If you’re looking for some of the best and the most affordable bass guitars suitable for doom and stoner metal, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s in-depth guide, I’m going to highlight a few of the coolest basses for that kind of music.
The truth is that finding a good and reliable bass guitar for these heavy genres isn’t that easy. Especially if you’re just an amateur bassist! Still, there’s a few models that particularly deserve a lot of attention.
That’s why I decided to create a list of 8 best bass guitars for doom and stoner metal. Feel free to check out the list below and scroll down to the next section if you want to find out more about each one of them. Of course, the sound demos are included as well!
8 Best Bass Guitars For Doom & Stoner Metal – List
| Epiphone Thunderbird ’60s | Check Price on Amazon |
| Fender Player Precision Bass | Check Price on Amazon |
| Squier Paranormal Jazz Bass ’54 | Check Price on Amazon |
| ESP LTD B-204SM | Check Price on Amazon |
| Schecter Hellraiser Extreme-4 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Yamaha BB734A | Check Price on Amazon |
| Ibanez SR500E | Check Price on Amazon |
| Fender Vintera ’70s Jazz Bass | Check Price on Amazon |
1. Epiphone Thunderbird ’60s
Epiphone Thunderbird ’60s is a fantastic mid-range bass guitar suitable for rock and metal music. It’s basically a cheaper copy of the legendary Gibson Thunderbird which is very often used by doom metal bassists.
What makes it so cool? Well, this particular model features a mahogany body and a 7-piece Mahogany/Walnut neck with an easy-playing ebony fretboard. The neck is a big advantage of that model – it has the 60’s Rounded profile which guarantees a comfortable and enjoyable playing experience.
The manufacturer equipped this model with a pair of ProBucker 760 Humbuckers which offer a lot of versatility when it comes to tone. Surely, the Thunderbird will be a perfect choice for anyone who loves that classic and muddy bass tone!
When it comes to pricing, it’s not exactly a cheap guitar, but it’s still far more affordable than the original Gibson Thunderbird. That being said, it’s definitely worth the money! In my opinion, it’s one of the best bass guitars that you can potentially choose for doom and stoner metal.
Here’s the sound demo.
2. Fender Player Precision Bass
Fender Player Precision Bass is one of the most popular bass guitars in the world. It’s a safe bet – no matter what kind of music you want to play. Whether you’re into rock and punk or stoner and doom metal, the famous P bass will always be a good idea.
Of course, Fender manufactures a lot of different Precision Basses. This is one of the most affordable models, but if your budget is a bit higher, you can also check out the American Professional II Precision Bass.
The Player Precision Bass features an alder body, a comfortable modern C-shaped maple neck and an easy-playing Pau Ferro fingerboard. The quality of these woods is really high, so they guarantee a superb playing experience.
Fender equipped this model with the Alnico V split-coil pickup which gives you access to a really punchy midrange and fat low end. Surely, that kind of sound will be extremely useful for stoner and doom metal bass lines.
Although it’s not the cheapest bass on today’s list, it’s definitely worth checking out. What I like about that model is its versatility – it can not only be used for metal, but also for rock, blues, funk and jazz.
Here’s the sound demo.
3. Squier Paranormal Jazz Bass ’54
Squier Paranormal Jazz Bass ’54 is an another fantastic bass guitar that exceeds all the expectations. Again, this is a really versatile model which can also be efficiently used for stoner and doom metal music.
I have to admit that I’m a really big fan of that bass and I’m surprised that it’s so underrated. Not many bassists are aware of how good it actually is! Surely, it’s one of the best bass guitars available at that price level.
The Paranormal Jazz Bass features an offset poplar body with a great looking golden pickguard. On top of that, there’s also a comfortable Slim C-shaped maple neck with an easy-playing maple fingerboard.
The manufacturer decided to equip this model with a pair of Fender Alnico Single-coil pickups which offer a lot of versatility when it comes to tone. Whether you’re looking for a lot of punch, growl or soulful depth – this bass can do it all.
Undoubtedly, Squier Paranormal Jazz Bass ’54 is one of the best mid-level bass guitars for doom and stoner metal. I have no hesitation in recommending this model to everyone who’s searching for a great sounding bass which doesn’t cost thousands of dollars.
Here’s the demo.
4. ESP LTD B-204SM
ESP LTD B-204SM is an another great sounding mid-level bass guitar designed for the most demanding bassists out there.
The guitar features an ash body with a spalted maple top and a 5-piece maple/Jatoba neck with an easy-playing roasted Jatoba fingerboard. The neck is a huge advantage of that model, because of the Extra Thin U shape. It’s extremely comfortable to play!
The manufacturer equipped this model with a pair of ESP Passive SB-4 humbuckers which give you access to a lot of great and punchy tones. No matter whether you’re into heavy, doom or stoner metal – this bass will be a great fit.
