Jonas Hellborg

Jonas Hellborg has been labeled an innovator, a rule-breaker, and a fearless explorer of the bass guitar. His approach is defined by a relentless pursuit of musical truth, stripping away convention to forge a direct path to raw expression. Whether collaborating with genre-defying artists like John McLaughlin, Ustad Sultan Khan, and Bill Laswell, or pushing sonic boundaries alongside Ginger Baker, Shawn Lane, and Buckethead, Jonas has consistently reshaped expectations of the instrument. His extensive discography as a soloist and bandleader reflects his uncompromising vision, blending jazz, rock, world music, and avant-garde experimentation. A pioneer in instrument design, he has worked on signature guitars, amps, and strings that embody his forward-thinking ethos. At the 2025 NAMM Show, he reunited with Bobby Vega for Dogal Strings and together both sat down for an interview for the NAMM Oral History project.