ESP Introduces Frank Bello Signature and LTD FB-4 Basses
ESP has unveiled a pair of new Frank Bello Signature basses at NAMM this year. The new ESP Frank Bello Bass and ESP LTD FB-4 models are based on the company’s Vintage-4, but customized to the Anthrax bassist’s liking. Both versions share the same specifications, though they are built in different factories and carry different price points. The new Bello...
NS Design Unveils NS Bass Guitar at NAMM 2012
Ned Steinberger and company introduced the latest addition to the NS Design bass line with a new headless bass guitar design. The NS Bass Guitar features a new “patented self-clamping tuning system” that allows for using regular single-ball type strings. As you tighten the tuner, it clamps onto the string; loosening the tuner detunes the string and eventually releases it....
La Bella Expands Super Alloy 52 Strings Line to Bass
La Bella has expanded their Super Alloy 52 Series of strings with the addition of four new electric bass sets. Available in Extra Light, Light, Standard Light, and 5-string Standard Light, the new strings are described as bright and tarnish-proof. The line gets its name from the string’s outer wrap, which contains 52% nickel to prevent tarnishing. The other 48%...
Markbass Unveils New Bass Amps at NAMM
Markbass rolled out four new amps at the NAMM Show this year: the Big Bang, the TTE 800, and the MoMark Black 500 and 800. Markbass The Big Bang The Big Bang is the newest model in Markbass’s Little Mark series. The compact head features a solid state preamp and digital power amp that pumps out 500 watts at 4...
In Memoriam: Henry E. Davis
Henry E. Davis, bassist for the ’70s R&B group L.T.D., passed away at the age of 63. A mainstay of the West Coast disco scene, he also played on the Diana Ross hit “Love Hangover.” Davis started his career in the ’60s with Friends of Distinction before hooking up with L.T.D. in the early ’70s. The band eventually split up...
New Jeff Berlin Album Coming In February
Jeff Berlin will be following up his 2010 release, High Standards with the ironically titled album, Low Standards. Besides the pun, the moniker comes as the group will feature Richard Drexler on upright bass as well as piano. Rounding out the trio is drummer Mike Clark, who spent time playing for Herbie Hancock in the Headhunters. “I prepared for it...
Ampeg Announces 2012 Run of Limited Edition Heritage B-15 Amps
Last year, Ampeg paid their respects to their legendary B-15 flip-top combo with a special run of 50 hand-built and hand-wired units. This year, they’ve announced a second run of 100 units. The new Heritage B-15 features the circuit paths of both the 1964 and 1966 models, including the classic Baxandall EQ controls. That, matched with premium 6SL7 octal preamp...
Source Audio Unveils Soundblox 2 Series at NAMM
Source Audio debuted their new Soundblox 2 line of pedals at NAMM last week, including the Multiwave Bass Distortion and the brand new Dimension Reverb, designed by Bob “The Chid” Chidlaw. Described as “boldly anti-retro,” the new pedals are housed in compact cast-aluminum housings and have multi-function inputs to support MIDI, an expression pedal, or the company’s Hot Hand control....
Anthony Crawford: Solo from Bass Bash 2012
The Bass Bash is an annual concert coinciding with NAMM, and it’s a great hang to meet bassists and listen to some killing music. Here’s a great clip from the first night of the event of Anthony Crawford’s solo while his band played “Whatever It Is” by Soulive. His band is rounded out by Ron Allen on drums, Kamasi Washington...
In Memoriam: Dick Kniss
Longtime Peter, Paul and Mary bassist Richard “Dick” Kniss has passed away from pulmonary disease at the age of 74. The bassist was referred to as the fourth member of the trio and performed with the folk outfit for nearly 50 years. He also made waves as John Denver’s bassist and co-writer of the hit “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” Born...
Tech 21 Unveils Bass Boost Fuzz Pedal
Tech 21 has expanded their Boost Series effects pedals with the Bass Boost Fuzz. The stompbox features a boost section, offering up to 21dB of clean boost, and a fuzz section with Level, Tone, and Drive controls to dial in the amount of grit you want. Each effect has a dedicated footswitch and can be used simultaneously or independently. A...
New School: Nathan Navarro
Nathan Navarro has been experimenting with the bass’s role in different genres for some time now, but his recent exploration into electronica and dubstep bass have captured the attention of the bass community. His band’s live cover of Skrillex’s “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” has reached over 2.5 million hits on YouTube. We caught up with Nathan to find out...