Latin American Double Bass Workshop Celebrates 10th Anniversary
The 10th annual Encuentro Latinoamericano de Contrabajos will take place Saturday, November 22nd through Thursday, November 27th at the Tijuana Cultural Center in Tijuana, Mexico. The week-long Latin American bass workshop is presented by the Contrabajos de Baja California and will include quartets, group classes, masterclasses, a bass orchestra, and much more. This year’s guest artists include world-renowned bassists Catalin...
Reed James Engineering Introduces RJ Neo Buckers Bass Pickups
Reed James Engineering has expanded their line of neodymium pickups with the RJ Neo Bucker, a split coil design built in a soap bar shape with a reverse P-bass format. Utilizing the company’s Vintage Vibe Neo technology, the pickup boasts noiseless operation. The pickup is constructed with pole pieces powered by neodymium magnets. Other features include ABS plastic covers, a...
Dream Studio Guitars Unveils M5 Bass
Dream Studio Guitars has released a 5-string version of their Maverick Bass called the M5. The bass retains many of the same features as its predecessor while adding a low B string. The M5’s body is built from a single piece of swamp ash that is given a vintage offset shape with extra contouring. Its bolt-on, hard maple neck is...
Bass of the Week: UNICORNbass Ozellman Master
UNICORNbass is a boutique bass company out of Sweden that’s making some pretty slick instruments. The Ozellman Master is a flexible, performance-driven bass with the added touch of customizable looks. Built with either bolt-on or set-neck construction, the bass features a 7-ply neck of maple and purple heart matched to a bookmatched mahogany body topped with a choice of exotic...
Nenad Vasilic: Vranjanka
Bassist Nenad Vasilic has a new album out this month called The Art of Balkan Bass, and this preview track has been stuck in my head for a week. “Vranjanka” is a traditional Balkan folk song that Vasilic tackles by himself with his upright. He perpetuates the groove with some perfectly laid ghost notes and light string slapping. Check out...
Napalm Death Announces New Album Release Date, North American Tour
Next year will be a big year for Grindcore legends Napalm Death, as the group have announced a new album and tour for January. Apex Predator – Easy Meat, will be the band’s 16th album, hitting stores on January 27, 2015. Of course, the album will feature the ripping bass lines of Shane Embury. “Some in power like to declare...
Alusonic Announces David Caraccio Hybrid Signature Bass
Bassist David Caraccio – better known as YouTube’s DavidSinRocks – has teamed up with Alusonic to create a signature bass in their Hybrid series. As part of the series, the bass is built with an alder body fitted with a gold anodized aircraft grade aluminum top. The Alusonic David Caraccio Hybrid Signature bass also features a hard maple neck reinforced...
Bass of the Week: Turan Guitars TG Semi-Hollow Bass
This week we take a look at the TG Semi-Hollow, a gorgeous single-cut bass made by Turan Guitars. The semi-hollow bass is crafted with a korina body topped with flamed maple. The top is complemented with matching pickup covers, control knobs, and headstock. While this is an untraditional looking instrument, Turan utilizes traditional f-holes to tie the bass together. The...
Blotted Science, Featuring Alex Webster, Announce New Album
Three years after the release of bug-themed album The Animation of Entomology, instrumental metal band Blotted Science has announced they’ll return to the studio in December to record their next project. Group leader Ron Jarzombek says the new album has a title and nearly forty minutes of music written. Virology will be a concept album again, but the group will...
Reed James Engineering Introduces Edmond Gilmore Signature Pickup Set
Reed James Engineering has teamed up with bassist Edmond Gilmore to produce the company’s first signature pickup set. Based on their RJ NEO Vintage Vibe Noiseless pickups, the set has a bridge pickup that is wound for more balance and punch while retaining a classic tone. The voicing is suited specifically to Gilmore’s fretless playing. The new pickup set also...
BassMods Introduces K534 Bass
BassMods has introduced the K534, a 5-string bass that pays homage to a classic style. The model is built with a chambered alder body and a bolt-on maple neck with white binding and pearloid block inlays. Each K534 is made to order and built for a dual pickup configuration. Pickup options include Bartolini Dual Coil Brights, Bartolini Deep Tone Dual...
In Memoriam: Rick Rosas
Another great bassist has left us. Rick Rosas, who served as longtime bassist for Neil Young, has passed away at the age of 65. The cause of death has not been released. Affectionately known as “Rick the Bass Player,” Rosas got his musical start in an instrumental surf band called Mark & The Escorts in the early 1960’s. The core...