Weekly Top 10: Bobby Vega, John Paul Jones Gear, and the Marleaux Spock Lead the First Big Week of 2026
2026 started off with a bang on No Treble with deep wisdom, jaw-dropping gear, and unshakeable grooves.
Our most-read article for the week featured bass guru Bobby Vega dropping knowledge (and hilarious stories) in a new interview with Brazil’s WOW Bass. He’s an encyclopedia of tone, and their talk covered everything from pick playing to string choice, with Vega stating that “the instrument picks the strings.”
Next up was our Bass of the Week: the Marleaux Spock. The aptly named instrument’s futuristic design centers on a new material called Marleaux Logic Mesh, developed with Clausthal-Zellerfeld Technical University. Click through to learn more and get insight to its playability.
Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones is parting with over 50 pieces of gear from his personal studio, from digital samplers to drum machines. Of note for bassists is his rare mid-60s Guild Thunderbass amp, but it comes “as is.” “Used with Them Crooked Vultures and left at Dave Grohl’s house,” the Soundgas listing explains. “Apparently someone borrowed it and when it was returned to JPJ the speakers were blown.”
Other highlights include a new Peter Gabriel track with Tony Levin’s unmistakable touch, the revival of Ibanez’s Iceman Bass model, and bass videos from Paul Turner, Richard Bona, Cody Wright, Juna Serita, and David Goldflies.
Scroll on to get caught up on the week.
1. Bobby Vega on Pick Playing, Tone, and Why the Instrument Chooses the Strings
2. Inside the Marleaux Spock: Logic Mesh Innovation Meets Pure Bass Tone
3. John Paul Jones Auctions Personal Studio Gear, Including Vintage Guild Thunderbass Amp
4. Proof the Groove Endures: Paul Turner on Fire in Jamiroquai’s New Live Performance
5. Peter Gabriel Launches New Album Cycle With “Been Undone,” Featuring Tony Levin
6. Richard Bona Takes on Teen Town: A Live Tribute to Jaco Pastorius
7. Ibanez Revives the Iceman Bass with Two New Models for 2026
8. Cody Wright Dials In the Groove on a 1962 Precision Bass at Norman’s Rare Guitars
9. Juna Serita Leads a Tight Funk Groove on Bass and Vocals in “Spark / Do Your Thing”
10. Long-Lost NBC Studios Performance Captures David Goldflies Powering the Allman Brothers in 1981
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
