Bass of the Week: Hot Wire Blues Bass
Hot Wire Basses took a page out of the old school with their Blues Bass. Modeled after the early fifties Kay Electric Bass, the Blues Bass is a vintage-style hollowbody, which the company notes was often played by four-stringers backing up Blues legends like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. While the design imitates an old Kay, Hot Wire made some...
New York Bass Works Introduces Reference Series Basses
New York Bass Works has announced the Reference Series, a line of basses that bring together luthier David Segal’s custom work with the classic J-bass platform. “The Reference Series Basses are instruments infused with the DNA of nearly 20 years of custom bass projects, complex renovations, and pain-staking repairs of nearly every brand of instrument,” the company writes. “The empirical...
Ernie Ball Music Man 40th Anniversary StingRay Now Available for Pre-Order
Ernie Ball Music Man’s 40th Anniversary “Old Smoothie” StingRay Bass is now available for pre-order. Unveiled at the 2016 Winter NAMM Show, the bass is named after a prototype from 1976 that was designed by Leo Fender and gifted to Sterling Ball. Central to its design is a 10-pole piece pickup that gives it a smoother tone. “We recently revisited...
Guns N’ Roses Reunion Tour Dates Announced
The wait is over. Guns N’ Roses have announced the specifics for their “Not In This Lifetime” reunion tour. The outing will be bring together original members Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan with longtime collaborators Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer, and new keyboardist Melissa Reese. The band played their first reunion show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles,...
Darkglass Electronics Announces Release Date for Microtubes 700 Bass Amp
One of the biggest reveals at the Winter NAMM Show this year was the Darkglass Electronics Microtubes 700. Since the outing Darkglass has been further refining the the head, which is their first amplifier, but now they’ve announced a target release date of July. “This transition is very important for us, it’s a big challenge,” founder Douglas Castro said in...
In Memoriam: Terry Plumeri
The bass world is grieving as double bassist and composer Johnterryl “Terry” Plumeri was murdered in his Florida home this week in what police believe was part of a string of burglaries. He was 71 years old. Plumeri began music at the age of 10. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City under the tutelage...
Pigtronix Introduces Pigtronix Power Supply
Effects pedal manufacturer Pigtronix has introduced the Pigtronix Power, which they describe as a “robust, multi-voltage analog power supply.” The device has eight individually isolated outputs with several variable voltages. The first two outlets are 9-volts at 100mA, while the next four are variable (9V/12V/15V/18V) with two at 100mA and two at 300mA. The last two outputs provide 18 volts...
Victor Wooten’s VixCamps Open For Registration
Registration is now open for Victor Wooten’s 2016 Music and Nature Camps. This season includes five main programs at Wooten Woods outside of Nashville, Tennessee plus three additional programs that branch out the educational offerings. VixCamps kicks off with the original Bass/Nature Camp from July 18th to the 24th. “Following the outline set in motion in the camp’s inaugural year...
ESP Introduces Classic Styled LTD AP-204 Bass
ESP unveiled the LTD AP-204 at this year’s NAMM Show, calling it a “modernized update of a classic shape for contemporary music styles.” The bass, which comes in Charcoal Metallic and Burgundy Burst finishes, is fitted with a set of ESP-designed P/J pickups. The bass is built with bolt-on construction featuring a mahogany body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard. The...
Bass of the Week: Wreck Guitars W Minor 5
This week we’re checking out the W Minor 5 by Wreck Guitars. Introduced late last year, the model can be fitted with a number of woods and pickup configurations. “This is a modern bass for light right arm playing with bridge moved more to the end of an instrument,” the company writes. “[The W Minor 5’s] balance is perfect for...
Gracie and John Patitucci: I’ve Just Seen A Face
I love bass and vocal duets, but this one is special. John Patitucci sat down with his daughter Gracie, who goes by Gra Music, for a gorgeous cover of the Beatles classic “I’ve Just Seen a Face.” Patitucci lays down the perfect groove and fills to flesh out the arrangement while allowing Gracie to sing it out. The musical connection...
TC Electronic Introduces K-115 Bass Cabinet
TC Electronic has expanded their new K-series bass cabinets with a new 1×15″ model. The K-115 Bass Cab is fitted with a custom-made 15-inch driver and a one-inch titanium tweeter to pump out up to 400 watts. Similar to the rest of the lineup, the cab is built as a lightweight design for gigging musicians. Its sturdy plywood construction includes...