Bass of the Week: Musicvox Spaceranger
The Musicvox Spaceranger Bass looks like it comes out of a ’60s atomic age sci-fi flick. The wacky design is set apart by its elongated lower horn and unique headstock that oozes personality. In this vein, the Spaceranger is built for a vintage bass tone to match its retro vibes. The Spaceranger is built with a mahogany body, maple neck,...
Profiles in Tone: Alex Webster
So far in our Profiles in Tone series, we’ve covered two legendary, old school rock bassists. Now we’re diving into death metal with a detailed look at one of the kings of metal’s deep end: Alex Webster. As bassist and founder of Cannibal Corpse, Webster has been an influence to legions of metal bassists. The band has twelve studio albums...
Darkglass Electronics Introduces Vintage Deluxe Preamp Pedal
Darkglass Electronics is expanding on their vintage pedal concept this year with the Vintage Deluxe Preamp. A riff on their Microtubes Vintage, the pedal revolves around an ERA knob that interacts with the drive control to dish out different tones from the ’70s through the ’90s. The Vintage Deluxe takes the Drive, Level, ERA, and Blend controls from its predecessor...
Primus Announces May/June Tour Dates
Les Claypool has been focusing on his Duo de Twang lately, but he’s getting geared up to return to Primus with a string of dates announced for May and June. The jaunt will kick off with a three-night run at the Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas, Nevada from May 1st to May 3rd, after which they’ll join Queens of the...
Regenerate Guitars Introduces Bill Clements Signature 4-String Bass
Regenerate Guitar Works debuted their first artist signature model at NAMM this year with their Bill Clements Signature 4-string bass. Clements, who is known for his wicked left hand tapping style, worked closely with the company to make the bass’s design the exact type he would use. “Unlike many artist signature models where the artist is playing a customized version...
Brad Russell: Cult of Personality
Here’s something you wouldn’t expect: a cover of Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality” on bass, drums and 7-string electric violin. The entire arrangement was put together by bassist Brad Russell, who absolutely tears the song up with a gnarly distortion and blazing licks. He then trades solos with violinist Earl Maneein while Jason Furman holds the beat on drums.
La Bella Introduces Copper White Nylon Tape Wound Strings
La Bella has once again expanded their Nylon Tape Wound line of strings with the Copper White Nylon Tape Wound sets. As opposed to their classic White Nylon Tape Wounds, the new set is made with a transparent nylon wrapped over copper underlays. La Bella says the combination creates a warmer, more supple tone. The strings are available in 4-,...
ESP Unveils Stream Bass Series
ESP debuted a lot at NAMM this year, including their brand new bass design: The Stream. The new bass, which is available in their ESP Original, E-II, and LTD brands, is a bolt-on single cut bass with a 34″ scale. ESP Original Stream Bass The ESP Original Series Stream bass is handbuilt in Japan alongside the company’s custom shop instruments....
Igor Saavedra and Junior Ribeiro Braguinha: Footprints
Marie Takahashi shared this awesome video of South American bass heavyweights Igor Saavedra and Junior Ribeiro Braguinha getting down on Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints.” The video was filmed during a workshop at the Escola de Música e Tecnologia in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Saavedra kicks off the solos on his custom 8-string extended range bass and knocks the crowd out at the...
Bass of the Week: Brubaker Brute MJX Series
This week we check out the Brubaker Brute MJX series. A production version of luthier Kevin Brubaker’s design, the MJX hints at classic basses with a modern take. The Brute MJX series is available in 4- and 5-string versions. Each bass is built with an alder body, maple neck, and maple fretboard with 22 frets. They sport an MM/J pickup...
Song Exclusive: BFI’s “Sugar”, with Miles Mosley
If you’ve been reading No Treble for a while, you’ve seen the incredibly talented and forward thinking Miles Mosley rip it up on upright. Mosley brings together elements of jazz, rock, pop, and R&B into his style, which he accents with off the wall techniques and effects. The bassist has a new duo with drummer Tony Austin called BFI. The...
Bartolini Announces NTMB+ Preamp Module
Bartolini Pickups and Electronics has introduced the NTMB+ 3-band preamp module. The new model takes the place of the NTMB/918, which was comprised of two modules. The new preamp module is also 30% smaller than its predecessor. “The NTMB+ reduces the pre-amp size by 30%, which will better fit guitars and basses that have small cavities,” says Bartolini president Clyde...