Weekly Top Ten: The Best in Bass for the Week of January 5

The NAMM Show is almost here, and that means the gear news is starting to spin up. No surprise some of these early gear stories made this week’s top 10.

We also had some killer solo bass videos, including the #1 slot (Nico Aranda’s performance of “Get Lucky”), and Simon Fitzpatrick’s jaw-dropping “Flight of the Bumblebee”.

Add to it the great column by Damian Erskine and lesson by MarloweDK, plus more killer videos, and you have the best in bass for the week of January 5-11, 2014.

Nico Aranda: “Get Lucky” Solo Bass Cover

1. Nico Aranda: “Get Lucky” Solo Bass Cover

It looks like Jim Bennett is inspiring bassists out there with his all-bass Daft Punk covers. Here’s Nico Aranda showing off some excellent technique – and some cool videography – in his performance of “Get Lucky”…

Iconic Sound Announces “Light Lead” Optical Analog Instrument Cable

2. Iconic Sound Announces “Light Lead” Optical Analog Instrument Cable

Iconic Sound has announced they will be unveiling the Light Lead, the world’s first optical analog, jack-to-jack instrument cable at NAMM this month. The new technology uses analog fiber optics which provides zero capacitance and zero loading…

Steve Jenkins: Sphere

3. Steve Jenkins: Sphere

Prepare to have your face melted. Steve Jenkins just released this video for the track “Sphere” from his latest album, Steve Jenkins and the Coaxial Flutter. Using some gnarly overdrive, the bassist wastes no time in ripping it up with a heavily syncopated slap riff…

Fender Custom Shop Unveils 2014 Custom Collection

4. Fender Custom Shop Unveils 2014 Custom Collection

Fender’s Custom Shop has unveiled the 2014 edition instruments of their annual Custom Collection. The lineup includes two basses: the 2014 Proto Precision Bass and the 1964 Heavy Relic Precision Bass…

Developing Timing and Feel: Rhythmic Studies for Bass Players

5. Developing Timing and Feel: Rhythmic Studies for Bass Players

This week, Damian Erskine takes on a reader’s question about timing and finding the pocket. Check out this all-new Ask Damian Erskine column…

Gibson Announces 2014 SG Special Bass

6. Gibson Announces 2014 SG Special Bass

This year marks Gibson’s 120th anniversary and they’re celebrating with a plethora of new and upgraded models including the 2014 SG Special Bass. The 30-inch scale bass incorporates features from several of Gibson’s electric basses to create a unique and affordable bass…

Simon Fitzpatrick: Flight of the Bumblebee… on Bass

7. Simon Fitzpatrick: Flight of the Bumblebee… on Bass

I don’t know what to say, other than “Watch this and hold on to your hats!”…

Bryan Ladd, Justin Stanton and Jason Patterson: Havona

8. Bryan Ladd, Justin Stanton and Jason Patterson: Havona

Bassist Bryan Ladd sent us this terrific video, which offers up a nice arrangement of the Jaco Pastorius tune, “Havona”. Bryan is joined by Justin Stanton on the Fender Rhodes and Jason Patterson on drums. And these guys are tight! Bryan takes an incredible solo too…

Lesson: Using Vibrato to Your Bass Lines for Better Phrasing

9. Lesson: Using Vibrato to Your Bass Lines for Better Phrasing

In this new, beginner/intermediate-level bass lesson, we’re going to dive in to the topic of using vibrato in your playing. Vibrato is key to expression and better phrasing, making it a vital tool of the trade. MarloweDK shows us the way…

Tino Tedesco Announces The Primal Bass Series

10. Tino Tedesco Announces The Primal Bass Series

Swiss luthier Tino Tedesco has unveiled The Primal series of basses, including the 4/21 and 5/21. The new line aims to reduce the amount of options to be able to offer a professional instrument on a budget…

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