Archive for 2017 - Page 11

G&H Plugs has unveiled the GreyBLES: Expressionz line of cables. Described as having an “expressive sound that’s highly responsive,” the cables are a mix of traditional and modern design. “This cable has been traditionally designed with soldered sound technology, minimizing signal loss and distortion as sound passes through the plugs copper core into the copper core of the cable,” the...

Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner has been turning heads for years, including when he debuted his signature Ibanez hollow-body bass on stage a few years ago. Now Ibanez and the bassist have teamed up to release the bass as a model in the company’s lineup. Made in the company’s Japanese workshop, the TCB1006 is a six-string built with a five-piece maple and...

Kevin has been filling my inbox with some stellar bass videos lately. Here’s another, with bassist Christian McBride and vocalist Melissa Walker performing “Just One of Those Things” on WBGO’s “Singers Unlimited” show. Christian is such a beast.

Iron Maiden has been busy touring the world for the last two years. Now fans can relive the experience with The Book of Souls: Live Chapter, featuring fifteen songs recorded during the tour in 2016 and 2017. Anchored and co-produced by Steve Harris, the band plays through six songs from their album Book of Souls as well as other classics...

This week we’re checking out the Intrepid bass from Fast Guitars. Available in four-, five-, or six-string versions, the model features a lightweight chambered body with a long-tenon neck joint. “Our neck joints are as tight and precise as any other type of neck joint. With a tapered tenon, the string tension will only tighten the joint rather than pull...

Switch much? If you find yourself switching between four-, five- and six-string basses a lot, or even just between different bass models, here’s a lesson for getting comfortable with whatever bass, fast. Playing different instruments is like driving a different brand new car. It takes time to get comfortable and settle in. If you find yourself switching around, try these...

Kevin sent me this video a few days ago, and I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve watched it. Here’s John Patitucci and his Electric Guitar Quartet performing at Jazzfest Bonn earlier this year. And it is stellar. Here’s the order of the set included in this video: 00:00 – JLR 11:09 – Interview 14:31 – Ides of March

The Wood Brothers have announced their sixth album, One Drop of Truth, will be released on February 2nd. The trio of Oliver Wood, Chris Wood, and Jano Rix also released the first track from the album to give fans a taste of what’s to come. “River Takes The Town” is a down-tempo and insightful tune that features Chris Wood’s impeccable...

Incognito has been putting out great music since 1981, with most of their greatest songs being fueled by incredible bass lines. Now bassists can dig into the music with The Incognito Bass Book from Bassline Publishing. Transcribed and compiled by Stuart Clayton, the book features songs from throughout the British acid jazz band’s career. “From their early eighties work with...

The news of Malcolm Young’s passing shocked the music world. Zander Zon pays tribute to the guitarist and band with this new solo bass arrangement of “Thunderstruck.” “This song rocks and always will. That riff at the start is so recognizable and iconic. I’ve seen great arrangements on acoustic guitar and cello, so I hope I represented the bass well...

Entheos has returned with their second full length album, entitled Dark Future. Anchored by bassist Evan Brewer, the recording is described by the band as an expansion on their songwriting. “We wanted to evolve the sound a little bit,” drummer Navene Koperweis says. “Evan wrote a lot more. You can feel [guitarist Travis LeVrier’s influence in there. We didn’t have...

U2’s Adam Clayton is getting a new pair of special basses from Fender this year. The limited edition Adam Clayton Precision and Jazz basses come with maple fingerboards and a unique purple sparkle finish. Both basses are built with an alder body, carbon-reinforced maple neck, and maple fingerboard that’s adorned with abalone inlays. Fender fits them with their Custom Shop...