Weekly Top 10: March 30 – April 5, 2024
This week’s top 10 reader favorite list is packed with bass goodness. Plenty of bass gear (including a top 10), tour news from Stray Cats and the new Beat band, our podcast episode with Henrik Linder, an epic video with Ron Carter and Marcus Miller, and more.
1. Paul McCartney Gives 6-Figure Reward for Höfner Bass’s Return
One of the biggest bass mysteries was solved this year when Paul McCartney’s Höfner bass was returned 50 years after it was stolen. McCartney awarded a 6-figure sum as a thank you.
2. Ampeg Announces the Venture VB-88 Bass Cabinet
Last fall, Ampeg launched its newest line of amps and cabs with the Venture Series. Now, they’ve unveiled the largest cabinet of the group with the VB-88. The cab is rated at 800 watts RMS while only weighing 67 pounds.
3. Bass of the Week: LEH Guitars Offset 5-String
Luthier Ellis Hahn of LEH Guitars wrote in to share a killer bass made for a killer bassist. This LEH Offset 5-string was made for the inimitable Tim Lefebvre.
4. Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in March 2024
Gear coverage on No Treble always gets a lot of attention. Here are the top 10 reader-favorite bass gear stories for the month of March, 2024.
5. Ron Carter Foursight Quartet with Marcus Miller: Cominando (Monte Carlo Jazz Festival)
Bass titans shared the stage at the Monte Carlo Jazz Festival. Here’s Ron Carter and Marcus Miller performing “Cominando.”
6. Eastwood Updates the TB64 6-String Bass for 2024
Bass VI-style instruments have been growing in popularity over the past couple of years, and now Eastwood is reviving another six-string bass from the past. The TB64 6-string Bass STD is a new version of their tribute to the TB-64 Teisco bass.
7. Groove – Episode #112: Henrik Linder
In this Groove podcast episode, Henrik Linder shares insights into his musical world. He talks about the joy of learning and growing as a musician, the transition from covers to original music, and the role of the bass in a band. He also discusses how social media has opened new doors for musicians.
8. The Stray Cats Announce Summer 2024 Tour
Rockabilly heroes Brian Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom, and Lee Rocker have announced a new Stray Cats summer tour for 2024. The new set of dates mark their first since their 2019 reunion tour following the release of the album “40.”
9. Belew, Levin, Vai, and Carey Announce Full “Beat” Tour Dates
We recently shared that Beat - the nearly unbelievable lineup of Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Steve Vai, and Danny Carey - would be teaming up to perform the music of King Crimson’s ’80s lineup. Now they’ve revealed a massive North American tour.
10. Ernie Ball Music Man Launches “Custom Design Experience” Instrument Configurator
Ernie Ball Music Man has launched the Custom Design Experience, an online instrument configurator that lets you spec out your own StingRay Special bass.
