This Week on No Treble: Tom Petersson’s 12-String Bass, McCartney’s Lost Höfner, Spinal Tap & More

We’re back with another roundup of No Treble’s most-read stories for the week.

Our bass of the week took the top spot, and for good reason. Rob van den Broek of Brooks Bass Guitars shared a 12-string bass he built for Cheap Trick’s Tom Petersson that features a short scale, Gemini pickups, and checkerboard binding. Petersson already has it on the road with him.

Next up is the news that the epic saga of Paul McCartney’s stolen Höfner bass will be getting a documentary from the BBC. The Beatles bassist bought the four-string in 1961 and used it throughout the band’s career, from their first two LPs all the way to Let It Be. It was nicked in 1972. Höfner expert Nick Wass and two journalists launched The Lost Bass Project in 2023, which eventually led to its return.

Spinal Tap’s long-awaited sequel “The End Continues” has finally hit theaters, and the band has been promoting it on late night television. Their appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! was a bass event for the ages. They performed the bass-heavy “Big Bottom” with special guests Tal Wilkenfeld and Thundercat, who joined Derek Smalls (aka Harry Shearer) on the bass. Make sure you turn this one up to 11!

Other top stories include vintage Led Zeppelin grooves, new gear from DiMarzio and Blackstar, a lesson on the Dorian mode from Ryan Madora, and more. Read on to catch up on all things bass.

1. Bass of the Week: Tom Petersson’s Custom 12-String Bass From Brooks Bass Guitars

Brooks Bass Guitars built a short-scale 12-string bass for Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick. Explore the custom design, specs, and demo clips.

2. Paul McCartney’s Long-Lost Höfner Bass Gets Its Own BBC Documentary

Paul McCartney’s legendary Höfner 500/1 bass, stolen in 1972 and found in 2024, takes center stage in the new BBC documentary "The Beatle and the Bass."

3. Spinal Tap, Thundercat & Tal Wilkenfeld Unleash the Heaviest ‘Big Bottom’ Ever

Spinal Tap, Tal Wilkenfeld, and Thundercat turned “Big Bottom” into a five-bass showcase on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The low end ruled the night.

4. Newly Released Footage Shows Led Zeppelin at Their Peak in 1975’s “In My Time of Dying”

Watch Led Zeppelin tear through “In My Time of Dying” in this newly surfaced 1975 live video from their legendary Earls Court run.

5. DiMarzio Introduces Colossal Bass Pickups with Metal Covers and Detailed Mid-Range

DiMarzio has unveiled the Colossal pickups for 5-string bass, a new humbucking design promising “more of everything” with dynamic range, comfort, and tonal detail.

6. The Dorian Mode for Bass: Patterns, ii–V Vamps, and Funky Groove Building

Learn the Dorian mode on bass: what it is, how it fits in theory, and how to groove over Dm7–G7 vamps for funky, pocket-ready lines.

7. Les Claypool Tells the Wild Story Behind the South Park Theme Song

Les Claypool recalls how Primus wrote the South Park theme in Rick Beato’s interview, from a slower draft to one of TV’s most iconic songs.

8. Tech 21 Marks 20 Years of the Para Driver DI with Limited Edition Pedal

Tech 21 commemorates the Para Driver DI’s 20th anniversary with a limited run of 500 all-analog pedals, shipping this fall.

9. Michael League Leads Snarky Puppy and Orchestra Into Pure Sonic Catharsis

Michael League plays both synth and custom Bacci bass in this slow-burn live session with Snarky Puppy and the Metropole Orkest.

10. Blackstar Introduces the Beam Solo: A Wireless Headphone Amp for Silent Practice

Practice anytime, anywhere. The Blackstar Beam Solo is a wireless headphone amp with 50+ tones, Bluetooth, and built-in tools.