The Pixies Name Paz Lenchantin as Permanent Member, Announce Album and Tour
The Pixies are back in full force. Besides announcing a new album with an accompanying world tour, the band stated that Paz Lenchantin is now a permanent member of the iconic outfit. The bassist has been the group’s touring fill-in since January 2014. Lenchantin followed Kim Shattuck, who had replaced founding bassist Kim Deal in 2013. “I was very nervous...
Bass of the Week: R. Hyde Guitars Long Scale Nuvo
After releasing the prototype last year, Ryan Hyde of R. Hyde Guitars has created a new full-sized version of the Nuvo. The sleek and seductive revamp is our bass of the week. Hyde built the new Nuvo with a full 34-inch scale and added a few improvements to the design. “This new version features a fully adjustable bridge,” the luthier...
Cliff Williams Announces Retirement from AC/DC
After 40 years holding down the low end for AC/DC, bassist Cliff Williams has announced he will retire after the band’s current tour. Williams, who replaced Mark Evans in mid-1977, cites the recent departure of other longtime members guitarist Malcolm Young, drummer Phil Rudd, and vocalist Brian Johnson as part of the reason for stepping down. “It’s been what I’ve...
Franklin Peredo: Funktopia Robotica
Franklin Peredo never ceases to amaze me. His latest video is for the song “Funktopia Robotica” and it features the bassist’s crazy right hand technique to make the music sound like the title suggests. It’s not that he’s strumming, thumping, popping and tapping – it’s that he does it so fluidly you forget about the techniques and listen to the...
Gretsch Announces Tom Petersson 12-String and 4-String Signature Basses
Cheap Trick’s Tom Petersson and Gretsch teamed up to announce a pair of signature basses at this year’s Summer NAMM show in Nashville, Tennessee. The models include the USA Custom Shop Tom Petersson Signature 12-String Falcon Bass and the G6136B-TP-AWT Tom Petersson Signature 4-String Bass. Petersson has been testing the 12-string prototype live on the road. Available in Vintage White,...
MonoNeon, Mr. Talkbox and John Blackwell: “Controversy” Prince Tribute
Musicians around the world have been paying tribute to the Purple One since his untimely passing in April, and they have yielded some incredible moments. Here’s a great clip from a live Prince tribute hosted by Bootsy Collins that features Byron “Mr. Talkbox” Chambers, drummer John Blackwell from New Power Generation and bassist MonoNeon, who was one of the last...
Fund Set Up for Chip Shearin After Moving Accident
Bassist Chip Shearin suffered a devastating blow on when nearly all of his family’s possessions were destroyed on June 22nd. Shearin was in the process of moving his family to Los Angeles when the driver of his moving truck fell asleep at the wheel. The resulting accident ruined most of his children’s toys, his studio equipment, several of his basses,...
Greer Amps Introduces the Super Hornet Octave Fuzz Pedal
Greer Amps has released a new octave fuzz pedal called the Super Hornet, which they say works great on guitar and bass. Based on a Foxx Tone Machine, the pedal tweaks the vintage-style circuit by using NOS BC-107B transistors and adding a feature to the octave section. The octave switch can be set to On or Stinger modes. When in...
Kristian Dunn: Staring At Screens
El Ten Eleven multi-instrumentalist Kristian Dunn has just released a new solo ambient album called . Besides beautiful pads, the album is full of intimate and introspective bass playing. Check out the video for the new song, “Staring at Screens” to see what we mean:
Fuzzrocious and Electro-Faustus Team Up for Greyfly Pedal
Fuzzrocious Effects has teamed up with Electro-Faustus to create a unique “noisemaker” called the Greyfly. The pedal combines the Fuzzrocious Grey Stache fuzz with the Electro-Faustus Blackfly spring-activated noise generator for a whole new pedal experience. The Greyfly can be used on its own with three springs that can be plucked, scraped, and twanged to create your signal, which is...
Gheorghe Postoronca: The Light From Inside
Gheorghe Postoronca always brings a personal level to his solo bass songs. His latest, “The Light From Inside”, is no exception. The bassist utilizes a capo on four of his six strings along with strumming to create glorious harmonies and textures. It sounds like he is singing through his instrument, which is something many of us strive for.
Orange Amplification Introduces The Crush Bass Combo Series
Orange redesigned their entry-level bass combo range with the Orange Crush Bass series. The line – consisting of 25, 50, and 100-watt combos – upgrades their most accessible bass amps with a parametric EQ circuit inspired by their new 4 Stroke bass amp. They also feature analog circuitry, redesigned speakers and ported cabinetry, an onboard tuner, and a headphone output...