Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 601

TC Electronic took the opportunity at the Winter NAMM Show to unveil the new K-Series of bass cabinets. Following in the footsteps of the company’s RS and BC cabinets, the K-Series models are designed to be lightweight with vertical stacking ability. The lineup includes the K210, the K212, and the K410. Each is constructed with a durable plywood cabinet loaded...

Marcus Miller has a new line of signature instruments with Sire Guitars. The series is based on two models – the J-bass inspired V7 and the modern-styled M3 – and aims to create quality instruments at low prices.

Aguilar unveiled a new pedal at this year’s NAMM Show this year called the Fuzzistor. The bass fuzz pedal features a classic silicone transistor distortion circuit for a retro, fuzzy ’70s tone. The Fuzzistor allows for dialing in your tone with Level, Blend, Tone, and Fuzz controls. Aguilar says the Fuzz control ranges from “subtle to crushing,” while the Blend...

Brazilian fusion trio No-Metric is back at it with a new video for their song “Risk Factor.” Anchored by bassist Fernando Molinari, the song keeps you on edge with a mix of heavy riffs and ear bending harmonies. Molinari takes a ridiculous solo starting at the 2:04 mark with some insane tapping and lightning fast licks.

Orange Amplifiers has announced the OB1 Series of class A/B rack mountable bass amplifiers. The amps are based on recent bi-amping trends, the company says. “For years bassists have been combining guitar and bass amps to remarkable effect, adding harmonics and layers of overdrive from a guitar amp to their core bass tone in pursuit of the ultimate live sound,”...

Every once in a while a product comes along that totally reimagines a piece of gear that most of us take for granted. In the world of gig bags, that product is the Gruv Gear GigBlade. The main idea behind the GigBlade is economy of space and weight distribution. Most gig bags have backpack straps for carrying on your back,...

We’ve featured plenty of great videos from Craig Butterfield over the years, so when the double bassist sends an email I get excited. This video is a bit of a different context from his previous ones and showcases Butterfield in a duo with mandolinist Jesse Jones on the tune “Gas Station.” The duo find a nice groove with a warm,...

Anthony Jackson is an absolute master of the bass. Besides creating some of the most memorable bass lines ever, he has deeply explored harmony and timbre on the instrument. Here’s a jaw-dropping performance of “Water Ways Flow Backward Again” with pianist Akiko Yano and drummer Cliff Almond from 1999 that proves the depth of his understanding. Yano and Jackson kick...

If you missed Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life tour last year, you’re in luck. The legendary R&B artist has announced another 11-date run this Spring that will span the U.S. Similar to last year’s trek, each night will include a performance of Wonder’s 1976 album in its entirety. “Truly, I wanted to do this for years,” Wonder...

I love bass playthroughs. So when death metal king Alex Webster posted a new video, I dropped everything to watch it. The clip shows Webster tearing through “Kufra at Dusk” from metal supergroup Conquering Dystopia’s debut album last year. From killer tone to monster riffs, this has it all. Buckle up.

The annual Bass Bash will be returning this year, and it’s going to be a doozy. Scheduled in the evenings after the NAMM Show, the Bass Bash is held at JT Schmid’s in Anaheim, California on January 22nd and 23rd from 7pm to midnight. This year’s performers include some of the world’s finest bassists. The first night will feature Alain...

This week we check out the Hades bass by Zerberus Guitars. Built in their German custom shop, the instrument was made for bassist Lenny Castellanos of the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band. The bass’s uniquely figured body is made of mahogany with a Zebrawood top finished in a wild honey color. Its five-piece neck is made up of birdseye maple, mahogany,...