Caparison Announces C2 Series DEB-E Bass
Japanese guitar company Caparison has unveiled the 2014 C2 Series of instruments including the DEB-E Bass. Designed and produced in Japan, the bass is built with a solid mahogany body, a slim maple neck, and a 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard. Its “Devil’s Tail” shaped headstock is also bound. The Caparison DEB-E is fitted with a pair of EMG humbuckers with...
Malekko Introduces Justin Meldal-Johnsen Signature Diabolik Fuzz Pedal
Malekko Heavy Industry has introduced the Justin Meldal-Johnsen Signature Diabolik harmonic analog fuzz pedal. The pedal is based on the Malekko’s B:assmaster circuit but is housed in a more compact chassis. Diabolik features a preset harmonic spectrum setting that the company says gives “crisp octave overtones and a very aggressive tone setting.” Its controls include a Fuzz knob, a Clean...
Frank Bello and David Ellefson Release “Altitudes & Attitude” EP
Megadeth’s David Ellefson and Anthrax’s Frank Bello have teamed up for a brand new project called “Altitudes & Attitude”. The band features both bass players taking turns laying down the low end as well as filling the guitar role. Bello also handles lead vocals. While the duo’s resumés are chockful of metal, Altitudes & Attitude is solidly in the realm...
Guild Unveils New M-85 Bass Models
Guild is reviving the M-85 with two new models this year: the Newark St. Collection M-85 bass and the GSR M-85 II bass. Each of the instruments is a take on the vintage bass, which was the companion to the Guild M-75 Aristocrat guitar. Guild Newark St. Collection M-85 Bass The Newark St. M-85 is a singlecutaway, semi-hollow body bass...
ESP To Unveil E-II Series Basses at NAMM
ESP will be unveiling the first batch of products from their new US factory at NAMM this year. The instruments will be part of the new E-II series and will be built in North Hollywood, California. Among the new basses will be the ESP E-II AP-4 and AP-5 models. Each of the four and five-sting versions are built with bolt-on...
Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters Featuring Marcus Miller: Hang Up Your Hang Ups
My pal Seth introduced me to this song a few years ago, and for some reason it always makes me think of New York City. We featured this song with Paul Jackson before, but this version is taken from Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters 2005 tour with Marcus Miller holding down the low end. Marcus takes a solo starting around the 5:30...
The Sword Announce Final North American “Apocryphon” Tour Dates
The Sword, anchored by bassist Bryan Richie, has announced the tenth and final leg of their tour cycle for their latest album, Apocryphon. Kicking off in Austin, Texas on February 13th, the band will first head east, then north to Canada and back down into the U.S. The band has also released a lyric video for “The Hidden Masters,” which...
Gwil Sainsbury Quits Alt-J
Bassist Gwil Sainsbury has quit the English indie rock band Alt-J, according to a post on the band’s Facebook page. “We’re sad to say goodbye to Gwil – the last 5 years with him in the band have been fantastic and we are all proud of our achievements together,” the post reads. “However our enthusiasm to continue working on our...
Bass of the Week: Jimmy Haslip’s “Gabriella Rose” Bass by Wyn Guitars
The best basses come with great stories. Jimmy Haslip’s six-string bass from Wyn Guitars, called “Gabriela Rose,” is a great example. Wyn Guitars luthier Randy Fullmer recounts the whole process on his website. “It’s a luthier’s dream to make an instrument for an artist with the stature and playing chops of Jimmy Haslip,” Fullmer humbly states. “I of course handled...
David Murphy Leaves STS9
STS9 has been forced to postpone their winter tour after the band announced that bassist David Murphy will be leaving their ranks. “In life, the only constant is change. We try to embrace this in our music and in our lives and its in this spirit that we announce STS9 and bassist David Murphy are parting ways,” the band shared...
Juraj Griglak and Stanley Clarke Jam (1985)
The incredibly talented Slovakian bassist Juraj Griglak just posted this awesome video from the 1985 Bratislava Jazz Festival. Griglak got to hop on stage to jam out with the Stanley Clarke Band and ripped up some crazy slap lines. Clarke shouts, “we got a good one!” just before jumping into the action himself. Too cool.
Jeff Berlin and Cort Announce Signature RITHIMIC Bass
Jeff Berlin has teamed up with Cort for a new signature bass for 2014. Dubbed the RITHIMIC, the model features an alder body with a striking padouk and spalted maple top with a matching spalted headstock. Its hard rock maple neck is topped with a rosewood fingerboard. The bass is set up to Berlin’s liking with low action and a...