TC Electronic Announces Ditto Looper Pedal
TC Electronic is getting back to the basics with the Ditto Looper, a looping pedal that keeps things simple with only a footswitch and a level control. The Ditto allows for five minutes of looping with unlimited overdubs to create full arrangements. All the magic is in the footswitch: press once to record, then press again to play the loop,...
Jeremy Woolhouse and Shannon Birchall: Optimist’s Folly
The Bradetich Foundation shared this video of bassist Shannon Birchall performing a beautiful duet with pianist Jeremy Woolhouse, which was recorded last year at Baker Street Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Birchall provides an introspective arco melody to set the tone of the song before the duo share a flowing improvisation over the song’s changes. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon. Or...
Fender Unveils Pawn Shop Bass VI and Mustang Bass Models
Fender has announced four new models in the company’s eccentric Pawn Shop series, one they describe as “guitars that never were but should have been.” The new lineup includes two basses: The Pawn Shop Bass VI and the Pawn Shop Mustang Bass. Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI Originally produced from 1961 to 1975, the Fender Bass VI is a six-string...
Hot Tuna Announces Winter/Spring Tour Dates
Hot Tuna has announced a boatload of new tour dates for 2013 that will take them across the U.S. with a special four night stay at The Breezes Grand Negril Resort in Jamaica. The duo of Jorma Kaukonen and bass legend Jack Casady will be playing their acoustic sets for the majority of the dates and will be joined by...
T-Rex Effects to Debut Sweeper 2 Bass Chorus at 2013 NAMM Show
T-Rex Effects has updated their Sweeper 2 bass chorus pedal with easier-to-read graphics and a new algorithm that the company says gives a warmer and more vintage sounding effect no matter what depth or rate the pedal is set at. The Sweeper 2 is designed to be intuitive with Depth, Volume, and Rate controls. Though it can be used in...
Kabas: Funk Jazz Groove
Maree Erkkila Palma suggested we check out some videos by Brazilian bassist Valter Kabas, and we’re glad she did. Here’s a great Funk/Jazz groove he put up that is full of tasty licks and delicious tone.
Bass of the Week: Emerald Guitars Flow Bass
The Emerald Guitars Flow Bass is quite a unique instrument. The body is built with a singular exoskeleton made of carbon fiber that’s then filled with the company’s “acoustic tone compound,” which they say can be tailored to create different fundamental tones just like different tone woods. “Our specially developed compound contains tiny air pockets which reduces the density,” they...
Jason’s Back! An Interview with Jason Newsted
Twelve years after leaving the ranks of Metallica, Jason Newsted has again stepped into the spotlight. Late last year he launched his online presence with a brand new website and Facebook page, from which he announced his new band and a brand new EP, Metal. The four-song album, available now through iTunes, is packed with in-your-face riffs and raw thrash...
Cobham Duke Band: “Juicy” Live with Alphonso Johnson
Juan Alderete shared this on his Facebook page a while back, saying only “this leaves me speechless.” I feel about the same way. Filmed in Montreux in 1976, this clip captures the kind of energy you just don’t see in every band. Alphonso Johnson holds down the low end with tight yet lyrical playing before taking a tasty solo at...
N-Audio Introduces Powerbox Mk2 Stompbox Power Supply
N-Audio has unveiled the Powerbox Mk2, an isolated and filtered stompbox power supply. The new tool is based on a quality transformer with a reduced flux density and 5 independent isolated output groups that reduce noise and group loop issues. The Mk2 has ten outputs: four with 9 or 12 volts and up to 500mA, two with 9, 12, or...
MonoNeon Releases “Southern Visionary”
Forward-thinking bassist MonoNeon is kicking off 2013 with a new album called Southern Visionary, available on BandCamp. The effort blends the composer’s unique interests of southern soul and microtonal music to create a completely unique sound. “On this album I’m presenting my minimalistic idea of ‘microtonal-southern soul’ with compositions, ‘Micro-Johnnay Taylor’ and ‘Micro-Staple Sangus’,” MonoNeon writes. “The title track, ‘Southern...
Joseph Patrick Moore Releases “Read Music” eBook
Bassist Joseph Patrick Moore has released a new eBook for the iPad entitled Read Music: Making Sense of Music Notation. The 250-page book tackles the issue of reading for all instruments, from beginning musicians as well as seasoned pros. Moore includes audio examples, exercises, etudes and interactive self-tests to let readers get the most out of the learning experience. Chapters...