Magnus Sjöquist: Visa från utanmyra
Ubass connoisseur Magnus Sjöquist sent us an all-bass version of a Swedish folk song called “Visa från utanmyra”, and it’s beautiful. “My version is inspired by the lovely version by Swedish pianist Jan Johansson and upright bassist Georg Riedel,” he told us. “It is featured on the album Jazz på svenska (Jazz in Swedish) released in 1964.” Sjöquist plays both...
Carlos Santana Announces Jazz/Rock Supergroup Featuring Marcus Miller
Carlos Santana has formed a new jazz-rock supergroup called Mega Nova, and it promises to be incredible. The legendary guitarist has recruited an equally legendary band including keyboardist Herbie Hancock, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, and bassist Marcus Miller. Mega Nova will make their debut during a one-off concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California on...
NS Design Unveils NXTa Active Series Omni Bass and Double Bass Models
NS Design has teamed up with Mi-Si Electronics Design to introduce the NXTa Active series of instruments, including versions of the company’s Omni Bass and Double Bass models. Central to the new series is the introduction of battery-free, high-performance active electronics. The circuitry works is powered by plugging into a wall socket for one minute at a time. “Operationally, for...
Hot Tuna Gearing Up for Fall 2016 Tour
While their summer tour may be winding down and the Fur Peace Ranch workshops are wrapping up, Hot Tuna is still in full gear. The dynamic duo of Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen have announced a Fall run of acoustic and electric performances that will focus on the East and West Coasts. Electric Hot Tuna dates will include the drumming...
Alex Spradling and Marco Panascia: I Mean You
I love it when bass players get together to jam, especially when they’re on such a high level of musicianship like Alex Spradling and Marco Panascia. In this clip, the double bass duo have a blast while tearing through the classic Thelonious Monk standard “I Mean You”, and their joy is infectious. Each bassist lays down solid walking lines and...
In Memoriam: Preston Hubbard
Bassist Preston Hubbard, who held down the low end for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, has passed away. He was 63 years old. Hubbard was born in Providence, Rhode Island and picked up the bass at 14 years old. He joined Roomful of Blues as a young man, where he was part of the first backing band for the Blues Brothers. In...
Fender Introduces Mobile Tuning App
Fender has gotten into the mobile tuner game with Fender Tune, a free iOS guitar and bass tuner app. The app has auto tune and manual tune features as well as a chromatic mode for tuning flexibility. It has 20 pre-set tuning options plus the ability to dial in and save custom tunings. Besides being a tuner, the app is...
Tech 21 Unveils SansAmp Bass Driver DI Version 2
Tech 21 has announced a new version of their flagship SansAmp Bass Driver DI. The Version 2 model retains all of the functionality of the original while adding features to better suit modern players. The all-analog pedal now has a switch for the bass frequency to select between 80Hz and 40Hz, which the company says helps 5- and 6-string players...
Adam “Nolly” Getgood: “Prayer Position” Bass Playthrough
We first featured Periphery’s Adam “Nolly” Getgood with an epic bass cam video for their song “Make Total Destroy“. Now Nolly is back with another face-melting run-through with the song “Prayer Position” from the band’s latest album, Periphery III: Select Difficulty. The bassist rips it up with an absolutely crushing tone that cuts perfectly on the song’s blazing unison lines....
Kala Revamps California Series U-Basses for 2016
Kala has revamped their California U-Bass series for 2016. The mini-scale, solid-body instruments will have reshaped necks and bodies, plus new placement for the fret markers on the fingerboard. “The California body and neck have been cut and sanded to smoother, more rounded edges so they provide more comfort for the player,” The company writes. “The feel is enhanced when...
Bass of the Week: Conklin Guitars OM
This week we’re checking out a collaboration between Conklin Guitars and Jason Everett called the OM Bass. The bass is a seven-string fretless that is fitted with several interesting features to suit the bassist’s world music style. Its pickups are a pair of custom Bartolinis along with a set of GraphTECH Ghost piezos in individual saddlebridges. Besides EQing, the OM...
Crazy Tube Circuits Unveils the Golden Ratio Phi Compressor
Crazy Tube Circuits has unleashed the Golden Ratio Phi, a stompbox that features two compressors in one. The pedal can switch between an optical compressor and a FET compressor, each of which have their own distinct style. Crazy Tube says the optical compressor is a “hand selected photocell [that] offers distinctive attack and release characteristics resulting in very gentle and...