Sandberg Introduces Electra Vs 4 Bass at Musikmesse
Lots of exciting things are showing up this year for Europe’s Musikmesse trade show, including the Sandberg Electra Vs 4. While the wood, routing, and varnish processes take place in Korea to keep prices down, the bass is assembled and checked for quality control at the company’s headquarters in Germany. The Electra Vs 4 features bolt-on construction with a basswood...
Ansir Introduces Imperial and Imperial SL Basses
Ansir Music has unveiled all-new designs for their custom basses, with the introduction of the Imperial line. The Imperial and Imperial SL models feature ergonomic contouring and the company’s patented “Ansir Industry Standard Playing Angle,” which puts the neck in a more natural playing position. While the two models are very similar, Ansir founder Jody Michael explained the SL (or...
Petros Klampanis: Solo Double Bass Arrangement of Skylark
Petros Klampanis sent us this video of his solo bass arrangement for the jazz standard ballad “Skylark.” This track is also featured on his solo debut album, Contextual. Klampanis plays the head in a “Boleroish” way before busting out the looper at the end for a mesmerizing vamp.
N-Audio Introduces Tube Preamp DI Box
Bulgarian boutique electronics company N-Audio has released a new Tube Preamp DI Box. Built to expand the abilities of a DI to include a preamp, the device features a pair of tubes and an output transformer with two independent secondary coils that allow for two balanced outputs: one XLR and one 1/4?. The guys at N-Audio explain the preamp is...
Iron Maiden Announces Maiden England North American Tour
Iron Maiden will be taking North America by storm once again this summer with the Maiden England tour. The trek marks the third outing in the History of Iron Maiden tour series, and will closely mirror their original 1988 Maiden England concert video of the same name, by recreating the production and content. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson says the band enjoys...
Bass of the Week: Atlansia Solitaire
There’s been an on-going discussion about what constitutes a bass, and specifically how more than four strings is “breaking the rules.” Well, what if there’s only one string? Enter the Atlansia Solitaire. Based in Nagano, Atlansia is known for outlandish designs – so much so that their website has to specify that the instruments are “Made in Japan on Planet...
Custom Shop: Wilkins Guitars
Pat Wilkins of Wilkins Guitars is a man who can appreciate the Old School. After getting his start in amps in the ’70s, he soon switched to guitar building, where he eventually started his own brand. Most recently, Wilkins has turned to recreating vintage basses, right down to the smallest detail. Of course, his work also includes custom work and...
Spectrum Road, Featuring Jack Bruce, Announce Album and Summer Tour
While supergroups seem to be forming left and right these days, this one has got our attention. Spectrum Road is a band consisting of bass legend Jack Bruce, Living Colour’s Vernon Reid, drummer Cindy Blackman-Santana and keyboardist John Medeski of Medeski, Martin and Wood. The group originally played together in 2008 as the Tony Williams Lifetime Tribute band, and a...
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,...