Big Sir: Old Blood
Big Sir, the project led by bassist Juan Alderete and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Lisa Papineau, just wrapped up a nice European tour. Lucky for the rest of us who couldn’t make it out, the duo stopped off for a performance at SSR Studios in Manchester for the online show Sessions 65, who made a few nice videos of their performance. “Old Blood”...
Ned Steinberger and David Gage Team Up for Realist Docking Station for Double Bass
Double bassists know that with most upright bass pickups, you don’t get a volume control unless you mount a full preamp on your bass. As a solution to that, Ned Steinberger and David Gage teamed up to create the Realist Docking Station, a “no fuss dock and volume knob” that works with any double bass pickup. The device mounts onto...
Warwick Introduces Artist Series Steve Bailey Bass
As part of their new line this year, Warwick has introduced the Artist Series Steve Bailey bass. Available in 4-, 5- and 6-string versions, the bass shares many of the specs of his Signature Series bass and is based on Warwick’s Streamer bass, with modifications to improve access to the upper register of the neck. The bass is built with...
Steve Kuhn, Steve Swallow and Joey Baron Release “Wisteria”
After working together for nearly 50 years, pianist Steve Kuhn and bassist Steve Swallow have teamed up once again for Wisteria, an 11-track collection, rounded out by drummer Joey Baron. The album’s title is taken from the name of a song by Art Farmer, whom Kuhn and Swallow both worked for in the ’60s. On Wisteria, Swallow’s rich electric bass...
Michael Kelly Introduces Sojourn 4 Acoustic Travel Bass
Michael Kelly has unveiled the Sojourn 4 Travel Bass, a compact acoustic bass guitar with a 24.5? scale. Featuring a solid Englemann Spruce top, the company says the bass has a big sound for such a little bass. The Sojourn 4 comes equipped with a B-Band 22R UST (under saddle transducer) and B-Band A1.2 preamp, which provides superior frequency response...
In Memoriam: Adam Yauch, aka MCA, of the Beastie Boys
The news of the passing of Beastie Boy member Adam Yauch hit the web on Friday, with a massive outpouring that followed on the social web. What wasn’t mentioned as often was that Yauch held down the low end in addition to being a rapper in the group. Yauch, aka MCA, had been battling cancer for some time. He was...
Schecter Now Shipping Baron-H Vintage Semi-Hollow Body Bass
Schecter has unveiled the Baron-H Vintage, a semi-hollow body bass with an f-hole that drips with old school vibe. Also available in a lefty version, the bass features a mahogany body with a bolt-on maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. The bass comes with a Seymour Duncan SMB-4D hum-canceling pickup paired with an active 2-band EQ. Hardware on the Baron-H Vintage...
Lynyrd Skynyrd Announces New Album and Bassist
Lynyrd Skynyrd have announced that they’ll have a new album on the shelves on August 21. Last of a Dying Breed will be their first effort since 2009’s God & Guns, and promises to be a real fan-pleaser. “It was great to get back in the studio with [producer Bob Marlette] for this new album,” guitarist Gary Rossington said. “We...
Ibanez Introduces Maple Fingerboards to BTB Line of Basses
Ibanez has added to their BTB series of basses with the BTB675M and BTB676M, which sport maple fingerboard and an natural finish. The neck-thru bass is comprised of a 5-piece maple/bubinga neck and a light ash body with a walnut top. Five and six-string basses respectively, the BTB675M and BTB676M sport all the features of their predecessors, including deep cutaways,...
Eddie Gomez Releases “Per Sempre”
Jazz bassist Eddie Gomez has released Per Sempre, a new album with his quintet. Recorded in Bologna, Italy during his 2009 tour, the album features original compositions by his band as well as an inventive version of the jazz standard “Stella by Starlight.” Drawing on his varying experiences, Gomez’s refined arco work blends beautifully with the timbres of the horns...
Epiphone Introduces Thunderbird Classic-IV PRO Basses
Epiphone is unveiling a new version of a classic with the Thunderbird Classic-IV PRO. The bass is set apart from its siblings by being equipped with a pair of Gibson TB Plus Humbucking pickups featuring ceramic magnets, which the company says produce “high gain, smooth tone and high-end definition.” The pickups are controlled with separate volume knobs as well as...
New School: Donovan Stokes
Regular No Treble readers will be familiar with Donovan Stokes from his column, The Lowdown with Dr. D, but you may not be as familiar with his playing. As a professor at Shenandoah University, Stokes is well versed in the classical realm of double bass playing, yet his own compositions draw on an array of genres. His stunning performances often...