Bass of the Week: Ramsay Musical Instruments Aurora NW6BP
When Bryan Acampo sent us a photo of his bass, and I knew we had to feature it. Bryan plays an Aurora NW6BP bass, by the London-based Ramsay Musical Instruments. The single-cut, neck-thru bass features ash body wings, an alder/mahogany tone block, and a birdseye poplar top for a stunning display. The Aurora NW6BP’s neck is built with 3-piece quarter-sawn...
Godlyke Announces Maxon AD10 Analog Delay and ASC10 Stereo Chorus Pedals
Godlyke has released two new Maxon effects pedals: the AD10 Analog Delay and the ASC10 Ambient Stereo Chorus. Both models are a part of the brand’s new Compact Series and are housed in chassis with reduced footprints. Other common features include an easy-access battery door, an LED status indicator, 9-volt battery or AC power options, and buffered bypass switching. The...
Bass Centre Introduces Jaco Pastorius Tribute Bass
The Bass Centre is paying tribute to the late great Jaco Pastorius with their new Portrait Bass. Based on their Jive Bass, the latest addition to the Bass Collection range features a lined fretless rosewood fingerboard and Solar Flare finish. The Portrait Bass also comes without a pickguard, similar to how Jaco kept his instruments. The bass’s basswood body is...
Jenna Jackley and Ryan Haines: Lean Into Faith
Guitarist/vocalist Jenna Jackley and bassist Ryan Haines have teamed up again to present some creative music. Haines offers up a cool and complimentary bass line to Jackley’s beautiful vocals on this performance of “Lean Into Faith”.
Jack Bruce Signs With Esoteric Antenna, Announces New Album
After nearly ten years, Jack Bruce is getting back into the studio with plans to release a new album in 2014. The bass legend has signed to Esoteric Antenna, a label of the Cherry Red Recordings Group, and has announced that he is currently in the writing and recording stage of the project. “It is an absolute honour to be...
Newsted Previews New Album with Free Download
After a hugely successful EP, Newsted is previewing their first full-length album Heavy Metal Music with a free download of the first single, “Heroic Dose.” The band, fronted by bassist Jason Newsted, formed late last year and has quickly gained a strong following. “I’m doing this because I want to do this,” Newsted told us in an interview. “I only...
Ben Shepherd Announces Solo Debut, Preview Track
Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd is preparing to step out on his own with his solo debut album later this summer. His new project, which will be under the moniker HBS, started as a only voice and acoustic guitar, but collaborations with drummers Matt Cameron and Matt Chamberlain quickly expanded the effort’s sonic palette. The album will be titled In Deep...
Hal Leonard Publishes “The Rickenbacker Electric Bass: 50 Years as Rock’s Bottom”
Rickenbacker basses are getting a good detailing in the new book The Rickenbacker Electric Bass: 50 Years as Rock’s Bottom, a 144-page documentation of the company’s 4-string endeavors since the mid-1950s. It offers up info on the company’s nearly forty bass models, including the iconic 4001, with hundreds of color photos and descriptions to help identify each instrument. “I took...
Trampled Under Foot: Love My Baby
Our friend Marsha sent us this awesome video of Trampled Under Foot performing “Love My Baby,” live on the show Kansas City After Hours. The blues trio includes bassist Danielle Schnebelen and her siblings Kris and Nick. Danielle delivers some great lead vocals while laying down the low end.
Richard Davis Among NEA’s 2014 Jazz Masters
The National Endowment for the Arts has announced the 2014 NEA Jazz Masters, which is the nation’s highest honor in jazz. Among the four recipients this year is bassist Richard Davis, who they will be honoring for his “lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz.” Born April 15th, 1930, Davis began singing with his family vocal trio...
Tapestry Audio Introduces Time Traveler Pedal
Tapestry Audio has introduced the Time Traveler, an auxiliary BPM synchronization pedal that syncs up a pedalboard’s time-based effects. The utility pedal sends out preprogrammed BPM presets to any pedal that has an external tap tempo jack, allowing for all of the external effects’ beats per minute to be unified. The Time Traveler has two outputs and offers up to...
Bass of the Week: Artisan Bass Works Classic Series
Artisan Bass Works looks at things from a different angle. The Ohio-based company licenses ANSIR Technology, which is a patented neck design that puts the fretboard into a more natural playing position. ABW puts the design to use on their Classic Series to add their own touch to common bass styles. The Artisan Bass Works Classic basses are available in...