Warwick Announces Idolmaker Bass
Warwick unveiled a bass counterpart to the Framus Idolmaker at the Winter NAMM Show. Produced in the custom shop or as part of their German Pro Series Teambuilt line, the Warwick Idolmaker Bass is built with a carved mahogany body and a bolt-on wenge neck. It comes in four or five-string versions as well as fretted or fretless. Warwick uses...
Bass of the Week: Ergon Guitars Cintra
Instrument builders always bring their best gear to the NAMM Show. As we were wandering the halls of the Anaheim Convention Center we found the Boutique Guitar Showcase, which brings builders from around the world to show off their work. We saw tons of great instruments, including the jaw-dropping Cintra bass from Portugal’s Ergon Guitars. Luthier Adriano Sérgio was on...
Consider The Source Announces Spring Tour Dates
Consider the Source has announced they’ll be bringing their brand of sci-fi Middle Eastern fusion across the U.S. on a massive spring tour. The trio, anchored by bass guru John Ferrara, will be pregaming with a date at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York before heading to the Ardmore Music Hall in Pennsylvania on March 2nd. Their concerts...
Marco Bass Guitars Unveils The N1 Bass Guitar
One of the booths at the NAMM Show that always has tons of buzz is the Marco Bass Guitars display. This year they introduced the N1 bass, which they describe as a game changer. Although the bass is their entry-level model, it’s still made in the USA in the Marco shop. “Marco Cortes has spent over three decades perfecting his...
John Ferrara: Ben Franklin’s Hair
Consider the Source bassist John Ferrara has just released his second solo song, entitled “Ben Franklin’s Hair.” What does the title have to do with the incredible two-handed tapping melody? Not much. “I don’t know why I named it that, don’t think about it too much,” Ferrara admits. “The song was inspired by Romance era composers like Franz Liszt and...
David Pastorius and Christian Fabian Release “No Tricks”
Bassists David Pastorius and Christian Fabian have teamed up to release No Tricks, a 10-track album of electric bass duos. At first glance, the pairing may seem an unlikely fit. Fabian is a member of the Lionel Hampton Big Band while Pastorius, who is the nephew of bass legend Jaco, has performed alongside artists like Tech Nine. However, after a...
NS Design Adds NXTa Radius to Bass Guitar Line
Ned Steinberger and NS Design unveiled the latest in their Radius bass guitar series with the NXTa Radius. The headless bass carries many of the same features of the lineup while adding their NXTa battery-free active electronics. “The new NXTa brings together the brilliant ergonomics of the headless neck and body configuration, the NS self-clamping tuning system, custom NS/EMG™ pickups,...
Metallica: Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth), Live in Chicago 1983
On February 10th each year we celebrate Cliff Burton’s birthday. But this year is special: it’s officially Cliff Burton Day. That’s why we’re observing the holiday with a live performance of the legendary Metallica bassist’s most famous bass solo composition, “Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth).” Recorded live at the Metro in Chicago during a 1983 performance, the clip shows Burton ripping through...
In Memoriam: Craig MacGregor
Sad news to report today: longtime Foghat bassist Craig MacGregor has passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was 68 years old. Foghat announced the news on their Facebook page. “On behalf of Craig MacGregor’s family and the Foghat family, it is with great sadness that we are letting you know that we have lost our brother, good...
Ashdown Engineering Unveils the CTM 30 “Little Stubby” Tube Bass Amp
Ashdown Engineering’s Classic Tube Magnifier (CTM) series got a little bigger this year – or a little smaller. The all-tube CTM 30 “Little Stubby” was debuted at the NAMM Show, where Dan Gooday described it as “a little bit more of everything in a smaller package.” “Measuring just 400mm wide, 220mm deep and 80mm tall, the 30-watt CTM-30 Little Stubby...
Stanley Clarke, Patrice Rushen, Ndugu Chancler: Oleo
We were sad to hear of the passing of legendary drummer Ndugu Chancler. While he is best known as the drummer for Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” his career was marked with tons of great jazz, fusion, and funk grooves. Here’s a display of some his jazz chops with pianist Patrice Rushen and bassist Stanley Clarke on the jazz standard “Oleo”....
Original Smashing Pumpkins Announce Reunion, No Bassist Named
The original members of the Smashing Pumpkins are reuniting, and of course, it wouldn’t be The Smashing Pumpkins without some drama. Bassist D’Arcy Wretzky will apparently not be joining the tour. “My apologies to all of the Smashing Pumpkins fans out there who are excited about this oncoming reunion tour of the original members of the band,” she wrote on...