Dusky Electronics Unveils the Mandorla Boost Pedal
Dusky Electronics has expanded their lineup with the Mandorla, a boost pedal inspired by vintage boost pedals from the ’60s. The pedal is designed to work well on guitar, bass, and keyboard while offering control over the bass frequencies with a “meat” knob. “The concept for the Mandorla is to play to the inherent, delicious nonlinearity of the MOSFET transistor...
The Perfect Setup: An Interview with Jason Brown
A proper setup on your bass can make a world of difference in the way it responds to your playing. That’s why it’s so important to have gurus like Jason Brown around to figure out exactly what every bass needs. Brown is not only a luthier that specializes in the double bass, he’s a seasoned player that has three decades...
Bob Hardy Anchors Franz Ferdinand’s Latest, “Always Ascending”
Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand has returned with their fifth studio album, Always Ascending. The album, anchored by bassist Bob Hardy, is the first to feature their newest member Julian Corrie, who took the place of Nick McCarthy. Always Ascending offers a fresh feel thanks in part to the lineup change as well as the band taking their time...
GoGo Tuners Introduces Portable, Rechargeable Power Supply
GoGo Tuners has unveiled the Drop Spot, a USB rechargeable 9V lithium battery power supply for pedals. The portable device is capable of powering multiple pedals, pedalboards, and high current effects by offering 9V, 700ma power. The company’s slogan of “Green you’re in and Red you’re out” applies to the Drop Spot as well. Indicator lights go from green to...
Sonny Rollins Trio’s “Way Out West” Reissued in Deluxe Box Set
Ray Brown was a master jazz bassist that could carry entire songs, with or without chordal instruments. One of his most notable recordings of the latter situation has just been reissued on vinyl for its 60th anniversary. Sonny Rollins’s Way Out West features the trio Brown on bass, Rollins on sax, and Shelly Manne on drums. It was taken from...
Wilson Effects Updates the Freaker Wah
Wilson Effects has updated their Freaker Wah with the Freaker Wah V2, which they explain offers more flexibility in addition to some updates to the circuit. Equally useful on bass and guitar, the unit is based on the vintage circuit used by Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler. The dual-filter synth wah offers a wide range of frequency sweeps...
Blackstar Amplification Launches Unity Bass Combo Series
Blackstar Amplification has gotten into the bass game with the Unity Series, their first ever line of bass amps. Models in the range span power ranges from 30 watts to 500 watts in combo amp packages. Each has a preamp equipped with a 4-band EQ as well as three preamp voicings: Classic, Modern, or Flat. They also have a response...
The Descendents Announce U.S. Tour Dates
Karl Alvarez and The Descendents have announced a spring tour to continue support for their 2016 album Hypercaffium Spazzinate. The massive tour will take them from April 12th in Tampa, Florida to November 17th in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Check out Alvarez’s tasty bass work in the video for “Without Love”: The Descendents 2018 Tour Dates:
Bass of the Week: Majesté Guitars Buckeye 5
This week we’re taking a look at another great bass we saw at the NAMM Show: the Majesté Buckeye 5. Majesté’s Willy Abued showed us the bass, which is named after its stunning buckeye maple top. Its striking body shape is made with debitou for the body wings while the five-piece carbon-reinforced azobe and maple neck runs through the length...
Gibson Guitars In Major Financial Trouble
There’s more troubling news abound for industry giant Gibson Guitars. After announcing plans to sell off their downtown Memphis factory, rumors have been flying that they may be facing bankruptcy in the coming months. In an article for the Nashville Post, Geert De Lombaerde laid out the dire state of affairs. “The situation facing the iconic Nashville-based music instrument maker,...
Hartke Introduces TX300 Bass Amp and HyDrive 112b Bass Cabinet
Hartke launched a pair of new bass amplification products at NAMM this year: the TX300 bass amplifier and the HyDrive 112b cabinet. Both products are lightweight and a good match for each other, with the TX300 weighing in at just five pounds. The TX300 offers 300 watts with Hartke’s 3-band EQ and Shape circuit for tonal flexibility. “The Shape control...
The Wood Brothers Release “One Drop of Truth”
The Wood Brothers have returned with their sixth album entitled One Drop of Truth. The 10-song album deviates from their previous efforts by presenting each song as its own masterpiece, diving into a variety of styles and influences. “Often, when you’re making an album in the traditional way, there will be a unifying concept, whether that be in the approach...