’s pedalboard with the Keeley Bassist Limiting Amplifier bass compressor pedal. Within this chassis, your gift recipient will find plenty of versatile effects that can change how they perform! This pedal functions as a limiter during distorted playing, as an effect for extra oomph, or even as a booster. For the bassists who like to give it all they’ve got, the Bassist Limiting Amplifier opens its arms wide to bass signals no matter how big. Last, its minimal size means they can easily find a space for it on their existing pedalboard.
Ibanez miKro GSRM20
Here is an instrument that will make any up-and-coming bassist very happy this holiday season. With its short-scale, punchy tone, and the effortless playability that Ibanez is known for, the Ibanez miKro GSRM20 is a no-brainer addition to any bassist’s arsenal. Bassists worldwide — including here at Sweetwater — rely on Ibanez basses, and one look at this bass’s comfortable and attractive contours shows why.
DR Strings DSB2-45 Dragon Skin
New strings are a necessity for bassists and a great way to breathe new life into a bass. We highly recommend the DR Strings DSB2-45 Dragon Skin. These strings are fantastic at maintaining the volume and punch of new strings for an extended time. And because they feature K3 coating, the strings always feel natural, like uncoated strings, under your fingertips. Strings are a fantastic stocking stuffer, and you save more money when you buy more!
Gator Economy Gig Bag
Having a reliable way to store and transport an instrument doesn’t have to be expensive. Check out the Gator economy gig bag for a fantastic way to get your instrument from point A to B. With the ability to sling it over your shoulder, great internal padding, and a durable woven handle, this Gator gig bag is a perfect gift for any low ender.
Levy’s MSSC4 Cotton Bass Strap
You can’t go wrong purchasing a good strap for the bassist in your life. Every player needs at least one. And more straps are even better. We think it’s hard to beat Levy’s MSSC4 cotton bass strap for balancing affordability, durability, and overall comfort. When you consider the soft cotton feel, the 3-inch width, and the 65-inch maximum length, you’ll find that it’s a strap that matches up with any instrument and, more importantly, with any player.
Peterson StroboClip HD High Definition Clip-on Strobe Tuner
Tuning can get a little tiring — not to mention a little inaccurate — especially if they’re using an app on their phone. One of the simplest and best gifts you can give a bassist is a reliable tuner with an easy-to-view screen. You’ll find one here with the Peterson StroboClip HD high-definition clip-on strobe tuner. It clips on securely with rubber jaws that won’t damage their favorite bass’s headstock. The backlit HD LCD display on this tuner makes it super easy to read on dark stages or in direct sunlight. The 1/1,000th of a semitone accuracy doesn’t lie with this one.
Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass
If they can’t decide between a punchy low-end or a rounded-out bass sound, then the Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass will ensure they have both. Fitted with a split-coil P Bass pickup and J Bass single-coil pickup combo, this beast will provide complete tonal versatility that the musician in your life is sure to love. Apart from its killer performance, this bass combines a streamlined profile and medium jumbo frets for a look and feel made to rock. Its solid maple neck and fingerboard are remarkably smooth and easy to maneuver, allowing players to experiment with new arrangements and tones no matter their level of expertise. Music preference and playing style is no issue: the Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass has a piece of instrumental gold for any player.
Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110 1×10-inch 50-watt Bass Combo Amp
They got the bass, they got the tuner, and perhaps they have a few pedals. Now, all that bassist needs is a reliable combo amp that can output the fire. The Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110 1×10-inch 50-watt bass combo amp has their name on it. From vintage ’60s visuals to a preamp with 3-band EQ to a powerful 50-watt, 10-inch speaker, this combo will have that bassist rocking out in style! Whether they rock with single-coils or humbuckers, this amp’s instrument inputs can handle the lot. Best for last — a Super Grit Technology section on the top of the amp allows bassists to turn up the overdrive for all the extra sustain and distortion they could want.
