Archive for January 2020 - Page 4

This week we’re checking out the BlueLotus Basses BLSC4, a singlecut neck-through design built by Matt Scarpa. The luthier crafted it around a five-piece quarter-sawn hard maple and wenge neck.

Scary Pockets is back with a new video, once featuring the groovy bass lines of Joe Ayoub. In this clip, the band is joined by guest vocalist Maiya Sykes and a mashup of Etta James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind” and Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop.”

The virtuoso group Sons of Apollo has returned with “MMXX,” which marks their second studio album. The band has the incredible lineup of Mike Portnoy, Derek Sherinian, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Jeff Scott, and Billy Sheehan.

Sandberg Guitars was on hand at the 2020 Winter NAMM Show to display several new products, including a new short-scale passive bass called the Lionel. Featuring a 30-inch scale, the bass is based on the company’s California VS model.

Bobby Vega didn’t make this year’s NAMM Show (and we missed him big time). Thankfully, Scott’s Bass Lessons shared this clip recently of Bobby and Scott Devine discussing all things slap bass – and showing us the way.

Mac Miller tragically passed away in 2018, but we’re now getting to hear what he was working on before his death. “Circles” is the first posthumous release of Miller’s work. Dywane “MonoNeon” Thomas, Jr. played on one track and shares the story.

Ashdown has unveiled a new and impossibly small 200-watt bass amp called The Ant. Weighing in at just two pounds, the unit measures 8 inches wide, 4.6 inches deep, and 2.4 inches tall including its feet and knobs.

Marleaux is celebrating 30 years in business this year. So Lisa Wulff, Lisa Köberlein, Nicole Badila, Joanna Dudkowska, and Ariane Cap got together to put together a special video to mark the event. “Best Friends” is an epic bass tune, written by Wulff.

After the first version sold out almost immediately, Earthquaker Devices has unveiled the Life Pedal V2. The circuit is in a new, more traditional housing and has all the sounds of the original with a few more features.

Fodera doesn’t have a booth at the Winter NAMM Show this year, though they’ll be on hand. That isn’t stopping them from revealing the new Yin Yang Standard, which will come in two color/wood options: Purple Heart or Mahogany.

The last time we featured a video with Juna Serita, we were all knocked out her cover of Tower of Power’s “What Is Hip?” Now our friends at BassTheWorld have shared a groovy video by Juna Serita and her band performing “The Princess of Funk.”

Zac Brown Band will be performing across North America in 2020 on a trek the bandleader is calling the “Roar With The Lions Tour.” The band is anchored by bassist Matt Mangano, who joined the group in 2014.