Genz Benz Updates Cabinet Line with NX2 Series
Genz Benz has introduced the NX2 series of cabinets including the NX2-212T and NX2-112T. The new line follows up on the company’s NeoX cabinets, offering improvements like proprietary neodymium loudspeakers and a new cabinet design to add strength and reduce weight. Furthermore, they feature Dual Edge “X” porting, which Genz Benz explains helps to increase low-frequency support and projection. Both...
New School: Darren Michaels
Atlanta-based bassist Darren Michaels is helping to expand the role of our instrument. With extended techniques and an open mind, Michaels has been finding new sounds to convey his music in both band and solo contexts, though he dislikes the term “solo bass.” It’s not the technique that drives him, but the connection of music with his listeners that makes...
Evan Brewer: Untitled (with some pretty wicked tapping)
Evan Brewer just put out a new video of a song he’s working on for his next solo release. Brewer utilizes a 5-string bass tuned EADGC and plays some some pretty wicked tapping on the untitled track. In our recent interview, Brewer described his new material as “super erratic,” adding that he was hoping to finish up the material this...
Bass of the Week: Pino Saracini’s Keyboard Bass by Huma Guitars
Pino Saracini is professional bassist in Italy. He’s also creative guy. While out on tour, he typically has to play synth bass in addition to his 4-string with little time for changing between instruments. To fix the issue, he came up with the Keyboard Bass, a bass with a Korg Nonokey2 USB controller built in. After designing every detail of...
Muse Releases “The 2nd Law”
English alternative rock trio Muse have returned with their sixth studio album entitled The 2nd Law. With its title referring to the second law of thermodynamics, the new effort shows the band stretching their sound with obvious influences from Queen, Stevie Wonder and even some dubstep from Skrillex. It’s also the first to feature bassist Chris Wolstenholme as lead singer...
Fender Unveils Nate Mendel Signature P-Bass
Foo Fighters bassist Nate Mendel now has a signature bass from Fender. Modeled after the ’71 Precision that carried him through over half of his career, the Nate Mendel Fender P Bass features special body contours, extra-slim neck and nut width, and a lightly worn Candy Apple Red finish. The bass is built with an ash body, a maple neck,...
Mission Engineering Introduces Expressionator Pedal
Mission Engineering has announced the availability of the Expressionator, a multi-expression controller originally designed in part by extended range bassist Jean Baudin. The new pedal allows for users to connect one expression pedal to control three expression enabled effects, each of which can be controlled individually or simultaneously. Its three outputs are toggled via the stomp switch and have separate...
Maurizio Mariani: Solo Bass Arrangement of Elliott Smith’s “Everything Means Nothing To Me”
“Everything Means Nothing to Me” is one of the most haunting and equally infectious tracks from the late singer/songwriter Elliott Smith’s album Figure 8. It’s one of those songs that just sticks with you for a while after you hear it, due in part to a repeated theme. Check out this solo bass version that Maurizio Mariani worked up. He...
Höfner Unveils Limited Edition Black Violin Bass
As part of their 125th anniversary celebrations, Höfner has unveiled a limited edition Black Violin Bass. The new bass shares many of the specs of the company’s ‘61 Cavern bass but utilizes closely spaced single coil “Toaster” pickups that were only used in 1960. Finished in a sleek thin coat gloss black, its dark motif is complimented with a black...
Lee Rocker: “Rockabilly Boogie” Animated Video
Slick back your pompadour, get your leather jacket and check out former Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker’s new animated music video for the song “Rockabilly Boogie.”
Chris Minh Doky and The Nomads Announce Worldwide Fall Tour
Bassist Chris Minh Doky has announced a Fall tour with his group the Nomads, which includes drummer Dave Weckl, guitarist Dean Brown and keyboardist George Whitty. Starting October 1st at the Iridium in New York City, the tour will take the quartet across the world with further stops in the U.S., Mexico, Denmark, Norway, and Italy. Doky lays it down...
Electro-Harmonix Adds Utility Pedals to Next Step Series
Electro-Harmonix has added to their Next Step Effects series with three new utility pedals. Similar to the rest of the line, the new volume, expression and pan pedals have no moving parts and feature a smooth rocking chassis to control the effect. The Next Step Volume Pedal controls the volume of an instrument. Powered by either a 9V battery or...