Bass of the Week: Wahlbrink Hades 4-String Salmo Salar
Germany’s Wahlbrink Basses created the Hades as a workhorse bass that is “less fancy” than their Art-Line, but even so the model is a beauty. Here we’re checking out a four-string Hades dubbed the Salmo Salar, or Atlantic Salmon. The clean white finish is accented by a pickguard covered with genuine salmon leather, which Wahlbrink describes as “tough, pleasant to...
Schecter Adds To Session Series With 8-String, 5-String, Fretless Models
Schecter expanded their Session Series of basses this year with an 8-string version of their Riot bass, a 5-string version of the Model-T, and a fretless version of the Stiletto. As a part of the series, each of the basses is built with a swamp ash body, hard rock maple neck, ebony side block inlays, and active EMG pickups and...
Surine Basses Introduces The Lunara NTVII Bass
Luthier Scott Surine was showing his basses at the NAMM Show this year including a brand new model called the Lunara NTVII. The bass, which is Surine’s second single-cut design, features neck-through construction with a seven-piece Rock Maple and Walnut neck. The Lunara NTVII’s swamp ash body core is sandwiched between a Redwood burl top and back with black Sycamore...
Ninth Annual Rocky Mountain Bass Slam Announced
The Rocky Mountains will be shaking once again at the 9th Annual Rocky Mountain Bass Slam on May 15th, 2016. This year the Slam, held in Denver, will be headlined by bass legend Chuck Rainey and funkmeister Doug Johns along with local performers. “The Bass Slam will showcase the Colorado Bass Talent via several different formats: There will be solo...
Ibanez Introduces SR300E with Upgraded Electronics
Ibanez is stepping up their SR300 series with the SR300E basses, featuring upgraded pickups and electronics. The models, which come in four-, five-, and six-string versions, aim to bring a high quality of tone and control to a lower price point. The lineup centers around Ibanez’s new Powerspan dual coil pickups that have stainless steel poles to improve output, clarity,...
Tedeschi Trucks Band: Laugh About It
Tedeschi Trucks recently released Let Me Get By, the first to feature bass monster Tim Lefebvre since he joined up nearly three years ago. The band killed it in the studio, but this clip from Austin City Limits goes to show they’re hitting their stride in live situations, too. This clip of “Laugh About It” has all the right ingredients...
Gittler Instruments Unveils Bass Models at NAMM 2016
First introduced in the 1980s, the minimalist Gittler Guitar was reborn in 2013 thanks to musician and titanium expert Russ Rubman. This year Gittler Instruments has unveiled three new bass models, including four-string, five-string, and fretless versions. “Similar to the six string Gittler Guitar, these basses are manufactured of aircraft grade titanium with an optional weapons grade finish and weigh...
B’ANG Duet: Whisper Not
We love it when bassists get together to make music. Double bassists Petros Klampanis and Or Bareket teamed up to form the B’ANG Duet (aka the Bass Hang Duet), and it’s a perfect reason why bassists should band together. “B’ANG first appeared at the 2015 International Bass Society Convention in Colorado and received enthusiastic reaction,” they write. “The Duet continues...
Sadowsky Introduces Satin Series Bass Guitars
Sadowsky has unveiled the Satin Series, a lineup that brings their chambered, NYC-made basses to nearly half the cost of a built-to-order custom instrument. The instruments include their 21 fret Vintage Style J Bass and 24 fret Modern Bass models built in batch with limited options. “We’re committed to serving the working musician, so we found a way to thin...
Sean Malone: Cynic’s “Veil of Maya” Bass Playthrough
Sean Malone caught everyone’s attention on Cynic’s debut album Focus in 1993. The prog-metal album’s distinct sound came in part to the bassist’s furious fretless work. Malone’s time with Cynic didn’t last much longer after the album’s release, though he rejoined the band when they started back up in 2008. In 2014, he put out this instrumental play-through of the...
Tye Zamora Battling Cancer
Tough news to report today: Former Alien Ant Farm bassist Tye Zamora is battling Stage 1 Seminoma Cancer. Zamora, who left the band in 2014, was diagnosed last month. The news came via a GoFundMe campaign. “Last week Tye went into the hospital for what we were hoping was just a standard mass removal,” his wife Ramona shared. “Rogue cells...
Bass of the Week: Duesenberg Guitars Fullerton Bass
This week we’re checking out a sultry hollowbody called the Duesenberg Fullerton Bass. Built after they introduced the Eagles Signature Bass, the company calls the bass a “dynamic brother to the Fullerton Series.” Its body features a laminated spruce top with flamed maple top and sides with cream binding to add a touch of elegance to its smoky finish. The...