Fodera Introduces Monarch 4 and Emperor 5 Standard Classic Basses
Fodera went old school at NAMM this year by introducing the Standard Classics line, including the Monarch 4 and Emperor 5 Standard Classics. The new models retain the qualities of Fodera’s Standard series models while taking on a classic aesthetic. “All our tone woods and everything are from the same Brooklyn shop [and are] the same tone woods we use...
Boss Announces BB-1X Bass Driver Pedal
Boss has introduced the BB-1X Bass Driver, a compact pedal that employs the company’s MDP technology to offer sounds ranging from natural clean tone to a heavy distortion. Beyond a drive pedal, the BB-1X has EQ controls and a 1/4-inch line output to add preamp and DI functionality. The pedal’s distortion circuit analyzes your bass signal to respond to your...
Alberto Rigoni: “Chron” Playthrough
Italian prog bassist Alberto Rigoni sent in this great playthrough of “Chron” from his latest album, Overloaded. Rigoni puts on a nice, fuzzy tone to work through the odd-metered song before cooling things off to take a solo at the 3:12 mark. For those of you looking to play along yourself, Rigoni has supplied a detailed PDF with notation and...
Ashdown Announces Desktop B-Social Bass Amp
Ashdown Engineering took the opportunity at NAMM to unveil the B-Social, a desktop bass amp that’s loaded with innovative features. The 75-watt stereo amp is boasted as the first desktop amp system for bass guitarists with Bluetooth connectivity that allows the bass to connect wirelessly via an optional transmitter. The “social” aspect of the amp comes from from several features,...
Twinscapes: Master Class at Planet Live
Bassists Colin Edwin and Lorenzo Feliciati teamed up last year to release Twinscapes, an album that ranges from ambient drones to heavy grooving. Besides stellar musicianship, the record is tied together with clever uses of effects and techniques to create rich sonic atmospheres. The duo have now released footage of a master class in which they reveal their approaches. Taken...
Bass of the Week: Negrini Guitars Fëanor JSM6
This week we check out the Fëanor JMS6, a 6-string headless bass created by Italian luthier Giulio Negrini. The modern design also includes a multi-scale string configuration and fanned frets. Negrini built the bass with an alder body topped with flamed maple in a beautiful translucent colored finish. Its neck continues the flamed maple theme and is reinforced with carbon...
Dream Studios Unveils the Majestic Bass
Dream Studios announced their Majestic Bass at NAMM – one they describe as simple, but with quality. The bass is built with a one-piece alder body that is heavily contoured for comfort and playability. The instrument’s hard maple neck can be topped with either a rosewood or Torray Carbon Fiber fretboard. Each option holds 22 frets and mother of pearl...
Kike Mora: Dhy?na
Light some incense and get ready for a trip. Kike Mora sent us this video for his solo bass song “Dhy?na,” in which he uses a drone and effects to create a four-minute meditative experience.
Fender Updates Geddy Lee and Steve Harris Signature Basses
Rush’s Geddy Lee and Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris are having their Fender signature models spruced up for 2015. Each of the signature models have been around for years but will be getting new specs and features. The USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass is getting more of an update between the two. “[It] is a new version that combines the specs...
Future User: Mountain Lion
Former Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave bassist Tim Commerford is back with his own band called Future User. The band’s electronic sound may be a departure from the bassist’s former bands, but his massive sound is still the musical centerpiece. Commerford, who also handles vocals, hasn’t lost his political edge, either. The song “Mountain Lion” is about pushing the...
G&L Guitars Introduces MJ-5 Bass Guitar
G&L Guitars has introduced a 5-string version of their MJ-4 called the MJ-5 Bass Guitar. The new model retains all the features of the four-string model with re-engineered bi-coil Alnico V pickups. Each pickup features two side-by-side coils configured in a series-humbucking mode to offer a range of single-coil tones without the classic hum. The pickups are matched to a...
Morley Announces Cliff Burton Tribute Series Power Fuzz Wah Pedal
Morley debuted the Cliff Burton Tribute Series Power Fuzz Wah at the Winter NAMM Show this year. Introduced in part with the bassist’s father Ray Burton, the pedal is a tribute that blends aspects of the 70’s model used by Burton on the early Metallica recordings and the company’s modern models. The Power Fuzz Wah’s fuzz and wah effects can...