LedBelli Bass Guitars Unveils Majestic Model
Luthier Cleve Johnson of LeBelli Basses has unveiled a new flagship model called the Majestic. The bass, which is the company’s seventh model, sets itself apart in shape as well as construction. “The Majestic is a departure from the rest of the LedBelli line in that it is the only LedBelli model that does not use Maple as the primary...
Bass of the Week: Maurizio ?ber Basses ?ber-Groove 4 Single Cut
This week we’re checking out an ?ber-Groove 4 Single Cut by Maurizio ?ber Basses called The Promise. The bass features a stunning Monkeypod top over an Asian mahogany body. “The Promise was built for a client who, among other gigs, plays regularly at church,” M?B explains. “Being a religious man, he wanted his bass to be inspired to a verse...
Wood Brothers Add Fall Leg to 2016 U.S. Tour
The Wood Brothers, anchored by bassist extraordinaire Chris Wood, have announced Fall tour dates to fill out their 2016 tour. The three-piece, Nashville-based band are continuing their trek in support of their latest album, Paradise. Starting in Birmingham, Alabama on October 6th, the newly revealed performances will focus on the Southeast and Midwest. November will have the group visit Illinois,...
Stonefield Musical Instruments Introduces Freekbass Signature Model
New Zealand’s Stonefield Musical Instruments has teamed up with Freekbass to produce a signature model. Based on the company’s Model 1-4C, the bass has special tweaks to fit the funk bassist’s style. “Using the dense and somewhat brittle African wenge for the top wood and Solomon Island ebony for the fingerboard adds a bite to the tonality of the instrument,”...
The Claypool Lennon Delirium: Breath of a Salesman
Les Claypool’s latest project with Sean Lennon, aptly named The Claypool Lennon Delirium, is everything you’d imagine it would be. Built upon the bassist’s unmistakeable style, the band has a mind-altering style of rock and psychedelia. Check out this clip of “Breath of a Salesman” taken from The Late Late Show with James Corden. The synergy between Claypool and Lennon...
Fender Unveils Flea Signature Jazz Bass
Fender has teamed up with bass legend Flea to release the Flea Signature Jazz Bass. The new model is a recreation of the bassist’s Shell Pink 1961 Jazz Bass he received from a fan and used to record the Red Hot Chili Peppers albums Stadium Arcadium and The Getaway. “Shell Pink is the rarest of Fender’s classic Custom Color finishes,...
Custom Shop: SVS Designs
Many basses tend to have similar body shapes, but that’s not the case with SVS Designs. Each bass is drawn from the imagination of its owner and tweaked for real life use by luthier Shawn Shannon. With a background in extreme metal, it’s no surprise that the basses carry a certain extreme quality in their designs, although each bass is...
The Pixies Name Paz Lenchantin as Permanent Member, Announce Album and Tour
The Pixies are back in full force. Besides announcing a new album with an accompanying world tour, the band stated that Paz Lenchantin is now a permanent member of the iconic outfit. The bassist has been the group’s touring fill-in since January 2014. Lenchantin followed Kim Shattuck, who had replaced founding bassist Kim Deal in 2013. “I was very nervous...
Bass of the Week: R. Hyde Guitars Long Scale Nuvo
After releasing the prototype last year, Ryan Hyde of R. Hyde Guitars has created a new full-sized version of the Nuvo. The sleek and seductive revamp is our bass of the week. Hyde built the new Nuvo with a full 34-inch scale and added a few improvements to the design. “This new version features a fully adjustable bridge,” the luthier...
Cliff Williams Announces Retirement from AC/DC
After 40 years holding down the low end for AC/DC, bassist Cliff Williams has announced he will retire after the band’s current tour. Williams, who replaced Mark Evans in mid-1977, cites the recent departure of other longtime members guitarist Malcolm Young, drummer Phil Rudd, and vocalist Brian Johnson as part of the reason for stepping down. “It’s been what I’ve...
Franklin Peredo: Funktopia Robotica
Franklin Peredo never ceases to amaze me. His latest video is for the song “Funktopia Robotica” and it features the bassist’s crazy right hand technique to make the music sound like the title suggests. It’s not that he’s strumming, thumping, popping and tapping – it’s that he does it so fluidly you forget about the techniques and listen to the...
Gretsch Announces Tom Petersson 12-String and 4-String Signature Basses
Cheap Trick’s Tom Petersson and Gretsch teamed up to announce a pair of signature basses at this year’s Summer NAMM show in Nashville, Tennessee. The models include the USA Custom Shop Tom Petersson Signature 12-String Falcon Bass and the G6136B-TP-AWT Tom Petersson Signature 4-String Bass. Petersson has been testing the 12-string prototype live on the road. Available in Vintage White,...