Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 735

At only 20 years old, Erena Terakubo is off to an amazing start. The Japanese alto saxophonist has made her North American debut with New York Attitude, tapping some legendary jazz musicians for the occasion: bassist Ron Carter, pianist Kenny Barron, drummer Lee Pearson and trumpeter Dominic Farinacci. Carter’s unmistakable swing permeates and pushes each track as Terakubo practically sings...

In addition to their new Embrace model, Birdsong Guitars is celebrating their 8th anniversary with the introduction of the Corto2. The new bass is a take on their flagship short-scale Cortobass and features rear-routing with a pair of Kent Armstrong soapbar pickups. Other changes include a more refined body with subtle recurving. Though many options are available, the bass comes...

Get ready for some nasty bass distortion. Bassist Brad Russell sent us this video of his song “Zattack” from his album Let’s Hear It!

Sterling by Music Man has unveiled the new S.U.B. line of basses, which the company says is meant to make Music Man designs available at more affordable pricing. The new line includes the Ray4 and Ray5, which are cousins to the Music Man Stingray 4 and 5 basses. The new basses are built with hardwood bodies and maple necks with...

Gretsch has added several new models to their Electromatic series, including two new hollow body basses: the G5440LS and the G5442BDC. Though they share many features, the G5440LS is a 34? scale bass with a single-cutaway design while the G5442BDC is the little brother of the two, with a short 30.5? scale and double-cutaway body. The new offerings are both...

Luthier Pierre Erizias sent me this video of Norman Lachapelle playing the tune “L’irlandaise”. The song is sheerly musical, and not a note is misplaced. “I think Normand is not getting the props he deserves,” Erizias said. “He is a refined and seasoned musician that could walk easily with the best out there for sure.” I think I have to...

Peter Hook has announced that his memoir is set to hit the shelves October 1 from publishers Simon & Schuster. Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division. will document the bassist’s time in the seminal post-punk band, from helping to form the band to lead singer Ian Curtis’s death. Hook will also delve into his time with New Order, which was formed...

Spector has expanded its ReBop family for basses with the ReBop4 MM and ReBop5 MM. While keeping many of the same traits as their predecessors, the new models are equipped with an EMG-HZ MM passive dual coil pickup. They also introduce maple fingerboards with black Spector inlays and a trans blue stain matte body finish. As with the rest of...

Nathan Navarro had a dream that he lost one of his arms, which inspired him to write this solo bass piece. The ethereal piece is a little dream-like itself and features some real right hand dexterity to execute the complicated tapping. For more on Nathan, check out his New School interview.

IK Multimedia has released a major update for the iOS version of Amplitube. Version 2.5 of the mobile amp modeling and effects processor app expands its capabilities with MIDI and digital audio support, a redesigned recorder and mixer section, and audio copy and paste functions. It also adapts to new iOS devices by supporting Retina Display. Purchases from the in-app...

Custom shop Birdsong Guitars has introduced a new fretless model called the Embrace. The bass, which was prototyped over several years, is a 32? scale fretless neck-through with a single passive soapbar. Described as a “working man’s electric fretless”, the bass is handmade in Texas yet streamlined to offer a price most everyone can reach. Birdsong will be making Embraces...

I get to check out tons of basses every day, but when Anthony Wellington posted the details of his new Fodera my jaw hit the floor. The latest in the renowned bass educator’s collection is a Buckeye Burl Yin Yang Imperial 6 Elite from the New York boutique shop, who stated it’s the “most complex Yin Yang we have ever...