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Archive for March 2012 - Page 4

Bass of the Week: Norton Guitars Wraith Bass
Bass of the Week

Bass of the Week: Norton Guitars Wraith Bass

Norton Guitars takes a unique approach to building instruments by utilizing what they call the “Norton Mainframe” – a skeleton made of T6061 aircraft grade aluminum. The bass is then built with wood and electronics from there. A prime example of their work is their Wraith model bass. Featuring the “Tube” frame version of the Norton Mainframe, the Wraith is...

Larry Graham and Graham Central Station Play Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger”
Bass Videos

Larry Graham and Graham Central Station Play Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger”

Yep, you read that right. During an appearance on the Dutch radio show GIEL to promote his European tour, Larry Graham and his band Graham Central Station took current pop music head on by tackling the Maroon 5 tune “Moves Like Jagger”. Armed with his iconic white bass and some gnarly effects, the slap bass innovator nails the tune and...

Rotosound Introduces Bass String Cleaner
Accessories & Strings

Rotosound Introduces Bass String Cleaner

Rotosound has introduced a new string cleaner for bass that wraps around the strings for 360 degree cleaning. Designed to fit all 4- and 5-string bass guitars, the BSC1 uses microfiber pads to remove sweat and debris to extend the life of your strings. The device also cleans the fingerboard at the same time, all without needing a cleaning solution....

Ruokangas Guitars Introduce Fretless Steambass
Basses

Ruokangas Guitars Introduce Fretless Steambass

Finnish custom shop Ruokangas Guitars is now offering fretless versions of their vintage-inspired Steambass, which they introduced last year. The company included stylish fret markers on the ebony fretboard that don’t cross the whole board but instead correspond in placement to the position of the neck – the lower register has markers under the E-string, while the 12th “fret” and...

Improving Your Playing: What’s Your Story?
Ask Damian Erskine

Improving Your Playing: What’s Your Story?

Q: What are you personally working on to improve your playing? A: Okay, getting more personal than usual here <grin>… I am in a constant state of flux with my practice habits. Different things bug me about my playing depending on the gigs I have one week versus the next, causing me to switch gears and focus. Lately, I’ve been...

The Original Flecktones: Live at Anthology
Bass Videos

The Original Flecktones: Live at Anthology

Bela Fleck and the Original Flecktones are currently touring in support of their most recent album, Rocket Science. Pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy returned to the group for the first time since 1991 for the album and tour, which also includes bassist Victor Wooten, percussionist/drummer Roy “Futureman” Wooten and banjoist and leader Bela Fleck. The band made a stop in San...

Soulfly Releases “Enslaved”, Featuring Tony Campos
New Albums

Soulfly Releases “Enslaved”, Featuring Tony Campos

Soulfly has released their eighth studio album, Enslaved. The album is the first to feature the band’s new lineup of vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera, lead guitarist Marc Rizzo, drummer David Kinkade and bassist Tony Campos. Metal fans recognize Campos from his time in Static-X among many other projects including Prong, Ministry and Asesino. Band leader Cavalera says the new lineup brings...

Reader Spotlight: Freddy Hernandez
Reader Spotlight

Reader Spotlight: Freddy Hernandez

Meet bassist Freddy Hernandez, who took up the double bass at age 12. Freddy is the son of former Oingo Boingo drummer Johnny “Vatos” Hernandez. Freddy has an interesting gigging life, performing in an orchestra, his father’s “Johnny Vatos Boingo Dance Party”, on various TV commercials and other bands as well. We love Freddy’s attitude towards music, well described in...

Harmonizing the Major Scale: Using a Number System on Bass
Bass Lessons

Harmonizing the Major Scale: Using a Number System on Bass

This week, I’m kicking off a new lesson focusing on the foundation of music – the major scale. Read over this lesson and then be sure to check out the video for a demonstration. Western music harmony is mostly based on the 7 steps of the major scale, and the chords built on the major scale are very common to...

BassGirl: Swingin’ ‘Till the Girls Come Home
Bass Videos

BassGirl: Swingin’ ‘Till the Girls Come Home

It has been a while since we featured a video by BassGirl, the 14 year old bassist who has caused many jaws to drop around here. Oscar Pettiford and Jon Hendricks tune “Swingin’ ‘Til the Girls Come Home”, with vocalist Chris Humphrey, pianist Ryan Parker and BassGirl’s father on drums (cool family). Did we mention that BassGirl is 14? Or...

Esperanza Spalding Releases “Radio Music Society”
New Albums

Esperanza Spalding Releases “Radio Music Society”

The much anticipated new album by Esperanza Spalding, Radio Music Society, is finally here. The album is the follow up to her Grammy-award winning Chamber Music Society, the album is described as Spalding’s “most diverse, ambitious and masterful recital yet”. Spalding considers the new album to be a companion to her last, rather than a sequel. “Originally I thought it...

Godin Introduces Shifter Classic 4 Bass
Basses

Godin Introduces Shifter Classic 4 Bass

Godin has added a new model to their Shifter bass series named the Classic 4. The new model, which sports a new Crème Brulee high gloss finish, has Godin’s passive PJ pickups for a more retro style and sound. The Shifter Classic 4 is built with a Canadian Laurentian Basswood body, rock maple neck, and either a maple or rosewood...