Mesa Engineering Introduces the Subway D-800+ Bass Amp
A year after introducing their first Class D amplifier, Mesa Engineering has expanded the Subway series with the Subway D-800+ bass amp. The new amp expands on its predecessor with a more comprehensive preamp featuring extra EQ controls, a series effects loop, a tuner output, and a 1/4-inch mute footswitch jack. The 4-band EQ section now has semi-parametric, sweep-able Low-Mid...
Bass of the Week: Ploughman Guitars Semi-Hollow Bass
This week we’re checking out another beautiful instrument by Serbia’s Ploughman Guitars. Their take on a semi-hollow body bass is crafted with a one-piece Sipo body that topped with book-matched, hand-carved, Bosnian maple. Its five-piece maple and mahogany neck is topped with a wenge fingerboard adorned with mother of pearl block inlays. The hardware includes a solid brass LP-style bridge...
Spector Introduces Timbre Acoustic Bass Guitar
Spector Basses has announced their first ever acoustic bass line called the Timbre Series. Available in Black, Natural and Walnut Stain finishes, the bass is crafted with a solid sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, a mahogany neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. “This is much stronger than solid lumber would be and helps to allow the top to vibrate...
Julie Slick: Adrian Belew Power Trio “B3” Bass Playthrough
Thank God for Julie Slick. While wading through countless awful political posts in my Facebook feed, I saw this incredible clip of her ripping it up on the Adrian Belew Power Trio song “B3”, and it saved my day. The track comes from the 2009 ABPT album e, which features Slick and her brother Eric on drums. It’s a short...
Tensor Bass Expands With the Ultralight Jazz Bass Series
Tensor Inc. has expanded their bass guitar offerings with the Ultralight Jazz Bass series. The custom made basses come in four- or five-string versions and are fitted with a pair of Aguilar J-HOT pickups, which feature an over-wound design for a hotter output. Each bass is built with a chambered maple body and 3-piece, grain oriented maple/mahogany neck with a...
Cort Introduces the Action DLX AS Bass Guitar
Cort has introduced the Action DLX AS bass guitar, which they describe as delivering “a deluxe sound and feel along with a simple, yet attractive aesthetic.” The bass expands upon the Cort Action DLX with a new active Markbass MB-1 preamp featuring a 3-band EQ, pickup blend, and master volume controls. A mini-switch allows for toggling between active and passive...
New Rush Documentary Coming In November
Rush fans rejoice: a new documentary on the band is coming in November. “Rush: Time Stand Still” will have a theatrical release on November 3rd in select theaters with a Blu-Ray/DVD release on November 18th. Billed as “the story of a band, its fans, and their 40 year relationship,” the film will include exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the band and...
Looming Large: An Interview with Matt Ulery
Matt Ulery has just released , an ambitious album that features three distinct musical formats. Billed as Ulery’s Loom/Large, the core of the album features his regular Loom quintet bookcased by a jazz orchestra and his “festival” band. While each band brings a different sound to the table, the organic nature of the bassist’s compositions tie the 13-song collection into...
Fuzzrocious Pedals Unveils the M.O.T.H.
Fuzzrocious Pedals has unveiled the M.O.T.H. pedal, which stands for Multi Overdrive Tremolo Hex. The pedal combines an overdrive, fuzz, tremolo, and noise machine oscillator into one cohesive package. It starts with an overdrive circuit that is set up for low-medium drive, which “pushes into a power amp IC which provides a blast of volume,” the company writes. When turned...
Lewis.Brown: Forward Motion (redux)
Here’s a dynamic duo if I ever saw one. Bassist Rich Brown and drummer Larnell Lewis have teamed up to form Lewis.Brown. This clip of “Forward Motion (redux)” recorded at the Placebo Space in Toronto last month is leaving us wanting more. Brown sets up a heavily syncopated groove with loop pedal before Lewis jumps in and the two get...
Bass of the Week: Bacce Guitars Bold X-Bird 4
This week we’re checking out the Bacce Guitars Bold X-Bird 4, built by Spanish luthier Daniel Cabezas. Featuring a distinct body shape, the bass is built with lots of beautiful woods for an amazing look. Cabezas crafted the instrument with a swamp ash body topped with a premium flamed maple top. It has a black stain on the top and...
Green Day Announce 2017 Tour Dates
Green Day has announced their tour schedule for 2017, and it’s massive. Starting off in Europe for January and February, the tour will cross the ocean in March to tackle the United States and Canada. The North American leg ends at the end of April, when the trio heads to Australia and New Zealand for a handful of dates. The...