Archive for 2013 - Page 82

For his 20th studio album – and first in three years – Eric Clapton decided to change things up a bit. The 67 year old guitarist switched labels, choosing his own Bushbranch imprint through the indie SurfDog label, and recorded an album with his longtime collaborators and friends. Two of the twelve tracks on Old Sock were penned by Clapton,...

ESP’s Frank Bello LTD Signature line of basses has a new addition. The FB-204 is an entry level model with bolt-on construction and a black satin finish to suit the Anthrax bassist’s style. The FB-204 is built with a basswood body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard. The P/J pickup configuration consists of the company’s LTD LDJ and LDP, which are...

No Treble reader Kaleb Staples shared this video with us saying it “seems like something you guys would like.” You know us so well, Kaleb. This is Aces of Bass, a clever name for a quintet of double bassists performing a medley of tunes by the Swedish pop band, Ace of Base. The medley includes “The Sign”, “All That She...

Niacin is back. After an seven year hiatus, bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Dennis Chambers and keyboardist John Novello have teamed up once again on Krush, their sixth studio effort. The album will be released on April 2, 2013 through Prosthetic Records. The power trio’s name comes from the common name for the vitamin B3 and the Hammond B3 used heavily...

Lakland has given their Skyline 44-01 and 55-01 models the Deluxe treatment this year. Sporting four and five strings respectively, the Lakland 44-01 and 55-01 Deluxe Spalt models add to their predecessors with spalted maple tops for visual flair. The models are built with ash bodies, maple necks, and rosewood fingerboards. The 4-string has a 34? scale, while the 5-string...

Ever rush out of the house in the morning and forget something that you always have with you? Your watch, perhaps? Or maybe your reading glasses? As soon as you realize that you’ll have to go all day without this beloved item, you start to feel uncomfortable, annoyed, and metaphorically naked. It is a truly awful feeling that I’ve experienced...

Prepare to get funky. Here’s a ridiculously awesome clip of Bootsy Collins and his Rubber Band live in Houston, Texas in 1976 – the same year Stretchin’ Out In Bootsy’s Rubber Band came out. The energy in this song is off the wall, and it’s non-stop funkin’ for ten minutes.

Longtime Go-Go’s bassist Kathy Valentine has left the band she’s been a part of for more than 30 years. “The Go-Go’s have parted ways with bassist Kathy Valentine, citing irreconcilable differences,” the band said in a statement. “The rest of the lineup, original since 1979 (Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Gina Schock and Jane Wiedlin) remains intact. The band looks forward...

This week we check out the CallowHill Guitars’ flagship bass, the MDM. The MDM was born out of three separate instrument models, and eventually evolved into a single model with several options. The MDM is offered in 5- and 6-string versions with standard features including lightweight swamp ash bodies, Nordstrand pickups and a fully passive wiring stage with a modified...

One way to make a tune better is to turn it into an all-bass arrangement (or at least a bass-focused version). That may sound simple, but as you’ll see in the videos below, it often takes a remarkable combination of skill and musicianship. Sometimes going so far to seem impossible, even with the video proof. Here are the top 10...

Ibanez has updated their Artcore series of basses with the AGB205 and the AFB200SRD. As part of the Artcore line, the acoustic/electric basses follow vintage aesthetic and sport 30.3″ scales. The AFB200SRD is built constructed with a 3-piece maple/mahogany neck, a maple body, and a bound rosewood fingerboard. It offers a new Sunset Red finish and a newly designed pickguard....

Q: I see so many people spending thousands of dollars on handmade basses, but so many of the recordings I listen to are recorded using a standard P or J bass. What is it about these high end basses that is so “worth it” to so many? A: There are so many possible answers to this question! For some, it...