Tony Levin’s “Frame by Frame” Performance Leads This Week’s Top Bass Stories

Welcome back to No Treble’s recap of the week’s biggest stories in bass.

This week’s most-viewed article was a jaw-dropping live clip of BEAT, featuring bassist Tony Levin, performing the King Crimson classic “Frame by Frame.” Jody shared the video explaining that “As great as the whole performance is, Tony Levin is impossible to take your eyes off. Watching him work through the Chapman Stick parts with such ease is a reminder of just how unique a player he is. The lines are intricate, the groove is deep, and everything locks together perfectly.”

Next up was our Bass of the Week: the Blackbeard Guitars Brontolo Double. The Telecaster-style bass looks vintage on the outside, but its pickups tell another story. The mudbucker has neodymium magnets, and the bridge pickup is a neodymium humbucker in a P51-shaped housing. Other features include an aluminum pickguard, a poplar thinline body, and a curly poplar top in a dark sunburst finish.

Ryan Madora’s latest “Keep It Groovy” lesson is all about building a great funk bass groove with simple ideas. She walks us through an Amin7 to D7 chord progression to create a line that ties it all together.

Other highlights include an exclusive look at the basses in Victor Wooten’s Reverb shop, Trickfish’s latest bass cab, a stellar Stanley Clarke video, and more. We also remember former Commodores bassist Ronald LaPread, who died at 75 years old.

Get caught up on the best in bass this week:

1. Tony Levin, Steve Vai, and Danny Carey Bring “Frame by Frame” Back to the Stage

BEAT breathes new life into King Crimson's "Frame by Frame," with bassist Tony Levin, Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, and Danny Carey delivering a fierce performance.

2. Blackbeard Guitars Brontolo Double Packs Modern Pickups Into a Vintage Relic

Blackbeard Guitars’ Brontolo Double is a short-scale Tele-style bass with a relic finish, poplar body, and neodymium pickups.

3. How to Build a Funk Bass Groove From a Simple Idea

Learn how to build a funk bass groove using a simple theme, dead notes, Dorian movement, and tasteful fills that support the pocket.

4. Inside Victor Wooten’s Reverb Shop: The Bass Nerds Play the Collection

Victor Wooten’s personal gear is headed to Reverb, and Jody and Marc got to play through some serious pieces of bass history.

5. Stanley Clarke and Stewart Copeland Are Completely Locked In During This Live Set

The full Jazz à Sète concert has arrived. Watch Stanley Clarke and Stewart Copeland trade ideas and create musical magic for an hour.

6. Solid State Logic Debuts Compact SSL 1 Interface for Bass, Guitar, and More

Solid State Logic’s SSL 1 is a compact USB audio interface with 32-bit conversion, 4K enhancement, and a dedicated DI input.

7. Trickfish Unveils the L212, a Lightweight 800-Watt 2×12 Bass Cabinet

Trickfish’s new L212 bass cabinet pairs two Lavoce 12-inch neodymium drivers in a compact, lightweight 800-watt enclosure.

8. Top 10 Reader-Favorite Bass Gear Stories of May 2026

Catch up on the most-read bass gear stories of May 2026, including new instruments, pedals, and standout low-end tools ranked by readers.

9. Ronald LaPread, Commodores Bassist Behind “Brick House,” Dies at 75

Ronald LaPread, founding bassist for the Commodores and the groove behind “Brick House,” has died at 75. We look back on his legacy.

10. New Jazz Underground’s “23” Highlights the Exceptional Upright Bass Playing of Sebastian Rios

The sax, drums, and upright bass trio format shines in New Jazz Underground’s live performance of “23,” filmed in New York City.