Archive for August 2011 - Page 6

BassBrites USA has released their BassBrites Advanced String Cleaner, a cleaner made specifically for bass and designed to increase the life of the strings. Designed by bassist Daryl Weber, the BassBrites are small wipes treated with a special formula that seals and protects the strings from contaminants without harming the fretboard or bass. The company says the cleaner will extend...

New tracks from Christian McBride’s upcoming big band record, The Good Feeling are available for streaming. Due September 27th, the album comes as the Christian McBride Big Band’s debut and will feature a mix of standards as well as the bassist’s original tunes arranged for the large ensemble. McBride fans will revel in the variety of songs picked from throughout...

One of the best ways I know to increase one’s intonational precision is to play against a held drone note. It is excellent not only for left hand finger spacing, shifting, but also for improving one’s aural pitch discrimination. You can create your own drone note using a looper, midi program, etc. or your metronome or tuner may have the...

Great bass doesn’t need to be flashy. Sometimes, it just needs to groove. Bassist Vail Johnson, who shared this video with us, does just that in this video. Performing live on Conan O’Brian’s show, here’s Keb Mo and his band performing “The Whole Enchilada”, from the just released album, The Reflection.

Last week, No Treble readers enjoyed the story of Bootsy Collins, via the TV One documentary, as well as meeting bassist Rebecca Johnson, our player in the spotlight. On the gear front, we got an inside look at May Custom Basses, a look back at and old school, 1965 Teisco bass, and a first look at new gear from ESP...

Megadeth has announced their thirteenth album, TH1RT3EN, will be released on November 1, 2011 and will mark the return of bassist Dave Ellefson. Ellefson performed with the group from 1983 until 2002 and rejoining the band for live performances last year. The new album follows the 2009 release, Endgame. Guitarist Dave Mustaine says TH1RT3EN is “the culmination of my work...

65 years ago today, Larry Graham, Jr. was born in Beaumont, Texas. From Sly & the Family Stone to Graham Central Station, and a whole lot of other projects, he’s credited with the invention of slap bass. Or as Larry calls it, “Thumpin’ and Pluckin’.” Larry is still bringing it… Here’s a clip of Graham Central Station performing “The Jam”...

Korg has introduced the MA-1 Solo Metronome, a device capable of audible beat keeping, rhythm training and tuning, via a chromatic pitch source. Adjustable from 30 to 252 beats per minute, the MA-1 features a swinging metronome style needle display with on-screen triangles to inform which beat you’re on or how far into a pattern you are. Tempo can be...

The Smashing Pumpkins, anchored by bassist Nicole Fiorentino, have announced an October tour of the U.S. The 12-city trek will focus on intimate venues spanning coast to coast and serve as a warm up for 2012, which will also see the release of a new album, Oceania. Oceania will be the group’s first full-length release with Fiorentino, who joined the...

Ra Ra Riot bassist Mathieu Santos has released his debut solo album, Massachusetts 2010. Driven by simple yet catchy bass riffs, the album was written in Santos’ home state and includes a new arrangement of the “Massachusetts”, which was the first song he wrote by himself entirely. The tracks have a very open feel, with Santos’ lines and punchy, indie...

Here’s Marcus Miller and band performing the tune “Bruce Lee” live in 2005 at the Jazz a Juan Festival in France. Miller is backed by long time drummer Poogie Bell, as well as bassist Doug Epting, who performs on bass and samples.

As fans eagerly await their first album in five years, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced that their August 30th show in Mexico City, Mexico will be broadcast to movie theaters around the world. The show will be the first and only performance of I’m With You, but will also include a selection of hits from throughout their career....