Bass of the Week: Helios Guitars Capsicum Acoustic Bass
This week we’re checking out a gorgeous instrument made by Helios Guitars called the Capsicum acoustic bass. Made by hand in Italy, the bass features a stunning body crafted from mahogany for the back, Italian walnut for the sides, and white spruce for the top. As beautiful as it looks, each part of the bass was designed with function in...
Ayal Tsubery Trio: Blackbird
Bassist Ayal Tsubery sent in this killer cover of the famous Beatles tune, “Blackbird”. The trio decided to create their own arrangement by mixing up some of their favorite cover versions of it. “The arrangement is sort of a hybrid between the Jaco solo version that I love so much, utilizing chords in the upper register of the bass, and...
Iron Ether Updates the Polytope Quad-Voice Detuner
Iron Ether’s Polytope Detuner/Chorus/Vibrato pedal has gotten an update for 2017. The new version of the flexible pedal has an expression jack input for detune amount or chorus/vibrato depth while the filter is now switchable between high-pass and low-pass. Further, its smaller detuning range is even smaller now, which the company says makes it easier to dial in subtle, musical...
Vanderkley Amps Introduces Spartan Bass Amp and 210LNT Neolite Cabinet
Vanderkley Amps has unveiled two new products: the Spartan bass amp and the 210LNT cabinet. Unveiled at the London Bass Guitar Show, the Spartan was designed for “tone, power, and simplicity.” “The Spartan is the perfect match for my Neolite bass cabinets, which offer effortless power handling and are able to very clearly project the entire delivered range of frequencies...
Chowny Bass Introduces the Fuzzster Bass Fuzz Pedal
Chowny Bass has gotten into the pedal world with their new Fuzzster bass fuzz. The stompbox offers Fuzz, Tone, Sustain, and Clean controls for dialing in your tone. It runs on a 9-volt power adapter and features a blue LED ring around the footswitch to indicate when it is active. Blue dot lights on each knob also visualize how the...
Lenny Kravitz with Gail Ann Dorsey: Prince Tribute
This year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was pretty epic. Besides Geddy Lee joining Yes for “Roundabout”, Lenny Kravitz performed a killer tribute to Prince accompanied by a full choir. With bassist Gail Ann Dorsey laying down a thick groove, Kravitz and company performed the Purple One’s “When Doves Cry” and “The Cross.” Get a load of...
In Memoriam: Sal Cuevas
More sad news to report today: latin bass legend Salvador “Sal” Cuevas has passed away. He was 61 years old. Cuevas was born and raised in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, as such identifying himself as a “Newyorican”. The city’s musical and cultural blend was a big influence on his musical start in middle school. “Being from New...
G&L Guitars Unveils Kiloton 5 Bass
After introducing the Kiloton bass late last year, G&L Guitars has now unveiled a five-string version of the model. The Kiloton 5 adds a low B-string while retaining features of the four-string. Its body comes in alder or swamp ash and is based on the company’s SB-2, which was designed by Leo Fender. The neck is built with hard rock...
Bootsy Collins Cancels Tour Dates
Funk bass legend Bootsy Collins has canceled all of his current tour dates after being diagnosed with a tumor behind his ear. The bassist will undergo surgery very soon with the doctor recommending canceling his performances. Collins announced the news on his Facebook page with a positive attitude. “Yep Funkateers! I found out last week that I had to get...
Epiphone Unveils Limited Edition 20th Anniversary Jack Casady Bass
Jack Casady and Epiphone are celebrating twenty years since the introduction of the bass legend’s signature bass. Launched in 1997, the bass will be offered this year in a special limited edition outfit defined by a flame maple veneer top and a Wine Red finish. It will also come with a custom gig bag, deluxe leather strap, and a certificate...
Bass of the Week: Stellart Guitars Nemesis
Bass builder Stephan Mongeon sent me some photos of his latest build and I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. The Stellart Guitars Nemesis is a six-string neck-through semi-hollow fretless bass. Judging by these pictures, it’s a work of art, too. Mongeon builds basses with his wife, Ella, in Quebec where they’ve been honing their craft for...
Gustaf Fjelstrom: Revenant
Bassist Gustaf Fjelstrom has a new album coming out called The Peripheral Arc: Volume 1. The 8-song instrumental release will feature the bass with an ambient, postrock, electronic twist. He’s just shared the first single from the album, called “Revenant,” which is built around a gritty Rickenbacker tone. The track also has some thick synth bass in the mix. For...