Tanglewood Introduces Updated TW155-A Acoustic Bass Guitar
Tanglewood Guitars has revamped their Premier series of acoustic instruments including the TW155-A bass. The lineup’s third generation is defined by solid AA Sitka spruce tops, mahogany back and sides, and a natural satin finish. The TW155-A acoustic bass guitar has a rosewood fingerboard and matching bridge. Its body is also bound in rosewood and maple. Tanglewood fits the bass...
Cory Henry and Michael League: “Yesterday” and “Looking Out For Me”
Soul is pouring over in this video of Snarky Puppy members Cory Henry and Michael League playing a workshop at the Escola de Música Luciano Alf in Rio De Janeiro. The duo doesn’t need a drummer to get a fat groove going on the classic Beatles song “Yesterday,” which they later morph into Kirk Franklin’s “Looking Out for Me.”
Adrenaline Mob Switches Bassists, Announces Tour
In a strange turn of events, rock supergroup Adrenaline Mob has announced that bassist John Moyer has been replaced by former Tantric bassist Erik Leonhardt. Moyer, who is also a member of Disturbed, left the group after confusion about the band’s recent tour announcement. Adrenaline Mob posted the news about their upcoming tour on social media, and Moyer posted on...
Out of the Black: An Interview with Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr
Sometimes great things come in small packages. That’s true in the case of Royal Blood, a British rock duo that gets a gargantuan sound that rivals four or five-piece bands. One of the key ingredients to that sound is the massive bass tone delivered by Mike Kerr. Kerr started Royal Blood with drummer Ben Thatcher in early 2012 after discovering...
Ibanez Adds New Color Finishes to SR Premium Series Basses
Ibanez stepped up its SR series in 2011 with the SR Premium, which took the company’s flagship model and gave it upgraded features. The series has traditionally kept in the vein of boutique basses with only natural finishes, but Ibanez has announced that the SR Premium 1400E and 1405E will be getting new color options of Deep Ocean Flat and...
Monty Alexander, John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton: Mojo
Today is John Clayton’s birthday, and we’re celebrating with one of the bassist’s grooves. Here’s the jazz guru laying it down with Monty Alexander and Jeff Hamilton on the tune “Mojo.” Clayton’s joy for music is infectious. Make sure to check out his solo at the 3:22 mark. Happy birthday, Mr. Clayton!
In Memoriam: Billy Rath
Billy Rath, bassist for classic punk band Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, has passed away after a long illness. He was 66. Rath joined the New York-based Heartbreakers in 1976, replacing original bassist Richard Hell. He was featured on the band’s only studio album, L.A.M.F, which caught the attention of the Sex Pistols. The band went on tour with the...
Xotic Announces 6-String XJ-1T Bass
Xotic has expanded their XJ-1T series with a 6-string bass, which the company describes as having the feel and tone of a traditional jazz-type bass with the addition of two more strings. The 34″ scale bass is fitted with a pair of the company’s single coil pickups and Hum Reduction Inductor circuit that eliminates the hum associated with jazz-style pickups....
Bass of the Week: M-Tone Guitars Boki
M-Tone Guitars made their first bass earlier this year, and by the looks of it, they got it right the first time. The M-Tone Boki is a custom bass that was hand-built in Portland, Oregon with a “super light” one-piece swamp ash body finished in a gorgeous floral paint job. Its motif is carried over to its steel pickguard, too....
Janek Gwizdala Announces Ultimate Play Alongs App
Practicing will be taken to a whole new level with Ultimate Play Alongs, a new app that will be available for iOS and Android devices. The app, created by bassist Janek Gwizdala and drummer Louie Palmer, is built around a play-along experience with the back catalog of some of the world’s greatest musicians including Mike Stern, Nathan East, John Patitucci,...
Ibanez Introduces Peter Iwers PIB3 5-String Bass
In Flames bassist Peter Iwers has teamed up with Ibanez to release a third signature bass called the PIB3. Featuring a new blood red finish, the company says the new five-string model’s secret weapon is the EQB-IIID 3-band EQ. The mid control is set up to boost at one frequency while cutting at a different frequency to optimize mid-frequency control....
The Wood Brothers Announce Fall Tour Dates
After spending the summer on the festival circuit, The Wood Brothers have announced their own tour that will stretch from September through October. The Americana folk group will kick off their trek at the WorkPlay Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama and spend the two-month outing focusing on the Southeast and Midwest United States. The Wood Brothers is based on the duo...