Archive for August 2014 - Page 7

Xotic Guitars has launched their own brand of bass strings including sets for 4-, 5-, and 6-string basses. Available in nickel or stainless steel, the string feature round wound construction and can be ordered for 34″ or 33″ scale basses. The 4-string gauges run .045 to .105 while the 5-string set adds a .125 B-string and the 6-string adds a...

We smashed all previous records of visits to No Treble in the month of July, thanks in large part to the #1 most watched video of the month. You probably saw it already, and if you’re like us, you’ll love watching it again. There were nine other videos that got a ton of attention in July as well. Add them...

Camarel bassist/vocalist Michelle Kuban took to the studio to record a scaled-back version of the band’s song “Over You.” Using overdubs, Kuban lays down the bass line and chords as well as the lead and backup vocals.

D&A Guitar Gear has introduced the Starfish, a new floorstand that sets itself apart with five legs that the company says doubles its stability. The added legs allow for the stand to stand tall even at 30 degrees of tilt. The stand comes in two variations: the Starfish and the Starfish+. Both versions feature a quick folding design with the...

What a week! There was just something magical about the bass videos this week – four of this week’s top 10 are ones we featured in the last 7 days. But it wasn’t just videos that got No Treble readers excited this week. There was also the news of Les Claypool’s bass auction – for a great cause – that...

Big Ear n.y.c. has unveiled the Chaka, an octave fuzz pedal designed for all instruments, but especially for bass. The pedal features Fuzz, Volume, and Tone knobs for dialing in your tone with a separate footswitch to activate the octave effect. “The fuzz side uses LED clipping diodes which are more aggressive, but less compressed, and let the natural tone...

I received a note from bassist Jan Urbanec about a new video by the incredible duo he has with guitarist Shahab Tolouie. Of course, any time that happens, I can’t wait to check out what they’re up to with their “flamenco fusion” sound. As always, Jan’s note came with a little humor: “I know No Treble can’t be all about...

D.C.-based reggae band SOJA has released its sixth album, . Featuring bassist/vocalist Bobby Lee, SOJA’s latest is the followup to its most successful record, 2012’s Strength to Survive. The record features not only the work of Jamaican producer Supa Dups (Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Eminem) but also guest appearances by Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Michael Franti. Amid the Noise and...

Jackson Guitars has announced a 5-string version of Megadeth bassist David Ellefson’s signature Kelly Bird Bass. Building on the 4-string version, the bass retains many of the same features including a basswood body and a bolt-on bound maple neck with block inlays. The bass is fitted with a pair of EMG HZ40 pickups matched with separate volume controls and a...

Here’s a great video bassist Jermaine Morgan shared on our Facebook page. Morgan builds a huge groove with drummer Brien Andrews on a playthrough of the track “Walkin’ the Talk” from his debut album, . Make sure to check out Morgan’s solo at the 3:44 mark.

Spoon’s eighth album, , is the band’s first in four years. It also marks the Texas band’s shift from an indie label (Merge) to a major (Loma Vista, an imprint of Universal Music Group) and the addition of a new member — Alex Fischel on guitar and keyboards. During that four-year hiatus, bassist Rob Pope (also of The Get Up...

It should be no surprise that George Porter, Jr.’s picture was used to feature our announcement of the Bass Players to Know series, because frankly, he’s one of the funkiest men out there. Devilishly hiding behind an old, authentically road worn Fender P-bass, he can speak volumes with a single note played in just the right place. So, for all...