Archive for January 2014 - Page 4
Jonas Hellborg Releases New Trio Album, Re-Releases 1990 Solo Album
Swedish bass virtuoso Jonas Hellborg has released both a new record as part of a trio trio, , and re-released his 24 year-old album on his Bardo records label. The Jazz Raj is his collaboration with guitarist Mattias “IA” Eklundh and drummer Ranjit Barot. The record’s two half-hour compositions combine jazz metal and Indian music. Silent Life…, on the other...
Caparison Announces C2 Series DEB-E Bass
Japanese guitar company Caparison has unveiled the 2014 C2 Series of instruments including the DEB-E Bass. Designed and produced in Japan, the bass is built with a solid mahogany body, a slim maple neck, and a 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard. Its “Devil’s Tail” shaped headstock is also bound. The Caparison DEB-E is fitted with a pair of EMG humbuckers with...
Malekko Introduces Justin Meldal-Johnsen Signature Diabolik Fuzz Pedal
Malekko Heavy Industry has introduced the Justin Meldal-Johnsen Signature Diabolik harmonic analog fuzz pedal. The pedal is based on the Malekko’s B:assmaster circuit but is housed in a more compact chassis. Diabolik features a preset harmonic spectrum setting that the company says gives “crisp octave overtones and a very aggressive tone setting.” Its controls include a Fuzz knob, a Clean...
Vagner Faria: Tempo Bom
Our friend Tiago Miller sent us this video of the talented Brazilian bassist (and Tiago’s teacher) Vagner Faria. Tiago shared “This guy is phenomenal. He is the winner of the 9th edition of the BDMG Instrumental Award, an important award for instrumental music in Brazil.” The video was recorded for the BOSS Brasil Loop contest in 2012, featuring a tune...
Frank Bello and David Ellefson Release “Altitudes & Attitude” EP
Megadeth’s David Ellefson and Anthrax’s Frank Bello have teamed up for a brand new project called “Altitudes & Attitude”. The band features both bass players taking turns laying down the low end as well as filling the guitar role. Bello also handles lead vocals. While the duo’s resumés are chockful of metal, Altitudes & Attitude is solidly in the realm...
Weekly Top Ten: The Best in Bass for the Week of January 12th
The gear is coming, the gear is coming! News from the NAMM Show started coming in advance of the event, and we’re very happy about that. In addition to the new gear stories, we had three great columns and some awesome bass videos last week, which all add up to the top 10 most popular on No Treble. Thanks for...
Guild Unveils New M-85 Bass Models
Guild is reviving the M-85 with two new models this year: the Newark St. Collection M-85 bass and the GSR M-85 II bass. Each of the instruments is a take on the vintage bass, which was the companion to the Guild M-75 Aristocrat guitar. Guild Newark St. Collection M-85 Bass The Newark St. M-85 is a singlecutaway, semi-hollow body bass...
Blake Branch: “For Once In My Life” Bass Line
It has been quite a while since we’ve featured a video by Blake Branch. This one is actually over three years old, but is well worth sharing. Blake transcribed the complete bass line on Stevie Wonder’s “For Once in My Life,” which of course was masterfully played by James Jamerson. Almost as impressive is the tone Blake gets from his...
Archie Shepp and Attica Blues Orchestra Release “I Hear The Sound”
The sound of bassist Reggie Washington, who has recorded, collaborated and/or toured with with the likes of Cassandra Wilson, Meshell N’degeocello, the M-Base Collective, and Ute Lemper, has left a significant mark on a new live record from jazz saxophonist and composer Archie Shepp and Attica Blues Orchestra. The heart of the record is material from Shepp’s Attica Blues album,...
ESP To Unveil E-II Series Basses at NAMM
ESP will be unveiling the first batch of products from their new US factory at NAMM this year. The instruments will be part of the new E-II series and will be built in North Hollywood, California. Among the new basses will be the ESP E-II AP-4 and AP-5 models. Each of the four and five-sting versions are built with bolt-on...
Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters Featuring Marcus Miller: Hang Up Your Hang Ups
My pal Seth introduced me to this song a few years ago, and for some reason it always makes me think of New York City. We featured this song with Paul Jackson before, but this version is taken from Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters 2005 tour with Marcus Miller holding down the low end. Marcus takes a solo starting around the 5:30...
The Sword Announce Final North American “Apocryphon” Tour Dates
The Sword, anchored by bassist Bryan Richie, has announced the tenth and final leg of their tour cycle for their latest album, Apocryphon. Kicking off in Austin, Texas on February 13th, the band will first head east, then north to Canada and back down into the U.S. The band has also released a lyric video for “The Hidden Masters,” which...