Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 465

Thirty-five years ago, Leo Fender and George Fullerton teamed up to form G&L Guitars. Now the company is celebrating with a line of 35th Anniversary models including three guitars and two basses: the LB-100 and the M-2000. Each instrument is finished in Emerald Green Metallic, representing the traditional gemstone of the 35th Anniversary, the emerald. Both basses are built with...

If you’ve been reading No Treble for a while, you’ll recognize MonoNeon. The singular musician pushes the boundaries of his art with a manifesto that includes wearing high-visibility clothing with polychromatic color schemes, and his bass playing will leave your jaw on the floor. MonoNeon, aka Dywane Thomas Jr., has been working with another outspoken musician: Prince. “I was invited...

We’re proud to team up with Gallien-Krueger to premiere a new performance by the awe-inspiring duo El Ten Eleven. Formed by multi-instrumentalist Kristian Dunn and drummer Tim Fogarty, the duo utilizes a host of techniques and effects to build driving grooves with sublime sonic atmospheres. Dunn and Fogarty both get creative with loop pedals to layer simpler foundations into a...

The bass is an incredible instrument. It’s never too late to start playing and there’s always something to learn for those who have already started. But sometimes we hit ruts in our growth that will wear us down. That’s why we’ve compiled advice for up-and-comers from ten of the world’s foremost bassists across a variety of styles. If you or...

Earlier this year, Nashville bassist and No Treble contributor Ryan Madora released the self-titled debut with her new group, The Interludes. Inspired by the great rhythm sections from Stax, Motown and Muscle Shoals, the band’s vibe throws back to the instrumental stylings of Booker T. and the MG’s while bringing a modern touch of Medeski, Martin, and Wood. “I’m really...

Bass legend and Grateful Dead member Phil Lesh has revealed that he is battling bladder cancer. He made the announcement on the Terrapin Crossroads Facebook page while explaining canceled performances later this month. “I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in early October, and have spent the last few weeks at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale doing tests and eventually surgery...

Every time I watch Abraham Laboriel, it’s like a masterclass in “how it’s done.” His playing exudes musicality that lets his personality shine through, giving us all something to strive toward. Here’s a great clip of the master improvising a blues along with Hadley Hockensmith on guitar, Bill Maxwell on drums, Greg Mathieson on organ, and Phil Driscoll on trumpet...

When we first started this column, our goal was to present instruments that range from beautiful to bizarre. This week we’re featuring a bass that falls somewhere in between. The Spalt Instruments Terminator bass is part musical instrument and part modern art, thanks to luthier Michael Spalt’s creative background. He studied painting, photography, film, and set construction between schools in...

BassTheWorld.com has followed up their “Got Bass Chops?” video with a second episode. This time, 21 bassists from around the world lay out the nastiest licks, funkiest grooves, and smoothest lines to show the scope of our beloved instrument. The bassists in order of appearance are Hadrien Feraud, Jay-Tee Teterissa, Bruno Tauzin, Andy C. Saxton, Evan Marien, Adam Ben Ezra,...

Mark your calendars, because the Bass Bash is coming back for 2016! The annual bass-centric event will take place after the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California on January 21st from 6:30pm to 11:00pm and January 22nd from 7pm to midnight. Each night is packed with exhibits, raffles, and performances by some of the world’s best bassists. After nearly a...

Hadrien Feraud has released a teaser of his next album, entitled Born in the 80s. The nearly five-minute preview features clips of several tracks blending jazz fusion, R&B, hip-hop, and soul. While the bassist’s playing will always shine through, the show of diversity and writing styles is core to the album, Feraud says. “This one is not about bass,” he...

3Leaf Audio has revamped their Proton and Wonderlove envelope filters, saying the new versions “take the sound made famous by Stevie Wonder and push it to new heights.” Each effect retains its unique voicing with some added features for more flexibility. The Proton now has a Tone knob for fine tuning the filter cutoff frequency. 3Leaf also increased its sensitivity...