Archive for June 2015 - Page 8

Veteran metal band Armored Saint describes their new studio album, Win Hands Down, as “a vintage crush of classic power propelled by a cathartic blast of life.” Bassist Joey Vera holds down the low end with a gritty tone, but he also co-wrote the majority of the music with singer John Bush. “John and I wrote the majority of the...

After years of development, Ibanez has unveiled the ANB1006 Adam Nitti Signature Bass. The instrument, which Nitti helped to design, is hand-built by Ibanez’s Japanese master builders. “For me, this instrument represents the ideal balance of tone, playability, ergonomics, and extended range,” Nitti writes. “I love the wider 18mm string spacing and greater access to the highest frets; both features...

How is it that someone can be this in touch with their musicianship and instrument? Michael Manring is one of the most talented musicians that our world has ever seen. He’s not just a bass player of the highest order, he is someone who approaches music with all of his senses and sensibilities. Manring is so good, that he makes...

The last time we featured The Kinky Wizzards, it generated some buzz. They’re back with a new video featuring a live performance of three of their tunes. Originally a duo formed by two brothers (bassist Mathew ‘Miffy’ Griffiths and drummer Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Griffiths), the group has now added guitarist Ryan Elliott to the mix. Here’s the track list for the...

The Darkness is back with Last of Our Kind, a stripped-down album that hearkens back to the original spirit of rock. Anchored by bassist Frankie Poullain, the band’s fourth studio effort was written in Ireland and thematically centers around defiance. It’s also the first and only of their albums to featured drummer Emily Dolan Davies, who replaced original drummer Ed...

Q: I’ve been playing a certain way or style (as in thump, pop or blues) for as long as I can remember. Today’s bass players tend to play a lot – it seems way busier. What do you recommend for an old school bassist who wants to update to today’s styles so it sticks? A: That is an interesting question...

We’re going old school today with a clip of Bootsy Collins and his Rubber Band in concert from 1976. Taken from their concert at the Summit in Houston, Texas, the video has Bootsy and the gang getting down on “Another Point of View.” The performance came just two months after the release of the bassist’s debut solo album, Stretchin’ Out...

Meet Steve Carriere, a man who started early in life in music, and made it his career – now spanning 25 years (teaching) and 37 years (playing bass). Steve is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of June 1st, 2015. Here’s his story. Bio: I started playing bass in jazz band and with the “pop” singer groups...

Guitar and bass maker Dean Zelinsky has unveiled the Mule bass. Available in four- and five-string versions, the model is Zelinsky’s first to feature his patented Z-Glide Reduced Friction Neck. The back of the maple neck features a precisely engraved pattern that reduces surface area by putting a little air between your thumb and the neck. Another unique feature is...

Mick Karn was the master of creating bass lines that were somehow simple, angular, and melodic all at the same time. Check out this clip of Karn with Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri, and Steve Wilson performing “Bestial Cluster” for 2 Meter Session on Dutch television. Karn gets a gnarly distortion to lay down a fat and simple bass line before...

Time for one of our favorite roundups – the top 10 most popular bass gear stories on No Treble. Here are the reader favorites for May, 2015. 1. MK Passive Jazz Electric Upright Bass Electric upright bass company MK has announced a new passive jazz model of their flagship bass. The Jazz-P features piezo transducer pickups and passive electronics, which...

This week we’re getting a taste of Argentina with the Virutero NT by luthier Leandro Salzmann. Made in Buenos Aires, Salzmann’s Virutero model shows the bass builder has a strong grasp of creating an organic instrument that features exotic species of woods. The Virutero NT is a neck-thru bass that features a five-piece maple and cancharana with a Guayacán fretboard....