Marco Mendoza Releases Solo Album, “Viva La Rock”
A mainstay of the rock and metal community, Marco Mendoza has been the anchor for artists like Neal Schon, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy and currently The Dead Daisies. Now he’s released Viva La Rock, his first solo album in eight years. Described as “big, bad, and beautiful,” the album reflects Mendoza’s personality with a range of styles including rock, blues, funk,...
Dean Unveils the Jon Lawhon Hillsboro Bass
Dean Guitars and Black Stone Cherry bassist Jon Lawhon teamed up this year to release a signature bass. The Jon Lawhon Hillsboro Bass takes one of the company’s existing models and decks it out for the bassist’s wants and needs, including an old-school seafoam green finish. The bass is constructed with a classic configuration of an alder body with a...
Jarrett/Peacock/DeJohnette Release “After The Fall”
The trio of Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette – referred to as the “Standards trio” – has been prolific in their recordings. Now a new album taken from a 1998 performance promises to be at the top of the heap. After The Fall was recorded in Newark, New Jersey following Jarrett’s two-year hiatus from the stage. “I was...
Nordstrand Audio Unveils the Nordenbocker Pickup
Nordstrand Audio has expanded their pickup line with a drop-in replacement to fit a Rickenbacker 4003 neck pickup. The Nordenbocker is Nordstrand’s Big Single pickup design housed in the unique pickup size. “It even uses your stock pickup screws,” the company writes. “Louder and more aggressive tones can now be found in your neck pickup to keep up with the...
Bass of the Week: Tuli Basses HIILYX
I’m always floored by Tuli Basses, and builder Aron Bach made my day by sending me the details of his latest HIILYX bass. The six-string bass is the new single cut model that he revealed at the 2018 London Bass Guitar Show. Even with six strings and a single cut body, the HIILYX comes in lighter than many four-strings. “I...
Hal Leonard Publishes “The First 15 Lessons: Bass Guitar” Instructional Book
Are you a complete beginner or have someone interested in starting on bass? Hal Leonard has just published First 15 Lessons: Bass Guitar by Jon Liebman to aid fledgling players. The step-by-step lesson plan starts with holding the bass and graduates to playing open strings and beyond. While it covers the basics, the book gets you ready to jam with...
First Electric Bass Guitar, Audiovox #736, Up For Auction
Although Leo Fender is often given credit, it was actually Paul Tutmarc who invented the first electric bass guitar. The Audiovox Model 736 was designed and manufactured by the Seattle-based builder all the way back in 1936. There are only three of these basses known to be left in the world, and now one of them is up for sale....
The Breeders Release “All Nerve”
The Breeders, fronted by former Pixies bassist Kim Deal, have returned with their first new album in a decade. All Nerve is also the return of the band’s classic Last Splash lineup with Deal on guitar and vocals, Jim Macpherson on drums, Kelley Deal on lead guitar and vocals, and Josephine Wiggs laying down the bass. Rallying the old members...
Guild Guitars Announces Starfire Bass II Flamed Maple
Guild’s iconic Starfire Bass II is available in a new Flamed Maple version for 2018. The company debuted the instrument at the Winter NAMM Show. “The Starfire Bass II Flamed Maple (FM) is a dual-pickup semi-hollow bass guitar that adds additional sonic options to Guild’s iconic Starfire Bass,” Guild writes. “As its name suggests, the Flamed Maple version replaced the...
Sanne Verbogt: Microtonal Pop Bass
Last year we featured Sanne Verbogt’s awesome microtonal bass from Roks Instruments. Now she’s released a new video demonstrating it on a pop song. “In my study to explore the use of microtones in Western music I chose a pop/dance song to make an arrangement for microtonal (quartertone) bass guitar. The song of choice is a personal favourite: Kygo’s remix...
Shane Cooper and Mabuta Release Debut Album, “Welcome To This World”
Last year, bassist Shane Cooper launched a new project called Mabuta. The South African band is billed as a jazz quintet, but their mix of jazz, world music, and electronica blend into something that is hard to pin down as one genre. That’s evident by their debut recording, Welcome To This World, which is available now. The Johannesburg-based band consists...
Ibanez Introduces Soundgear SR670 and SR675 Basses
Ibanez’s flagship Soundgear bass series is being bolstered even further this year with the addition of the SR670 and the SR675. The four and five-string basses are set apart by a mahogany body topped with ash in a black and silver finish. They also feature Ibanez’s new B500 and B505 bridges. “The Ash top offers superior tonal clarity and attack,...