Archive for 2009 - Page 88

Fender has announced two bass models in their new Fender Road Worn series. These are replicas of their classic basses from 50s and 60s, scruffed up to look like the real thing. The Fender Road Worn 1950s Precision Bass is made with a one-piece maple neck, an alder body, and traditional split single-coil pickup. The wide P-Bass neck has 20...

Ampeg has released a miniature version of the SVT amplifier, known as the Micro-VR Head. It’s perfect for small venues and recording studios where the original version would be overkill. With the classic Ampeg looks in a small case, it’s adorable, but at about $300, it’s no toy. The head has a true Ampeg preamp with 200 watts of power....

Guitar maker Alvarez is showing off some fantastic stuff at NAMM. Among the highlights, the first ever bass addition to the Artist line. Natural and black finish basses start at $750, and will be available starting in March. Check them out at NAMM, booth 5676.

Rotosound’s Winter NAMM special guests include Billy Sheehan, Duff McKagan, James Lomenzo, Doug Ardito, Matt Snell, Warren DeMartini, Walter Trout, Carlos Cavazo and Robbie Crane will all make appearances. Schedule: James Lomenzo: Friday 1/16 at 2pm Duff McKagan & Doug Ardito: Saturday 1/17 at 12pm RATT: Saturday 1/17 at 2pm Billy Sheehan & Matt Snell: Saturday 1/17 at 4pm Walter...

Stanley Clarke has announced a few tour dates for 2009: Jan 15: Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, CA (Ticketmaster) Jan 16-17: Anthology in San Diego, CA Apr 24: Denton, TX (Venue TBA) Apr 26: Austin, TX (Venue TBA)

Here’s Tal Wilkenfeld again, this time playing an awesome solo while performing with Jeff Beck, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Jason Rebello:

Victor Wooten and JD Blair are reuniting for a tour beginning in March. 3/12/09: Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in Evanston, IL 3/13/09: Pageant in St. Louis, MO 3/14/09: Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI 3/15/09: House of Blues in Cleveland, OH 3/16/09: Ark in Ann Arbor, MI 3/18/09: Handlebar in Greenville, SC 3/19/09: Legends@ Appalachian State in Boone, NC 3/20/09: Variety...

Indie label Iconoclassic Records is reissuing Weather Report’s fifth studio album, Tale Spinnin’. Released in 1975, the album features amazing bass work by Alphonso Johnson, who was later replaced by Jaco Pastorius after Johnson left to form a band with Billy Cobham and George Duke. The album received the Jazz Album of the Year award, from Down Beat magazine’s 40th...

The first CAB album in five years has been released. Theatre de Marionettes features Bunny Brunel, Tony MacAlpine, Virgil Donati, Patrice Rushen, Brian Auger and special guest appearances by Chick Corea and Michel Polnareff. Tracks: 1. The Prankster 2. Katputli 3. The Sultan of Brunel 4. Purple Mars 5. The Ventriloquist 6. Just Do It 7. Rain 8. The Pub...

Bassist Christian McBride kicked off his yearlong series “Conversations with Christian” Monday at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in New York. A dialogue including words and music, the shows will be “a combination of, like, Bill Cosby, Howard Cosell and Marian McPartland,” said McBride. His guest for this first show was pianist and composer Chick Corea. The two chatted about their current...

Berklee College of Music is offering classes in rock and jazz bass, along with a certificate program for career musicians. Rock Bass A grounding in rock is necessary for any work in popular music today, and this course offers more than the basics. You’ll learn the 12-bar blues form and the major and minor pentatonic scales, and you’ll learn phrasing,...

WesFest 4, a benefit concert for The Wes Wehmiller Scholarship at Berklee College of Music is taking place on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, CA. WesFest 4’s line-up includes: The Allan Holdsworth/Alan Pasqua Group featuring Chad Wackerman and Jimmy Haslip Keneally – Minnemann – Beller (Bryan Beller) Tamara Silvera Danny Mo & The Exciters...