Nothing but Bass: Nico Abondolo Plays the Octobass
Now this is a bass. The Octobass is an enormous, three-string instrument that tunes an octave below a standard double bass. It’s so large that the player has to use special keys on its side to change pitches on each string. The Musical Instrument Museum – which now seems to be the coolest museum ever – lent out their Octobass...
Jayme Lewis Releases “When Will Then Be Now”
If you caught the video for the tune Sedagive by Jayme Lewis we shared a few days ago, you’ll know that the Los Angeles bassist has a lot to offer. Luckily, Lewis has a new album called When Will Then Be Now, available on iTunes as well as Bandcamp. The six-track jazz/rock record features some heavy duty bass work by...
Jackson Unveils JS Series Kelly Bird Basses
Back in April, David Ellefson gave us the scoop on a new bass he was working on with Jackson that would combine elements of a classic bass style he sported during Megadeth’s “Countdown to Extinction” tour, and the company’s Kelly guitar model. Jackson has now introduced the resulting Kelly Bird basses as part of their JS Series. Available in Burnt...
Incubus Releases “HQ Live” CD/DVD Set
Last year, Incubus celebrated their 20th anniversary with a set of special performances at an art gallery in downtown Los Angeles. The six-day event provided fans an intimate experience with the band and, thankfully, was completely documented by the band. It’s now available in a package entitled HQ Live , a two-CD/one-DVD set chock-full of audio, behind the scenes footage,...
Bass of the Week: Schecter Stargazer-4
Schecter’s Stargazer-4 is a quirky take on basses of years past. The old school-inspired 4-stringer is built for versatility with EMG’s MMHZ humbucking pickup in the bridge position and the EMG SJHZ single-coil pickup in the neck position. For further tonal adjustments, the bass has an EMG active 2-band EQ in addition to a pickup blend knob. The Stargazer-4 features...
Renaissance Man: An Interview with Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller has been on top of the music industry for over 30 years, and it’s easy to see why. Even with several Grammy awards, numerous film scores, producing credits, and legions of fans, he’s constantly working to grow and understand the world around him – musically and otherwise. Miller was enjoying a rare day off in France when we...
In Memoriam: Bob Birch
We’re sad to report the passing of Bob Birch, longtime bassist for Elton John and session musician. Birch, who was 56, reportedly took his own life near his home in Los Angeles. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Birch started out as an alto saxophonist before the sounds of Motown made him switch to bass in middle school. He worked the Detroit...
Project Dirty Work: Behind the Curtain
Check out this video for “Behind the Curtain” by Czech Republic bassist David Habiger’s new group Project Dirty Work. The sneak peek video offers a first look at the band for which Habiger is listed as the “main protagonist.” The bassist also composes all the music, which has tinges of hard driving metal as well as thoughtful, melodious chordal playing.
Snarky Puppy Announces Tour, Releases New Music Video
Snarky Puppy is gearing up for a 47-date tour of the North America in support of their latest effort, groundUP. Led by bassist Michael League, the group will kick things off in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania before zig-zagging across the States with a couple of Canadian dates thrown in the mix. The band’s eclectic mix of genres is hard to put a...
Kinky Wizzards: Bass and Drum Brother Duo
The Kinky Wizzards is a British bass and drum duo made up of Jonathan and Matthew Griffiths. The brothers have been playing together since they were around 11 years old, playing as a duo as well as a rhythm section in several bands. Bassist Matthew sent us this awesome video of three of their original songs – “Walk to the...
StageTrix Introduces the Setting Saver
Stagetrix is now shipping the Setting Saver, a marker that applies a clean, bright fluorescent green ink on your gear to help keep track of your settings. The ink lights up under black light and is easily removed wiping it off with your finger without leaving any residue. It’s available now with an MSRP of $5.99. For more info, check...
Ibanez Now Offering SR256 6-String Bass
Ibanez’s SR series has gotten a little bigger with the new SR256PW, a 6-string bass with active electronics and a price most can reach. Offered in Pearl White, the bass is built with a mahogany body and a bolt-on 3-piece maple neck. The rosewood fingerboard has pearl dot inlays as position markers. The bass comes equipped with a pair of...