Bass World Buzz: MXR’s Bass Synth, Stellarosa Lite & More Standout Stories

Welcome back to No Treble’s recap of the hottest news of the week.

Our top story this week had the bass world buzzing as Dunlop re vealed an exciting new pedal called the MXR Bass Synth. Designed in collaboration with Ian Martin Allison, the pedal features eight ready-to-play presets that capture vintage synth sounds, along with numerous controls for tweaking beyond the norm. Just as important, its enhanced tracking and sustain help to improve the effect’s feel. Next up, readers were drooling over our Bass of the Week: Fidelity Guitars’ Stellarosa Lite Bass. The made-to-order bass is the perfect blend of vintage vibes with modern amenities.

Other highlights include June’s top ten gear stories, Fender’s new Korean subsidiary, a thunderous bass line from Tom Fowler, and more.

1. MXR Bass Synth: Vintage Analog Sounds, Envelope Magic & Ian Martin Allison Presets

MXR’s Bass Synth, crafted with Ian Martin Allison, delivers classic analog tones with ready-to-go presets and deep, tweakable controls.

2. Fidelity’s Stellarosa Lite: A Vintage-Style, Lightweight Bass Made to Order

Fidelity’s Stellarosa Lite is a lightweight, vintage-inspired bass built to order with short-scale options, handwound pickups, and custom finishes.

3. Fender, Dingwall, and Peavey Highlight June 2025’s Top New Bass Gear

Fender’s new Squier and Laura Lee signature bass, Dingwall’s SP1, and Peavey’s Cirrus relaunch top our list of the best new bass gear from June 2025.

4. Fender Launches Fender Music Korea to Deepen Reach with Musicians and Dealers

Fender has launched Fender Music Korea to manage direct-to-dealer and consumer operations, expanding its reach in one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets.

5. Tom Fowler’s Thunderous Bass Drives Frank Zappa’s “Apostrophe’” in Rare 1974 Live Performance

Watch Tom Fowler’s powerful bass work in newly released 1974 footage of Frank Zappa’s “Apostrophe'", featuring his heavy, blues-driven groove.

6. Wonder Women: Kim Butler’s Journey Through Fretless Bass and Community Rebuilding

In this Wonder Women feature, Kim Butler discusses her influences, custom short-scale bass, pandemic-era performances, and community-focused projects.

7. Inside Frank Bello’s Signature Spector: A Custom Purple Finish, EMGs, and a Personal Story

Frank Bello’s new Spector NC-4 is now shipping, featuring EMG pickups, a custom purple finish, and a tribute to his mother and grandmother.

8. Rare Jazz Gem: John Patitucci Shines in Stunning Remaster of 1992 Chick Corea Akoustic Band “Tumba” Live

John Patitucci delivers melodic mastery on his 6-string Yamaha in this remastered 1992 Blue Note Tokyo set with Chick Corea and Vinnie Colaiuta.

9. BADBADNOTGOOD Bring Hypnotic Jazz with Chester Hansen’s F Bass to Glastonbury

Watch Chester Hansen lead BADBADNOTGOOD’s Glastonbury set on F Bass, laying down rich, adventurous grooves with warm, precise tone and effortless command in front of a massive festival crowd.

10. Sylvia Massy & ZVEX Unveil Limited Woolly Mammoth Pedal: Handcrafted Fuzz with Crushing Low End

Sylvia Massy & ZVEX unveil a limited Woolly Mammoth fuzz pedal, hand-built with NOS parts and artwork, delivering deep, thunderous bass.