ESP Unveils New Frank Bello Signature Model Basses
Anthrax’s Frank Bello teamed up with ESP again this year to create a new signature bass, resulting in the custom shop Frank Bello J-4 and the LTD Series FB-J4. Each bass is a take on a classic P/J design in a sleek black color scheme with red accents. The custom shop version is crafted one at a time in Japan....
Bass of the Week: Hannah Mayne Gamba Bass
I love the elegance of the double bass, especially this gorgeous Gamba model built by Hannah Mayne. Inspired by an 18th-century Italian bass, it’s crafted with Bosnian maple for the back, sides, and neck with an Engelmann spruce top. “I modified the original outline of the bass, along with the dimensions, making it my own design. The sound holes, other...
Italia Guitars Unveils the Maranello Cavo Bass
Italia Guitars unveiled a handful of new instruments at Musikmesse this year including the Maranello Cavo Bass. The short-scale, semi-hollow four-stringer is described as “packing an enormous punch in a very comfortable package.” Available in Racing Green and Translucent Cocoa colors, the retro-styled bass is built with a chambered mahogany body complete with the company’s signature f-hole design, a set...
Ibanez Adds to SR Premium Series Basses
Ibanez freshened up their SR Premium line with two new finishes for 2017. The SR1400-MLG and the SR1405E-GWH are the first in the series to feature gloss finishes and come in Mojito Lime Green and Glacial White, respectively. Each model is built in the company’s premium factory with a mahogany body, figured maple top, five-piece wenge/bubinga neck, and rosewood fretboard....
Bogner Introduces the Lyndhurst Compressor Pedal
Amp designer Reinhold Bogner recently unveiled a series of effects pedals, and now he’s added to it with the Lyndhurst Compressor. The pedal was born from a collaboration with Bogner and legendary electronics engineer Rupert Neve to give the sounds of vintage mixing boards into your pedalboard. “The Lyndhurst compressor combines the best of both worlds, state of the art...
Justin Chancellor: How to Play Tool’s “Aenima”
Tool’s music has lots of great qualities, but we all know the bass lines are always the best. Luckily, bassist Justin Chancellor sat down with France’s Bassiste Magazine to show how to play the classic track “Aenima.” He also talks about how the beat works to help you feel it out. Time to practice!
Markbass Introduces the EVO 1 Bass Amp
After introducing the prototype last year, Markbass has unveiled the final version of the EVO 1 bass amp. The innovative head unit offers six amp tones over two channels: one clean and one distorted. “Bass players have always been inspired by the possibility to mix two amplifiers tones and to blend clean and distorted sounds as Jaco Pastorius did back...
Sons of Africa: An Interview with Cheikh Ndoye
Cheikh Ndoye has just released his latest album as a leader, entitled . The eight-song collection is an incredible blend of the Senegal-born bassist’s African roots and his love of jazz. Deep grooves and soulful melodies abound in seven original songs along with a fresh take on the Jaco Pastorius classic “Continuum.” We caught up with Ndoye to get the...
EchoTest: The Plight
We were excited for EchoTest to release their new album, from two balconies, and this clip is a reason why. Bassists Julie Slick and Marco Machera rip into the tune “The Plight” in a video shot over four venues.
Robert Trujillo’s 12-Year-Old Son to Tour with Korn
They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and that seems to be the case in the Trujillo family. Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo’s twelve-year-old son Tye Trujillo will be hitting the road with Korn this month. The news was posted to Korn’s Facebook page, which stated that full-time bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu will have to sit out the...
Hartke Unveils the Bass Attack 2 Preamp Pedal
Hartke has announced the Bass Attack 2 preamp and direct box. The pedal unit combines their classic preamp with an overdrive section and plenty of connectivity. The pedal has three footswitches: one for on/off, one for the Shape circuit, and one for the overdrive. The EQ section has bass and treble knobs with a contour switch while the Shape circuit...
In Memoriam: Banner Thomas
Former Molly Hatchet bassist Banner Thomas has passed away from a heart attack. The news was shared by the band on their Facebook page. “Molly Hatchet bassist, Banner Thomas passed away this morning,” they wrote. “From 1978 – 1983, Banner played on the first four MH albums, including the hit Flirtin’ With Disaster. He left the band and was replaced...