Archive for September 2013 - Page 6

DR’s NEON string series is now even more colorful with the introduction of the K3 NEON Hi-Def Multi-Color Bass String sets. The coated strings are bright in daylight as well as black light active and glow under UV lighting. DR points out that besides visual appeal, multi-colored strings are a good tool to improve learning efficiency. The new sets are...

In addition to the recently reintroduced Coronado Bass, Fender has added another classic design to their Modern Player Series with the Starcaster Bass. Based on the Starcaster guitar, the semi-hollow bass was designed in the mid-1970s and was never officially produced. Fender calls it one of their rarest instruments as only a handful of prototypes were built. The Fender Modern...

Q: What were some of the breakthroughs or “aha” moments in your bass playing? Specifically, what are some of the things you’ve learned that unlocked a higher level of knowledge and technique? A: That’s an interesting question… and the answer tends to be different for everyone. Everyone learns differently and is likely to have different epiphanies and realizations come to...

On July 4th, 1970, Jimi Hendrix performed at the Atlanta Pop Festival – just two months before the guitarist’s death. By this point, Hendrix had assembled his Band of Gypsys, recruiting his Army buddy, bassist Billy Cox. For a long time, fans traded this concert recording as a bootleg. In 1991, Warner Bros. released a four disc set which included...

They’re here now, they were here then, and their music will live on forever. That’s the premise of the new Earth, Wind & Fire album, Now, Then & Forever. The band’s first first studio album in eight years, the release stays true to their classic sound with danceable tracks supported by the bass lines of Verdine White. “The album gave...

Meet Sophie Danielle Lord, a bassist who is also known in her circles as “Lord of the Bass”. Pretty cool title. Sophie is the No Treble reader in the spotlight for the week of September 9, 2013. Bio: I am the Lord of the bass. That is all you really need to know. Well, that and that it is normally...

We had some very cool surprises in August when it came to bass videos. Starting out with the #1 video of the month – Vulfpeck’s visualization of James Jamerson’s “For Once In My Life” bass line, to a newly discovered Jaco Pastorius video gem – that would have been enough. But this is a top 10 list, and the other...

During the ’80s, my music snobbery was going full tilt. As a result, I overlooked just about everything Duran Duran recorded. So I never really knew much about bassist John Taylor. When we shared the isolated bass line for Duran Duran’s “Rio” last year, plenty of people shared similar stories – and were surprised by his lines. Others said they...

Korg has introduced the Korg Pitchblack Pro to their series of tuners. The 19-inch, 1U rackmount tuner is based around a large “3D” meter that allows for easy readability from any angle and has three modes: Regular, Strobe, and Half Strobe. Regular Mode replicates a needle-type tuner so the LED in the center of the meter lights up when the...

Mooer Audio has added to their line of compact pedals with the Micro DI, a direct box that measures roughly 1.5 x 3.5 inches. The pedal offers a 1/4-inch instrument input with a balanced XLR output as well as an unbalanced 1/4-inch output and has ground lift switch. Input signal can be adjusted via the gain switch with -20dB, 0dB,...

In our quest to develop left hand strength, flexibility, speed and stamina, we will discover and create many exercises and finger twisters. Sometimes, however, the simplest exercises are the best. Apply the two practice techniques below to your trills and reap the benefits. Trills for time Play a fast trill between two fingers (i.e. 1-2) as quickly as you can....

In today’s isolated track, we find two-thirds of Rush laying it down on “Digital Man”, from Signals. No guitar, no synths, a little bit of vocals leaking through… just plain awesome.