Joe Dart Drops 3 Signature Basses, and Nathan East Revisits “Get Lucky” in This Week’s Top 10

We’ve got an eclectic mix for this week’s reader favorites, with gear taking a strong lead once again. Ampeg’s 75th anniversary preamp turned heads with its nod to the legendary Blue Line SVT, while Marcus Miller’s new Sire model topped our March gear roundup. Joe Dart’s trio of new signature basses also made a big splash, each one offering a distinct feel and sound.

Beyond the gear, Nathan East’s look back at recording “Get Lucky” gave readers a behind-the-scenes moment with some serious star power. A Flea-inspired lesson brought groove and creativity to scale practice, and our latest Bass of the Week spotlighted a unique hybrid design. There’s also a surprising tour announcement from the Sex Pistols and an impressive original composition from bassist Lawrence Haber to round things out.

1. Ampeg’s Anniversary Preamp Pays Tribute to the Iconic ’69 Blue Line SVT

Ampeg celebrates 75 years with a special edition SGT-DI preamp, inspired by the iconic 1969 Blue Line SVT and packed with modern tone-shaping tools.

2. Play Scales Like Flea: A Bass Lesson Using RHCP’s Rhythmic Formula

Practice scales with a Flea-inspired twist using rhythmic phrasing from "Around the World" to add groove, precision, and creativity to your bass lines.

3. “Three Eras of Bass” — Joe Dart Unveils New Signature Trilogy with Sterling by Music Man

Joe Dart teams up with Sterling by Music Man to launch three new signature basses, each capturing a unique sound, era, and feel.

4. Top 10 Bass Gear Stories for March 2025: Marcus Miller & Sire’s New Bass Takes Center Stage

Marcus Miller's new Sire bass, Gibson's Tobias comeback, and more: Check out the top 10 bass gear stories that grabbed readers' attention in March 2025.

5. Cort Launches Space 4: A Sleek, Headless Bass Inspired by the ’80s

Cort unveils the Space 4, a sleek headless bass blending '80s-inspired design, modern ergonomics, and Bartolini electronics—all at an accessible price.

6. How Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” Came Together: Nathan East Breaks It Down

Nathan East looks back on recording Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" with Omar Hakim, Nile Rodgers, and Pharrell—including the one-take bass line that made the cut.

7. Bass of the Week: Simpson SBIII-FT Merges Archtop Vibe With Solid Body Power

Simpson's SBIII-FT is a modern hybrid bass that blends archtop warmth with solid body power in a handcrafted, highly resonant design.

8. TC Electronic Upgrades Its Iconic Ditto Pedal – Here’s What’s New in the Ditto 2

With Ditto 2, TC Electronic brings intuitive updates to its looper pedal, including LoopSnap timing correction and app-based control.

9. Sex Pistols Reunite Without Johnny Rotten: “I Can’t See Many Missed Calls from Him”

The Sex Pistols are reuniting for a North American tour—without Johnny Rotten. Glen Matlock and others will perform their only studio album in full.

10. Bassist Lawrence Haber Steps Into the Spotlight with His Composition “Gia”

Bassist Lawrence Haber shares his original tune "Gia" in a new video featuring a group performance with keys, saxophone, percussion, and more.