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Archive for July 2011

Lakland Introduces New Skyline Model Basses
Bass Gear

Lakland Introduces New Skyline Model Basses

Lakland has announced new Skyline versions of their 44-51 and 44-AJ models. The Skyline series is manufactured overseas, then shipped to Lakland’s Chicago shop for final inspection. The Skyline 44-51 is a vintage styled bass, featuring a USA made Neo Punch split single coil pickup. The slab ash body is finished in butterscotch and has vintage round neck profile with...

Stu Hamm Named Head of Bass Department at Musician’s Institute
Player News

Stu Hamm Named Head of Bass Department at Musician’s Institute

Stu Hamm has taken on the role of Program Director for the Bass Department at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, California. The bassist, who’s credentials include six solo albums and years of touring with guitar legends Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, will be in charge of the curriculum and explains his focus will be on “getting the gig”, over flashy...

Charnett Moffett: Enlightenment
Bass Videos

Charnett Moffett: Enlightenment

Adept at both upright and electric bass, Charnett Moffett is a bassist to be reckoned with. Here, he showcases electric chops and improvisatory skills on his tune “Enlightenment,” for which he utilizes a piccolo bass. The song comes off as a meditation with its Middle-Eastern influences. Some might say “it’s too trebly,” but just wait for the 1:28 mark. (My...

Mastodon Releases “Black Tongue” From Upcoming Album
News

Mastodon Releases “Black Tongue” From Upcoming Album

Mastodon has released a teaser track from their upcoming album, “The Hunter,” due in September. The song, “Black Tongue,” is available on iTunes in addition to being posted on YouTube. The new record will be the follow-up to 2009’s Crack the Skye, which wrapped up their elemental themed albums. Bassist Troy Sanders says the new album gives them room to...

Radial Engineering Announces Reamp JCR
Bass Gear

Radial Engineering Announces Reamp JCR

Earlier this year, Radial Engineering bought John Cuniberti’s Reamp business including the rights to the manufacture the Reamp – a piece of studio equipment that allows you to take pre-recorded tracks and re-record them through your bass or guitar amp. As such, Radial has unveiled the Reamp JCR, a passive Reamper that employs the original circuit design by Cuniberti with...

Les Claypool Forms Supergroup with Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland and Danny Carey
Bass Videos

Les Claypool Forms Supergroup with Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland and Danny Carey

Les Claypool has joined forces with Rush’s Neil Peart, the Police’s Stewart Copeland and Tool’s Danny Carey to form “Carey Claypool Copeland Peart” or “CCCP.” The supergroup is documented with a jam called “Count Drumula,” recently posted on Neil Peart’s website. The extent of the collaboration is unclear, as no other announcements about the group has been made. With three...

Robert Szewczuga: Bass Duet
Bass Videos

Robert Szewczuga: Bass Duet

Bassist Robert Szewczuga shares this video with us, featuring a bass duet he used as a promo for the jazz festival “Lotos Jazz Festival Bielska Zadymka Jazzowa”. Robert plays his MusicMan Stingray 5 for both parts. We only wish it ran a little longer.

Empress Effects Introduces Compressor Pedal
Bass Gear

Empress Effects Introduces Compressor Pedal

Empress Effects has released a new analog compressor pedal, which brings the stompbox closer to studio gear status through the addition of more controls. Designed for both bass and guitar, the Empress Compressor also strays from 3-knob compressors by being “truly transparent.” The pedal’s controls include those found on a pro compressor: Attack, Release and Ratio, which is a switch...

Practical Theory: Practice Tips for Scales (Part 3)
Bass Lessons

Practical Theory: Practice Tips for Scales (Part 3)

In this third and final installment of the Practice Tips for Scales series, we continue our look at the Major tetrachord formula to practicing scales. (Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2). This week, we dive into arpeggios, using consistent patterns to repeat on the upper register of the neck. Once we get comfortable with the pattern,...

Victor Wooten and Dane Alderson Jam
Bass Videos

Victor Wooten and Dane Alderson Jam

Following their bass clinics at Thump Music’s event last year, Victor Wooten and Dane Alderson took the stage to jam. Eventually, the duo gets to their version of “The Chicken”. Thanks to Alejandro Perez, who sent us videos of Dane.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Announce UK Tour Dates
Concerts & Tours

Red Hot Chili Peppers Announce UK Tour Dates

Though North American dates are still TBA, Red Hot Chili Peppers fans across the pond will be glad to know that the funk-rock quartet has announced a ten date trek of the UK and Ireland. Set for November, the full-fledged tour will be their first in the area since 2006. Anchored by bassist Flea, the group will start in Dublin...

SD Curlee Brand Revived With New Bass Guitar
Bass Gear

SD Curlee Brand Revived With New Bass Guitar

The S.D. Curlee bass, made popular in the 1970’s, has been reborn at the hands of Birdsong Guitars’ Scott Beckwith. Once described as the “poor man’s Alembic,” the S.D. Curlee brand went under in 1982 after business decisions that led to key members leaving. The new SD Curlee Classic is a new take on the original Randy Dritz design, featuring...