Weekly Top Ten: The Best in Bass for the Week of July 21

This week’s top 10 list offers a great blend of bass goodness: new gear, new how-to’s, new music and some excellent bass videos.

Thanks as always for reading, commenting and sharing.

Fender Announces Modern Player 2.0 Basses

1. Fender Announces Modern Player 2.0 Basses

Fender has upgraded its Modern Player series of instruments including updates to the Jazz Basses in the line and the introduction of a new model called the Dimension Bass. The new instruments keep in step with the rest of the series, which offers unique designs at entry-level pricing…

Alex Webster to Join Conquering Dystopia with Jeff Loomis & Keith Merrow

2. Alex Webster to Join Conquering Dystopia with Jeff Loomis & Keith Merrow

Here’s some news that will make death metal fans rejoice: Cannibal Corpse bass legend Alex Webster is teaming up with The Faceless’s Alex Rudinger, Nevermore’s Jeff Loomis and guitarist Keith Merrow on their new project called Conquering Dystopia…

Knuckle Cracking: Bad for Bassists?

3. Knuckle Cracking: Bad for Bassists?

Damian offers up his take (and some research) on a reader’s question about knuckle cracking and bass playing…

Player Spotlight: Poliana Magalhães

4. Player Spotlight: Poliana Magalhães

About a month ago, we featured a play-along video by bassist Poliana Magalhães. The tune was Jamiroquai’s “Runaway”, and we were impressed with how Poliana locked in on the groove, but made it her own, and with a killer bass sound too. Now we get her story in this week’s Player Spotlight…

Track By Track: Evan Brewer Talks “Your Itinerary”

5. Track By Track: Evan Brewer Talks “Your Itinerary”

Bassist Evan Brewer has returned with his second solo album, Your Itinerary, out now. The effort represents a big change from his bass-only debut, Alone, and features eight full arrangements of original songs with drums, keyboard, guitar, and more. Brewer offers up the inside look at the new album, track by

Gibson Introduces Five-String EB Bass

6. Gibson Introduces Five-String EB Bass

Gibson is building upon their recently relaunched EB Bass series with a 5-string version. As with its 4-string accomplice, the new Five-String EB Bass takes its body shape from the original EB’s SG-inspired body and gives it an offset-double-cutaway design…

Felix Pastorius Talks About Recording with Jaco’s Bass

7. Felix Pastorius Talks About Recording with Jaco’s Bass

Felix Pastorius was looking for a fretless sound while recording the Yellowjackets new album, A Rise In The Road. When Robert Trujillo heard this, he loaned Jaco’s Bass of Doom to Felix. What a great story…

Linda Oh: Blue Over Gold

8. Linda Oh: Blue Over Gold

Linda Oh’s new album, Sun Pictures is coming out August 27th, and the bassist is giving the world a sneak peak with a video of one of her new tunes entitled “Blue Over Gold.” Joined by saxophonist Ben Wendel, guitarist James Muller, and drummer Ted Poor, Oh sets a beautifully wandering groove…

“Human Nature” Bass and Drums Tribute

9. “Human Nature” Bass and Drums Tribute

Emile Nelson sent us this killer video of him performing a bass and drum tribute to Michael Jackson, with drummer Con Settineri. Emile also handles the vocal duties on this nice cover of “Human Nature”.

Bass of the Week: Wahlbrink Kronos Black Ax 5-String

10. Bass of the Week: Wahlbrink Kronos Black Ax 5-String

As part of Wahlbrink’s Art Line of basses, the Kronos is a distinct instrument. The bass’s unique body shape with its distinct bouts add form to its function while its visual aesthetic is upped by exotic woods and attention to detail. Check out the Bass of the Week…

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