New Mastersounds Bassist Pete Shand In Need of Emergency Surgery
The New Mastersounds have announced that groove guru Pete Shand needs your help. The bassist, who is also working on Bernard Purdie’s new album, is in need of an emergency surgery to correct his spine. The band made the announcement on their Facebook page. “Pete needs your help for emergency surgery this week!” the band wrote. “Pete has developed a...
Bass of the Week: CG Lutherie Lyra
Our friend Sébastien Thorel sent us pictures a couple of gorgeous basses to check out, including this six-string Lyra by CG Lutherie. “I first met CG at a bass day in Annecy (a French town in Rhône Alpes) where he came with some of his handmade basses,” he wrote. “I was first very impressed (almost fell in love) with another...
Rainger FX Unveils Dwarf Bleep Bass Pedal
The UK’s Rainger FX has expanded their Dwarf Bass mini-pedal lineup with the Dwarf Bleep Bass. The pedal takes their Dr. Freakenstein Fuzz circuit and enhances it for bass while also adding an 8-bit sound glitching effect from their Dwarf Bleep pedal. It comes with the company’s unique Igor expression pad, which Rainger says gives some interesting and flexible effects....
Höfner Introduces the Club Bass 500/2 Double Cut
Höfner has introduced the Club Bass 500/2 Double Cut, a model inspired by the original 1965 model. The short-scale, hollow body bass dishes out old school tone with a double cutaway design for easy access to the upper register. It’s built with a select spruce top and flame maple for its back and sides, which are bound in black and...
Eden Announces the Module Bass Preamp Pedal
Eden has taken their Terra Nova circuitry and put it into a new bass preamp pedal called the Module, which provides the EQ stage and connectivity of a Terra Nova amplifier into a floor unit. Its four-band EQ has sweepable low and hi-mid frequencies, plus an Enhance EQ sweep. A bass boost switch adds even more low end. It has...
Nordstrand Audio Releases the Big BladeMan Pickup
Recently we featured Justin Chancellor’s new Warwick as a Bass of the Week. The Tool bassist’s newest axe is fitted with a brand new pickup from Nordstrand Audio, and now that pickup is available to the public. The Big BladeMan features two of the company’s Big J-Blades in an MM-style cover and as such works as a drop-in replacement for...
Custom Shop: Fuzzrocious Pedals
One of the best feelings in the world is being able to share your passion with other people. It’s even more special when you can share that passion with your family, which is part of the magic behind Fuzzrocious Pedals. The New Jersey-based effects company is run by the Ratajski (pronounced “ruh-tie-skee”) family. The husband and wife team of Ryan...
API Introduces TranZformer LX Bass Pedal
API has unveiled the TranZformer series, including the TranZformer LX bass pedal. The pedal incorporates the company’s traditional analog signal path with gain control, compression, and equalization all in one unit. The pedal’s variable compressor, which can be bypassed, is their API 525. The three-band EQ can also be bypassed for flexibility. Other features include phase invert switches on each...
Chowny Bass Unveils the SWB Pro
Chowny Bass has expanded their lineup with the SWB Pro, an upgraded version of the bass designed with bassist Scott Whitley. While the short-scale model retains many features, there are a handful of updates. The SWB Pro comes in two finishes – Matt Ash/Walnut or Gloss Ash with Quilt Maple – with other new features including a satin five-piece maple...
Intronaut’s Joe Lester Joins Secret Chiefs 3 For Summer Tour
Fretless bassist Joe Lester has announced he will will be holding down the low end for Secret Chiefs 3 this summer. The Intronaut bassist made the announcement on his Facebook page. “Those who know me well could easily tell you that Secret Chiefs 3 are one of my all-time favorite bands,” he wrote. “Their utterly unique marriage of disparate musical...
Bass of the Week: Moscato Guitars Funk Bass
Luthier Jean-Luc Moscato designed his Funk Bass model with the groove in mind. Built around a pair of his single-coil pickups, the instrument is described as the best choice for slap lovers. “[The] Funk Bass is a perfect combination of [a dual] single-coil pickups configuration and high range manufacturing‘s lovers,” his website states. “Find a typical sound of Funk Music...
Bryant Fabian Marsalis Releases “Do For You?”
The killer jazz trio of saxophonist Lance Bryant, drummer Jason Marsalis, and bassist Christian Fabian have teamed up to release Do For You? The album, which also features guest artist Gates Thomas on keys, is rooted in the jazz tradition and tinged with the blues. It includes eight original tunes with four written or co-written by Fabian. His big, warm...