Weekly Top 10: Billy Sheehan Shreds, Kevin Scott Gets Funky, and a Bass VI Breaks the Mold

The groove was strong on No Treble this week. Our most-read articles include some gear among monstrous jams by bassists of all genres.

Our top story for the week was our Bass of the Week: the Uberfrank Guitars Spellbinder Custom VI. The six-string reimagines the Bass VI for a more bass-centric approach with a unique pickup configuration, wider string spacing, and a slightly longer scale to add tension while retaining the “short-scale bass thud,” the company writes.

Billy Sheehan shared a playthrough of Mr. Big’s “Green Tinted Sixties Mind,” giving readers an up-close look at one of his most creative lines. “There are chords, double stops, octave figures and plenty of little details that make the part move without getting in the way of the song,” Jody explains.

Next, Kevin Scott brought the heat to Gov’t Mule’s take on the Grateful Dead classic “Shakedown Street.” His vintage P-bass running through an Ampeg SVT gave the jam a thick, warm tone while his playing sat deep in the pocket.

Other hightlights include a celebration of Ray Brown’s centennial, Fender’s new American Professional bass models, MonoNeon, and more. Time to get caught up on the best in bass for the week:

1. Bass of the Week: Uberfrank’s Spellbinder Custom VI Rethinks the Bass VI

Uberfrank’s Spellbinder Custom VI rethinks the Bass VI for Tom Herbert, with dual outputs, a wider neck, and a chambered body with a stunning lacewood back.

2. Billy Sheehan Unleashes the Bass Line Behind Mr. Big’s “Green Tinted Sixties Mind”

Billy Sheehan puts his signature Yamaha Attitude to work in this bass playthrough of Mr. Big’s “Green Tinted Sixties Mind.”

3. Kevin Scott Brings the Low End Heat on Gov’t Mule’s “Shakedown Street”

Gov’t Mule tears into “Shakedown Street” in Chicago as Kevin Scott lays down a huge vintage P Bass and SVT groove while Warren Haynes plays Doug Irwin #024.

4. Fender Refreshes American Professional Basses with V-Mod III Pickups

Fender updates its American Professional Jazz and Precision basses with V-Mod III pickups, redesigned bridges, and four- and five-string options.

5. Kardinal Guitars Enters the Low End with the Kardinal Bass

Kardinal Guitars debuts its first bass with neck-through construction, a quilted maple top, and passive soapbar pickups. Pre-orders are now open at $549.

6. WATCH: MonoNeon Goes Off on a Fretless Bass Solo

MonoNeon turns three minutes of solo bass into a wonderfully strange fretless P Bass workout, packed with deep funk, warped melodies, bends, and twists.

7. Mattias Hägerstrand Takes on The Ocean’s Dynamic Post-Metal Track “Departure Song”

The Ocean bassist Mattias Hägerstrand delivers a full playthrough of “Departure Song,” showing how far a four string P Bass can go in modern post metal.

8. Ray Brown at 100: His Lasting Impact on Bassists

Celebrate Ray Brown’s centennial with seven bassists’ memories of his unmistakable sound, demanding lessons, generous spirit, and influence on generations.

9. The Red Clay Strays and Andrew Bishop Tear Into “Don’t Wanna Know” on Late Night

The Red Clay Strays hit Fallon with “Don’t Wanna Know,” while Andrew Bishop delivers the low end on a Banker Explorer bass through an Ampeg rig all night.

10. Spector’s One-of-One Custom Shop Bass Will Benefit Breast Cancer Research

Spector’s one-of-one Rose Sparkle Custom Shop bass will benefit breast cancer research, with the winning bid donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.