Custom Shop: An Interview with Mike Lull
As one of the world’s most respected bass luthiers, Mike Lull’s work has been heard around the world. His Seattle, Washington-based shop has allowed Lull to work on nearly all of the instruments used by bands from the area known as “the grunge capital”, including Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and others. His story began as many do, with youthful rebellion,...
JackTight USA Now Shipping JackTight Tool for Repairing Output Jacks
For all you do-it-yourselfer’s out there, JackTight USA released the JackTight, a tool for fixing loose output jacks on basses and guitars. The JackTight works by gripping and stabilizing the jack from the inside, allowing for users to tighten the nut without the jack spinning. In addition to being handy on instruments the JackTight works on any jack, including effects...
Philosophy Amplifiers Launches Flagship All-Tube Bass Amp
Philosophy Amplifiers has entered the bass amplifier scene with the launch of their flagship Philosophy amp, a 200-watt all tube bass amp. The class AB amplifier utilizes three JJ 12ax7 preamp tubes and four JJ KT-88 power tubes for it’s all-tube signal path, which the company explains is capable of both clean and overdriven sounds without the aid of pedals....
Phish Releases Hampton/Winston-Salem ’97 Box Set
Phish has released a 7-CD box set called Hampton/Winston-Salem ‘97, which documents the entirety of their three shows from November 21-23, 1997. The collection includes 45 songs coming in at over 8 hours of music, as well as previously unheard material from soundchecks at both venues. The trio of shows are among the most requested for release from the Phish...
Le Fay Introduces Fan Fret Version of Pangton Headless Bass
Le Fay has released a new fanned fret version of their Pangton headless bass. The bass has a unique bridge, head piece and pickups to accommodate the multi-scale lengths, which range from 35.24” for the B-string and 33.46” for the G-string. Though the design is quite unique, the German bass company says it’s easy to adjust to. “Soon this bass...
Jason Newsted Reunites with Metallica for 30th Anniversary Celebration
During the first night of their 30th Anniversary concerts last week, Metallica brought Jason Newsted back for a special guest appearance. Newsted, who left the band in 2001, was introduced by singer James Hetfield as “someone who lived with us, and toured with us and did stuff with us for 14 years.” The band then kicked into “Harvester of Sorrow,”...
Electro-Harmonix Now Shipping Switchblade+ Channel Selector
Electro-Harmonix has unveiled the Switchblade+ Channel Selector, a flexible stompbox that allows you to route your input signal to either two different locations (Channel A or B) or both simultaneously. The Switchblade+ then picks up where the company’s original Switchblade left off with the inclusion of a dedicated Tuner out, which EHX explains is hardwired to the input. This provides...
Pedro Aznar: El Faro de los Ahogados
Who says the bass player has to be in the background? Argentinian bassist/vocalist Pedro Aznar does an incredible job of comping and soloing up front on his tune “El Faro de los Ahogados,” taken from the DVD Quebrado Vivo.
Anthony Wellington Announces Bassology II Bass Clinic
Renowned bass educator Anthony Wellington will be holding a special clinic at Hellhound studios in Rahway, New Jersey on January 28th, 2012 at 7pm. Wellington, who plays with Victor Wooten and teaches alongside him in the instructional DVD Groove Workshop, will also be teaching private lessons throughout the day on the 28th and 29th. The event, entitled Bassology II, is...
G&L Introduces M-Series Basses
Thirty years after the introduction of their flagship L-2000 model, G&L has unveiled their new M-series basses. The M-2000 and M2500 both build upon their predecessor, which was first designed by Leo Fender in 1981, and aim to be more flexible while retaining the same attitude. The M-series basses still feature dual MFD humbuckers, but the pickups have been voiced...
Bass of the Week: JanAid Guitars’ Bob Abbott Yolanda 5
Named after a butterfly found in southern Spain, the JanAid Yolanda 5 bass draws inspiration from nature. This week, we check out the latest incarnation of the bass, which is also a signature model for Baltimore-based player Bob Abbott. The Yolanda 5 was built with a variety of woods, utilizing their “defects” to create a a piece of art. The...
Versatility: A Conversation with Christian McBride
As the jazz standard goes: “Things ain’t what they used to be.” The music industry as a whole is changing, but even so, truly remarkable artists will always shine through. Christian McBride is one of those artists. Raised in Philadelphia, McBride moved to New York City at the age of 17 to step up his music career. Through hard work,...