Dean Releases Eric Bass Signature Hillsboro Bass in Metallic Gold
New for 2012, Dean is now offering Shinedown bassist Eric Bass’s Signature Hillsboro bass in Metallic Gold. Sharing the qualities of his black signature model, the bass features a swamp ash body, bolt-on maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays. The bass’s hardware includes an ABM bridge and Die Cast tuners, while the pickup is a Dean...
Between the Buried and Me’s Dan Briggs Announces Trioscapes Debut Album and Preview Track
Between the Buried and Me bassist Dan Briggs has announced that his new project, dubbed Trioscapes, will be making its album debut on May 8, 2012 with the release of Separate Realities. The group was formed last year after Briggs got in touch with tenor saxophonist Walter Fancourt and drummer Matt Lynch to work up a rendition of the Mahavishnu...
Cannibal Corpse Releases New Album, Announce Tour Dates
Cannibal Corpse has released their twelfth album, Torture, on Metal Blade Records. Anchored by Alex Webster on bass, the new album promises to keep pushing the limits. “Fans can expect more of what we’re known for – aggressive, moderately technical death metal with an emphasis placed on making memorable songs,” Webster said in our exclusive interview. “From a bass point...
Warwick Introduces Jack Bruce Artist Series Bass
Warwick is following up on the release of the Jack Bruce Survivor bass, with a new Artist Series edition. Made in Korea, the Jack Bruce Artist Series bass offers many similarities to its German-made counterpart, but at a fraction of the price. Reminiscent of Bruce’s bass from his Cream days, the new model features neck-through construction with a mahogany body,...
AC Guitars Introduces J-Type Models
Alan Cringean of AC Guitars has unveiled the J-Type series, a line of basses that gives a nod to classic bass design. “This range of basses offers a more traditional body shape but still has features that are typical of the ACG ethos,” the luthier explained. Available in 4- and 5-string versions, the J-Type is built to order and therefore...
FuzzHugger FX Releases Bass Bloom Fuzz Pedal
Fuzzhugger FX has released the Bass Bloom, a bass-oriented version of their Algal Bloom fuzz. The new adaptation accounts for bass lovers by adding more low-end response and a clean blend to retain their original tone. The Bass Bloom has five controls: Gain, Bloom, Starve, Fuzz Level, and Clean Level. The Bloom knob controls the amount of fuzz added, while...
Whirlwind Introduces OC Bass Optical Compressor Pedal
Whirlwind kicked off the year right by debuting the OC Bass Optical Compressor at NAMM. Voiced specifically for bass, the pedal switches between a compressor and a limiter and features three pre-programmable attack speeds: Fast, Slow, and Medium. Input and Output knobs control the level and gain to help you hone in on the amount of punch and sustain you...
Ben Harper, Stanley Clarke, and Stewart Copeland: So Fool For Love
Drummer Stewart Copeland has a great habit of putting together random jam sessions and recording them. (Check out this one with Les Claypool, Neil Peart, and Danny Carey). This time he posted a jam with bass legend Stanley Clarke and guitarist/vocalist Ben Harper playing the tune “So Fool for Love.” As if the bass/guitar unison groove isn’t cool enough, it...
In Memoriam: Joe Byrd
Jazz bassist Joe Byrd has passed away at the age of 78, following injuries from a car accident. Byrd was best known as the bassist for his brother Charlie Byrd’s trio and was featured on the album Jazz Samba with Stan Getz, which is credited as the first major bossa nova album on the American jazz scene. Born in Chuckatuck,...
Oktober Introduces Production Version of DevilWing Bass
After first introducing it a year and a half ago, Oktober Guitars is now making a production model of their DevilWing bass guitar in addition to the U.S. Custom Shop version. The bass was designed by Misfits guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein and is aptly part of the company’s Von Frankenstein line. The DevilWing features set neck construction with a...
New School: Armin Metz
Armin Metz really caught some attention when we posted the video for his solo bass composition “Sanskar Valley” (see below). As bassist for Imogen Heap, Metz has done his share of playing stages as a sideman, but the spotlight has been moving to him with his expansion into the realm of solo bass. How did you discover your new school...
Bass of the Week: Kristall Solid Electric Bass
German builder Andreas Kristall makes a host of impressive basses, including this week’s bass of the week: The Kristall Solid. Available in 4, 5, and 6-string models, the Solid sports a singlecut design with bolt on construction. Kristall says the bass was built for “Rock character, sound, look, and feel.” As each piece is made to order, options vary from...