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Archive for June 2015

Reader Spotlight: “Monster” Mike Cobb
Reader Spotlight

Reader Spotlight: “Monster” Mike Cobb

So here’s the thing about “Monster” Mike Cobb: he says that at the age of 7, he pledged his allegiance to the FUNK the whole FUNK and nothing but the FUNK. It worked… Mike just so happens to be Bootsy Collins’ back up bassist. This is a great read. Enjoy this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Bio: Born...

Truetone Unveils 1 Spot Pro Power Supplies
Accessories & Strings

Truetone Unveils 1 Spot Pro Power Supplies

Truetone has expanded their 1 Spot series of power supplies with the 1 Spot Pro line including the CS7 and CS12 models. Each of the new power bricks offer a variety of voltages with seven and twelve isolated outputs, respectively. The 1 Spot Pro CS7 features three voltage options – 9Vdc, 12VDC, and 18VDC – for use with most effect...

The Stanley Clarke Band: No Mystery, Live
Bass Videos

The Stanley Clarke Band: No Mystery, Live

Today we’re celebrating the great Stanley Clarke’s birthday with a killer clip of his band live at Bimhuis in Amsterdam. The jazz legend and crew tackle the Return to Forever song “No Mystery”, which Clarke also released on his band’s 2010 self-titled album. Clarke pulls out all the stops with his signature bass lines, arco work, and a jaw-dropping percussive...

Bill Wyman Releases First Solo Album in Three Decades
New Albums

Bill Wyman Releases First Solo Album in Three Decades

It’s been a while since former bassist for The Rolling Stones released a solo album. About 33 years, really. The album, which features a stripped-down sound and nods to influences like Leonard Cohen and JJ Cale, came about after Bill Wyman realized he had a cache of unreleased songs, three of which he decided to rework. He then added those...

Bass of the Week: Rob Allen Deep 4/5
Bass of the Week

Bass of the Week: Rob Allen Deep 4/5

Bass builder Rob Allen has a way with creating clean designs that are very playable pieces of art. Our bass of the week is the luthier’s Deep model, a semi-hollow body bass available in four and five-string models that features a classic f-hole. “The body starts out with 3″ thick alder stock and is surfaced down to 2 1/8″, and...

What’s This Angled Endpin Business?
The Lowdown with Dr. D

What’s This Angled Endpin Business?

I get lots of questions about my bass and “what’s up with that endpin?” ranks in the top ten. As you know, most endpins come straight out of the bass, at a angle more or less parallel with the back of the instrument, a 90 degrees relation to the bottom of the instrument. When the instrument is standing entirely upright,...

Tribal Tech: Face First & The Big Wave (Live in Tokyo)
Bass Videos

Tribal Tech: Face First & The Big Wave (Live in Tokyo)

Here’s a great fan-shot video of Tribal Tech performing in Tokyo in 2013. Or a better way to describe it: bass in your face! Man, Gary Willis brings it on this one. But he always does, doesn’t he?

TC Electronic Expands PolyTune Series Tuners
Accessories & Strings

TC Electronic Expands PolyTune Series Tuners

TC Electronic’s PolyTune series is getting two new models added to the lineup with the PolyTune Clip and PolyTune 2 Blacklight. Both tuners support both guitar and bass tuning with polyphonic and chromatic modes. The PolyTune Clip clips onto the headstock of your bass and automatically switches between polyphonic and chromatic tuning modes. Its display adapts to flip the display...

Weekly Top 10: Geddy Lee on Technique, New Bass Gear and the Top Videos, How To’s and More
Weekly Top 10

Weekly Top 10: Geddy Lee on Technique, New Bass Gear and the Top Videos, How To’s and More

We had a lot of fun this week with some great videos and stories. Looks like that excitement reached NT readers too. Lots and lots of views on this week’s top 10 list. As always, thanks for reading, watching, commenting and sharing. 1. Geddy Lee on Developing His Right-Hand Picking Technique Fender shared a great video featuring Geddy Lee talking...

Jesús Rico Pérez: A Never Ending Winter
Bass Videos

Jesús Rico Pérez: A Never Ending Winter

It is always exciting to see a new video from Jesús Rico Pérez. Here’s his latest – a solo fretless bass performance of his tune, “A Never Ending Winter”. Once again, Jesús creates such a rich sound on a single instrument, with no overdubs.

In Memoriam: Chris Squire
In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Chris Squire

Bass legend Chris Squire, who stood at the helm of progressive rock in Yes since 1968, has died of cancer. He was 67 years old. Yes released a statement on their Facebook page announcing the news. “It’s with the heaviest of hearts and unbearable sadness that we must inform you of the passing of our dear friend and Yes co-founder,...

Weather Report’s “Sweetnighter” Gets Limited-Edition Vinyl Release
New Albums

Weather Report’s “Sweetnighter” Gets Limited-Edition Vinyl Release

Weather Report’s 1973 album, Sweetnighter, has been released in a 180-gram vinyl audiophile limited edition. The record, the legendary jazz fusion group’s fourth, features two bassists — founding bassist Miroslav Vitous (who handles both acoustic and electric bass here, on what would be his last album as the group’s principal bassist) and multi-instrumentalist Andrew White on electric bass. The vinyl...