Question of the Week: What’s on your list for Santa?
The holidays are coming. Dream big! Q: If you could have Santa bring you any bass, amp or other musical gear, what would it be? A: Answer below in the comments. Ho ho ho.
Top Ten: The Hottest Bass Videos and Gear, Mod Shop, Practicing with a Looper, and Talking About the Blues Bass Scale
Gear. Videos. How-to’s. Readers can’t get enough of them (neither can we). Last week, Evan Marien’s “Soulseek” took top honors, with Viz Maurogiovanni’s solo performance of Fauré’s “Pavane, Op. 50” and the duet of Grant Stinnett and Michael Manring performing “Money Talks” making the list too. Our gear coverage ranged from old school cool to weird and wacky, plus a...
Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, the Doors and More – The Autobiography of Jerry Scheff
Hard to believe the musical career of Jerry Scheff can fit into a 256 page autobiography, but somehow Scheff managed to do it. The pro session bassist has penned a memoir covering his 45 year career with some of the biggest names in popular music, set for release in March, 2012. In Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, the...
Doug Johns: “Pocket Fulla Nasty” – Live
What the world needs is more Doug Johns videos… especially like this one. Here’s Doug with drummer Chris Ceja, performing “Pocket Fulla Nasty” live at CPE Sound in Chicago, IL. The tune can be found on the 2008 release of the same name. Be sure to check out our interview with Doug (after the video, of course).
Hal Leonard Releases Sheet Music Direct for iPad
Hal Leonard has brought their digital sheet music store to the iPad. Sheet Music Direct for iPad is a three-in-one app, allowing access to the publisher’s more than 100,000 songs available for purchase, as well as a sheet music viewer and score library. Past Sheet Music Direct customers can access all their previous purchases through the app, and new customers...
Bass Gear Roundup: Old School Fender, Roland Field Recorder, Arium 050, New Pigtronix Pedal and The Bass of the Week
The latest bass gear coverage, all in one spot. 1. Roland Introduces R-26 Field Recorder Roland has released the R-26 Portable Field Recorder featuring dual built-in stereo microphones, two XLR/TRS inputs, and an input for a stereo plug-in powered mic. The device allows for up to six channels of simultaneous recording and has Roland’s patented IARC circuitry on the inputs...
Li’nard, “The Best Bass Guitarist in NYC”: Live Bass Solo
When we saw the title of this video (“The Best Bass Guitarist in NYC”), we of course had to check it out. And Li’nard blew us away. The video description went on to say, “Li’nard is a New York City legend. He is recognized as a genius in the art of dynamic, live performance and as a versatile bass guitarist,...
Rush Releases “Sector” Box Sets from Mercury Records Career
Rush is having one busy November. Following the release of Time Machine 2011 – Live in Cleveland, the trio of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart are reissuing their first fifteen albums from their 14-year run with Mercury Records. Sectors is broken down into three separate six-disc box sets, each including five CDs in release order, with a bonus...
Led Zeppelin FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About the Greatest Hard Rock Band of All Time
Writer, critic and musician George Case has penned an incredibly detailed book on one of the biggest rock groups of all time: Led Zeppelin. Case, who previously wrote an unauthorized biography of the band’s guitarist, Jimmy Page, turns his sites to the band, on a mission to uncover many of the mysteries and insiders look at the iconic band of...
Reader Spotlight: Glenn “SmittyG” Smith
Meet Glenn “SmittyG” Smith, a bassist from Texarkana who can play the spectrum of music from country to punk to jazz and everything in between. The reader spotlight is one of our favorite features on No Treble, and it is people like Glenn who really make it extra special. I’m sure you’ll enjoy his sense of humor as much as...
Question of the Week: What’s your next gear purchase?
Our question of the week: What’s next up on your gear list? Hey, this is even a chance to dream a little. The holidays are right around the corner! Give us the scoop! Answer below in the comments, or on our Facebook page.
Old School: 1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
Fender’s Musicmaster was first introduced in 1971, and in production through 1981. As with Fender’s guitar bearing the same name, the bass was a simpler version of Fender’s Mustang Bass. The Musicmaster was Fender’s budget-priced bass at the time, made from surplus parts from other Fender models. The bodies were from the Mustang production line, and 6-pole guitar pickups were...