Archive for 2011 - Page 56

This week, we’re taking a look back at the top 10 most popular bass videos from June, 2011, based on the number of views by No Treble readers. 1. Esperanza Spalding: I Know You Know / Smile Like That Live Here’s a great clip of Esperanza Spalding sporting a Fender fretless and performing live in San Sebastian on July 23,...

Rob Grill, bassist and singer for the 60’s rock group The Grass Roots, has passed away at the age of 67 after suffering a stroke. Grill joined Grass Roots in 1967 after Kenny Fukomoto was drafted into the Army. Grill ended up sticking with the group, picking up singing duties in addition the laying down the low end. During it’s...

Old school Rush! As usual, three guys sound like eight in this video of “Xanadu” by Rush in 1977. Editor note: this is clearly the band playing along to the studio recording. Thanks Jim C for setting the record straight in the comments. Bassist Geddy Lee is busy as usual, handling the bass, keyboards and vocal duties throughout the tune....

Prog rock bassist John Wetton has released his sixth solo album, Raised in Captivity. The album was recorded in Los Angeles in January 2011, between Wetton’s touring with the 30th anniversary Asia tour in the US and UK. “The decision to record in Los Angeles with Billy Sherwood was entirely mine,” Wetton said. “I wanted the chaotic urban inspiration, edge...

Blink-182 will be be going out on tour starting as part of the Honda Civic Tour 2011 in support of their upcoming and yet-to-be-titled album. The group will be co-headlining the trek, which spans August to October, with My Chemical Romance with tour dates crossing the entire US. Though they disbanded in 2005, Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus says that since...

I am often asked how one can better learn the fretboard and how one can improve their reading. I generally talk about certain things I’ve spent time studying and how to practice with intention and focus, the importance of repetition (to make information stick) and suggest a few books, and so on. I now will have one more thing to...

Ingrid Pastorius shared this video of Jaco Pastorius performing solo in front of an audience in Italy in 1986. This performance includes “Chromatic Fantasy” and “Blackbird”, which appears on Jaco’s Word of Mouth album. Always great to see new footage of Jaco!

Here are the most read, most popular stories and features on No Treble for the week of July 3-9, 2011. 1. Stevie Wonder with Nate Watts: Sir Duke and I Wish, Live Nate Watts really lays down the groove on this live performance with Stevie Wonder. Not sure of the exact details of this video, other than it was shot...

Le Fay Basses has unveiled the Herr Schwarz Grant Stinnett D-Tuner Model, a 34” scale bass with a D-Tuner on each string. This allows for alternate tunings on the fly. The bass is handmade at the Le Fay shop in Germany and features an Ash body, 5-piece Maple neck and Rosewood fingerboard. The hardware and electronics are also made by...

Rocco Prestia shows his usual funky self in this live performance with Fred Horn’s Steady Fready band. The group is performing the Maceo Parker tune “Southwick”. Thanks to Facebook friend Per Ivar Øye who shared this video with us.

Overt?n Amps will be debuting their latest offering in the sub-compact bass head world at Summer NAMM this year with the Flyweight 200. The new Class D amp pumps out 200 watts while weighing in at a mere 2.1 pounds. In the way of tonal control, the Flyweight 200 has an auto compressor, a 3-band EQ and Overt?n’s signature Sculpt...

Marcelo Giaccardi recorded this version of the Beatles’ classic “Blackbird” on his modified ‘74 Fender Precision. He also recorded the rest of the instrumentation. “For the other instruments I used the Elektrik Piano from Native Instruments and the Jazz EZX drums collection from Toontrack, all within Steinberg Cubase 4 platform.” “I hope you enjoy it,” he wrote. “Beatles Forever.”