Shareef Addo: Secrets
Shareef Addo sent in this video for his cool bass-centric tune “Secrets”, and it’s been stuck in my head since. The bass drives the song, but vocalist Adam Benjamin helps to fill out the melodic content. This is a great example of making the bass interesting while focusing on the songwriting aspect. Well done, Shareef!
Bass of the Week: Alembic Series II “Leap of Faith”
Alembic’s basses have been a big influence on custom builders, and it’s easy to see why. They started in 1969 as a live sound consulting operation. Founders Ron and Susan Wickersham then moved into instrument electronics, creating low impedance pickups and what would become first set of active electronics for a guitar. Their first bass was built in 1972 for...
Sire Guitars Launches Marcus Miller M7 Series
Sire Guitars has teamed up with Marcus Miller once again to introduce the Sire Marcus Miller M7 Series. The dual humbucker design, which has been in the works for some time, is now open for pre-order and will be shipping on April 30th. Available in four and five-string versions, the M7 has a modern body shape made of either alder...
Svadah: Rainy Day Bass Groove
Norwegian bassist Svadah sent me this “Rainy Day Bass Groove” on what happened to be a perfectly rainy day. “Took my bass out in to film a bass groove I made a little while ago on a typical rainy day in Bergen,” he wrote on Facebook. “Really loving the result, check it out! Key of Cm.” It’s good for any...
Jackson CBXNT IV and V Concert Basses Now Available
Jackson Guitars is now shipping the CBXNT IV Concert and CBXNT V Concert basses. Four and five-string models, respectively, the company describes the basses as perfect for metal or other styles that demand low, punchy bass. Jackson says the heart of the bass is in their electronics. “The heart of this beast is a pair of Jackson High Output Humbucking...
Cort Upgrades the B5 Plus AS Bass for 2016
Cort has updated their B5 Plus AS bass with a new set of electronics. The model, which is part of the Artisan Series, now comes with the Markbass MB-1 EQ to match its Bartolini MK-1 pickups. The bass’s preamp is described as providing a “very natural and transparent boost” that won’t color the instrument’s natural tone. “The crystal clarity and...
Shobaleader One: Squarepusher’s Theme
Bassist and electronica artist Squarepusher is taking his band Shobaleader One on the road in the UK next month, and we’ve got a clip of the first live video footage of the group. The up-tempo song “Squarepusher’s Theme” blends all the elements of the artist’s personality with drum and bass styled drumming, synth pads, and killer bass lines. The bassist...
Miles Mosley Releases “Abraham”
When the West Coast Get Down locked themselves in a studio for an entire month, each member of the group came out with a plethora of material. The first release from the session was Kamasi Washington’s groundbreaking 2015 album The Epic, and now upright bass phenom Miles Mosley has unveiled his first piece from the collaboration. In the bassist’s typical...
Levy’s Leathers Introduces M317HPR Harper Designer Strap
Levy’s Leathers has introduced the M317HPR Harper Designer strap, a deluxe pull-up leather strap decorated with a ridge down the center to accent its pull-up nature. Available in Rust coloring, the strap is 2½ inches wide with a soft suede backing. It’s adjustable from 37 inches to 51 inches. It will be available with a suggested retail price $122.26. Levy’s...
Christian McBride & Edgar Meyer: Solar, Live 2016
One of the best concerts I saw in 2015 was the duo of double bass virtuosos Christian McBride and Edgar Meyer. Besides being unbelievable technicians, their musicality and rapport was astounding. This year they took the show on the road to the UK. Here’s a smoking clip of McBride and Meyer tearing through the jazz standard “Solar”. McBride kicks things...
Korg Introduces Sledgehammer Custom 100 Clip-On Tuner
After introducing the Custom Shop Series of tuners this year, Korg has added to the lineup with the Sledgehammer Custom 100 clip-on tuner. The tuner offers tuning accuracy of ±0.1 cents and works with both bass and guitar. It’s powered by a single AAA battery, which provides about 100 hours of use before needing replacement. The Sledgehammer clips on and...
Bass of the Week: Hot Wire Blues Bass
Hot Wire Basses took a page out of the old school with their Blues Bass. Modeled after the early fifties Kay Electric Bass, the Blues Bass is a vintage-style hollowbody, which the company notes was often played by four-stringers backing up Blues legends like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. While the design imitates an old Kay, Hot Wire made some...