Archive for August 2012 - Page 7

As we reported back in May, Victor Wooten is releasing two new albums – Words & Tones and Sword & Stone – on the same day next month. Wooten, who has been on tour throughout the summer, has now added fall dates, including co-headlining some dates with the Jimmy Herring Band starting in November. Vic’s touring band includes three bassists...

Editor’s note: A reader pointed out to us a statement posted by Michael Tobias regarding this bass. We’ve added that statement to the end of this article. Epiphone has unveiled the Toby Deluxe-V, a 5-string version of the bass originally designed by Michael Tobias. The new instrument shares many of the same features of the last year’s reintroduced Toby Deluxe...

Bassist David Devereux sent us this video featuring a nice original tune he performed using a looper. David said he “played outside on Stirling University Campus on what was a fantastic summer’s day.” We agree, and perfect for a Sunday afternoon. David has this tune and others on his Soundcloud page, available for download.

Cherry Lane Music has reissued the method book written by Earth, Wind & Fire bassist Verdine White and the late Louis Satterfield, originally published in 1978. Playing the Bass is updated with a new cover, spans 136 pages, and includes two companion CDs. The book kicks off with approaches to reading music, holding the bass, and progressively covers the notes...

Squier has beefed up their Vintage Modified Bass series with the introduction of the Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass and the Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass Special. The new models feature classic body and headstock shapes as well as a medium 32" scale.

Stuart Clayton shared his brand new video with us, performing Alain Caron’s “D-Code” on his newly acquired Bogart bass. “This great track by Alain Caron features some innovative slap techniques that I have been working on for the past few months,” Stuart shares. “I was inspired to work on this piece again after picking up this Bogart bass at the...

Sting just wrapped up his Back to Bass Summer Tour last week and has already announced the return of the tour, with dates across Europe this fall. Sting will be joining up with longtime collaborator Dominic Miller on guitar, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, David Sancious on keys, Peter Tickell on electric fiddle and Jo Lawry on vocals. The tour kicks...

F Bass has jumped into the land of cabinets with the F Bass 2x10H Cabinet. The first of their cab series, the 2x10H was designed in cooperation Jo Bassi Engineering and Ian Taylor with an emphasis on being compact without sacrificing performance. “As bass players we’ve always favoured the sound, power and performance of conventional magnet drivers but have never...

Extended range bass artist Scott Fernandez is pushing musical boundaries. Equally comfortable on a 4-string as well as his 12-string, Fernandez incorporates his extended techniques to create lush harmonies, intense counterpoint, and intriguing melodies. His arsenal of effects pedals also help to create thick soundscapes while adding depth to his compositions. Fernandez only stepped out into the solo bass arena...

Bassist Adam Stevens sent us this great solo bass version of the popular Red Hot Chili Peppers tune “Under the Bridge.” Utilizing some fingerpicking style and strumming, the Toronto-based low-ender captures the song’s mood to a tee. It probably also helps that he’s literally under a bridge.

King Crimson reemerged in 1994 to record and tour behind the album VROOM. Building upon their previous quartet, the band was billed as a double trio consisting of Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Trey Gunn, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto and Bill Bruford. The group’s return is documented in a new King Crimson Collector’s Club Release entitled Live in Argentina 1994. The...

Few basses can define a company as easily as Spector’s NS-2. Originally designed by Ned Steinberger in 1979, the company’s flagship P/J style bass provides the blueprint for many of their designs. The American-made NS-2 features neck-thru construction with a 3-piece maple neck reinforced with carbon fiber rods. Fingerboards can be pau ferro, birdseye maple, or other woods depending on...