Weekly Top 10: New and Old Basses, Amazing Bass Videos, Rush’s Real History, Buying Bass Strings and More

When it is bass, we think everything deserves to be in the top 10. But we have to choose from a lot of stories, columns and videos.

So we let you decide.

Here are the top 10 most read, most watched features on No Treble for the week of May 20-26, 2012. Enjoy, and as always, thanks for reading!

The Real History of Rush

1. The Real History of Rush

The guys from Rush are so cool. In addition to their amazing musicianship, they’re really funny. And pretty good actors. We may be partial, but we like Geddy Lee‘s character best…

Overture Guitars Introduces Timothy Gaines Signature “TG” Stronghold Bass

2. Overture Guitars Introduces Timothy Gaines Signature “TG” Stronghold Bass

Overture Guitars has made a pretty rad signature bass for Timothy Gaines of Stryper. The “TG” Stronghold sports a poplar body with a Yellow Relic paint scheme hand-painted by artist Tim Beck. As each is done individually, every bass has a little different paint scheme and is unique to itself…

Bass Strings: Tips for Finding the Right Sound

3. Bass Strings: Tips for Finding the Right Sound

This week’s column comes thanks to a question from Maria G. Maria asks: I’m a pretty new player, but I’m not happy with my upright bass strings. I know I need something different, but there are so many different kinds of strings out there I don’t know where to start. They are also expensive (!)… Dr. D to the rescue.

Spector Offering Coda Deluxe Bass Models for 2012

4. Spector Offering Coda Deluxe Bass Models for 2012

Spector has introduced a Deluxe version of their Coda bass series. Built in the U.S. by Stuart Spector and his team, the deluxe version of the vintage inspired bass is set apart by the inclusion of a AAAA quilted maple top and the removal of the pickguard…

Simon Fitzpatrick: Solo Bass Cover of “Stairway to Heaven”

5. Simon Fitzpatrick: Solo Bass Cover of “Stairway to Heaven”

Bass whiz Simon Fitzpatrick has done it again with a jaw-dropping version of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”. This clip comes from a May 22nd performance with the Carl Palmer Band at Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks, Kent. The bassist even covers the guitar solo with one handed tapping while keeping the bass line going, eventually…

Jaco Pastorius Big Band: Invitation Live Featuring Damian Erskine and Peter Erskine

6. Jaco Pastorius Big Band: Invitation Live Featuring Damian Erskine and Peter Erskine

How cool is this? Bassist (and No Treble columnist) Damian Erskine joins his uncle, drummer Peter Erskine, in a live performance with the Jaco Pastorius Big Band. This performance was part of Jaco’s 60th birthday celebration and took place last November in Kawasaki, Japan. Damian kills it!

Old School: 1967 Fender Mustang Bass

7. Old School: 1967 Fender Mustang Bass

Bassist John Flynn shares his 1967 Fender Mustang bass with us, along with the story behind it. Fender offers up the background on the history of the bass on their website: Mustang Bass (1966-1981, 2002-). The first truly successful Fender bass that didn’t say “Precision” or “Jazz” on the headstock was 1966’s Mustang Bass. Leo…

Van Halen Postpones 31 Tour Dates on North American Tour

8. Van Halen Postpones 31 Tour Dates on North American Tour

Rock group Van Halen has postponed all their tour dates following their June 26th concert in New Orleans, making a total of 31 performances to be rescheduled. Now anchored by bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, the band hasn’t released an official statement, though the insider website Van Halen News Desk has dismissed rumors of band feuding…

Andres Rotmistrovsky and Marcelo Woloski: Blackbird (Bass and Percussion Duo)

9. Andres Rotmistrovsky and Marcelo Woloski: Blackbird (Bass and Percussion Duo)

We’ve heard a lot of versions of The Beatles’s “Blackbird,” but this one sticks out. Bassist Andres Rotmistrovsky teamed up with percussionist Marcelo Woloski to do an African/Middle Eastern influenced take on the tune. Rotmistrovsky, who is admittedly a huge fan of the Fab Four, plays on a Hofner Violin Bass…

Bass of the Week: LeCompte Electric Bass’ Prototype 1.5

10. Bass of the Week: LeCompte Electric Bass’ Prototype 1.5

Texas-based luthier Bud LeCompte has lots of cool designs on his website, but his Prototype 1.5 (aka PT 1.5) really caught our eye. With one foot rooted in the past and one stepping forward, the cool singlecut body shape has LeCompte’s unique style written all over it…

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