Weekly Top 10: Wrapping Up 2025 With New Gear, Funky Grooves, and Big Bass Moments

Welcome to the final weekly roundup of 2025. The year finished strong with new gear and funky grooves.

The most-read article was on the new D’Addario XPND Core pedalboard, which comes in small and large formats. The series, which is the non-adjustable version of their expanding pedalboard design, features pre-applied hook-and-loop as well as an integrated cable management system.

Next up was our bass of the week: the Storywood SWB-3 50s Style P Bass. It continues the company’s focus of using 100% reclaimed wood while adding some unique routing options for its vintage-style Aguilar P51 pickups.

Gamechanger Audio pushed their innovative designs to new heights with the Recoder. It records any sound (riff, melody, beat, or hiss) and applies that sample’s characteristics to your sound. As you might imagine, it makes some pretty awesome and bizarre noises. Click through to hear a demo.

Other highlights include the beginning of our “Best of 2025” roundup, a new book on bass line creation, and killer bass playing from Jean-Michel Labadie, Brian Bromberg, Charles Berthoud, Michael Manring, and Robert Trujillo.

1. D’Addario Introduces XPND Core Pedalboards for Streamlined Pedal Rigs

D’Addario expands its XPND line with new Core Pedalboards, offering fixed aluminum frames, cable management, and expansion-ready designs.

2. Storywood Music Unveils SWB-3 50s Style P Bass Built From 100% Reclaimed Wood

Storywood Music debuts the SWB-3 50s Style P Bass, crafted from 100% reclaimed wood with dual Aguilar P51 pickups and expanded tonal options.

3. Gamechanger Audio Introduces Recoder, a Sample-Based Pedal That Rewrites Your Tone in Real Time

Recoder is Gamechanger Audio’s new sample-driven effects pedal, allowing players to record sounds and transform their tone in real time.

4. Best Bass Amps of 2025: No Treble’s Most-Read Amp Articles

Discover No Treble’s most-read bass amp articles of 2025, featuring innovative designs, vintage throwbacks, micro amps, and full stacks.

5. Paul Wolfe Breaks Down Bassline Writing in New Book Deliberate Composition for Bass Guitar

Bass educator Paul Wolfe releases "Deliberate Composition" for Bass Guitar, a step-by-step method for writing basslines using chord movement and rhythm.

6. Watch Jean-Michel Labadie and His Sandberg Bass Ignite Gojira’s Live “Stranded” at Bloodstock 2025

Gojira closes Bloodstock with a fiery performance of Stranded featuring Jean Michel Labadie and his signature Sandberg in a powerful live festival finale.

7. Sean Lennon Reveals Claypool Lennon Delirium’s 2026 Return With New Concept Double Album

Sean Lennon confirms Claypool Lennon Delirium will return in 2026 with a new double concept album exploring AI and the paperclip dilemma.

8. Brian Bromberg Takes the Upright Bass Center Stage on “Autumn Leaves” with His Acoustic Trio

Enjoy Brian Bromberg’s upright bass at the center of this live Autumn Leaves performance recorded in Tucson where his trio delivers a warm blend of melody rhythm and subtle energy.

9. A Christmas Classic on Bass: Charles Berthoud Teams Up with Michael Manring

A Christmas standard gets a fresh bass-driven take as Charles Berthoud teams up with Michael Manring on fretless bass.

10. Metallica Release Abu Dhabi “Master of Puppets” Performance From F1 Weekend

Metallica deliver a heavy, nine minute performance of Master of Puppets live in Abu Dhabi during the Formula 1 weekend.