Geezer Butler Signs With Hartke
Geezer Butler has signed with Hartke, according to a press release from the bass amplifier company. The Black Sabbath bassist will be utilizing the brand’s new Kilo amps, with which he played through for Metal Masters 3 and the 2012 Download Festival on June 10th. “It’s a true honor to welcome Geezer to the Hartke family,” states Director of Marketing...
Brian Bromberg Releases Hendrix and Jobim Tribute Albums in U.S.
Hot on the heels of his new album Compared to That, bassist Brian Bromberg is paying homage to two of his musical heroes with Bromberg Plays Hendrix and In the Spirit of Jobim. The albums were originally recorded for Japan’s King Records, but are now available in the U.S. via Artistry Music. “Even though people know me as a jazz...
In Memoriam: Bob Babbitt
Another bass legend has left us with the passing of Funk Brother Bob Babbitt, as the iconic bassist succumbed to complications from a brain tumor which was discovered last year. He was 74. Along with fellow low-ender James Jamerson, Babbitt was the foundation for the Motown Sound and played on over 200 Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits. His undeniable...
Darryl Anders and AgapéSoul: “Believe In Love”
Darryl Anders is bringing the old school to the new school with his new band AgapéSoul. With a deep pocket of groove, the bassist set out to make real music, not show off his skills. “It is not about us, as people or as musicians. It’s about the songs,” says Anders. “I’ve been blessed with an opportunity to share my...
Schroeder Cabinets Introduces Pyramid Line of Bass Cabinets
Schroeder Cabinets has introduced a new line of bass cabs called the Pyramid series. Developed for bassists that have trouble hearing themselves on small stages, the long throw design helps the artist hear what they’re playing while projecting just as well to the audience. The new line includes an 800-watt 2×12, a 400-watt 1×12, and a 600-watt 1×15, all of...
Steel Pulse Announce Tour Dates, Working on New Album
Reggae icons Steel Pulse will be hitting the road for a U.S. tour kicking off July 20th in Boston, Massachusetts and wrapping up September 9th at the Doheny Days Festival in California. The trek will be partly in support of a new album due out later this year, though details are sparse. Formed in 1975, the band has gone through...
Duran Duran’s “Rio”: John Taylor’s Isolated Bass Line
John Taylor really brought it in the Duran Duran tune “Rio”. His active bass line locks in with the drums and drives the song forward. Luckily, we have a video of Taylor’s isolated bass line to scope out his groove and tone.
PocketLabworks Releases PocketHz Tuning and Song Training App
PocketLabworks has launched the PocketHz for iOS, an app that brings together a tuner and a song trainer. The tuner utilizes the company’s WarpSpeed pitch detection technology, which engineer Kevin Robertson explains warps the frequencies for even measurement across all octaves. It covers 8-octaves to reach down to a low B-string, high C-string and beyond. The song training half of...
Mono Announces “The Tick” Accessory Gig Bag
Mono Cases has introduced the Guitar Tick, a new accessory bag that attaches to your M80 bass or guitar case. The new case adds extra space and easily clips onto newer Mono cases equipped with D-rings to allow full access to your instrument. The Tick can hold lots of extra gear with a cable strap and mesh pocket for organization....
Nick Schendzielos To Sit Out Summer Slaughter Tour Performances
Job For a Cowboy bassist Nick Schendzielos has announced he will be sitting out part of the band’s upcoming performances on the Summer Slaughter Tour, which runs July through August. The Red Chord guitarist Mike “Gunface” McKenzie will be filling in. “On June 28, immediately after landing in Boston to rehearse for Puerto Rico/Summer Slaughter, my girlfriend was in a...
Nordstrand Pickups Introduces NP4V Vintage P Pickup
Nordstand Pickups has expanded their NP4 line with the NP4V, a P-style pickup designed to deliver old school tone. The new pickup is “made to exacting early 60’s specs”, including its vintage correct size traditional Alnico V magnets. The NP4V acts as a direct replacement and fits into nearly all P-style basses. Its split coil hum-canceling configuration offers noise-free operation,...
Bass of the Week: Zakrzewski Exclusive
Polish luthier Piotr Zakrzewski has some pretty great bass designs, including his Exclusive model. The mid-range of his three basic basses, the Exclusive is a double-cut bass with the lower horn being significantly deeper to provide easy access to the very end of the fingerboard. The Exclusive EX1 01 really caught my eye with its faux f-hole, which provides more...