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Bass Big Muff Pi Bass Fuzz Pedal
We all know that player who craves the classic fuzz tone of the ’70s. Satisfy that craving by gifting them the Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Bass Big Muff Pi bass fuzz pedal, and they won’t stop thanking you. Electro-Harmonix designed the Big Muff Pi with the input of gazillions of player requests for all the tone-shaping control that makes classic fuzz such a joy to tap. For example, a -10dB pad is onboard to accommodate active pickups and a built-in gate that keeps the tone tight and focused. In addition, a blend control allows a player to mix a dry signal back in with distortion. There are also variable lowpass and highpass filters for even more tone-shaping exploration. And, for convenience, the whole crossover section on this pedal is foot-switchable, so you can quickly change tone while onstage.
Radial ProDI 1-channel Passive Instrument Direct Box
Every instrument, including bass, needs some help now and then. Gift the Radial ProDI to that special bassist, and their bass will sound better. The ProDI is a bit of a legend that’s earned a solid reputation as a workhorse full-range passive direct box that delivers gig after gig, keeping ground loops out of the mix and bumping any bass tone to its fullest and best. The secret sauce is in the ProDI’s custom transformer that boasts extremely low phase distortion in the important bass and midrange and provides 100% isolation and hum cancellation. Get the ProDI for that exceptional bassist, and the thank-yous will follow you for a lifetime.
Darkglass Element Cabinet Simulation/Headphone Amp
Bassists at any skill level will absolutely love the Darkglass Element. This innovative cabinet simulator and headphone amp is packed into a pedal format that makes practicing a genuinely solo affair — no stress over blasting the ears of a roommate or neighbor with this baby! The Darkglass Element is a sleek, stylish, and knobless pedal with an XLR jack, a 1/4-inch input, and a 3.5mm TRS aux output that give you all the connectivity options a bassist needs for jamming and perfecting their craft. With a tactile, touch-sensor slider design and positioning LEDs, this pedal amp keeps a player fully oriented while they rehearse. It features five cabinet simulations and a Darkglass Suite that lets bassists add more as they explore!
Levy’s DM1 3-inch Leather Face with Padded Back Guitar Strap
Give the gift of comfort and style to the bass player in your life with the Levy’s DM1 3-inch leather face with padded back guitar strap. This 3-inch-wide, genuine leather strap features generous foam padding that translates to amazing comfort during performance. This stylish strap is adjustable from 37 to 54 inches, so it accommodates a variety of body styles and preferred placement positions.
Xvive Audio U2 Digital Wireless Guitar System
The Xvive Audio U2 digital wireless system will give your budding bassist the freedom to move! This sleek, easy-to-use system plugs right into the cable jack of a bass and sends a wireless signal to an amp via the included receiver. No wires or bodypacks are involved! And, with a 2.4GHz ISM band, players get pristine signal transmission with zero dropouts! Oh, and your bassist will love the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that last up to five hours per charge.
Gruv Gear Fump Bridge-side Dampener for 4- or 5-string Bass
Every musician can get bored along the journey of exploring their instrument. The Fump bridge-side dampener for 4- or 5-string bass from Gruv Gear is a great gift that kills that boredom. This uber-simple accessory is placed on the neck and fingerboard of a bass, effectively muting or dampening the volume and vibration of the strings. The result is a unique palm-muted tone that can be used for various genres to add stylistic flair to any performance. The Fump clips on quickly and easily to the strings between the bridge and bridge pickup and can be removed just as easily.
MONO Vertigo Electric Bass Hybrid Gig Bag
Rugged and stylish, the Vertigo electric bass hybrid gig bag from MONO will put a huge smile on any bass player’s face. This unique bag allows players to access their instrument from the top instead of from the side. It features a molded rubber “Boot” on the bottom, allowing this bag to stand upright securely and safely. Each side of the Vertigo has a lengthwise zipper, so players can fully unzip the bag and get unhindered access to their bass headstock and neck for removal. It also features MONO’s Headlock suspension system that protects the bass’s delicate neck and headstock while it travels. Finally, a “Sharkskin” (not made from real sharks!) exterior material resists water when the weather takes a turn.
