Weekly Top 10: Choosing the Right Strings, News from NAMM, Productive Rehearsals, Top Bass Videos and More

This was a big week in the world of bass. The No Treble crew is almost recovered from our annual trip to the NAMM Show (with a pile of notes to still get through). So be on the lookout for plenty more coverage over the next few weeks.

But it isn’t all gear. Two how-to’s this week made the list – by Damian Erskine and Dr. D. Ryan made her return with a new “Bass Players to Know” entry too.

That plus other stories and videos make up this week’s top 10 most read/most watched list on No Treble.

Choosing the Right Bass Strings

1. Choosing the Right Bass Strings

Choosing the right bass strings can sometimes be a daunting task. In this week’s “Ask” column, Damian responds to a reader who asked what to look for in choosing the right strings for the job. Check out what Damian has to say…

Gabrielle Walter-Clay & Common Thread: That Groove

2. Gabrielle Walter-Clay & Common Thread: That Groove

It was thrilling to see Alissia Benveniste perform with her group at this year’s Bass Bash at the Winter NAMM Show. Here’s Alissia laying it down with Common Thread in a 2013 video. The self-described “all-girl band” is performing the aptly named song “That Groove”…

Me and Maria: Wintertime in My Heart

3. Me and Maria: Wintertime in My Heart

Bassist Johannes Pehrson shared this video by his duo with Maria Rosenberg, known as Me and Maria. This is their new single, “Wintertime in My Heart.” Johannes told me that the chords are played on his 4-string MusicMan bass, and the melodies and solos are played on his 4-string piccolo bass…

Washburn Announces Sonamaster SB1 Bass

4. Washburn Announces Sonamaster SB1 Bass

Beginning bassists have a new option with the Washburn Sonamaster SB1 bass. The entry-level instrument, which comes in Black and Tobacco-Sunburst finishes, is inspired by their ’80s models in its body shape, reverse headstock, and offset position markers…

Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles: Live at NAMM ’16

5. Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles: Live at NAMM ’16

Videos from this year’s Winter NAMM show are starting to roll in, and this one really caught my ear. Cory Henry of Snarky Puppy performed at the ROLI event with his band The Funk Apostles, including bassist MonoNeon. The band spins out their own jaw-dropping versions of The Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back”…

Bass Players To Know: Wilbur Bascomb, Jr.

6. Bass Players To Know: Wilbur Bascomb, Jr.

After a short break, Ryan Madora is back with her “Bass Players to Know” series. With an in-your-face tone and a resume that includes some of the who’s who of funk and blues, Wilbur Bascomb, Jr. is the a bass player to know. Dig it…

Ensuring a Productive Rehearsal

7. Ensuring a Productive Rehearsal

Over the years I’ve been involved with ensembles of varying sizes and genres. As a result, I’ve experienced some extremely productive rehearsals, and some less than productive rehearsals. Here are a few things that can help your next series of rehearsals run well…

Ray Riendeau: Black Or White

8. Ray Riendeau: Black Or White

At first, Ray Riendeau produced a bass arrangement of Michael Jackson’s “Black Or White”. After that, he wanted to see how the vocals fit with it. He said after only a few edits, it all came together…

In Memoriam: Jimmy Bain

9. In Memoriam: Jimmy Bain

Bassist Jimmy Bain, who laid down the low end for hard rock icons Rainbow and Dio, has passed away at the age of 68. A cause of death has not been announced. The announcement was made by Def Leppard guitarist and Last in Line bandmate Vivian Campbell…

Electro-Harmonix Introduces the Bass Preacher

10. Electro-Harmonix Introduces the Bass Preacher

Electro-Harmonix unveiled the Bass Preacher at the Winter NAMM Show this year. The compact compressor/sustainer pedal is designed specifically for bass guitar to manipulate its dynamics. It begins with input sensitivity ranges from -10 dBu to +2 dBu, which EHX says makes it ideal for passive and active basses…

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