Weekly Top 10: Angine de Poitrine, Lee Sklar, David Emm, and More

This week’s top bass story was Angine de Poitrine’s U.S. late-night debut. The avant garde rock duo made an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where they performed “Zugzegk,” a song not found on their current releases. Hopefully, it’s a sign of new music on the way!

Fender honored Lee Sklar with a new signature Precision Bass modeled after the axe he used on over 2,000 recordings. It’s fitted with two of the bassist’s signature EMG pickups and has unique touches like a slim 1962 Jazz Bass “C”-shaped neck with mandolin-sized frets and a Hipshot BT3 Bass Xtender key.

“We put a lot of time, detail and care into every part of this bass, from the pickups and electronics to the feel and response of the instrument, to make sure it captured what I love about this guitar,” Sklar states. “At the end of the day, though, the most exciting part is knowing that another player can pick up this bass, make it their own and use it to create some music of their own.”

Readers marveled at the latest Bass of the Week: the David Emm Ultralight bass. The Swiss-built fretless has a unique body shape, impeccable materials, and nylon strings.

Other highlights include the Second Tiers pedalboard add-on from Rockboard, Donald “Duck” Dunn laying it down with Joe Walsh, new colors for the Markbass PB and JB basses, and more.

1. Angine de Poitrine Makes U.S. Late-Night Debut on The Tonight Show

Angine de Poitrine made its U.S. late night debut on Fallon with “Zugzegk,” a wild new microtonal performance built on bass, guitar, drums and live loops.

2. Fender Honors a Studio Legend with the Lee Sklar Precision Bass

Fender recreates Lee Sklar’s famous studio bass with dual EMG pickups, mandolin frets, Hipshot hardware, and an aged nitro finish.

3. David Emm’s Ultralight Bass Combines Swiss Craftsmanship and Nylon Strings

David Emm’s Ultralight Bass pairs a streamlined Swiss-built design with a short scale, a fretless fingerboard, nylon strings, and an RMC piezo bridge.

4. RockBoard Introduces Second Tiers Pedalboard Expansion System

RockBoard’s new Second Tiers add a hinged upper level to compatible pedalboards, creating more space while keeping the pedals underneath accessible.

5. Watch Donald “Duck” Dunn Back Joe Walsh on “Rocky Mountain Way”

Donald “Duck” Dunn sounds incredible backing Joe Walsh on “Rocky Mountain Way” at the 2004 Crossroads Festival, with a P Bass and Ampeg rig.

6. Markbass Expands MB PB and JB Bass Series with New Finishes

Markbass expands its affordable MB bass series with Black, White, and Sunburst finishes for its PB and JB models, with each still priced at just $299.99.

7. Sadowsky Introduces the MetroExpress Modern Fretless Bass Series

Sadowsky expands the MetroExpress line with Modern Fretless basses featuring roasted flame maple fingerboards, soapbar pickups, and active electronics.

8. Spector Expands Its Icon Series with NS Icon Neck-Through Basses

Spector expands its Icon lineup with four- and five-string NS Icon Neck-Through basses featuring Aguilar pickups and an OBP-2 preamp.

9. Ron Carter Takes “Time After Time” for a Walk and Never Misses a Step

Ron Carter’s walking bass on “Time After Time” is pure mastery, with Emmet Cohen and Joe Farnsworth giving the jazz legend plenty of room to move in style.

10. Watch Michael League and Mark Lettieri Tear Into Snarky Puppy’s “Lingus”

Snarky Puppy’s “Lingus” gets a fresh twist in this 2022 performance, with Michael League locked in while Mark Lettieri unleashes a blistering guitar solo.