Hercules Stands GS414B Plus Single Guitar Stand with Auto Grip System
Every bassist needs a place to hang their instrument with the peace of mind that it is safe. The GS414B Plus single stand with Auto Grip System from Hercules Stands is that stand. The GS414B Plus features Hercules’ renowned Auto Grip System, which automatically closes around the bass’s headstock when the player places it in the stand’s cradle, keeping it from falling forward if the stand gets bumped. And, with an Instant Height Adjustment Clutch, this stand can be adjusted from 37.4 to 45.2 inches to accommodate about any size of bass.
Gruv Gear Kapsule Hybrid Gig Bag
The Kapsule hybrid gig bag is a deluxe bag where any bassist will gladly place their most prized instrument. The Kapsule is somewhere between a soft gig bag and a hardshell case. It features a polycarbonate-reinforced body, a padded front, and an EPS foam interior that protects an instrument’s delicate controls and finish while it travels. There’s even an innovative headstock chamber that cradles a bass’s fragile neck, ensuring it doesn’t crack or break when it travels. For all its rugged protection, the Kapsule is remarkably lightweight and features removable wheels and comfortable backpack straps for those longer treks to and from the stage. This killer bag/case also has a handy storage area with pockets under the top panel for clothes or accessories.
Peterson StroboStomp HD Pedal Tuner
Make sure that the special bassist in your life is in tune when they play with the StroboStomp HD pedal tuner from Peterson. The StroboStomp HD features a big, high-definition LCD screen with a variable-color LED backlight, making this tuner ultra-easy to read in any environment. It boasts a 0.1-cent accuracy in tuning and over 100 sweetened tunings. It even has a guided tuning to string numbers feature that will help emerging players.
MusicNomad Premium Guitar Care Kit
A big part of having a bass sounding and looking its best is the care it receives when not being played. The Premium Guitar Care Kit from MusicNomad is the ideal gift for any bassist wanting to keep their bass in top condition. This kit features Guitar One, a special solution that cleans, polishes, and waxes a bass and keeps its finish looking its best. A bottle of F-One Oil is also included for cleaning and conditioning the fretboard of the bass, keeping its feel and response optimal. Finally, a microfiber suede polishing cloth is included for distributing both solutions evenly and cleanly.
Fender Special Edition Mustang PJ Bass
A short-scale bass is the way to go for the musician with smaller hands. With 19 medium jumbo frets and a smooth maple neck, the Fender Special Edition Mustang PJ Bass is the first choice for beginners and on-the-go musicians alike. A smaller Mustang-style body and a comfortable fretboard define comfort and allow access to any player. Don’t be fooled; this little menace houses a P and J pickup combination that will shock any bassist with incredible access to the entire tonal spectrum. Given its short-scale construction, you’ll give your favorite instrumentalist the gift of an exclusive mellow bass tone. Sweetwater bassists agree: you can’t go wrong with the Mustang PJ Bass, no matter your play style.
ESP LTD B-204SM Fretless Bass Guitar
What are the most important things to consider when picking a new instrument? Easy: high performance and rock-solid good looks. With an ESP LTD B-204SM fretless bass guitar, you can rest assured you’re gifting your special musician both. A natural spalted-maple body with a satin finish gives off a smooth and classic appearance that’s equally beautiful to handle. Below the strings, an SB-4N and SB-4B humbucker duo and a 3-band EQ system allow for a heavy sound that can lock into any preferred bass tone in seconds. The best part? It’s fretless, allowing for seamless note transitions and comfortable fretboard access. Every low-end fan needs a fretless companion, and you can’t go wrong with this work of art from ESP.
You Can’t Go Wrong with the Gift of Music
These are just a handful of gift ideas for bass players. Of course, there are many more options for bass players of all types. Just remember that you don’t have to be a music expert to find an excellent gift for a bass player — simply showing that you care about their passion for music is heartwarming. If you’re still unsure what to get the bass player in your life, then call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700, and they’ll be happy to help you find the right gift for any budget.
