Archive for March 2018 - Page 6
Tsakalis AudioWorks Introduces Phonkify and Galactic Pedals
Tsakalis AudioWorks has released two new pedals: the Phonkify envelope filter and the Galactic multi-modulation pedal. As with all of their units, each of the pedals are handmade in Greece. The Phonkify is inspired by funk and soul music from the 60’s and 70’s. “[It has] two modes of juicy envelope filter (Smooth & Nasty) which turns into wah at...
What To Practice When You Don’t Have Gigs
Q: My question to you is this: what do you do when you’re not playing with a group and have no gigs on the horizon, particularly what to practice? Without a set of songs or even a style to give the context of what the bass should be playing, I find myself grasping for inspiration on what to practice. Also,...
Nate Smith’s Kinfolk: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
I’m a huge fan of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, thanks in large part to discovering artists I hadn’t heard before. Here’s a great example of that. Drummer Nate Smith’s Kinfolk project performed last November, showcasing a wide range of styles by a versatile band. I particularly love the rhythms of the opening tune, “Skip Step”. The band includes bassist...
Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding, and Billy Cox Play Bass on “Both Sides of the Sky”
Even 48 years after his untimely passing, there’s still music being uncovered from the Jimi Hendrix vault. Both Sides of the Sky is a new album featuring 13 studio recordings, ten of which have never been released. The album is described as “completing a trilogy of albums [with Valleys Of Neptune and People, Hell & Angels] presenting the best and...
Fender Adds Bluetooth Streaming to Rumble Series Amps
Fender updated their Rumble V3 Series of bass amps with the Rumble Studio 40 and the Rumble Stage 800. The new amps bring the same wireless capabilities and presets as their Mustang GT guitar amplifiers to bass players in 40-watt and 800-watt packages. “The amplifiers are also compatible with the free Fender Tone app,” Fender says, “making it easier than...
Talking Technique: Alberti Bass
Do you know what an “Alberti Bass” is? If you play electric bass (rather than cembalo in the 1700’s), you are excused if you don’t. That does not mean that we cannot use this keyboard figure to inspire some heavy duty technique shedding: string crossing, right-hand shedding, and coordination. In this lesson, we’ll go over these Alberti-inspired figures over the...
Jesús Rico Pérez: Hopeful
It has been a while since we featured a video by Jesús Rico Pérez. So I was thrilled to see this one come through. Jesús has put together some pretty incredible videos featuring Michael Manring tunes in the past. Here’s another, with his bass arrangement of “Hopeful,” which was originally recorded on piano.
Suicidal Tendencies Release “Get Your Fight On” EP
Suicidal Tendencies has followed up their 2016 album World Gone Mad with a new 10-track EP called Get Your Fight On. It has six new recordings (featuring drummer Dave Lombardo) plus the original version of the single “Get Your Fight On” from World Gone Mad with three additional versions: an acoustic version with Travis Barker on drums, an instrumental guitar...
Bass of the Week: Universum Guitars Epsilon UJ4
This week we’re checking out the Universum Guitars Epsilon UJ4, a unique bass that blends several design elements. Built in Ukraine, it has a unique, conch-like soundhole created using Golden Ratio principles. The body is built using sycamore maple with flamed and carved figured maple for the top. Its seven-piece neck is constructed of flamed sycamore maple and walnut, while...
YYNOT: The Spirit of Radio (Live)
YYNOT packed the house for a concert in Melbourne, Florida earlier this month. The band just shared this live clip of the event, with the band performing Rush’s “The Spirit of Radio.” Tim Starace handles the bass as always, as well as the foot-controlled keyboards (Geddy style!)
Between The Buried And Me Release “Automata I”
Prog-metal band Between the Buried and Me have returned with Automata I, the first of a two-part concept album. The band explores the idea of being able to view the dreams of others. “What if dreams could be broadcast for the purpose of entertainment?” asks vocalist Tommy Rogers. “Could you consume the innermost thoughts of another person on screen? If...
Jericho Guitars Introduces the Alpha 5 Bass
After introducing the Alpha Bass in September, Jericho Guitars has unveiled the Alpha 5 five-string model. It carries many of the same features including a solid ash body, a single-piece maple neck, a Macassar ebony fingerboard, and a black finish. Jericho fits the Alpha 5 with G&B Golden Age StewMac pickups and Hipshot hardware including an A-style bridge and tuners....