Ashdown Announces Desktop B-Social Bass Amp
Ashdown Engineering took the opportunity at NAMM to unveil the B-Social, a desktop bass amp that’s loaded with innovative features. The 75-watt stereo amp is boasted as the first desktop amp system for bass guitarists with Bluetooth connectivity that allows the bass to connect wirelessly via an optional transmitter. The “social” aspect of the amp comes from from several features,...
Twinscapes: Master Class at Planet Live
Bassists Colin Edwin and Lorenzo Feliciati teamed up last year to release Twinscapes, an album that ranges from ambient drones to heavy grooving. Besides stellar musicianship, the record is tied together with clever uses of effects and techniques to create rich sonic atmospheres. The duo have now released footage of a master class in which they reveal their approaches. Taken...
Bass of the Week: Negrini Guitars Fëanor JSM6
This week we check out the Fëanor JMS6, a 6-string headless bass created by Italian luthier Giulio Negrini. The modern design also includes a multi-scale string configuration and fanned frets. Negrini built the bass with an alder body topped with flamed maple in a beautiful translucent colored finish. Its neck continues the flamed maple theme and is reinforced with carbon...
Dream Studios Unveils the Majestic Bass
Dream Studios announced their Majestic Bass at NAMM – one they describe as simple, but with quality. The bass is built with a one-piece alder body that is heavily contoured for comfort and playability. The instrument’s hard maple neck can be topped with either a rosewood or Torray Carbon Fiber fretboard. Each option holds 22 frets and mother of pearl...
Kike Mora: Dhy?na
Light some incense and get ready for a trip. Kike Mora sent us this video for his solo bass song “Dhy?na,” in which he uses a drone and effects to create a four-minute meditative experience.
Fender Updates Geddy Lee and Steve Harris Signature Basses
Rush’s Geddy Lee and Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris are having their Fender signature models spruced up for 2015. Each of the signature models have been around for years but will be getting new specs and features. The USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass is getting more of an update between the two. “[It] is a new version that combines the specs...
Future User: Mountain Lion
Former Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave bassist Tim Commerford is back with his own band called Future User. The band’s electronic sound may be a departure from the bassist’s former bands, but his massive sound is still the musical centerpiece. Commerford, who also handles vocals, hasn’t lost his political edge, either. The song “Mountain Lion” is about pushing the...
G&L Guitars Introduces MJ-5 Bass Guitar
G&L Guitars has introduced a 5-string version of their MJ-4 called the MJ-5 Bass Guitar. The new model retains all the features of the four-string model with re-engineered bi-coil Alnico V pickups. Each pickup features two side-by-side coils configured in a series-humbucking mode to offer a range of single-coil tones without the classic hum. The pickups are matched to a...
Morley Announces Cliff Burton Tribute Series Power Fuzz Wah Pedal
Morley debuted the Cliff Burton Tribute Series Power Fuzz Wah at the Winter NAMM Show this year. Introduced in part with the bassist’s father Ray Burton, the pedal is a tribute that blends aspects of the 70’s model used by Burton on the early Metallica recordings and the company’s modern models. The Power Fuzz Wah’s fuzz and wah effects can...
Chris Brubeck’s Triple Play: New Stew, Opus 2
A friend sent in this video of bassist Chris Brubeck and his trio Triple Play performing their song “New Stew, Opus 2” live. Brubeck, whose father was jazz legend Dave Brubeck, brings a bubbly funk groove on his modded fretless Rickenbacker. The fun in the group’s playing is infectious. You’ll be bobbing your head to this one in no time.
Ampeg Unveils SCR-DI Bass DI Pedal at NAMM
Ampeg’s booth at NAMM this year featured their new revamped BA combo series, but it centered around the unveiling of their brand new SCR-DI. The bass-friendly direct box is their first new pedal in years and brings together an Ampeg preamp, EQ section, and their Scrambler Overdrive. The SCR-DI starts with a legacy Ampeg preamp with tone stack circuits, which...
Marco Morandi: Integral’s “Realm Of Atlantis” Playthrough
We featured the SiC Instruments Madness 6-string fretless as a bass of the week in December, and it was a fan favorite. Luthier Simon Calabrese followed up by sending us this video of Integral’s Marco Morandi using the bass to play through their song “Realm of Atlantis.” The song is straight tech metal, but takes a breather at the 4:24...