TC Electronic Announces Ditto Stereo Looper
TC Electronic has added to their lineup of looper pedals with the Ditto Stereo Looper. Continuing the simplified design of the original Ditto, the new pedal adds three features: stereo input and output functionality, nine-volt battery power, and loop importing and exporting. The Ditto Stereo Looper features a compact design with a single level knob and a single footswitch to...
Points North, Featuring Uriah Duffy: Ignition
Instrumental power trio Points North is releasing their sophomore self-titled album this month, and if this video of “Ignition” is any indication, it’s going to be a great one. The band is anchored by bassist Uriah Duffy, who brings the fire with rock solid groove and interesting countermelodies. He gets some time to shine at the 2:47 mark with some...
Inside Geddy Lee’s Bass Guitar Collection
Geddy Lee may be known for his association with two types of basses, but this clip from a recent episode of That Metal Show proves that they aren’t his only axes. The Rush bassist took the TMS crew into his bass lair to show some of collection and talk about the instrument’s evolution. “I’ve tried to recreate the history of...
Williamscot Basses Launches with Gagliano, Panormo and Da Salo Models
The double bass and electric bass are two quite different instruments, but bass builders Thomas and George Martin are bringing their 30 plus years of double bass making into a new electric bass company called Williamscot. The company, which was launched in January, builds each bass by hand in the UK without the use of CNC machines or PIN routers....
Kevin “Brandino” Brandon: Where is the World Going
Seven-time Grammy winning bassist Kevin “Brandino” Brandon has worked with artists ranging like Outkast and Justin Timberlake, but his first break was in jazz with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Here’s a clip of Brandino showing his musical roots on a five-string double bass performing the original tune “Where is the World Going” with pianist Andy Langham.
Bass of the Week: Prometeus Guitars Kirlian 8
Prometeus Guitars has a way with creating interesting body shapes that still function well. They also have a knack for extended range basses. Both of those features are showcased on their Kirlian 8, a multi-scale eight-string bass that will stop you in your tracks. The Prometeus is built around a padouk neck and wenge fingerboard with fanned frets. The strings,...
Erlend Caspersen: Spawn of Possession’s “The Evangelist” Playthrough
Buckle up your seat belts, because Erlend Caspersen’s latest playthrough is bound to knock you out of your seat. This time he shows how to play Spawn of Possession’s “The Evangelist” from the Swedish death metal band’s third album, Incurso. Caspersen delivers unrelenting riffs over the nearly ten minute song that will make you question the laws of physics. He...
Aguilar Introduces AG 4M/J-HC and AG 5M/J-HC Bass Pickup Sets
Aguilar Amplification is bringing two of their bass pickup models together to create the AG 4M/J-HC and AG 5M/J-HC pickup sets. Calibrated together, the sets include one of the company’s 4M or 5M humbuckers in the bridge position and their AG 4J-HC or 5J-HC in the neck position. The company explains the 4M and 5M humbuckers are wired in parallel...
Elvis Costello and the Attractions: Watching the Detectives, Live 1978
If you’ve ever played “Watching the Detectives,” you know it’s one of those songs that’s just fun to groove on. Originally heard on Elvis Costello’s My Aim is True, the reggae-rock tune features a mellow bass line that lays nicely on the instrument. Here’s a clip of Costello and the Attractions featuring bassist Bruce Thomas performing it live on the...
Primus Announces Summer Tour Dates
Primus will be hitting the road again this summer with a U.S. tour focusing on the East Coast and Midwest. Fronted by bassman Les Claypool, the trio will kick things off with an appearance at the All Good Festival before snaking their way to end up at the Sumtur Amphitheater in Papillion, Nebraska on August 7th. Primus is currently touring...
Demeter Amplification Unveils Bass-400D Hybrid Bass Amplifier
Amplification guru James Demeter was at NAMM this year to introduce the prototype of the Bass 400-D bass amp. Based on last year’s VTBP-M-800D, the 400-D matches Demeter’s classic VTBP-201 tube preamp circuitry with a 400-watt class D power amplifier. The amp starts with a quarter-inch input and active/passive switch to match the preamplifer to your bass’s output. Its tone...
Vulfpeck: Poinciana
It’s always a good day when Vulfpeck sends us a new video. The creative quartet decided to tackle the classic standard “Poinciana” with some influences and a twist. “[It’s a] minimal rendition,” Jack Stratton tells us. “The Four Freshmen were one of the first vocal groups to not sing the root in the harmony. All it needs is someone holding...