Bass of the Week: Lieber Guitars Spellbinder 2001
Stanley Clarke has not only pushed the way people play the bass, he’s helped to push the way people build the bass. The legendary player is known for experimenting with new concepts in bass designs ranging from body materials, electronics, and tunings. In 1979, Clarke commissioned luthier Thomas Lieber to build an all composite bass. Their partnership resulted in a...
Leo Nocentelli’s Meters Experience, Featuring Bill Dickens: Live in New Orleans
The great week of bass birthdays continues with the fantastic Bill Dickens, whose birthday is today. Here’s a great clip of Dickens laying it down with guitarist Leo Nocentelli’s Meters Experience at a concert in New Orleans.
Walrus Audio Releases Descent Reverb
Walrus Audio is now shipping the Descent, a stereo reverb pedal with three modes – Hall, Reverse, and Shimmer – to deliver a variety of soundscapes. The modes are toggled via mini-switch and are adjusted with reverb time, diminish, tweak, dry mix, and wet mix knobs. It also has an independent dry signal knob for control over your un-effected signal....
The Beatles: “Don’t Let Me Down” Rooftop Performance
Today we’re celebrating Paul McCartney’s birthday with this Beatles video. The bass line to “Don’t Let Me Down” has always been a favorite of mine for its big round tone and melodicism, and this video from their final live performance on the rooftop of the Apple building is palpable, to say the least. Happy birthday, Sir Paul!
Bernard Purdie, Chuck Rainey, David T. Walker and More: Tighten Up
Today is bass legend Chuck Rainey’s birthday, and we’re celebrating with a jam of epic proportions. Here’s Rainey jamming the 1968 Archie Bell and the Drells song “Tighten Up,” from the 1993 “Coolin’ ’N Groovin’” performance in Japan. The session includes a who’s who of R&B session players, including drummer Bernard Purdie, guitarist David T. Walker, organist Sonny Phillips, saxophonist...
Fender Introduces American Standard Jaguar Bass
Fender is adding a Jaguar model to their American Standard bass lineup, which will be the first U.S.-made Jaguar bass. Built in their Corona, California plant, the American Standard Jaguar Bass will be built with an alder body finished in 3-color Sunburst, Olympic White, Black, or Mystic Red. Each bass will be loaded with a P/J pickup configuration consisting of...
CruzTOOLS Introduces Stagehand Compact Tech Kit
CruzTOOLS has announced a new tool set for bassists and guitarists called the Stagehand Compact Tech Kit. Adding to their line instrument maintenance tools, the kit centers around a screwdriver-style bit holder and a 19-piece magnetic bit set that comes complete with hex wrenches, screwdrivers, and sockets in imperial and metric sizes. The company says the range of bits allows...
DigiTech Announces DOD Envelope Filter 440 and Drop Pedals
Digitech has announced two new stompbox effects for bass and guitar to their lineup including the The Drop and a reissue of the DOD Envelope 440. Both pedals feature true bypass and 9-volt operation. The DOD Envelope Filter 440 is a new take on the vintage pedal with upgrades including true bypass, a 9-volt power adapter jack, and a Voice...
Mark Michell Releases Sightreading Instructional Book for Bass
If you’re looking to beef up on your sight reading, listen up. Scale the Summit bassist Mark Michell has just published his second instructional book entitled Sightreading 101 for Bass, Reading Standard Notation, Vol. 1. Michell was motivated to write the book after having to learn to read music notation and seeing the gaps in other method books. “Most of...
TC Electronic Releases Combined TonePrints
TC Electronic has added a new twist to their TonePrint technology with the introduction of Combined Toneprints for use in their BG250 and BH250 bass amps. Toneprint is a slot on the amp for onboard effects that can be changed via USB or smartphone app. The company is launching the new effects series with six Combined TonePrints based on the...
JHS Pedals Now Shipping Colour Box Preamp Pedal
Tons of classic albums got their guitar and bass tones by simply plugging directly into vintage recording consoles, and one of the most popular consoles made by Neve is the inspiration for a new stompbox by JHS Pedals called The Colour Box. The pedal is a 100% analog studio-grade preamp that utilizes dual Neve 1073 preamp topologies and a Baxandall...
Snow Owl: Bun?uelitos
Sometime last year, Damian Erskine clued me into a smoking new bassist and I was hooked. Snow Owl, aka Juan Garcia-Herreros, has such stunning rhythmic and melodic capabilities that he makes the most complex lines seem simple. Here he plays an original duo compositon called “Bun?uelitos” with violinist Alejandra Maria. Beyond the musical prowess, it’s great to see the amount...