Alberto Rigoni Releases Third Solo Album, “Three Wise Monkeys”
Alberto Rigoni has released his third solo effort, entitled Three Wise Monkeys. Further refining the style presented in 2011’s Rebirth, the new album is made up of half instrumental and half vocal songs that revolve around the Japanese folk legend of the “Three Wise Monkeys,” which embodies the proverbial principle “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” Rigoni’s...
Squier Introduces Chris Aiken Signature Precision Bass
Squier has introduced the Chris Aiken Signature Precision Bass, which the Strung Out bassist helped design. “I decided to make something that’s really cool, that I like to play,” said Aiken. “But, also something I want to give to the fans of Strung Out and any average bass player that wants to buy a bass – something that’s simple, practical...
Ibanez Introduces Promethean P3110 1×10? Combo Amp
Ibanez has expanded their Promethean combo range to include the P3110. The 1×10? combo amp features a Class-D power amplifier and pumps out 300 watts. It’s also stocked with a high frequency tweeter with a passive crossover and on/off switch. Similar to the rest of its brethren, the P3110 offers a 3-band EQ and a Phat control, which enhances lows...
Radial Engineering Introduces PZ-DI Orchestral Acoustic Direct Box
Radial Engineering has introduced the PZ-DI, a direct box designed to work with all types of acoustic and orchestral instruments on stage by having an adjustable input impedance. This allows to you to optimize the impedance to match your pickup or transducer, including active basses and basses with piezo pickups. The impedance selector has three settings: 220k-ohm to warm up...
Johan Hansén-Larson: Kopano
If you haven’t noticed yet, Johan Hansén-Larson is a guy you need to keep an eye on. In his newest video, Johan shares a new original called “Kopano,” inspired by a recent trip to Botswana and South Africa. The composition includes three parts for guitar (which he also covers), but the focus is really in the bass as it takes...
Genz Benz Updates Cabinet Line with NX2 Series
Genz Benz has introduced the NX2 series of cabinets including the NX2-212T and NX2-112T. The new line follows up on the company’s NeoX cabinets, offering improvements like proprietary neodymium loudspeakers and a new cabinet design to add strength and reduce weight. Furthermore, they feature Dual Edge “X” porting, which Genz Benz explains helps to increase low-frequency support and projection. Both...
New School: Darren Michaels
Atlanta-based bassist Darren Michaels is helping to expand the role of our instrument. With extended techniques and an open mind, Michaels has been finding new sounds to convey his music in both band and solo contexts, though he dislikes the term “solo bass.” It’s not the technique that drives him, but the connection of music with his listeners that makes...
Evan Brewer: Untitled (with some pretty wicked tapping)
Evan Brewer just put out a new video of a song he’s working on for his next solo release. Brewer utilizes a 5-string bass tuned EADGC and plays some some pretty wicked tapping on the untitled track. In our recent interview, Brewer described his new material as “super erratic,” adding that he was hoping to finish up the material this...
Bass of the Week: Pino Saracini’s Keyboard Bass by Huma Guitars
Pino Saracini is professional bassist in Italy. He’s also creative guy. While out on tour, he typically has to play synth bass in addition to his 4-string with little time for changing between instruments. To fix the issue, he came up with the Keyboard Bass, a bass with a Korg Nonokey2 USB controller built in. After designing every detail of...
Muse Releases “The 2nd Law”
English alternative rock trio Muse have returned with their sixth studio album entitled The 2nd Law. With its title referring to the second law of thermodynamics, the new effort shows the band stretching their sound with obvious influences from Queen, Stevie Wonder and even some dubstep from Skrillex. It’s also the first to feature bassist Chris Wolstenholme as lead singer...
Fender Unveils Nate Mendel Signature P-Bass
Foo Fighters bassist Nate Mendel now has a signature bass from Fender. Modeled after the ’71 Precision that carried him through over half of his career, the Nate Mendel Fender P Bass features special body contours, extra-slim neck and nut width, and a lightly worn Candy Apple Red finish. The bass is built with an ash body, a maple neck,...
Mission Engineering Introduces Expressionator Pedal
Mission Engineering has announced the availability of the Expressionator, a multi-expression controller originally designed in part by extended range bassist Jean Baudin. The new pedal allows for users to connect one expression pedal to control three expression enabled effects, each of which can be controlled individually or simultaneously. Its three outputs are toggled via the stomp switch and have separate...