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Archive for 2018 - Page 93

In Memoriam: Craig MacGregor
In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Craig MacGregor

Sad news to report today: longtime Foghat bassist Craig MacGregor has passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was 68 years old. Foghat announced the news on their Facebook page. “On behalf of Craig MacGregor’s family and the Foghat family, it is with great sadness that we are letting you know that we have lost our brother, good...

Ashdown Engineering Unveils the CTM 30 “Little Stubby” Tube Bass Amp
Amps

Ashdown Engineering Unveils the CTM 30 “Little Stubby” Tube Bass Amp

Ashdown Engineering’s Classic Tube Magnifier (CTM) series got a little bigger this year – or a little smaller. The all-tube CTM 30 “Little Stubby” was debuted at the NAMM Show, where Dan Gooday described it as “a little bit more of everything in a smaller package.” “Measuring just 400mm wide, 220mm deep and 80mm tall, the 30-watt CTM-30 Little Stubby...

The Lightbulb Moment: Habit Vs. Intuition
The Lightbulb Moment

The Lightbulb Moment: Habit Vs. Intuition

If there’s one thing I love doing, it’s pedaling eighth notes. So much so, you might say that I make a habit of it. There’s something incredibly therapeutic about playing one note, but playing it well, and focusing on all of the ways this seemingly simple rhythmic pattern can be manipulated. The art of the eighth note lies somewhere between...

Stanley Clarke, Patrice Rushen, Ndugu Chancler: Oleo
Bass Videos

Stanley Clarke, Patrice Rushen, Ndugu Chancler: Oleo

We were sad to hear of the passing of legendary drummer Ndugu Chancler. While he is best known as the drummer for Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” his career was marked with tons of great jazz, fusion, and funk grooves. Here’s a display of some his jazz chops with pianist Patrice Rushen and bassist Stanley Clarke on the jazz standard “Oleo”....

Original Smashing Pumpkins Announce Reunion, No Bassist Named
News

Original Smashing Pumpkins Announce Reunion, No Bassist Named

The original members of the Smashing Pumpkins are reuniting, and of course, it wouldn’t be The Smashing Pumpkins without some drama. Bassist D’Arcy Wretzky will apparently not be joining the tour. “My apologies to all of the Smashing Pumpkins fans out there who are excited about this oncoming reunion tour of the original members of the band,” she wrote on...

Death By Audio Unveils the Deep Animation Pedal
Pedals & Effects

Death By Audio Unveils the Deep Animation Pedal

Death By Audio was on hand at the 2018 Winter NAMM Show to show off their goods including the new Deep Animation, an envelope filter pedal that responds to your playing. “This crazy goofball responds to how you play, enveloping and filter sweeping and overdriving,” the company writes. “Finally, the perfect wave-thumping bass moving with how hard you hit your...

Bass Transcription: John Giblin’s Bass Line on “Babooshka” by Kate Bush
Bass Transcriptions

Bass Transcription: John Giblin’s Bass Line on “Babooshka” by Kate Bush

Kate Bush came from a very musical family, and at eleven she taught herself to play the piano. Soon after this she began to write songs and at sixteen she recorded a demo of fifty compositions and sent them to prospective record companies, but this did not lead to any offers. However, a family friend had a connection with Pink...

Kamasi Washington: Malcolm’s Theme, Live at Paste Studios
Bass Videos

Kamasi Washington: Malcolm’s Theme, Live at Paste Studios

I’m a huge Kamasi Washington fan, and that’s thanks in part to the amazing bass work of Miles Mosley. Here’s an awesome stripped down version of “Malcolm’s Theme” from Washington’s 2015 album The Epic, live at Paste Studios. The song is driven by Mosley’s active bass line, which he accents with a slew of pedals to build different sections. Check...

Cliff Burton Day Announced For February 10th
News

Cliff Burton Day Announced For February 10th

Mark your calendars: Cliff Burton Day is set for February 10th. After fans started a petition on Change.org, the late Metallica bassist’s home town of Castro Valley will recognize the bassist on his birthday this year. Metallica announced the news on Twitter. “IT’S OFFICIAL! The Board of Supervisors from Alameda County has just proclaimed February 10, 2018, which would have...

Genzler Amplification Reveals BA410-3 Bass Cabinet
Amps

Genzler Amplification Reveals BA410-3 Bass Cabinet

After unveiling a slant cab version of their BA12-3, Genzler Amplification announced another model to their Bass Array series at the NAMM Show with the BA410-3. The cab is loaded with ten cone drivers: four 10-inch cast frame woofers and six 3-inch neodymium paper cone speakers, which are in a line array. It handles up to 1,000 watts at four...

Dealing with Focal Dystonia: Resources for Bass Players
Ask Damian Erskine

Dealing with Focal Dystonia: Resources for Bass Players

Q: In the last year or so, I’ve started having issues in my right hand. It seems somewhat random but I’ve had a few gigs we’re my ring and middle finger have completely curled into my hand, and it’s pretty scary. I think it may be Focal Dystonia. I’m wondering if you’ve ever heard about this. Maybe it’s something you...

Paul Simon: Wristband
Bass Videos

Paul Simon: Wristband

Paul Simon shocked the world on February 5th when he released a statement that he’s retiring from touring. That led me to watch a ton of his videos, including this clip for his recent song “Wristband.” Simon is joined by longtime collaborator Bakithi Kumalo, who many know for his incredible bass lines on the Graceland album. “Wristband” comes from 2016’s...