Archive for March 2015

We’ve featured more than a few readers here who have super cool parents. Add Lyndsey Torrez to the list (thanks to his dad). Lyndsey is the No Treble reader in the spotlight for the week of March 30th, 2015. Bio: I hail from Austin, TX but live in College Station, TX. I have spent a good part of 15 years...

Dahrendorf Guitars has unveiled a new five-string model called the Daikatana. Named after a Japanese longsword, the bass is built with two matching Sapele halves with Pao Ferro reinforcement in between. Dahrendorf says the combination gives the bass a “sharp attack, a deep resonance and an endless sustain.” The Daikatana has a multi-scale design that ranges from 36 inches on...

Here’s a clip from the 2012 North Sea Jazz fest featuring the one and only Esperanza Spalding performing covers of two Michael Jackson tunes, “Hold On Me” and “I Can’t Help It”. No other words necessary.

The 1997 album, The Buena Vista Social Club, alerted many music fans to a world of Cuban music they may not have fully appreciated or even known about previously. The majority of the Buena Vista players were older at the time of the original, self-titled album’s release, with music careers prominent in the 1940s and 1950s. Sadly, many of those...

The MusiCares Tribute to Paul McCartney occurred back in February 2012, but now many of the performances from the concert are available on DVD and Blu-ray. The tribute concert film not only features artists like Alicia Keys, Duane Eddy, Coldplay and James Taylor covering legendary singer/songwriter/bassist/multi-instrumentalist’s work from his tenures in The Beatles and Wings, as well as from his...

Miki Santamaria is a favorite here at No Treble headquarters – and among readers too – so I was excited to check out his signature bass from Lorita Basses. Designed by the bassist and built by luthier Xavier Lorita in Barcelona, its striking design includes a maple theme with a flamed maple top over a swamp ash body, a 3-piece...

This is not the first time we’ve featured a video of bassist Jesús Rico Pérez performing a cover of a Michael Manring tune… and I’m betting it won’t be the last. This is Jesús’ performance of “I Left America”, which appeared on Manring’s album, Soliloquy. BTW, the first time we shared one of Jesús’ covers, we asked Michael himself for...

Modest Mouse’s first album in eight years, Strangers to Ourselves, is also the group’s first with bassist Russell Higbee (former Man Man.) Higbee came into the fold after founding member Eric Judy left the indie-rock group best known for 2004’s “Float On” to spend more time with his family. Higbee’s bass is undeniable on tracks like “The Ground Walks, with...

Time for another celebration of the best in bass for the week. This week we have a wonderful balance of gear, videos and expert how-to columns that made the list. Thanks as always for reading, commenting and sharing! 1. Fender Introduces Deluxe Active Okoume Basses Fender had a lot of new gear at NAMM this year including the Deluxe Active...

After releasing their World Pro Tour Series, Eden has taken a different approach with the introduction of the MicroTour Mini Bass Amp. The compact amp, which is shaped like the company’s full stack, stands 12 inches high and weighs in at 2.5 pounds. Eden explains that the MicroTour was designed to bring Eden tone to a “surprisingly loud” 2-watt amplifier....

This may be a showcase for drummer Keith Carlock, but we don’t care. This trio – made up of guitarist Oz Noy and bassist Oteil Burbridge – gets down on this one. Enjoy.

Toto XIV marks the return of bassist David Hungate, but it is also being released on the heels of a tragedy: Mike Porcaro, who remained the group’s official bassist as he struggled with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), succumbed to his illness earlier this month at the age of 59. Hungate came back to the band in...