Custom Shop: Darkglass Electronics
We first heard about Darkglass Electronics by way of the company’s flagship distortion pedal, the Microtubes B3K [check out our review here], and soon met proprietor Douglas Castro. Castro, who hails from Chile but is now based out of Finland, builds all of the pedals by hand. A bass player himself, Castro couldn’t get the sound he wanted from all...
311 Releases “Universal Pulse”
311, anchored by bassist Aaron “P-Nut” Willis, has released Universal Pulse, the group’s tenth album. Produced by Bob Rock, the album brings the band back to a more live and energetic sound. At eight songs, the CD is also their shortest to date. P-Nut says quality is better than quantity. “Universal Pulse is a continuation of this musical experiment called...
Pigtronix Releases Class A Boost Pedal
Pigtronix has released the Class A Boost, designed to fatten any signal, from instruments to line level devices. The pedal includes discreet transistor topology to boost signals up to 20db without clipping. A flat frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz ensures your bass’s sound is preserved. The company explains that the pedal’s design allows for noise free performance, and has...
Red Hot Chili Peppers Release “The Adventures of Raindance Maggie”
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have released the first single from their upcoming album, I’m With You. “The Adventures of Raindance Maggie” is available now for streaming on their website and for download through iTunes. Bassist Flea expressed his excitement through his Twitter account. “Thanks all for the kind words, I hope we can touch hearts and bootys around the...
Phil Lesh’s “Eye of Horus” Bass Guitar Acquired by National Museum of American History
Phil Lesh’s “Eye of Horus” bass, built by Jens Ritter, has been acquired by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The modern-styled bass will be added to the museum’s extensive instrument collection, which also includes Prince’s and Eddie Van Halen’s guitars. Featuring Ritter’s Jupiter design with a solid silver “Eye of Horus” inlay at the 12th fret, the former...
Jeff Coffin & The Mu’tet Release Live!, featuring Felix Pastorius
Jeff Coffin has released a new live album with his Mu’tet, available for download and streaming. The tracks are taken from the band’s 2010/2011 tour stops at Space in Chicago, Illinois and Momo’s in Austin, Texas. The group is anchored by bassist Felix Pastorius, son of the late great Jaco Pastorius, whose funky and free-spirited playing propels the double-disc release....
Overt?n Introduces New Bass Cabinets
In conjunction with the release of the Flyweight 200 at Summer NAMM, Overt?n Amps is expanding their line of cabinets with the OB-110 and the introduction of the OBN series. Designed as the perfect match to the Flyweight 200, the OB-110 features a 10” speaker inside a tuned port design housing. The 250-watt cab is available in 4 or 8...
The Impossible Gentlemen Release Debut Album
The Impossible Gentlemen, consisting of bassist Steve Swallow, pianist Gwilym Simcock, guitarist Mike Walker and drummer Adam Nussbaum, have released their debut, self-titled album. With members from the UK and US, the quartet came together last year for a tour that inspired them to record their their improvisatory chemistry. The compositions on the album are lush environments with great grooves...
Heavy Electronics Releases El Oso Bass Distortion
Heavy Electronics has released a new bass distortion pedal named El Oso, which translates to “the bear.” The pedal is built for heavy tone and simplicity with only three intuitive knobs: Level, Mix, and Gain. El Oso’s distortion is blended with your dry signal via the Mix knob, which gives 100% dry or 100% distorted when turned either way to...
Fender Introduces Blacktop Series Basses
Fender has incorporated some low end into their Blacktop series with the introduction of the Blacktop Precision and Blacktop Jazz Bass guitars. The line of basses are made for a thick, heavy sound and are what Fender describes as “two of the most distinctive iterations of the instruments.” Built on an alder body, the Blacktop Precision has two humbucking pickups...
Simone Vignola and Alberto Rigoni: Obsession
After first meeting at EuroBassDay in 2010, Italian bassists Simone Vignola and Alberto Rigoni have teamed up for a new project called the BASStards. Featuring “fat riffs, hard grooves and catchy atmospheres,” the collaboration has released this music video to their first single, “Obsession.”
Sublime With Rome Releases Yours Truly
The reggae rockers of Sublime with Rome have released their first album, Yours Truly. The band of course consists original Sublime members Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson, with singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez filling the spot of the late Brad Nowell. Fans of the original lineup will get the same bass-heavy reggae/ska/punk fusion they’ve come to love. Wilson, whose fat bass...