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Archive for July 2015 - Page 4

The Wing Bass Now Available
Basses

The Wing Bass Now Available

Bassists looking for a portable bass to travel, practice and perform on have a new option. Measuring in at just 21 inches, the Wing Bass is an instrument that feels and plays like the top range of a bass guitar. “The concept is simple,” the company shared.

Maceo Parker: Shake Everything You’ve Got
Bass Videos

Maceo Parker: Shake Everything You’ve Got

In 1993, Maceo Parker and his band took the stage at The Fabrik in Hamburg, Germany. That performance ended up being filmed and later released as . During that performance, the group played “Shake Everything You’ve Got”, and the bass playing of Jerome Preston made the song live up to its name.

Roger Waters Reissue Arrives; Concert Film Due in Theaters in September
New Albums

Roger Waters Reissue Arrives; Concert Film Due in Theaters in September

Although Roger Waters released Amused to Death in 1992, its look at an entertainment-obsessed society still rings true, which helps make the remastered version of the album even more powerful. The record, featuring a slew of bassists (Waters, John Patitucci, Guo Yi, Tim Pierce, John Pierce, Randy Jackson, and Jimmy Johnson) has been given a new 5.1 surround sound remix...

Bass of the Week: Nick Lloyd Basses 3/4 Lloyd Standard Model
Bass of the Week

Bass of the Week: Nick Lloyd Basses 3/4 Lloyd Standard Model

There’s something uniquely beautiful about the double bass, and Nick Lloyd knows how to accentuate it. This week we check out his 3/4 Lloyd Standard Model featuring gorgeous woods and interesting twist. The bass’s design includes walnut back and sides with a classic flatback. “Previously I came across some beautiful, centuries-old Italian basses made from Walnut,” the luthier explains. “I...

Primus: Lee Van Cleef
Bass Videos

Primus: Lee Van Cleef

Just about all of Les Claypool‘s bass lines are catchy and fun to play, but “Lee Van Cleef” is one of my favorites. The song, which pays homage to the actor with allusions to Claypool’s childhood, centers around a springy slap bass line on the D and G strings. Check out this clip of Primus performing it on the Jimmy...

John Benítez Releases Volume 1 of Bass Method Series
Sheet Music & Instruction

John Benítez Releases Volume 1 of Bass Method Series

Latin jazz bassist John Benítez has launched a new set of instructional books focused on his own bass method. The John Benítez Bass Method Volume 1:- Freedom In The Clave: A Rhythmic Approach To Bass Playing focuses on strengthening your rhythmic confidence with a set of rhythmic independence exercises over a clave. Written with Ian Stewart, the book aims bolster...

Weekly Top 10: Bass Gear from Summer NAMM, Stage Sound, Top Videos, Getting the Most of a Lesson and More
Weekly Top 10

Weekly Top 10: Bass Gear from Summer NAMM, Stage Sound, Top Videos, Getting the Most of a Lesson and More

This week we get to celebrate a little more on the gear front, thanks to the Summer NAMM show and the announcements made there. But that’s not all that makes up this top 10 list… We have two expert columns – one by Damian Erksine on stage sound and the other by Dr. D on making the most of bass...

Acoustic Image Introduces Clarus SL and SL-R Amp Heads
Amps

Acoustic Image Introduces Clarus SL and SL-R Amp Heads

Acoustic Image has announced it will be reintroducing the Clarus SL and Clarus SL-R single-channel amp heads as part of their 4plus Series. The compact units weigh in at just over 2 1/2 pounds while dishing out 600 watts of power into 4 ohms. A core update to the models is the inclusion of Acoustic Image’s FLEX-style four-channel EQ, with...

Ripe: Talk To The Moon
Bass Videos

Ripe: Talk To The Moon

I stumbled upon the Boston-based band Ripe recently, and I was glad I did. I’ll admit, at first I was impressed with vocalist Robbie Wulfsohn. But after giving them a listen, I quickly became a fan of bassist Mauricio Morales. Here’s the band performing their tune “Talk To The Moon” live at the Berklee Internet Radio Network. The tune features...

Darren Michaels Releases “Seasons”
New Albums

Darren Michaels Releases “Seasons”

Darren Michaels has released Seasons, a 10-song collection that delves into the bassist’s singer/songwriter style. The album, which is his first full-length solo project in seven years, showcases his lyrics and creative bass playing with thought-provoking lyrics, altered tunings, and a chordal approach to the the bass. Michaels utilized an arsenal of three basses to record the whole album, one...

Wampler Pedals Introduces Low Blow Bass Pedal
Pedals & Effects

Wampler Pedals Introduces Low Blow Bass Pedal

Wampler Pedals has released the Low Blow, an overdrive/distortion pedal designed specifically for bass. The Low Blow features two clipping modes – Smooth and Jagged – for dialing in your dirt as well as a 3-band EQ for further tonal tweaking. Additionally, the pedal has a Notch Filter switch to tighten up “common cabinet ‘woof’ without having to turn down.”...

Mike Watt with Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl, & Pat Smear: Big Train
Bass Videos

Mike Watt with Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl, & Pat Smear: Big Train

I’ve been revisiting some of Mike Watt‘s music recently after listening to his incredible interview on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, and this clip floored me. The punk legend toured in 1995 with a superstar band to back him up including Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Foo Fighters members Dave Grohl and Pat Smear. Here’s the group on the Jon Stewart...