Cliff Williams Officially Retires from AC/DC
After announcing it earlier this year, Cliff Williams has officially retired from AC/DC after a nearly 40 year run. The bassist joined the band in 1977, just two years after their debut album, and played on every subsequent release. “I’m just ready to get off the road,” Williams stated in a video interview. “[I need] family time now and just...
Peter Hook and the Light Embark on North American “Substance” Tour
Peter Hook and the Light are returning to North America this Fall to perform the works of Joy Division and New Order. The trek will have the bassist revisit his former bands by performing Joy Division and New Order’s compilation albums Substance live, sequentially and in their entireties. “Released in August 1987, New Order’s Substance was originally conceived as a...
Jens Ritter Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Coffee Table Book
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Jens Ritter Instruments, and the bass maker is celebrating with a commemorative book of his work. “I started my career as an instrument maker in 1996. Now in September 2016 I am celebrating my 20th anniversary with a coffee table book with pictures of my favorite instruments from the last 20 years,” Ritter...
Alex Bershadsky, Oz Noy, Nathaniel Townsley & Kama Kamila: POP-001
Alex Bershadsky has teased his upcoming album with a new video for the song, “POP-001”. Besides the bassist’s incredible strumming and slap playing, the tune features heavyweight musicians with guitarist Oz Noy, drummer Nathaniel Townsley, and vocalist Kama Kamila. If this is any indicator of its direction, we’re really looking forward to the new album!
Ibanez Unveils Limited Edition SR Premium Bass
Ibanez is making a special run of heir SR Premium bass for 2016. The SR5SMLTD Premium is a five-string model that will sport a spalted maple top, birdseye maple fingerboard, and birdseye maple pickup covers to exude what the company calls a rare exotic charm. As a member of the Premium line, the bass carries several other upgrades from standard...
Bass of the Week: Pachyderm Basses Blonde Bass
Les Claypool has always played distinct basses, and this week we’re checking out one of those basses he helped design: The Pachyderm Basses Blonde Bass. Claypool worked with luthier and longtime friend Dan Maloney to form the company and create his idea of the ultimate bass. “My idea was to incorporate the traits of the instruments I have loved over...
Storksky & Fortheloveofbass: Fracas Maracas
Ivo Schot, aka Fortheloveofbass, is back again with a new collaboration. In his fourth bass and vocal song, he teams up with the Dutch artist Storksky for a version of the song “Fracas Maracas.” “[It’s] a rock tune with a lot of grit,” Schot shares. “The song features a 1956 Danelectro Longhorn bass, which is the oldest bass I’ve ever...
Cort Announces AB850F Acoustic Bass Guitar
Cort Guitars has expanded their bass lineup with the AB850F, an acoustic bass guitar featuring a full-size, jumbo body that the company says produces plenty of volume. The bass, which comes in natural and black finishes, is constructed with a dovetail neck joint and venetian cutaway for better access to the upper register. Its body back and sides are mahogany...
Gibson Unveils 2017 EB Bass T Model
Gibson has unveiled their 2017 instrument lineup, including the new Gibson 2017 EB Bass T. The new version revamps the EB Bass design with a new body shape among other features. As part of the “T” series, the bass is created with tonewoods and pickups chosen for vintage Gibson sounds. The bass is built with a swamp ash body, set...
Lynn Seaton and Donovan Stokes: Patrician Commission
Hold onto your hats, because this isn’t your typical jazz duo. The Bass Coalition Summer Workshop wrapped up this year with a stunning recital by guest artist and jazz legend Lynn Seaton. For the finale, he invited Donovan Stokes to join him for a special version of his song “Patrician Commission”. Both double bassists got gnarly with distortion pedals to...
Ryan Martinie’s Soften The Glare Announce Mission Possible Tour
Soften The Glare, featuring former Mudvayne bassist Ryan Martinie, are ramping up for a new album and a new tour. The instrumental/prog/jazz/rock band revealed they are currently working on their debut album. “[We] have started sessions for their debut album with Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me) at The Basement Recording NC studio,” they wrote. They’ll be hitting the...
Victor Wooten Shares on His Role in Octavision
A week after it was unveiled, Victor Wooten has weighed in on his role in the new prog-metal project Octavision. The group, which is the brainchild of guitarist Hovak Alaverdyan, has garnered loads of attention since releasing a single song, “Three Lives“. “Although I enjoyed playing on this song, please know that Octavision is not my band,” Wooten wrote on...