Singular Sound Unveils BeatBuddy Mini Drum Machine Pedal
Singular Sound is expanding the BeatBuddy series of pedal-controlled drum machines with the BeatBuddy Mini. The new compact pedal is described by the company as a smaller version with much of the same functionality at half the price. The BeatBuddy Mini allows for creating comprehensive drum loops with fills, transitions, accent hits, and drum breaks. It includes 100 built-in songs...
Geddy Lee’s R40 Tour Gear Rundown
Prepare to geek out. Our friend Christopher Buttner got a special tour of Geddy Lee‘s gear during the Tampa, Florida show of Rush’s R40 tour. Lucky for the rest of us, he recorded it. From the plethora of basses to the amps and even the signal chain, Buttner got the scoop on the whole rig. Take a peek behind the...
Hamilton Stands Announces Guitar Stands and Racks
Hamilton Stands has launched a new set of products for owners of multiple instruments including a double guitar stand, a triple guitar stand, a three place rack, and a five place rack. All of the new models feature steel construction finished in a “stage-friendly” black with rubber composite material on contact points to prevent dings and scratches. Both the KB420G...
Vibrance Guitars Introduces Bass Models
Vibrance Guitars has gotten into the deep end with a new line of basses. Available in four and five-string versions, the basses are hand-crafted in the U.S. by luthier Craig Collins. Each bass design includes neck-through construction and a highly chambered body for extra harmonic resonance. The bodies are made with American Black Walnut for the back and sides and...
Akurion: Yet Ye See Them Not
I’ve grown to love the sound of fretless in a metal setting. Here’s a great clip of Olivier Pinard laying it down in a new metal group called Akurion that features members of Cryptopsy and Neuraxis, including vocalist Mike DiSalvo, guitarist Rob Milley, and drummer Tommy Mckinnon. This clip is of their debut track, “Yet Ye See Them Not”, live...
Detroit Bass Day Returns for 2015
If you hear a rumble coming from the Midwest, don’t worry. It’s just the buildup to Detroit Bass Day on August 8th, 2015. This year’s event will take place at the Detroit Institute of Music Education and promises to be the biggest one yet. Detroit Bass Day 2015 will be hosted by Lola George with special guest speaker Will Austin,...
Bass of the Week: Vinciguerra Custom Shop BAJ Signature 6
Bass builder Mark Vinciguerra recently posted photos of a recently completed BAJ Signature six-string bass and it stopped me in my tracks. The model, designed with bassist Brent-Anthony Johnson, comes with plenty of options, but this one seems just right. It features a black limba body topped with a stunning maple burl in a natural finish. The neck is an...
Eastwood Guitars Announces Surfcaster Bass
After creating a tribute to the guitar version, Eastwood Customs has announced they will be creating a Surfcaster Bass. Originally introduced by Charvel in 1991, Eastwood describes the Surfcaster as an instrument for country players as well as the “surf” crowd. The Eastwood Surfcaster bass will be available in Cherryburst and Seafoam Green colors. It’s built with a tone-chambered mahogany...
Dave Brubeck Quartet, featuring Eugene Wright: These Foolish Things
Here’s a mellow jazz standard to make you feel good. Eugene Wright, aka The Senator, served as bassist for the Dave Brubeck Quartet during its classic lineup years from 1958 to 1968. Alongside Brubeck, Paul Desmond, and Joe Morello, Wright was part of the groundbreaking 1959 album Time Out that featured “Take Five”. This 1959 clip features the quartet performing...
Esperanza Spalding: Good Lava
Ever since she announced a tour in April, I’ve been dying to hear Esperanza Spalding‘s new music. Dubbed Esperanza Spalding Presents: Emily’s D+Evolution, the bassist describes the project as a way of “going back and reclaiming un-cultivated curiosity, and using it as a compass to move forward and expand.” Here’s a clip of Spalding performing the new song “Good Lava”...
Orange Amplification Unveils OBC210 Mini Bass Cabinet
Orange Amplification has announced the OBC210 Mini Bass Amp, a 2×10 cab that the company calls their “smallest conventional, non-isobaric cabinet to date.” The new enclosure includes two ten-inch Eminence Legend speakers and has an power rating of 400 watts at 8 ohms. The OBC210 Mini is constructed with birch plywood and features Orange signature skid runners at its base...
Things You Can’t See: An Interview with Chris Wyse
Bassist Chris Wyse is having a big year. After a decade-long stint with The Cult, he has left their ranks to lay down the low end for the Ace Frehley Band full-time. If that’s not enough, his trio Owl has just released their third album, entitled . The six-song collection features Wyse’s thick bass tone and solid lines alongside bandmates...