Mark Lettieri Trio, Featuring Wes Stephenson: Slide Rule
Wes Stephenson has one of the deepest pocket grooves I’ve ever heard. Here’s a clip of the Funky Knuckles bassist holding it down for guitarist Mark Lettieri on “Slide Rule,” live at the RBC in Dallas, Texas. Stephenson forms a tight bond with drummer Mike Mitchell for the song’s main riff as they back Lettieri up, and his solo at...
Perri’s Leathers Limited Announces The Beatles Licensed Gear
Perri’s Leathers Limited has launched a new line of straps, gig bags and picks honoring The Beatles. The series includes eighteen strap designs with themes from the band’s whole career including Yellow Submarine, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road, and Revolver. The lineup includes a polyester webbing strap design and a leather effect vinyl design. The polyester straps...
John Ferrara: Two-Handed Tapping Lesson and Playalong
We recently got to interview Consider the Source’s John Ferrara, who gave us the scoop on the band’s latest album, World War Trio, Pt. 1. It’s made up of a six-part epic song called “Put Another Rock in That Bag” that the bassist kicks off with some blazing two-handed tapping. Ferrara shares some insight on this new playalong and lesson...
Bass of the Week: Ruokangas Steambass Deluxe
This week we check out the Ruokangas Steambass Deluxe, a specialized version of the company’s flagship bass model. Hand-made in Finland, the bass is set apart by a 2-piece Spanish cedar body with a thermo treated arctic birch top. Its rock maple neck is also topped with a thermo treated Indian rosewood fingerboard. “From the guitar maker’s point of view,...
Spector Introduces Legend Neck-Thru Basses for 2015
Spector has expanded their Legend series with a new neck-thru model. Available in four- and five-string versions, the Legend4 and Legend5 Neck-Thru basses feature the company’s NS body shape with maple wings and either a bubinga top with natural matte finish or a figured maple top with a faded blue gloss finish. The 3-piece maple neck is reinforced with graphite...
Dominic “Forest” Lapointe: Teramobil’s “Molecular Spectrometry” Playthrough
Dominic “Forest” Lapointe‘s playing never ceases to amaze me. Today’s featured video is the bassist’s latest face-melting playthrough for the song “Molecular Spectrometry” from his instrumental technical metal band Teramobil. Not one to simply play roots, Lapointe’s lines are a great example of a bass player taking the lead while still supporting the song. He rips through the track with...
Kala Introduces 5-String Solid Body U-Bass
This year marks Kala’s 10th anniversary, and they’re celebrating in part by introducing a 5-string version of their SUB solid body U-Bass. The ukelele-sized bass comes in four finishes – Sunburst, Cherryburst, Red, and Black – with a 2+3 tuner layout. The 5-string SUB bass features many of the same characteristics as the 4-string, including Kala’s polyurethane strings, a Hipshot...
Sharay Reed: What’s Going On Bass Solo
We often feature solo bass tunes, but this one is a little different. Sharay Reed channels the spirit of James Jamerson by playing a solo bass line to the Marvin Gaye hit “What’s Going On” in this clip from the One Mic show. Reed weaves his own bass line for the song while keeping the groove in the Motown vein....
FF KING: 4’33”
Skill. Courage. Raw talent. This is only half of what it takes to attempt John Cage’s masterpiece “4’33” on the bass guitar. Here’s a great performance of the piece by YouTube bassist FF KING, who bravely tackles the song in the wild. The anticipation that builds as he prepares to play will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Dahrendorf Guitars Introduces Daikatana Bass
Dahrendorf Guitars has unveiled a new five-string model called the Daikatana. Named after a Japanese longsword, the bass is built with two matching Sapele halves with Pao Ferro reinforcement in between. Dahrendorf says the combination gives the bass a “sharp attack, a deep resonance and an endless sustain.” The Daikatana has a multi-scale design that ranges from 36 inches on...
Bass of the Week: Lorita Basses Miki Santamaria Signature Bass
Miki Santamaria is a favorite here at No Treble headquarters – and among readers too – so I was excited to check out his signature bass from Lorita Basses. Designed by the bassist and built by luthier Xavier Lorita in Barcelona, its striking design includes a maple theme with a flamed maple top over a swamp ash body, a 3-piece...
Eden Amplification Introduces MicroTour Mini Bass Amp
After releasing their World Pro Tour Series, Eden has taken a different approach with the introduction of the MicroTour Mini Bass Amp. The compact amp, which is shaped like the company’s full stack, stands 12 inches high and weighs in at 2.5 pounds. Eden explains that the MicroTour was designed to bring Eden tone to a “surprisingly loud” 2-watt amplifier....