Mono Cases Slims Down with Bass Sleeve Gig Bag
“Being a musician requires traveling with a lot of gear, but sometimes we want to downsize and travel lighter,” says Mono Cases CEO Daniel Kushner. And that’s the idea behind the company’s latest offering called the Bass Sleeve. The minimalist design gig bag is a slimmed down version of the Mono’s Vertigo Hybird case and is built around the same...
Louis Armstrong, Featuring Arvell Shaw: How High The Moon
Here’s a fantastic video of Louis Armstrong handing the spotlight over to bassist Arvell Shaw for a bass feature on “How High the Moon,” from a 1963 performance in Sydney, Australia. Shaw pulls out all the stops during the nearly 7-minute romp. “Show business,” he says, just before breaking out his bow to play all the way up into the...
Focusrite Introduces Scarlett Solo USB Recording Interface
For bassists looking to record, Focusrite has just announced the Scarlett Solo, a USB interface with dual inputs and outputs. The device is a continuation of the Scarlett series and retains the recording capabilities in a smaller package. The Scarlett Solo has a mic pre and high headroom instrument input for flexibility. Other features include direct latency-free monitoring, 24-bit audio...
In Memoriam: Tim “Rawbiz” Williams
Tim “Rawbiz” Williams, who played with artists from Toni Braxton to Suicidal Tendencies, has passed away. Suicidal Tendencies announced the new on their Facebook page. “It’s with complete sadness that we have to announce the passing of bassists Tim “Rawbiz” Williams,” the band wrote. “Tim played bass for Suicidal Tendencies for almost four years until recently. Tim was a monster...
Nik West: Forbidden Fruit, Live
Nik West lays it down in this live performance of her song “Forbidden Fruit.” Drawing from R&B and funk, West leads the band on bass and vocals complete with a tasty solo at the three-minute mark.
Bass of the Week: Scott Guitar Works SB-2
This week we check out the SB-2 by Scott Guitar Works of Louisville, Kentucky. The bass is built to order and has a plethora of options, but its central point is its unique body shape. Scott shaves down to a minimalist design with a short lower horn and thinner, longer upper horn while keeping it curvy in the lower half...
Eastman Releases VB95 Eastman Pro Bass
Eastman Guitars debuted a pair of new instruments at Summer NAMM this year including the VB95 Eastman Pro Bass. Designed with the touring player or weekend warrior in mind, the new double bass features a fully carved spruce top with gamba corners, a solid laminate back and ribs, and a solid ebony fingerboard. The bass’s body is finished in an...
Ampeg Now Shipping Revamped BA-112 and BA-115 Bass Combos
After revamping the BA series earlier this year, Ampeg is now shipping the new BA-112 and BA-115 bass combo amps. The models carry all the new features including the foot-switchable Bass Scrambler overdrive circuit, a 3-band EQ, and a true sixty degree monitoring angle so they can be set up as a wedge. The Bass Scrambler is one of the...
Esperanza Spalding Announces “Thank You October” Tour Dates
Esperanza Spalding will be celebrating her birth month with a string of tour dates. The “Thank You October” tour will be a two-week outing focusing on the East Coast with a single Canadian show in Toronto. Spalding, who turns 30 this year, will get the party started at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, Connecticut before covering New England and heading...
Tanglewood Introduces Updated TW155-A Acoustic Bass Guitar
Tanglewood Guitars has revamped their Premier series of acoustic instruments including the TW155-A bass. The lineup’s third generation is defined by solid AA Sitka spruce tops, mahogany back and sides, and a natural satin finish. The TW155-A acoustic bass guitar has a rosewood fingerboard and matching bridge. Its body is also bound in rosewood and maple. Tanglewood fits the bass...
Cory Henry and Michael League: “Yesterday” and “Looking Out For Me”
Soul is pouring over in this video of Snarky Puppy members Cory Henry and Michael League playing a workshop at the Escola de Música Luciano Alf in Rio De Janeiro. The duo doesn’t need a drummer to get a fat groove going on the classic Beatles song “Yesterday,” which they later morph into Kirk Franklin’s “Looking Out for Me.”
Adrenaline Mob Switches Bassists, Announces Tour
In a strange turn of events, rock supergroup Adrenaline Mob has announced that bassist John Moyer has been replaced by former Tantric bassist Erik Leonhardt. Moyer, who is also a member of Disturbed, left the group after confusion about the band’s recent tour announcement. Adrenaline Mob posted the news about their upcoming tour on social media, and Moyer posted on...