Radial Engineering Introduces StageDirect Muting Direct Box
Radial Engineering has announced StageDirect, an active direct box that adds a mute switch for silent tuning or switching instruments without having to turn down your PA or stage amp. When the footswitch is depressed, all outputs except the tuner output are muted. Other features on the StageDirect include a 180° polarity reverse switch, a -15dB pad, and a high-pass...
Steve Jenkins Debuts New Project with The Coaxial Flutter
After eight years since his debut effort as a leader, Steve Jenkins has returned with Steve Jenkins and the Coaxial Flutter, an album that blends the bassist’s progressive rock and jazz fusion influences with “strong undercurrents of metal and electronic music.” The eight-song collection features Jenkins on a multitude of instruments and has guest appearances by Vernon Reid, John Shannon,...
Providence Effects Announces the Dual Bass Station Preamp
Providence Effects has announced the new Dual Bass Station, a bass preamplifier in pedal form with dual inputs and EQ channels. The pedal’s channels have separate inputs and are toggled with a footswitch, allowing for switching between two basses. Plugging into only input A lets users switch between each of the channels setups on a single instrument. Each of the...
DR Strings Adds White Bass Strings to NEON Hi-Def Line
DR Strings has added to their NEON line of bass strings with the NEON Hi-Def White set. The strings, which are white in color, are black light active for a bright appearance and feature DR’s K3 coating for extended life. DR is offering the strings in Lite and Medium gauges for 4- and 5-string basses as well as a 6-string...
Kim Deal Quits The Pixies
Kim Deal has left the iconic alternative rock band The Pixies, according to a post on the band’s Facebook page. “We are sad to say that Kim Deal has decided to leave the Pixies. We are very proud to have worked with her on and off over the last 25 years. Despite her decision to move on, we will always...
Bass of the Week: Utrera Ellegance Single Cut Bass
Freddy Utrera is a Venezuelan luthier who has been producing some gorgeous basses, including his Ellegance singlecut. Available in 4-, 5- and 6-string versions, the bass is evidence of the luthier’s love of natural finishes and often ships that way, just to display the gorgeous cuts of wood he utilizes. The Ellegance comes in two flavors: standard and custom. The...
Carrying on the Mingus Dynasty: An Interview with Boris Kozlov
It’s not easy to fill the shoes of a legend, and Charles Mingus has some huge shoes to fill. The iconic jazz bassist and composer left behind a body of work so massive, so complex, and so uniquely his own that it takes an equally rare musician to convey its spirit. Mingus’ music lives on through the Mingus Big Band,...
Peerless Guitars Introduces Retromatic B1 and B2 Basses
Peerless Guitars has launched a pair of 4-string versions of their Retromatic guitar with the Retromatic B1 and B2 basses. Sporting a vintage vibe, the basses feature a chambered, semi-hollow body design finished in natural, teal green, honey sunburst, ivory, black, gold or candy apple red colors. The B1 is fitted with a single humbucker designed by Matt Gleeson of...
Simon Fitzpatrick: “Roundabout” Live Solo Bass Performance
Simon Fitzpatrick is a guy who constantly pushes himself to see what can be done on the bass. Here’s the latest example: an incredibly intricate solo bass version of the classic Yes track “Roundabout.” After putting it all together with just his bass and his hands, Fitzpatrick builds the piece with a looper to lay a superb solo overtop.
Paul McCartney and Wings’ Remastered Rockshow Concert Film Released
In 1975 and 1976, former Fab Four bassist Paul McCartney and his band Wings took the world by storm with the “Wings over the World” tour, a 66-date trek across Australia, Europe and North America. It was the largest tour the band would ever undertake, and it resulted in the triple live album Wings Over America. A concert film entitled...
Dante Pascuzzo: Inner Urge
Bassist Dante Pascuzzo arranged this cool version of Joe Henderson’s “Inner Urge,” which takes the jazz standard and adds a electronica break beat to it. Pascuzzo lays down some fat upright bass before chording and soloing with his 5-string electric. Dig it.
Ibanez Adds 7-String Bass to BTB Series
Adding to their extended range bass lineup, Ibanez has introduced the Limited Edition BTB7. The 7-string bass adds a high F-string to the company’s existing 6-string BTB configuration. The BTB7 features neck-through construction with a 7-piece maple, bubinga, and walnut neck sporting maple body wings topped with walnut. Its body shape follows the BTB style with deep cutaways and an...