AC Guitars Unveils Graft Series Handmade Basses
AC Guitars has announced a new line of handmade production basses called the Graft series, aimed at bringing hand made instruments into a more accessible price point. The new models are handcrafted by Scottish builder Alan Cringean in Moffat alongside his custom work. The line includes five different body shapes: Finn, Recurve, Harlot, Gallas, and J-Type, all built of Alder...
Marcus Miller Throws Concert to Benefit Japanese Tsunami Relief Efforts
Marcus Miller is holding a special concert to benefit Japanese Tsunami relief efforts. The event, to be held at New York City’s Highline Ballroom on May 15 at 7:30pm, features a host of talent, including performances by Raheem DeVaughn, Robert Glasper, Sean Jones, Angélique Kidjo, Gregoire Maret, Raul Midon, Q-Tip, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Kaoru Watanabe, Louis Cato, Alex Han, Federico...
Gear Review: Darkglass Electronics Microtubes B3K
Finland-based Darkglass Electronics, a company focused on bass effects and boasts handmade pedals, is the brainchild of Chilean-born Douglas Castro. Castro started the venture to create effects and tones that he heard in his head but couldn’t get with other pedals. The company’s flagship is their Microtubes B3K Bass Overdrive, a compact pedal featuring hybrid JFET and CMOS gain stages....
Sixx: A.M. Releases “This Is Gonna Hurt”
Nikki Sixx and his band Sixx: A.M. have just released This Is Gonna Hurt, the album that accompanies his latest book of the same title. The release is a follow-up to 2007’s Heroin Diaries Soundtrack, which peaked at 62 on the Billboard 100. Joined by the Motley Crue bassist, Sixx: A.M. is rounded out by James Michael and DJ Ashba....
Level 42 Releases 30th Anniversary Tour DVD
Level 42, led by bassist/vocalist Mark King, has released a new DVD from their 30th Anniversary Tour last year. The performance is taken from their October 22, 2010 gig at the Indigo2 in London and features the full 2010 set with songs ranging their history. The band officially formed in 1980 but had a 7-year split starting in 1994. King,...
Phil Palombi Releases RE: Person I Knew
Bassist Phil Palombi has just released RE: Person I Knew, a tribute to bass legend Scott LaFaro who tragically died in a car crash in 1961. Palombi recruited former Bill Evans drummer Eliot Zigmund and pianist Don Friedman, who was LaFaro’s roommate, to fill out the trio. The ties don’t end there, as Palombi got the unique opportunity to use...
BOSS Releases Micro BR BR-80 Digital Recorder
BOSS has released the Micro BR BR-80 digital recorder, a portable audio station that combines an 8-track multi-track recorder, an eBand for practice, and a live recording mode. In addition to a 1/4” input and 1/8” line-in, the device features a built-in stereo condenser microphone for live to 2-track recording. All recorded material is tracked directly to the SD/SDHC memory...
Marcus Miller To Tour With George Duke and David Sanborn
Marcus Miller will be joining keyboardist George Duke and saxophonist David Sanborn for an extensive U.S. tour starting in Orlando, Florida and winding through the country to end in Hollywood, California. The trio, who will be performing as DMS, promise to bring a mix of funk, jazz and blues to the masses. Each member had crossed paths with each other,...
Understanding the Vintage Ampeg SVT Sound and Dating Your Gear
Esteban St. James of Von Saint Design is a bass lover like the rest of us, but even deeper his passion lies in vintage Ampeg SVT gear. He sent us Parts 1 and 2 of a 4-part YouTube series he made about the classic equipment. Part 1 deals with what “the sound” is and how to get it, while Part...
Bud LeCompte Unveils V-Groove Basses
Bass builder Bud LeCompte has just unveiled a new line of vintage style basses under the moniker V-Groove Basses. The new models include the Nola and Provision basses, available in 4 and 5 string versions. Though custom options are available, the basses come standard with alder bodies and three piece 1/4 sawn maple necks. The fingerboards are either maple or...
Israel “Cachao” Lopez’s Final Performance Released
The final performance by mambo legend Israel “Cachao” Lopez has been released as a two disc set, entitled The Last Mambo. The concert, which celebrated the bassist’s 80 years in music, was held at the Ziff Opera House a the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami Florida in 2007. The album has Cachao leading a 24-piece orchestra. The Cuban born Cachao...
Damian Erskine With Tony Furtado: St. John’s Fire
Here’s No Treble columnist Damian Erskine taking a solo with Tony Furtado in 2005, at the Hatch Fest in Bozeman, Montana.