Asia Announces New Omega Tour Dates
80’s supergroup Asia has announced new dates to continue their extensive Omega tour, which began last year after they released their album of the same name. Led by bassist/vocalist John Wetton, the lineup includes drummer Carl Palmer, keyboardist Geoff Downes, and guitarist Steve Howe, each being from the bands Yes, ELP, King Crimson, UK, and The Buggles. The new leg...
AER Introduces Amp Three Bass Combo
German amp makers AER has announced a new addition to their Bottom Line series of bass amps, called the Amp Three. The 200-watt combo amp has features two 8” speakers, which the company explains helps to enhance low-mids for clarity and punch for cutting through the mix. For tonal control, the Amp Three has a 3-band EQ with parametric mids,...
Deep Purple Announce “The Songs That Built Rock” Tour
Deep Purple have announced “The Songs That Built Rock” Tour, which will be the group’s first North American tour in four years. The trek marks another milestone as it will be the first time they perform with a symphony orchestra on the continent. The orchestra will accompany them on every date except for San Francisco. The lineup for the shows...
Ampeg Introduces BA-108 and BA-110 Combo Amps
Ampeg is expanding their Bassamp combo series with the introduction of two smaller practice amps, the BA-108 and the BA-110. Designed as miniature versions of their siblings, the new combos have similar features, including a tilt-back design and a ported baffle for low frequency extension. Both models have a 3-band EQ, MP3/CD input with a level control, an effects loop,...
Custom Shop: Wyn Guitars
Wyn Guitars is a one-man custom bass shop run by Randy Fullmer, a man with a healthy obsession for exotic woods. An artist at heart, Fullmer got his his start as a luthier at an early age before becoming an animator and producer for Disney. He eventually returned to building instruments, switching to exclusively making basses. Fullmer just finished moving...
Jonathan Miller Leaves DevilDriver
Bassist Jonathan Miller has left DevilDriver, according to a statement by the band. He reportedly left the tour to enter rehab in January, and has now made the leave official. “I just wanted to thank all of the DevilDriver fans around the world for their die-hard love and support for the past nine years. Yesterday, I decided to leave DevilDriver....
Pigtronix Introduces Tremvelope
Pigtronix has released the Tremvelope, an effects pedal that combines a tremolo pedal with a filter to allow you to control the effects with the dynamics of your playing. With the envelope switch off, the pedal acts as an optical tremolo featuring stereo panning outputs, sine and sawtooth waveforms, and speed and depth controls. There are also a couple of...
Ampeg Launches Portaflex Series Amps
Ampeg has unveiled a new line of amps and cabinets inspired by their B-15 called the Portaflex series. The line includes two heads and two cabs that can be matched together to make flip-top combos. The PF-350 is the more compact of the two heads, weighing in at 8 lbs. It features a solid-state preamp combined with a Class D...
Gibson Releases Thunderbird Short Scale Bass
Gibson has just released a short scale version of their classic Thunderbird bass. The bass has a 30.5″ scale, which the manufacturer explains is favorable for players with shorter arms or smaller hands as well as beginners and students. They also note that these short-scale basses aren’t just for novices, as Jack Bruce and Paul McCartney played them during highlights...
David Ellefson Talks On Next Megadeth Album
In an interview with UGO.com, Megadeth bassist David Ellefson commented on the group’s as yet untitled follow-up to 2009’s Endgame. “We are working on it now so it’s a bit early to encapsulate what the final will ultimately sound like,” Ellefson explained. “I think we know the punch and impact we want it to have but also not be afraid...
Spector Releases Alex Webster Signature Bass
Spector has just released a new Alex Webster Signature Model bass, designed around their Euro5LX. One of the instrument’s key features is a faster neck, which is slimmer front to back, to facilitate playing the fast and technical riffs, as the Cannibal Corpse bassist is known to play. The fingerboard is ebony with blood red Spector Crown inlays. The Webster...
Oteil Burbridge to Tour with Tedeschi Trucks Band
Bassist Oteil Burbridge will be hitting the road with the newly formed Tedeschi Trucks Band, formed by husband and wife team Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks. The 11 piece group’s sound is described as coming from “Delta blues and Memphis soul, Sixties rock and Seventies funk” – traditions that Burbridge is well versed in, considering his time with the Allman...