Q-Tuner Expands Transparent Q2.0 Bass Pickups
Q-Tuner has expanded their bass offerings with new transparent, red-coiled pickups. Available now in 4, 5, and 6-string versions, the pickups are described as producing a “tight, clean and life-like bass sound loaded with harmonics.” They are created with neodymium magnets in a unique alignment for dynamic range. “There are many steps in making these pickups and we are actually...
Original Dixie Dregs Announce Reunion
It’s official: the original lineup of the Dixie Dregs will be reuniting for a tour in 2018. Rumors of the legendary band’s reunion have been swirling since 2015, but it was made official in a video that Rod Morgenstein made for Rock, Roots, & Blues – Live. Original Dregs bassist Andy West will be taking part in the reunion and...
Ibanez Updates BTB Premium Basses
After revamping their standard BTB line earlier this year, Ibanez has now announced an updated version of their BTB Premium basses for 2017. The new 1805E and 1806E BTB Premium basses feature the combination of a rosewood and ash body with a nine-piece wenge/bubinga/maple neck-through design. The neck is also reinforced with graphite rods. They’ve also changed the pickups to...
Ariane Cap: Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot
We’re lucky at No Treble to have some extremely talented contributors. Talking Technique’s Ariane Cap sent us this new all bass arrangement of Sting’s “Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot”, and it’s gorgeous. Ariane lays down the bass, harmony, and melody with a beautiful tone and feel. “I made it for a dear friend who is dealing with a frightening...
Electro-Harmonix Introduces The Platform
Electro-Harmonix has released The Platform, a stereo compressor/limiter that includes an overdrive section as well as a volume swell function. Suited for guitar or bass, the stereo pedal has a full compressor control set including Volume, Attack, Release, Sustain, and Hard or Soft Knee buttons. A set of colored LEDs show your compression settings as well as a pair of...
Marcone and Philp Publish Updated Edition of “Managing Your Band”
If you’ve ever been in a band, you know the hardest part is managing it. If that’s something you’ve been struggling with, Stephen Marcone and David Philp have some advice in the new sixth edition of their book, Managing Your Band – Artist Management: The Ultimate Responsibility. The 344-page book is aimed at helping DIY musicians and personal managers to...
Tool: The Pot, Live (2017)
Like just about everyone else on the planet, I’m eagerly anticipating the new Tool album. Luckily there are plenty of great live videos coming out to keep me going. Here’s a clip of the band playing “The Pot” on June 7th, 2017 in Clarkson, Michigan. It was their first time playing the song live in over five years, but you...
Donald “Duck” Dunn Biography and Transcription Book Coming Soon
It’s hard to talk about the giants of bass without bringing up Donald “Duck” Dunn. As a session bassist for Stax-Volt, he laid down the groove to hits by Booker T. & the MGs, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd, Elvis Presley, Isaac Hayes, and more. Many will also remember him as the bassist for the Blues...
Emma Electronic Updates the DiscomBOBulator Envelope Filter
Emma Electronic has updated their flagship envelope filter for 2017. The DB-2 DiscumBOBulator builds on its predecessor, which was released nearly 20 years ago, with new features for increased versatility. Specifically, it has an increased frequency range, improved tracking, increased headroom, and a new dedicated clean boost that can run with or independent of the filter. The pedal ranges from...
Bass of the Week: Hernan Gordon Astor Bass
Our new Facebook group has been great for connecting with bassists. One of the early posts was by Hernan Gordon from Argentina, who shared a pair of basses he built for himself. They are called Astor and Lautaro in dedication to his children. This week we’re checking out the Astor bass, which Gordon created based on a Fodera design. The...
TC Electronic Announces the Sub ‘N’ Up Mini Octaver
After introducing the Sub ‘N’ Up octaver last year, TC Electronic has announced a new mini version of the pedal. The Sub ‘N’ Up Mini retains the same tonal characteristics of its big brother while stripping it down to the bone for a small footprint. The pedal has Dry mix, Sub octave, and Up octave knobs. It is also Toneprint-enabled,...
Death: The Philosopher, Live 1998
Death was one of the biggest metal bands in the world for a reason, and here’s one of them. This clip of “The Philosopher” was taken from a 1998 performance at the Dynamo Open Air festival. It was the first performance of the band’s “Sound Of Perseverance” lineup, including Scott Clendenin on bass. The song is filled with killer riffs...