New School: Sylvain “Sly” Audet
After picking up on some of Victor Wooten’s techniques, Sylvain “Sly” Audet slowly began his own style. While experimenting with double thumbing, the Canadian bassist began what he calls thumbpicking. Audet also incorporates a Kahler tremolo bridge in for some cool effects. Not relegated to being a sideman, Audet has released his own CD, with half of the proceeds going...
Stanley Clarke Band, Featuring Hiromi: Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
Not one to bow to standards, Stanley Clarke and his band made a funked up version of the typically solemn Mingus tune “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat,” which was originally written in memory of saxophonist Lester Young. This clip was taken from the Heineken Jazzaldia in 2010 and features world-class pianist Hiromi, drummer Ronald Bruner Jr. and keyboardist Ruslan Sirota.
Bass of the Week: Laurus T900-XR
This week we’re taking a look at the Laurus Quasar T900-XR, a bass that takes a step away from the norm without losing its style and sensibility. Hand-made in Italy, the T900-XR is available in 4, 5, and 6-string models as well as fretted or fretless. One of the bass’s most identifiable features is it’s unique headstock and “end of...
Dirty Deeds: A Conversation with Mark Evans
In 1975, Mark Evans took the opportunity of a lifetime and joined an Australian pub band that would go on to be one of the greatest rock bands of all time: AC/DC. Just a week after joining, the band was gigging regularly, and within a year they were making the rounds in Europe. Evans’ turbulent years in the band included...
Ojay: Street Performance Awesomeness
Check this awesome video of Ojay, a bassist from Newcastle in the UK. Armed with a pair of looping pedals and a couple more effects, Ojay takes it to the streets to bring the funk to the people. It really begs the question: Why can’t more street performers be like this?
Phil Lesh to Open Terrapin Crossroads in February
After some debate over the location, former Grateful Dead and current Furthur bassist Phil Lesh will be opening up a restaurant and performance venue called Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California. The dining portion of the new venue will open in February with the “intimate” performance hall to begin shows soon there after. Though his original plan was to launch...
Posthumous Cornell Dupree Album Features Ronnie James, Larry Fulcher, and George Porter, Jr.
Last year, the world lost a great musician with the passing of guitarist Cornell Dupree, who appeared on countless recordings with artists from Bill Withers to King Curtis to Steve Gadd. Many bass players may know him from Donny Hathaway’s , which also had the outstanding work of bassist Willie Weeks. Two months before his death, Dupree tracked what would...
Xotic Introduces XP-1T 5-String Bass
Taking a cue from classic design, Xotic will be introducing the XP-1T 5-string bass at NAMM. The P-bass styled instrument debuts the newly designed PV-1 pickup, but also borrows from their XJ-1T by utilizing the Tri-Logic Bass Preamp. The preamp includes a 3-band EQ with toggle switches to adjust the mid and treble-frequencies as well as a pre-set gain control...
Guild Announces B-54CE Standard Acoustic Bass Guitar
As part of their additions to the USA Standard Series, Guild has unveiled the B-54CE Standard acoustic bass guitar. The cutaway bass is built on the company’s jumbo body design and features a solid Sitka spruce top with red spruce bracing, solid maple sides and a unique arched laminated maple back. The body is also bound with Ivoroid. The B-54CE...
Alberto Rigoni: Tetris Theme for Bass
Here’s a cool video of Alberto Rigoni bringing back old school gaming memories with a three-bass layered arrangement of the Tetris theme. For authenticity, he used a bitcrusher effect on the lead line for that classic game soundtrack vibe. Also, check out that fretless tone!
Fender Custom Shop Introduces 2012 Bass Models
Fender’s Custom Shop has announced two new bass models for 2012, including the 2012 Closet Classic Precision Bass Pro and the 1961 Closet Classic Jazz Bass. Both models are built in the U.S. by Fender’s master builders. According to Fender, the Closet Classic Precision Bass Pro combines “the best of the Precision and Jazz Bass models,” which can be partly...
Overt?n To Debut New Amp, Combo, DI at NAMM
Overt?n Amplification will be debuting a few new pieces of gear at the upcoming NAMM Show, including the Flyweight 500 amp, the Tremor 10mini combo, and the T?nLink-DI, which will be the company’s first foray into outboard gear. Overt?n Flyweight 500 The Flyweight 500 builds on Overt?n’s Flyweight 200 and pumps up the power to 500 watts at 4 ohms....