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...
Radial Engineering Announces the Bassbone V2
After introducing the Bassbone OD last year, Radial Engineering is updating the original Bassbone with the Bassbone V2. The second generation device features a dedicated effects loop, a combination power booster-mute footswitch, and a piezo optimized input for upright bass. “We recently launched the Bassbone OD which has gained tremendous attention from many of the world’s most prominent bass players,”...
Michael Whittaker and the Bottom 40 Band: Workin’ Day and Night
The recent wave of reharmonized pop tunes has led to some really great music. Here’s keyboardist Michael Whittaker and the Bottom 40 Band – and featuring bassist Adam Nitti – performing an updated version of Michael Jackson’s “Workin Day and Night.” Nitti gets a huge tone to fill out the bottom end while syncing up with Whittaker for some unbelievable...
Bass of the Week: BL Design Marozi #014
One of the first basses we featured in the Bass of the Week series was the redwood themed BL Design Barbary. After revisiting the BL Design website I found this unbelievable 5-string Marozi that centers around a stunning spalted myrtle burl top. The Marozi is one of luthier Beau Leopard’s double cutaway designs. This particular instrument was built with a...
TC Electronic Unveils K-Series Bass Cabinets
TC Electronic took the opportunity at the Winter NAMM Show to unveil the new K-Series of bass cabinets. Following in the footsteps of the company’s RS and BC cabinets, the K-Series models are designed to be lightweight with vertical stacking ability. The lineup includes the K210, the K212, and the K410. Each is constructed with a durable plywood cabinet loaded...
Marcus Miller Teams with Sire Guitars for New Signature Basses
Marcus Miller has a new line of signature instruments with Sire Guitars. The series is based on two models – the J-bass inspired V7 and the modern-styled M3 – and aims to create quality instruments at low prices.