Weekly Top 10: Jaco Bass Transcription, What Makes a Good Bassist?, New Gear, Top Videos and More

We had a lot of fun putting together this week’s stories and features, and you all seemed to dig what’s happening in the world of bass – big time.

Here are the top 10 reader favorites on No Treble for the week.

Thanks as always for reading, watching, commenting and sharing.

Gibson Unveils 2017 EB Bass T Model

1. Gibson Unveils 2017 EB Bass T Model

Gibson has unveiled their 2017 instrument lineup, including the new Gibson 2017 EB Bass T. The new version revamps the EB Bass design with a new body shape among other features. As part of the “T” series, the bass is created with tonewoods and pickups chosen for vintage Gibson sounds…

What Makes a Good Bassist?

2. What Makes a Good Bassist?

This week, a reader asks Damian Erskine “What Makes a Good Bassist?” This, of course, is entirely subjective, but Damian delivers yet another compelling column – and asks you to share your thoughts as well…

Bass of the Week: Pachyderm Basses Blonde Bass

3. Bass of the Week: Pachyderm Basses Blonde Bass

Les Claypool has always played distinct basses, and this week we’re checking out one of those basses he helped design: The Pachyderm Basses Blonde Bass. Claypool worked with luthier and longtime friend Dan Maloney to form the company and create his idea of the ultimate bass…

Bass Transcription: Jaco Pastorius’s Bass Line on Weather Report’s “Night Passage”

4. Bass Transcription: Jaco Pastorius’s Bass Line on Weather Report’s “Night Passage”

Help us welcome our newest contributor, Marcelo Cordova. Marcelo kicks things off with his transcription of the Jaco Pastorius bass line on Weather Report’s “Night Passage”…

Ibanez Unveils Limited Edition SR Premium Bass

5. Ibanez Unveils Limited Edition SR Premium Bass

Ibanez is making a special run of heir SR Premium bass for 2016. The SR5SMLTD Premium is a five-string model that will sport a spalted maple top, birdseye maple fingerboard, and birdseye maple pickup covers to exude what the company calls a rare exotic charm…

Leslie Johnson: Blast

6. Leslie Johnson: Blast

Marcus Miller’s “Blast” is one of my favorite tunes. So I was thrilled to see this trio – anchored by bassist Leslie Johnson – performing their own version. Joined by guitarist Dave Giraldo and drummer Jay Jackson, Leslie not only handles the great bass line, he also plays keys on the track…

Cort Announces AB850F Acoustic Bass Guitar

7. Cort Announces AB850F Acoustic Bass Guitar

Cort Guitars has expanded their bass lineup with the AB850F, an acoustic bass guitar featuring a full-size, jumbo body that the company says produces plenty of volume…

Berklee Bass Professors Craft Bass Instruction Book

8. Berklee Bass Professors Craft Bass Instruction Book

Three Berklee College of Music bass professors have written a new book about playing jazz bass, simply called Berklee Jazz Bass: Acoustic & Electric. The writers – bass chair emeritus Rich Appleman and bass professors Whit Browne and Bruce Gertz – are longtime faculty members at the Boston college…

Snarky Puppy with Jayne Brown: I’ll Do Me

9. Snarky Puppy with Jayne Brown: I’ll Do Me

From Snarky Puppy’s live DVD/CD Family Dinner – Volume One, here’s the band with guest vocalist Jayne Brown performing “I’ll Do Me.” This one has a ton of soul, with Michael League laying it down…

Reader Spotlight: Chuck Bailey

10. Reader Spotlight: Chuck Bailey

To say Chuck Bailey is enthusiastic would be an understatement… and for good reason. After his dad influenced Chuck to play bass, he’s pursued it with passion. Today, he’s building a name for himself in Vegas. Chuck is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s his story…

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