Bass of the Week: Ploughman Guitars Fanned Fret Bass
This week we’re checking out a fanned fret design by Ploughman Guitars in Serbia. Luthier Radovan Jovicic built the bass with a multi-scale ranging from 33 inches to 35 inches. It’s built with neck-through construction featuring a maple and mahogany neck and wenge fingerboard with mahogany binding. The body wings are a sandwich of mahogany, white ash, and heat treated...
Tower of Power to Celebrate 48th Anniversary with Tour
It may seem hard to believe, but 2016 will mark 48 years since the formation of Tower of Power. The influential group has released 18 studio albums, seven live albums, six compilations, three DVDs, and have toured the world with thousands of shows. To celebrate the band’s longevity, they’ll be bringing their unique blend of soul, funk, jazz and rock...
Steve Bailey and Friends: Jingle Bells
Steve Bailey has sent out his annual audio Christmas greeting, and this year’s is the biggest yet. As head of the Berklee Bass Department, Bailey brings in featured artists during their visits to the college to make special bass arrangements of holiday carols. This year has Bailey, Sandro Scoccia, Leland Sklar, John Patitucci, Victor Wooten, David Ellefson, Gary Willis, and...
In Memoriam: Terry Horbury
Vardis bassist Terry Horbury has passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 65 years old. The band announced his death on their Facebook page. “Many of his generation had their lives changed by music in the 1960s,” the statement read, “but Terry’s first Cream gig in ’67 started him down a path which encompassed 50 years and 60...
Carl Mörner Ringström Trio: Silent Night
Here’s a version of “Silent Night” like you’ve never heard before. Guitarist Carl Mörner Ringström teamed up with bassist Johannes Zetterberg and drummer Jonathan Lundberg to make this intense yet relaxed version of the carol. Zetterberg lays down the groove on a beautiful six-string fretless before taking the lead at the 1:38 mark. The track is available as a free...
Tony Grey: Carol of the Bells
We’re getting into the holiday spirit with some bass videos, including this new arrangement of “Carol of the Bells” by Tony Grey. The bassist creates an ambient soundscape with the song’s lulling melody before taking a beautiful solo over top. Light the tree, sit back and enjoy. Grey is offering the track as a free download on his website.
Bass of the Week: Mana Basso Glade 6-String
This week we’re checking out a six-string Glade model from Mana Basso custom basses. The gorgeous singlecut bass features a Padouk, Wenge and Swamp Ash body matched to a Wenge, Padouk and Flamed Maple neck for a rich textural palette. Its Birdseye maple fretboard leads your eye to the bass’s carved headstock, which is made as part of the neck...
Jan-Olof Strandberg and Dominique Di Piazza: Bass Duo Improvisation
Jan-Olof Strandberg uses his solo project, aptly entitled The Strandberg Project, to bring together musicians from all over the world to create incredible musical experiences. He also regularly invites guests bassists to join his band for tours, including Michael Manring, Armand Sabal-Lecco, Paul Jackson, and more. His latest collaboration is with Dominique Di Piazza, who joined him for the “Strandberg...
Electro-Harmonix Introduces 720 Stereo Looper Pedal
Electro-Harmonix has expanded their series of looping pedals with the 720 Stereo Looper. Featuring 720 seconds (12 minutes) of stereo recording time, the pedal includes ten independent loops and unlimited overdubbing for flexible looping. The looper has 24-bit A/D/A converters and a sample rate of 44.1kHz for high quality audio. Its controls are streamlined with a Push:Mode button that toggles...
Jacob Collier: PYT
Multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier is a freak of nature, so it figures that his cover of Michael Jackson’s classic “PYT” would be just as out there. Collier – who arranged, performed, produced, filmed and edited the clip – included some off the wall bass licks and a thriller of a unison line with the keyboard.
PandaMidi Revives A Classic Synth Pedal with the Future Impact I
The AKAI Deep Impact is one of the most sought after synth bass pedals around. Discontinued years ago, the pedal is often seen selling for $800 or more. Now the Deep Impact’s designer has announced the next generation of the synth pedal with the Future Impact I by PandaMidi. While the Future Impact I is able to reproduce all nine...
Jeremy Davis Leaves Paramore
Jeremy Davis has parted ways with Paramore, according to a post on the band’s Facebook page. The bassist was a founding member in 2004. “These last few years have held some of the most fulfilling moments we’ve had yet… as people, as friends, and as a band,” the statement reads. “The Self-Titled era was one that we knew would be...