Archive for 2011

We interviewed many terrific and insightful bassists in 2011, and while this list doesn’t cover them all, it does cover the most read ones we featured throughout the year. Be sure to check out our interview archives for even more great conversations with some of the greatest bassists on the scene. 1. Alex Webster The evolution of heavy metal has...

Charles Fambrough January 1, 2011 Charles Fambrough, jazz bassist. Fambrough’s credits include working with Grover Washington, Jr., Airto Moreira, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, and more. Mick Karn January 4, 2011 Mick Karn, former Japan bassist. Karn’s fretless bass and interesting, angular playing style left an impression on bassists around the world. Phil Kennemore January 7, 2011 Phil Kennemore, bassist for...

Here’s an insightful clip of Billy Sheehan giving a clinic for Guitar Center. The Mr. Big bassist touches on becoming a better bassist by learning cover tunes and focusing on your actual playing instead of gear. My favorite line: “Just practice!”

This one is cool. No Treble’s Facebook page recently hit 50,000 fans, and we love reading your comments and replying to you there as much as we do on the articles here. We were curious as to who commented the most on No Treble and the Facebook page. We found out. So we thought: what an awesome top 10 list!...

Marshall Amplification has purchased Eden Electronics from U.S. Music Corp. Eden, who specializes in high-end bass amplification, will still be distributed in the States by U.S. Music Corp, so North American customers “will not impacted.” In a joint press release, both Marshall and U.S. Music Corp stated that the sale would result in more resources being poured into Eden. “We...

Zander Zon, who takes his name from the famed line of boutique bass guitars, follows the vein of solo bass. Employing piccolo strings and alternate tunings, the bassist builds thoughtful and challenging compositions as well as cool arrangements of popular tunes that have captured the imagination of YouTubers. What makes you new school? My focus as a musician is to...

We introduced the new Bass of the Week series in 2011. Every week we feature a different and unique, unusual and/or beautiful bass. It is a tough job, but we’re happy to keep it going for loyal No Treble readers who love gear as much as us. Here are the top 10 most viewed from the Bass of the Week...

Just in time for your new year’s resolutions, here are the top 10 most popular how to’s and columns in 2011. From practicing to player health and even a little on gear, these features should help you make big musical strides in 2012. 1. Health & Fitness for The Working Bassist – Part 1: Basic Technique Common injuries that rob...

Van Halen has released a new trailer announcing that the iconic rock band will be hitting the road in 2012. Though the dates have not yet been revealed, the teaser states tickets will be up for sale on January 10, 2012. The band has also signed with Interscope Records and is expected to release a new album in conjunction with...

Described as a “down and dirty,” no-frills bass, the Bootleg Guitars Dawg 4 bass gets its name from the Cleveland Browns’ Dawg Pound of which we assume luthier Jon Hill is a member. Hill, who is based in Cleveland, explains he designed the bass for the working musician. The 4-string version of the Dawg has a 34” scale and is...

We like to call it work, but watching great bass videos and picking the favorites to feature each day on No Treble is more fun than work. Here is the best of the best in 2011, based on reader views. 1. Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers: Tal Wilkenfeld Bass Cover by 13 Year Old Bassist We featured BassGirl for the...

This is audio only, but oh so good. Jaco Pastorius and his Word of Mouth Big Band perform “Reza” live at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California on January 10, 1982… nearly 30 years ago now. This followed the release of his Word of Mouth album release in 1981. Jaco takes a great solo during the tune. The...