Fender Announces Online Configurator with American Design Experience
Ever wanted to mix and match your favorite parts of a Fender? Now you can with the company’s new American Design Experience. Originally introduced in 2011 at the Fender Visitor Center in Corona, California, the direct-to-consumer program now has an online presence to allow you to customize your own instrument via an online configurator tool. The configurator lets you start...
Bass of the Week: Nick Schendzielos’ Warwick Custom Shop Infinity 5
Nearly every bassist loves to plan out their dream bass, and a lucky few get to see that dream come to fruition. This week we check out a beautiful Warwick Custom Shop Infinity that Job for a Cowboy/Cephalic Carnage bassist Nick Schendzielos pieced together. Based on the company’s Infinity body shape, Schendzielos picked out every aspect of the instrument, which...
Hacking Spotify: Vulfpeck’s Brilliant Idea to Fund a Tour
Touring can be a real financial headache for bands these days, not to mention the rising cost of ticket prices for concert-goers. Vulfpeck has found a brilliant solution for both sides in the form of their new album, Sleepify, which is available for streaming on Spotify. Vulfpeck’s Jack Stratton describes Sleepify as “the most silent album ever recorded.” That’s because...
Ashdown Launches Rootmaster Series Bass Amplifiers
Ashdown Engineering unveiled a new range of amplifiers in their Rootmaster Series at this year’s NAMM Show. The lineup includes two bass heads, five speaker cabinets, and three combo amplifiers offered at an affordable price. The Rootmaster amplifiers and combos come in either 220 or 420 watts with the combos offering 1×15″, 2×10″, and 1×12″ speaker configurations. Each of the...
Ampeg Revamps BA Series Bass Combo Amps
Ampeg’s iconic BA series of bass combos is getting a facelift this year, the company announced for Musikmesse 2014. The lineup has been completely re-envisioned with new versions for the BA-108, BA-110, BA-112, BA-115 and BA-210 models. Each of the models now has front-facing controls and a true sixty degree monitoring angle so they can be set up as a...
Baer Amplification’s New Valkyrie Bass Amp Now Available
Baer Amplification is now shipping the Valkyrie, an 850-watt bass amplifier featuring the company’s Trans-Hybrid Preamp. The Valkyrie’s solid state preamp sounds rich without adding much coloration while the amp’s tube hybrid preamp adds more personality with more harmonic overtones and growl. The two sections are switched as easily as the push of a button. The Valkyrie puts out 850...
Dean Reintroduces Stylist Cabbie Bass
After discontinuing the model in 2007, Dean has reintroduced the Stylist Cabbie Bass. The outlandish semi-hollow bass stands out with a yellow top and a black and white checkerboard design on the back and sides. The 4-string bass features a 32″ scale. Its maple neck sports a “C”-shape profile and is topped with a rosewood fingerboard adorned pearl off-set dot...
Justin Meldal-Johnsen to Tour with Beck in 2014
Justin Meldal-Johnsen took to Twitter to make an announcement about his 2014 plans. The bassist/producer will be spending more time performing with Beck and a bit less time in the studio. “Nostalgia aside, I have a little announcement to make which hearkens back to my past a bit,” he wrote. “Starting now, I will be spending most of my time...
Epiphone Announces Limited Edition Jack Casady Signature Bass in Alpine White
Epiphone is celebrating legendary bassist Jack Casady once again with a limited edition version of his signature hollowbody bass. The limited edition 2014 Jack Casady Bass will come in Alpine White with a six-layer white/black body binding further accented by black plastic hardware. Casady, who turns 70 this year, helped design the bass and was most instrumental in building its...
Jill Scott, Featuring Adam Blackstone: “A Long Walk” and “Golden”, Live
Adam Blackstone is not only a monster bassist, he’s an amazing musical director. Currently working with pop stars like Justin Timberlake and Rihanna, here’s a great video of Jill Scott from VH1’s SoulStage with Blackstone laying down some serious groove. The song arrangements are absolutely killer, too.
King Crimson: “Starless”, Live 1974
King Crimson is notorious for all of its lineup changes, but no one can deny that John Wetton was a major force in the group during their 1972-1974 run. His bass and vocals shaped the band’s Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black and Red albums. Here he is with the band on French television performing “Starless” in 1974....
Bass of the Week: Alpher Instruments Mako Elite MBL 5
Chris from Alpher Instruments sent us a few shots of their latest creation, a Mako Elite MBL 5, and we were stunned. The sheer beauty of the deluxe walnut top in the company’s curvy Mako shape makes for one gorgeous instrument. Alpher makes their instruments by hand in their Yorkshire, England shop. This particular bass was commissioned by the Manchester...