Rick Turner Teams Up with Michael Kelly Guitars to Release Licensed Renaissance Bass
Luthier Rick Turner has teamed up with Michael Kelly Guitars to release a licensed line of his Renaissance instruments, including the Renaissance Bass. Turner, who co-founded Alembic in 1970, has been making the series by hand up until now. The Michael Kelly MKB4SB Renaissance Bass is a chambered acoustic 4-string bass built with an okumé body, mahogany neck, and rosewood...
Deep Purple Announces North American Tour Dates
After touring Europe this year, Deep Purple will be bringing their NOW What?! tour to North America, starting August 4th. The outing is in support of their 19th studio album of the same name that was released last year. The band, anchored by bass powerhouse Roger Glover, will start their journey in Arizona before snaking up the West Coast, into...
Davie504: 100 Bass Line Medley
This video has been making the rounds, and for good reason. Bassist Davie504 made this incredible medley of 100 of the most popular bass lines of all time. “I chose and played 100 Great and Famous Bass Lines which, in my opinion, every bass player should know!” the bassist writes. “These bass lines helped me during those years to improve...
Bass of the Week: James Colby’s Homemade “Glitzy” Bass
Sometimes if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. We love it when bassists take building their instrument into their own hands, and Jim Colby nailed it with his bass that he calls “Glitzy.” ”‘Glitzy’ came about due to my love of 60’s Fender basses, and a meager paycheck,” the bassist shares. “Built in 1995 and...
Digital Dream Sequence: An Interview with Dan Briggs
Musical diversity is a beautiful thing, and Dan Briggs has it in spades. Besides laying down the low end for the popular prog-metal outfit Between the Buried and Me, the bassist has several projects to express different sides of his playing including ORBS and Trioscapes, the latter of which is gearing up for their sophomore release next month. Digital Dream...
Ella Basses Introduces Isaac Singlecut Bass
Ella Basses has introduced a new singlecut model called the Isaac. Named after luthier Jeff Power’s son, the bass is handmade and can be ordered to suit. The Isaac has been made in 4- and 5-string versions with standard features including set-neck construction, Bartolini pickups and electronics, and Hipshot hardware. The first 4-string Isaac is built with a stunning spalted...
Funk Brothers with Bob Babbitt: “Mercy Mercy Me”, Live 2004
Today we’re remembering the legendary bassist Bob Babbitt, who passed away on this day in 2012. After playing on over 200 Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits, it’s safe to say that he will never be forgotten. Here’s a video of Babbitt performing “Mercy Mercy Me” at the 2004 Montreal Jazz Festival with the Funk Brothers. Babbitt played on the...
Scott Varney: Slow Down
Here’s an example of a singer/songwriter doing it right. The very talented Scott Varney builds his song “Slow Down” all by himself with a bass, a djembe, his voice and a looper. After getting a serious groove and sweet backup vocals going, Varney adds his lyrics overtop while comping chords on his bass. Make sure to check out the Sublime...
Seymour Duncan Announces NYC Bass Pickups
Seymour Duncan has announced a new line of pickups. Similar to pickups found on the city’s handcrafted basses, the new NYC Bass Pickups use a dual coil J-type pickup design with a double row of exposed Alnico pole pieces. They are also made for flexibility with a four conductor cable that allows for three wiring modes: parallel, series, or single-coil....
Digital Audio Labs Adds Expansion Products to Stompblox Pedalboard Line
Digital Audio Labs has extended their line of Stompblox modular pedalboards with the Stompblox Riser and the Stompblox Extend. The new products are the first two modular expansion products that connect to the Stompblox system to expand its functionality. Intended to make the back row more accessible, Stompblox Risers are designed to snap into the pedalboard to raise certain sections....
Andrew Workman: Playthrough of Taken By The Tide’s “Long Pig”
Here’s another great metal bass play-through from Taken by the Tide’s Andrew Workman, who demonstrates how to play their song “Long Pig.” The track comes from their latest EP, Hands of Spite. Workman uses a healthy mix of fingerstyle, slapping, and tapping to get lots of textures out of his 7-string AC Guitars bass.
Ed Breckenridge Joins Angels & Airwaves
Blink 182 guitarist Tom DeLonge took to his Instagram page to announce that his band Angels & Airwaves has recruited former Thrice bassist Ed Breckenridge to join their ranks. “We welcome Ed Breckenridge to the gang- Formerly of the post-hardcore band #Thrice,” he wrote. “He is a perfect fit for this group of punk rock Gymnasts. A daily surfer, and...