Archive for August 2019 - Page 8

This week, a reader asks Damian for advice on how to strengthen the muscles in my fingers to help avoid injury. Damian puts together a great roundup in this column on player health.

Zander Zon is back with a video he describes as the “2 GREATEST EVER classical pieces... but played on electric bass.” Those pieces include Bach’s “Cello Suite No. 1” and Pachelbel’s “Canon.” As always, he nails it.

Back in 2016, longtime Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band bassist Garry Tallent struck out on his own with his first-ever solo album, “Break Time.” Now he’s keeping the momentum up with his second album, entitled “More Like Me.”

Meet Ronnie Brannan, who started out on tuba before spotting a bass in his school’s jazz band. “I was drawn to everything about it as soon as it came into my consciousness,” he said. Since then, he’s been doing his thing on the bass. Here’s his story...

Ibanez has expanded their BTB line with two new fretless basses: the five-string BTB845F and the six-string BTB846F.

Cory Wong is putting out a lot of great music lately, thanks to his new album, “Motivational Music for the Syncopated Soul.” In this clip, Sonny Thompson (aka Sonny T) tears it up – including some incredible solos – on the track “Lunchtime.”

Volbeat has returned with their seventh album, called “Rewind, Replay, Rebound.” It’s the first studio release from the Danish rock band to feature their new lineup with Kaspar Boye Larsen on bass, who officially joined the group in 2016.

BASS OF THE WEEK: Eastwood Guitars has a knack for recreating vintage basses in a modern format while retaining all their glorious mojo. That’s evident in their take on the Airline Pocket Bass, which was introduced two years ago.

In this new episode of “Talking Technique,” Ari is giving us the ultimate challenge for our right hand technique. Can you alternate your index and middle fingers throughout this demanding plucking exercise?

Roy Vogt shared this video of the Galvez/Vera/Schmitt Project on Facebook with this comment: “Now, this guy is killing it! Gotta go practice now!” Christian Galvez is an absolute monster on this one.

Northern Lutherie has introduced a new upright bass pickup called Da Crusher. Named in honor of the wrestler “who made Milwaukee famous,” the pickup is a stacked 20mm piezo system that is fitted into the bridge.

Blackstar Amplification has unveiled the amPlug 2 FLY, a compact headphone amplifier that comes in versions for guitar and for bass. Each features a fully analog circuit that’s been reworked for a clearer and more present sound, the company says.