Darkglass Electronics Updates Microtubes B3K and Microtubes B7K Pedals
Darkglass Electronics has refreshed their flagship B3K and B7K pedals for 2017. The Microtubes B7K v2 and Microtubes B3K v2 retain their core circuitry for the Darkglass tone while upgrading features. “Fundamentally the Microtubes B3K is the same pedal we designed nearly a decade ago, aimed to give you a perfect combination of brutality and clarity,” Darkglass writes. “You can...
Alissia Benveniste: Get Away
Bassist Alissia Benveniste may be featured on the upcoming Bootsy Collins album, but that didn’t stop her from continuing to kick out her own jams. She’s just released a brand new track and music video for “Get Away,” a song she says reflects her inspirations. “I felt like it was time to write and produce a song that I release...
Tech 21 Acoustic Fly Rig Coming Soon
Tech 21 has expanded its lineup of Fly Rig pedals with an acoustic version. The new Acoustic Fly Rig is fitted with the company’s flagship circuitry and supports acoustic stringed instruments as well as guitar and bass. The compact unit weighs just over 20 ounces and measures 12.5 inches long. It features an all-analog SansAmp preamp with a sweepable, semi-parametric...
In Memoriam: Martin Eric Ain
Founding Celtic Frost bassist Martin Eric Ain has died from a heart attack. He was 50 years old. Born in the United States, Ain joined the Swiss extreme metal band Hellhammer in 1983. The group became deeply influential on black metal and is considered a pioneering band in death metal. They disbanded in 1984 with members founding another influential band:...
Bass of the Week: Marc Chicoine Dominic “Forest” Lapointe 6-String Bass
I’m always astounded by the bass work of Dominic “Forest” Lapointe. His refined technique and raw emotion always come through in his bass lines. I’m also stunned by his basses, which is why this week we’re checking out his six-string left-handed signature bass built by luthier Marc Chicoine. Based around Quebec, Chicoine has been building guitars and basses for 20...
Magnus Sjöquist: Someone To Watch Over Me
U-Bass fanatic Magnus Sjöquist shared this awesome video of his tribute to one of his bass heroes. “It’s a little tribute to Steve Swallow. Especially his bass/chord comping,” he writes. “This is a transcription of a part he plays behind John Scofield from a concert with the John Scofield Trio. I’m playing a custom Kala Solid Body 5-string tuned EADGC.”...
Mooer Updates Octave Line With Tender Octaver mkII Pedal
Mooer has updated their octave pedal lineup again this year with an updated version of their Tender Octaver. The Tender Octaver mkII features three brand new algorithms and a true analog dry through the signal. Its new Fat algorithm adds a “huge bassy lower octave and a soft-toned upper voicing” while a Tight algorithm focuses more on the lower octave...
Buster Williams Featured on Eddie Daniels/Roger Kellaway Recording, “Just Friends”
Resonance Records has unearthed another incredible performance with Just Friends: Live at the Village Vanguard by Eddie Daniels and Roger Kellaway. Recorded at the famed New York City jazz club in 1988, the never-before-heard recording was captured by label founder George Klabin during a week-long run. “I just placed the mic on the table facing the band, hit ‘record’ and...
Electro-Harmonix Unveils New Volume Pedal
Electro-Harmonix has released a new Volume Pedal featuring two impedance options for maximum compatibility with instruments. “With selectable 25K or 250K impedances, the Volume Pedal is well suited for both active and passive pickup-equipped guitars and basses as well as keyboards, other electronic instruments and line level signals,” the company writes. Housed in a rugged chassis, the pedal is a...
Spinal Tap: The Big Black Book Now Available
Wallace Fairfax has published a new book called Spinal Tap: The Big Black Book. In the words of Nigel Tufnel, “It’s like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None … more black.” The 128-page book documents the band and the rockumentary, This Is Spinal Tap, that launched them into fame. “Now, for the very...
Beneath The Bassline Documentary Coming Soon
Bassists will be getting their due in a new documentary called Beneath The Bassline. Directed by Nick Wells, the film features loads of interview time with some of the greatest bass players in the world. Wells traveled to Fodera Guitars, Sadowsky Guitars, and Aguilar Amplification in New York to get the scoop on gear and meet up with bassists Will...
The Blood of Gods: An Interview With Beefcake The Mighty
Prepare yourselves, you puny humans. Gwar is making their triumphant return on October 20th with The Blood of Gods, an 11-track album chronicling the band’s history of war against the creatures of Earth. If you’ve never seen the Richmond, Virginia-based band, their on-stage antics may come as a shock. The group portrays an elite fighting force of aliens with oversized...