It is also worth mentioning that the B-204SM model looks absolutely fantastic from the outside too. It certainly looks and feels like a much more expensive bass. Additionally, it’s available in two color versions: Black and Natural (fretless).
I have no hesitation in recommending this bass to all bassists who are searching for a great sounding and reliable 4-string bass for metal. The ESP LTD B-204SM exceeds all the expectations!
Here’s the demo.
5. Schecter Hellraiser Extreme-4
Schecter Hellraiser Extreme-4 is an another amazing bass guitar which works amazingly in stoner and doom metal. In fact, this model will be a perfect choice for any kind of metal music – including black and death metal as well.
What makes it so cool? Well, the Hellraiser Extreme-4 features a mahogany body with a quilt maple top. It also has a really comfortable maple/walnut neck with an easy-playing ebony fretboard.
Schecter decided to equip this model with a pair of Active EMG pickups which give you access to a lot of amazing bass tones. There’s also an active 18-volt 3-band EQ circuit which allows you to control your sound even more. This is a perfect solution for all gigging bassists out there!
When it comes to pricing, this is not a cheap bass. In fact, it’s one of the most expensive models mentioned on today’s list! However, it doesn’t change the fact that it offers an absolutely amazing value. If you’re searching for a high quality bass for stoner and doom metal, this model will be ideal for you.
Here’s the demo.
6. Yamaha BB734A
Yamaha BB734A is an another high quality bass guitar suitable for the most demanding bassists out there. This model has everything that you need – it has the looks, the feel and the sound.
The BB734A model features a 3-pc alder and maple body and a 5-pc maple and mahogany neck with an easy-playing rosewood fingerboard. This selection of woods truly enhances the tone of that guitar and it guarantees a comfortable and enjoyable playing experience.
What’s more, Yamaha equipped this model with the YGD Custom V7 Alnico V P/J pickup setup. This is one of the major factors that makes this guitar so popular and so good! It’s extremely versatile. Whether you’re into rock, grunge, stoner rock or doom metal, this bass will be a good fit for you.
However, this is not exactly a cheap bass guitar. You’ll have to spend quite a lot of money in order to add it to your own collection, but the truth is that this model is definitely worth every cent. I’m sure that a lot of you will immediately fall in love with it.
Here’s the demo.
7. Ibanez SR500E
Ibanez SR500E is an another amazing mid-range bass guitar that exceeds all the expectations. In my opinion, this is one of the best bass guitars for doom and stoner metal that you can currently find on the market.
What makes it so special? Well, the guitar features an okoume body with a Jatoba/walnut neck with a smooth Jatoba fingerboard. This combination of woods is pretty unusual, but it guarantees a superb playing experience.
What’s important, the manufacturer equipped this model with a pair of Bartolini BH2 Humbuckers which offer a lot of versatility when it comes to tone. There’s also a 3-band EQ that gives you even more control over your bass sound. Whether you’re into metal, rock or blues, the SR500E will be a perfect fit for you.
Undoubtedly, this is one of the coolest bass guitars mentioned on today’s list. It’s not that cheap, but it’s definitely worth the money. That’s why I highly recommend checking it out!
Here’s the demo.
8. Fender Vintera ’70s Jazz Bass
Fender Vintera ’70s Jazz Bass is an another amazing bass guitar suitable for all genres of music. Although Precision Basses by Fender are a bit more popular for heavier styles of music, Jazz Bass guitars can also work really well for doomer and stoner metal.
This particular model features a really unique and olschool vibe. It has an alder body with a maple neck and an easy-playing Pau Ferro fingerboard. On top of that, the manufacturer equipped this model with a pair of Vintage-style ’70s Single-coil pickups, which offer a lot of tonal versatility.
When it comes to pricing, it’s not exactly a cheap bass guitar, but it’s definitely worth every cent. If you’re searching for a high quality bass suitable for live performances and studio sessions, this is the way to go!
Here’s the demo.
Summary
As you can see, there are a lot of fantastic bass guitars suitable for doom and stoner metal music. I’m positive that if you decide to choose one of the models mentioned on today’s list, you won’t be disappointed. There’s a really high chance that your next favorite bass is somewhere on that list!
Which guitar would you choose for yourself and why? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s guide at Bass Punch, hopefully it was helpful and you found what you were looking for. If you enjoyed this article and you’re searching for more gear recommendations, you may also like:
- 5 Best Bass Guitars For Grunge & Punk [CHEAP!]
- Yamaha BB434M Bass – Is It Good? [REVIEW]
- Dean Metalman Bass – Is It Good? [REVIEW]
Bass Punch
Bass Punch is curated by a group of passionate guitarists and bassists, offering a wealth of informational content. This collective of experts shares their insights, techniques, and knowledge with readers, aiming to educate and inspire enthusiasts across all levels of proficiency. The blog serves as a hub for those seeking to deepen their understanding of bass and guitar, providing valuable resources and guidance from seasoned professionals in the field.