Ampeg Now Shipping Classic Preamp and Scrambler Overdrive Pedals
After introducing the pedals at the Winter NAMM Show this year, Ampeg is now shipping the Classic analog bass preamp and Scrambler bass overdrive. The all-analog stomp boxes are compact effects derived from the larger SCR-DI. The Classic offers up the company’s 3-band EQ complete with Ultra Lo and Ultra Hi shelving switches for dialing in your tone. A volume...
GHS Updates Short Scale Strings
GHS Strings has updated their short-scale bass strings to be a bit longer. The extra length, they say, is to accommodate for short-scale basses that have a tailpiece or are strung thru-body. “Traditionally, the winding length (ball end to taper/silk) of a short scale bass string has been 32 [inches],” the company writes. “However, this measurement did not work easily...
John Scofield with Gary Grainger: Time Marches On / The Nag
Here’s a crazy lineup: John Scofield on guitar, Gary Grainger on bass, Dennis Chambers on drums, and Jim Beard on keys. The quartet is on top of their game as they rip it up on the songs “Time Marches On” and “The Nag” in this clip. The first song is a slower jam with Grainger laying down a fat groove,...
In Memoriam: Cel Revuelta
Former Black Flag bassist Cel Revuelta has passed away after fighting brain cancer. The news was shared on a GoFundMe page that was set up to assist with his medical bills. “Today we lost a wonderful person, our hearts are broken Cel passed away this morning Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017,” Adriana Martinez shared. “He was surrounded by his immediate family....
In Memoriam: Kevin Garcia
Kevin Garcia, who laid down the low end for indie rock outfit Grandaddy, has passed away after suffering a stroke. He was 41 years old. The news was announced by the band on their Facebook page. “There are no accurate words to express what we need to,” the band wrote. “We are absolutely shattered to say that we lost our...
Steve Lawson and Andy Edwards: Over Time
Bassists and drummers always share a special bond, but Steve Lawson and Andy Edwards have an incredible musical camaraderie. The duo recently performed an entirely improvised set at Tower of Song in Birmingham and it’s astounding. Here’s an extended clip of “Over Time”, which will be available to Lawson’s Bandcamp subscribers. “Everything here is live – I’m playing bass and...
Hotone Audio Now Shipping B Station Bass Preamp/DI
Hotone Audio is now shipping the B Station, a bass preamp and DI in a pedal format. Designed for studio and stage, the unit packs in a 3-band EQ, a Drive channel, and an optical compressor as well. The Drive is kicked in via a dedicated footswitch, while the compressor has a simple one-knob control. For further connectivity, the B...
Mr. Big: Next Time Around
How can you not love Billy Sheehan? Besides being a phenomenal bass player, he’s the epitome of cool. Here’s a great clip of Sheehan in the video for Mr. Big’s “Next Time Around,” which showcases his supportive playing with some great licks thrown in for good measure. Be sure to check out the fill at the 2:17 mark.
Bass of the Week: Roks Instruments Microtonal Futura
We’ve featured some gorgeous basses from Roks Instruments before, but this one comes with a twist. Luthier Axel Roks collaborated with bassist Sanne Verbogt to create a stunning microtonal bass. “Sanne started to see structure in music at the beginning of her conservatory study, which eventually led to her own music theory method: SV Method,” Roks writes on his website....
Radiohead: Nude, Live at Coachella
Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood always plays the perfect supporting bass lines. One of my favorites is “Nude” from the album In Rainbows. Utilizing octaves in the upper register of the neck provides a gorgeous thick tone that sets the mood for the song. Here’s the band playing it at the Coachella Music Festival this year. Building from a whisper, the band...
Fuzzrocious Pedals Now Shipping Blast Furnace Fuzz Pedal
One of the coolest new pedals we saw at NAMM this year was the Fuzzrocious Blast Furnace, an original gated fuzz circuit with a short-timed delay. The pedal, which is a collaboration with Lehigh Mining & Navigation, is now available. “Blast Furnace expands the sound possibilities by adding a short-timed delay (via the left momentary footswitch),” a press release explains....
Mastodon: Show Yourself
I’m a longtime Mastodon fan, so I can safely say that is one of their best albums. Anchored by Troy Sanders, it’s chock-full of killer riffs and melodies that will stick in your head. Here’s a nice clip of the band performing “Show Yourself” live on Jimmy Kimmel. Sanders delivers his big, fat tone that sits right in the pocket...