Archive for June 2015 - Page 5

Adam Nitti sent me this incredible video of him playing on the title track from his latest album, Not Of This World. “Not of this world” is as good a description as any for this. Be sure to check out the solo!

The late Michael Hedges’ landmark 1984 acoustic guitar album, Aerial Boundaries, has been reissued on 180-gram vinyl. The album, considered groundbreaking for acoustic guitar, also featured a bass heavyweight — bassist/composer Michael Manring, who was not only Hedges’ regular bassist, but also house bassist for Windham Hill Records, for which Hedges recorded. Manring, who has played with a wide variety...

This week we take a look at the Imperial 5 by Brazilian bass shop Amazon Custom Basses. The beautiful singlecut bass is built with a mahogany body topped with piopo. Its five-piece neck is fitted with a maple fingerboard and bound with ivory. Electronics on the bass include a pair of EMG 45DC pickups matched to an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp....

Sometimes we need to warmup in a hurry. When I need to warmup in two minutes or less I do exercises like the ones below. Some things to remember when doing these: Start slowly and speed up as you go Keep the fingers light and flexible, don’t press any harder than necessary Don’t’ go any faster than feels easy, slow...

Prior to the release of his latest release, The Book of Lies, Stu Hamm previewed the album during a performance at the Baked Potato. Here’s an awesome clip of the title track with Hamm laying it down like only he can. The bassist’s trio includes guitarist Carl Verheyen and drummer John Mader.

Music accessory company Gruv Gear has expanded their string dampening products with the Fump, a muting device that slides over the strings against the bridge of your bass. The Fump works with four- and five-string basses and can be applied or removed in seconds. Check out the company’s demo: The Gruv Gear Fump is available now direct for $19.99. Gruv...

The end of another week means it is time for another top 10 list of the best in bass. Here is the list of No Treble reader favorites for the week of June 6-12, 2015. Thanks as always for reading, commenting, watching and sharing. 1. Bela Fleck and The Flecktones: Stomping Grounds (1996) On December 26, 1996, Bela Fleck and...

Nordstrand Pickups has introduced the Jazz Bar pickup line, a series takes all of the company’s standard J-style pickups and puts them in soapbar shapes. Available in most popular EMG and Bartolini casing sizes, the JB Series includes Nordstrand’s single coil models (NJ4, NJ4 70’s, NJ5, and NJ6) as well as their hum canceling models (NJ4SV, NJ4SE, NJ5s, and NJ6s)....

We’re celebrating Marcus Miller’s birthday today with music from the musical master himself. Here’s Marcus with the Metropole Orkest performing “Revelation”. The song appeared on Marcus’ album Renaissance. As he explains in the video, they open the tune with an intro from a Puccini opera. What a wonderful combo this is. Happy birthday, Mr. Miller, and thanks for all the...

It’s not often you encounter sci-fi Middle Eastern fusion music, but when you do, it’s probably being played by Consider the Source. The band has released parts two and three of its crowdfunded World War Trio as a double album that clocks in at more than two hours long. (Part One of the trio was released in October 2014.) The...

S.I.T. Strings has introduced the RB line of bass strings, which will replace their current Rock Bright series. According to the company, the new set has been developed with an improved manufacturing process as well as a more balanced tension string formula. The RB Bass String is built with a 92/8 phosphor bronze under-wrap wire over a hard-tempered hexagonal steel...

Bassist and educator Pablo Elorza recently posted a new blog on exercises for musicians. Part of the lesson is a video with stretches to warm up before or after a playing session. The bassist composed this beautiful bass solo to accompany the video, and it’s just as inspiring as the information. Elorza crafts a lyrical melody complete with chordal backing....