Weekly Top 10: ZVEX DB-1 Pedal, Major Pentatonic Bass Lines, Ron Carter, and More

Welcome back to No Treble’s weekly recap of the biggest news in the bass world.

The most-read article this week was about the ZVEX Effects DB-1, an ultra-high impedance analog meter pedal. It lets you monitor your level anywhere in your signal chain without affecting your tone, thanks to a 10-million-ohm impedance that “makes it disappear into the circuit,” the company says.

Next, Ryan Madora delivered an incredible lesson on major pentatonic bass lines. By applying two different shapes, bassists can have more freedom to create phrases and move between chords. Be sure to brush up with this one!

Our most viewed daily video was an episode of “Norah Jones is Playing Along” in which the singer/pianist welcomed Ron Carter and Bill Frisell. The trio played songs from Carter’s latest album and discussed listening deeply and making space for other artists.

Other top stories includes the latest Yes album, our Bass of the Week, Fender’s James Jamerson Tribute Precision bass, vintage System of a Down, and more.

1. ZVEX Debuts the DB-1 Ultra-High Impedance Analog Meter Pedal

ZVEX Effects has introduced the DB-1, an ultra-high impedance analog meter pedal designed to monitor signal levels anywhere in your chain.

2. Major Pentatonic Bass Lines: Easy Shapes for Grooves and Fills

Learn two major pentatonic bass shapes and use them to create grooves, fills, slides, and smoother movement across a I-IV-V chord progression in G major.

3. Norah Jones Brings Ron Carter and Bill Frisell Together for a Deep-Listening Masterclass

Ron Carter joins Norah Jones and Bill Frisell for a new “Playing Along” episode full of stories, deep listening, and music.

4. Yes Releases 24th Studio Album, “Aurora”

Yes has released “Aurora,” their 24th studio album, featuring Billy Sherwood’s bass work, vocals, and guitar across the new prog-rock set.

5. Garda’s Benaco Elite Bass Blends Italian Design With Semi-Hollow Innovation

This week’s Bass of the Week checks out the Garda Benaco Elite Bass, an Italian-made semi-hollow instrument with Delano electronics and a turquoise finish.

6. Sunn O))) and EarthQuaker Devices Unleash the HalfLife Octave Distortion + Booster

EarthQuaker Devices and Sunn O))) expand the Life Pedal lineage with HalfLife, combining analog octave fuzz, distortion, and a clean MOSFET boost in one pedal.

7. Fender Honors Motown Legend James Jamerson With a Signature 1962 Precision Bass

Fender is honoring Motown legend James Jamerson with a 1962 Precision Bass signature model featuring era-correct specs and a custom pickup.

8. Newly Released 1998 Footage Captures System Of A Down’s Raw Early Power

System Of A Down’s 1998 Metro performance shows the band in raw early form, with Shavo Odadjian powering the low end through Ampeg.

9. Joe Dart Gets Funky With Jackie Evans and Vulfmon on “Leave You”

Jackie Evans and Vulfmon’s “Leave You” features Joe Dart on bass, adding another funky chapter to the Vulf universe.

10. Bergantino Launches Its Lightest Bass Cabinets Yet with the HPN Series

Bergantino unveils its HPN Series bass cabinets, pairing lightweight neo designs with three configurations, premium drivers, and up to 1,000 watts RMS.