The Week in Bass: Historic Jazz Bass Drama, Prog-Jazz Heat, and Boutique Craftsmanship

Welcome back to No Treble’s weekly roundup of all things bass.

Our most-read story continued the saga of a historic bass that resurfaced late last year. The 1969 Fender Jazz that James Brown bought for Bootsy Collins upon joining his band is back up for sale. It’s listed on eBay by Stinson & Company, which has also restrung the bass and listed the vintage strings separately.

Next up was a video of the Spirit Fingers Trio of Mohini Dey, Blaque Dynamite, and Greg Spero performing “Nails” for JammJam. The group is straight fire, tearing into the song’s prog-jazz groove with shifting meters and unison passages.

Our Bass of the Week is a fretless acoustic bass guitar built by archtop master Bryant Trenier built with a specific focus. “The goal was to make a bass guitar which sounds as close to an upright bass as possible,” he told us. It sports a 32-inch scale with a Tyrolean Spruce soundboard, Central European Maple back, and ebony fingerboard.

Other highlights this week include the Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi 2, Ibanez’s upgraded SR500, a lesson on switching to 5-string by Ryan Madora, and more.

Scroll on to get caught up for the week.

1. The 1969 Fender Jazz Bass James Brown Bought for Bootsy Collins Is Back on eBay

A historic 1969 Fender Jazz Bass purchased by James Brown for Bootsy Collins is back on the market, carrying decades of funk history and documentation.

2. Bassist Mohini Dey in Peak Form as Spirit Fingers Trio Ignite “Nails”

Captured live at JammJam, “Nails” showcases Mohini Dey and Spirit Fingers Trio in peak form, delivering progressive jazz with precision, fire, and intensity.

3. Bass of the Week: Inside Bryant Trenier’s Upright-Inspired Fretless Acoustic Bass Guitar

Bryant Trenier’s latest build is a 32” fretless acoustic bass crafted to sound as close to an upright as possible.

4. Bass Big Muff Pi 2: Electro-Harmonix Brings a “Lost” Big Muff Circuit to Bass

Electro-Harmonix launches the Bass Big Muff Pi 2, which tailors the long-lost Big Muff 2 circuit with Blend and Bass Boost controls for powerful, low-end-friendly fuzz.

5. Ibanez Upgrades the SR500 for 2026 with MR5S Bridge, Bartolini & Nordstrand Pickup Options

Ibanez updates its SR500 series for 2026 with the SR500A and SR500N, featuring the MR5S Mono Rail bridge, Bartolini or Nordstrand pickups, and models starting at $699.

6. Tim Lefebvre’s Bass Groove Shines on Scary Pockets’ “Runnin”

Tim Lefebvre fuels Scary Pockets’ Runnin with rich P Bass tone, while Judith Hill delivers a powerful vocal over a tight, upbeat groove.

7. Switching to 5-String Bass: Technique Changes, Low B Strategy & Rethinking the Fretboard

Thinking about switching to a 5-string bass? This lesson breaks down right- and left-hand technique changes, low B strategy, smarter root–fifth positioning, and how to reset your fretboard reference points.

8. Ernie Ball Launches New Tapewound Bass Strings for Warm, Upright-Style Tone

Ernie Ball has unveiled new Tapewound Bass Strings featuring a black nylon wrap for a warm, mellow, upright-style tone. Available in long and short scale sets.

9. The Who at Tanglewood 1970: The Original Lineup with Entwistle’s Thunder and Moon’s Mayhem

Watch The Who’s original lineup power through a full 1970 Tanglewood set, featuring John Entwistle’s massive tone and Keith Moon’s explosive drive.

10. Mudvayne’s “Death Blooms” Gets an Explosive Bass Playthrough by Kade Turner

There are certain bass lines that still hit like a punch to the chest. Mudvayne’s “Death Blooms” is one of them. In his latest playthrough, Kade Turner dives headfirst into that chaos and comes out swinging. Turner is playing a Warwick Thumb through a Gallien Krueger stack, and the combination absolutely snarls. The Warwick delivers that focused midrange grind while...