Archive for June 2011 - Page 9

Here are the most read, most popular stories and features on No Treble for the week of May 29 – June 4, 2011 1. Bartek Krolik: Fiku Miku – Solo Funk Slap Bass Inspired by Victor Wooten, bassist Bartek Krolik, composed this tune, “Fiku Miku”, back in 2000. The tune was later recorded for the album, No Bass No Fun....

BOSS is once again holding a competition for looping artists with the kick off of the BOSS Loop Station World Championship 2. The contest runs from now until August 31, 2011 and is open to bassists and all other looping artists in the U.S. Entrants must submit a video performance and use one of BOSS’s RC-series looping devices. The company...

Mayones has unveiled the S-Cut Caledonius 5 Classic, a single-cut bass featuring neck-thru construction. The company explains that the single-cut design adds stability and sustain while the neck joint provides better access to the highest frets. More unique to the bass is the “Single Cut Handle,” where a portion of the upper horn is cut out. The bass is available...

This has always been one of my personal favorite Iron Maiden songs. This particular clip, taken from their “Live at Rainbow” concert tape, has Steve Harris and the gang in their youthful prime rocking out London. Harris said the song is “one of the best pieces I’ve ever written, and certainly one of the most enjoyable to play.” The build-up...

Reeves Amplification has released a new bass tube amp called the Custom 400. Made in the U.S., the head unit features four 12AX7 preamp tubes and six KT88 power tubes pushing out 400 watts. It also includes one 12AT7 phase inverter tube. The Custom 400 has Bright and Normal inputs, with separate volume controls for each as well as a...

This year marks the 55th anniversary of Walter Höfner’s 500/1 Höfner Violin Bass, made famous by Paul McCartney and dubbed by many as the “Beatle bass”. Author Joe Dunn has updated his guide to the bass, with the 2011 edition of Höfner Violin “Beatle” Bass, the only one dedicated to the instrument. The updated edition is an all-color, hardcover book...

In this video, bassist Shane Lentz shows off a bunch of the bass parts for tunes played by his band, Kamikabe. Hold on to your hat! Shane’s bass is tuned down several steps, with lowered action and Dean Markley Blue Steel 45 – 105 bass strings.

Furthur, featuring former Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh and guitarist Bob Weir, have announced a summer tour spanning July 14-31. The group will be starting in West Virginia at the All Good Festival, making their way up and down the East Coast, eventually landing at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, Georgia. Besides All Good, Furthur will be playing the...

Bassist/composer/arranger Petros Klampanis has released his debut album, Contextual, on Inner Circle Music. The ten track collection includes a mix of original compositions and covers, including a rousing rendition of the Beatles’ “Blackbird,” featuring the vocals by Gretchen Parlato. Klampanis also tackles electric bassist Gary Willis’ “The Necessary Blonde” with a string quartet arrangement. Among the bassist’s original tunes is...

Dean Guitars has unveiled the USA Thousand Series, a new line of U.S.-made instruments. While focused primarily on guitars, Dean is issuing a 1000 version of their new Hillsboro bass with several options to suit, including 4 and 5-string models. The USA Hillsboro 1000 is a double cutaway design featuring an alder top and body that comes in finished in...

Attend just one of Gerald Veasley‘s Bass Bootcamps, and you’ll likely call yourself a Bootcamper for life. BBC, as the attendees call it, just celebrated its tenth anniversary this year, with Veasley maintaining a very active role. In addition to an impressive line-up of clinicians, bassists Victor Wooten and Stanley Clarke stopped by to check things out and share with...

Christian McBride on fretless! Here, McBride takes a solo on the Pat Metheny tune “James”, with Metheny’s trio.