Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 383

This week we’re checking out the Mammoth bass from Atelier Kraken. “Tentacle-crafted” in France by luthier Guillaume “Muche” Buguet and Vincent Clerc, the stunning bass has aluminum inlays along its ash body including a detailed engraving of the Kraken that extends over the neck pickup.

John Patitucci has returned with a new album called “Soul of the Bass,” which is described as his “most intimate and revealing solo album.” The recording, which marks his 16th solo effort, centers around improvisations on his double bass.

Headrush has announced the Looperboard, a looping device that utilizes a quad-core DSP system with a 7-inch touch interface. It also offers “a generous set of audio input and outputs.”

TC Electronic’s PolyTune line of tuners has gotten a little bigger but in a new small package. The company has just announced the PolyTune 3 Mini & Noir. The pint-sized pedals offer polyphonic tuning for tuning all your strings at once.

Dingwall has just released a new limited edition bass they call “the bass from Hell.” The company partnered with Darkglass Electronics, Dark Horse Comics, and Rob van der Loo from Epica to create the D-Roc Rob van der Loo “Hellboy” 5-string bass.

J Rockett Audio Designs has introduced a new device called the Juice Joint Power Distributor. It’s used to power your effects pedals, but don’t call it a power supply. The company calls it a “power distributor that allows you to dump those awkward daisy chain cables...”

After revealing that they’d be working on a new album late last year, Dug Pinnick and King’s X have offered an update. The group is currently at Blacksound Studio in Pasadena, California to make the record, which will be their first since “XV” in 2008.

Adding to their Artisan series of basses, Cort has unveiled the B4 Plus AS RM bass, a four-string that incorporates four tonal woods and three finishes: Open Pore Aqua Blue, Open Pore Trans Black, and Open Pore Burgundy Red.

Drummer Mark Guiliana has just released his latest solo album, “BEAT MUSIC! BEAT MUSIC! BEAT MUSIC!” Guiliana enlisted some of his closest musical partners to fill out the album including Jason Lindner, BIG YUKI, and Tim Lefebvre.

Veteran heavy metal outfit Accept has announced a new bassist to fill out their ranks since founding member Peter Baltes left in November. Martin Motnik has been named as the group’s full-time bass player.

The ’60s and ’70s were full of pivotal moments in music with albums that helped spawn new genres and reflect the quickly changing culture. Harvey Brooks played on many of them. Here are 11 of his favorite tracks, in his own words.

The guitar and bass duo of Bill Frisell and Thomas Morgan have released their sophomore album, entitled “Epistrophy.” Named after one of two Thelonious Monk songs they cover, the live album captures the incredible empathy and energy they draw from each other’s playing.