Aguilar Introduces HOT Series Precision and Jazz Bass Pickups
Aguilar has introduced a new set of pickups called the HOT series. The Hot P and Hot J pickups act as direct replacements for 4-string Fender P-Bass and Jazz pickups but feature larger, 16mm magnets and an over-wound design. The result is a hotter output that Aguilar says adds a big and loud tone while retaining the grit and nuance....
Guild Reintroduces Starfire Bass
Guild has reissued the Starfire Bass along with eight other models as part of their Newark St. Collection. Introduced in the ’60s, the original Starfire Bass was made popular by bands including the Byrds and Jefferson Airplane. The new model sports an extra-thin, semi-hollow body made of laminated mahogany finished in Cherry red and accented with black and ivory purfling....
New School: Todd Matthews
Todd Matthews first caught our attention with his awesome looping rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” on double bass. Since then, the innovative bassist has refined his style even further to include effects and incredible arrangements to fill out the sound of an entire orchestra. He recently released his debut solo album, Here Come the Pig Mammoths, which has nothing but...
Bass of the Week: ODD Guitars Hive 3D Printed Bass Guitar
As 3D printing becomes a more accessible means of creation, it seems that imagination is our only limit. ODD Guitars realized this and put the technology to use in instruments. “3D printing allows designs to be manufactured that could not be manufactured through traditional means,” the company writes on their website. “The 3D Printing technology used in ODD guitars is...
Alex Bershadsky and Dennis Chambers: Freedom Jazz Dance
Alex Bershadsky is working on a new album and sent us this track as a sneak peek of what’s to come. The bassist teamed up with drummer extraordinaire Dennis Chambers to make a duet of the famous Eddie Harris tune “Freedom Jazz Dance.” The duo lock in tight as Bershadsky ornaments the funky melody with some incredible right hand technique....
Terri Lyne Carrington Releases “Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue”, Featuring Christian McBride
Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington has good taste in bassists, and her new album Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue is more evidence of that as she recruited Christian McBride to lay down the low end. The effort pays homage to the classic Duke Ellington album Money Jungle, which featured bassist Charles Mingus and drummer Max Roach, on its 50th anniversary. “I...
Warwick Introduces LWA 1000 Lightweight Bass Amplifier
Warwick has entered the lightweight amp market with the new LWA 1000, a six pound bass amp rated at 1,000 watts at 4 ohms. Featuring a Class A preamp and Class D power amp section, the LWA 1000 has two identical channels with individual mutes, 4-band EQs, built-in compressors, and gain controls. Connectivity on the amp includes an auxiliary input,...
Nick Schendzielos: Mullet Clown Bass Gun Control
If you’re familiar with Nick Schendzielos, you may know that the following video is full of insane bass playing and quirky antics. This one is no exception. After a heartfelt (albeit completely fictionalized) tale of clown abuse, Schendzielos breaks into a strumming groove topped with an ear-catching, circus-inspired, overdriven melody. Cephalic Carnage bandmate Brian Hopp makes a cameo with an...
Zoom Announces MultiStomp MS-60B Bass Pedal at NAMM
Zoom unveiled the MultiStomp MS-60B at NAMM this year. The stompbox features over fifty types of effects and six amp models in a standard-sized pedal. The MS-60B comes with 30 preset patches with room to create up to 50 original patches, and players can switch through different patches using a unique toggle footswitch and cursor keys. It allows for using...
Andrew Balkwill: Let Go
Here’s a fun video sent to us by bassist Dave Delgado, who rocks out his P-bass during this live session with pianist Andrew Balkwill on the tune “Let Go”. And Delgado grooves hard. He revealed to us that he used “muted plectrum grooves trying to imitate and old analogue synth with fast attack and short decay & release for extra...
Peter Hook Releases Joy Division Book
In a career that only spanned three years and produced two albums, the post-punk rock band Joy Division altered the direction of rock music. Their influence can be heard in the music of U2, The Cure, Interpol, and even the Red Hot Chili Peppers. A fair portion of their success is due to bassist Peter Hook, who details his life...
Fender Introduces Four New American Vintage Basses
Fender has expanded its American Vintage series with four new basses including the ’58 Precision Bass, the ’63 Precision Bass, the ’64 Jazz Bass, and the ’74 Jazz Bass. As with the rest of the line, the new basses are reimagined to bring new life to the original designs. Each bass was picked for significant milestones in the model’s lifespan....