Weekly Top 10: The Bass Moments Everyone’s Talking About (Nov 22–28)

This week on No Treble was all about the groove, and it didn’t matter what style. The most-watched video was Chris Stapleton’s killer performance at the 2025 CMA Awards, where JT Cure laid down a steady, wide pocket to lift the whole performance to another level.

“The cameras kept finding him throughout the song which almost never happens for the bass world and it felt like a small victory for all of us who live in the low end,” Jody pointed out.

Next up was Metallica’s Robert Trujillo dropping the hammer on a recent take on “Seek & Destroy.” His tone is thick, his playing is aggressive, and his groove is unshakeable. Other standout bass work this week came from Pino Palladino, Dave LaRue, Michael League, and Ben Walters.

In other top news, we shared details on the new BASSRIG Fifteen preamp from Origin Effects, a pyrographed bass from Jens Ritter, a new book on funk pick playing, and a fresh bass gym lesson from Marek Bero.

Scroll on the get the best of bass for the week.

1. A Powerhouse CMA Performance: Chris Stapleton and Bassist J.T. Cure Bring ‘Bad As I Used to Be’ to Life

Chris Stapletons CMA performance gets an extra lift from J T Cures rich Guild Starfire tone and rare close ups that highlight the bassist shaping the whole groove.

2. Robert Trujillo Drops a Heavy, Unrelenting Bass Hammer with Metallica in Melbourne’s “Seek & Destroy”

Rob Trujillo brings a powerful low end to Metallica’s new Seek and Destroy release, digging in on his gold Warwick during the band’s high energy Melbourne performance.

3. Pino Palladino and Simon Phillips Deliver a Masterclass at Zoetermeer

Pino Palladino teams up with Philip Saisse and Simon Phillips for a tight jazz fusion performance filled with sharp lines bold grooves and players pushing each other forward.

4. The Steve Morse Band Shares “Triangulation,” With Dave LaRue Delivering a Standout Bass Performance

Dave LaRue brings a clear and powerful Bongo tone to the Steve Morse Band’s new “Triangulation” video, delivering tight progressive rock lines with his signature touch.

5. B-15 Tone in a Box: Origin Effects Releases the BASSRIG Fifteen Preamp and DI

Origin Effects launches the BASSRIG Fifteen, an all-analog preamp and DI that recreates the full circuit and cab sound of the iconic Ampeg B-15 Portaflex.

6. Jens Ritter’s Hawaiian Pyro Okon Bass: A Fully Pyrographed Masterpiece by Dino Muradian

The Hawaiian Pyro Okon Bass from Jens Ritter features full-body pyrography by Dino Muradian, alder/maple construction, Triplebuckers, and a 35-inch scale.

7. How Michael League’s Nik Huber Signature Bass Locks In with the Metropole Orkest on Snarky Puppy’s New Performance

Michael League feels heavy in the recent Snarky Puppy performance with the Metropole Orkest, using his Nik Huber bass and a sub octave effects.

8. Stuart Clayton Releases “Plectrum Funk for Bass Guitar,” A New Guide to Advanced Pick Technique

Stuart Clayton’s new book, "Plectrum Funk for Bass Guitar," offers 100 exercises covering advanced pick technique, ghost notes, chords, muting, and more.

9. Bass Gym: “Dark Mode” Groove and How to Phrase in Groups of Five

Learn how to build a dark, punchy bass groove using E minor shapes and five-note phrasing. This Bass Gym lesson breaks down the tone, scales, and technique.

10. How Ben Williams and Nate Smith Shape the Pulse of ‘UNDEFEATED’ at KEXP

Ben Williams brings warm tone and deep feel to Nate Smith’s UNDEFEATED at KEXP, offering a clear look at how a bassist and drummer can shape a live groove together.