Top 10 This Week: New Bass Gear and NAMM Buzz, Must-See Lessons and News (Jan 4–10, 2025)

The new year kicked off with major bass gear reveals and must-see content as NAMM approaches

Unsurprisingly, bass gear news dominated this week’s most-read stories, but there’s plenty more that grabbed readers’ attention.

This week’s highlights include Ilse de Vries’s captivating new performance video, Ryan Madora’s latest “Keep It Groovy” lesson on fretting hand technique, and Paul Thompson’s deep dive into the bass line on Bobby Caldwell’s classic “What You Won’t Do for Love,” and more.

Dive in to what No Treble readers loved the most for the week of January 4-10, 2025.

1. Watch: The Cool Quest’s Ilse de Vries Shows Off Hypnotic Bass Groove on “Heatwaves”

Dutch bassist Ilse de Vries of award-winning group The Cool Quest delivers a mesmerizing solo performance of 'Heatwaves.' With 500+ shows across 13 countries, she shows why she's one of Europe's rising stars.

2. What’s New in the Electro-Harmonix 360+ Looper Pedal? A Smaller Footprint and More Control

Electro-Harmonix’s Nano Looper 360 has been one of their best-selling pedals for the past decade, and now they’re leveling it up. The new 360+ Looper builds on the compact unit with an updated feature set and an even smaller footprint.

3. Ibanez Debuts Affordable BTB605 and BTB606 Basses Ahead of NAMM 2025

Ibanez has unveiled the new BTB605 and BTB606 basses, offering neck-through construction and premium features at affordable price points. Set to debut at NAMM 2025, these models are designed for players seeking quality without breaking the bank.

4. “Ultra-Quiet Power”: D’Addario’s XPND Kit Delivers 10+ Hours for Any Pedalboard

D'Addario has unveiled the XPND Pedal Power Battery Kit, which they call an "all-in-one power solution" for your pedalboard. The system features a 10,000mAH rechargeable Portable Power Cell with over 10 hours of power for an average-sized pedalboard.

5. Kiesel’s New Z2 and O2 Basses Pack DarkGlass Power for 2025

The 2025 Winter NAMM Show is just around the corner, but Kiesel isn’t waiting to show off their fresh gear for the new year. They’ve announced revamps of their popular Zeus and Osiris guitars and basses, now called the Z2 and the O2.

6. Bass of the Week: Inside the “SUPERFRO” – A MonoNeon-Inspired Custom LEH Guitars Offset 5

We’ve shared a few LEH Guitars models over the years, but this one really stands out. This colorful Offset 5 “SUPERFRO” was built for Frowin Ickler, who wanted an instrument with specs based on the Fender MonoNeon signature bass.

7. Secrets To Bass Fretting Hand Technique: Why You Shouldn’t Always Rely On A Four Fret Span

Discover essential fretting hand techniques to unlock the full potential of your bass playing. Learn the four fret span, five fret span, and three fret span positions to improve flexibility, articulation, and fretboard navigation. Perfect for mastering scales, grooves, and more.

8. Win Big for a Cause: Bass Upfront’s Charity Raffle Supports Musicians

Celebrate the bass community and make a difference! Bass Upfront’s 25,000 Member Charity Raffle offers incredible prizes - including a Dingwall bass and premium gear - all while supporting MusiCares, a charity helping musicians in need.

9. Gene Simmons Expands 2025 Tour, Takes Fan Song Requests on Social Media

KISS bassist Gene Simmons has expanded his upcoming solo band tour, adding new spring 2025 dates with guitarists Brent Woods and Jason Walker, and drummer Brian Tichy. The 19-city trek spans from California to Canada.

10. Exploring the Mystery Behind the Bass Line in Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do for Love”

Discover the story behind the smooth, timeless bass line in Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do for Love” as Paul Thompson breaks down the groove, jazz influences, and lasting impact of this classic hit.