Gear Watch: Basswitch IQ DI
Ruppert Musical Instruments has introduced the Basswitch IQ DI, a pedal that the company calls “the bass player’s Swiss knife”. Built in Germany, it serves as an A/B input switcher, a preamp, a clean booster, a parametric EQ, an FX loop switcher, and a D.I. box. The Basswitch has two inputs, which lead to channels A and B respectively. If...
Gear Watch: Fodera Yin Yang Standard Bass
Fodera has introduced the new Yin Yang Standard bass, based on their Victor Wooten Yin Yang Deluxe. The company consulted Wooten on the creation, as he has “long wanted a Yin Yang that could be more widely available.” The bass utilizes all the same materials and specifications from their Brooklyn-made instrument with a lower price point. The Yin Yang Standard...
Gear Watch: Gallien-Krueger Introduces New MB Series Amps for 2011
Gallien-Krueger Amplification has expanded their MB series by adding a new more powerful head unit, a new combo, and powered enclosures to the line up. The MB800 is an 800-watt amp that weighs in at 4.9 pounds and features a discreet FET driven preamp and power amp. The unit includes a 10dB pad, tuning mute switch, two gains, a four...
Victor Wooten Announces VIX Records, Re-Releases “A Show of Hands”
Victor Wooten will be expanding his musical footprint as he launches VIX Records, his self-owned label on which he will release all of his future albums. The new record label will give Vic “complete control of his creations,” as well as help others keep their voice. “We aim to provide, by example, a different standard and model for record labels...
Gear Watch: TC Electronic Blacksmith Bass Amp
TC Electronic’s bass amp 2.0 line has just gotten a little bigger and a lot louder with the introduction of the Blacksmith. The amp shares many of the same features as its siblings, including an integrated chromatic tuner, four-band EQ, SpectraComp ‘per-string’ compression, TubeTone tube amp recreation, and TweeterTone high frequency control. Three user presets are also available for versatility....
Gear Watch: Ibanez Paul Gray Tribute Bass
Among a slew of new instruments, Ibanez has released a tribute bass to the late Slipknot bassist, Paul Gray. The new bass was designed in conjunction with Gray’s family and the Slipknot management. Proceeds from sales of the bass will go towards a special trust for Paul’s daughter and family. The PGB2T features a mahogany body and maple neck with...
Gear Watch: Dean Guitars’ John Entwistle Signature Series
Dean Guitars has unveiled two new John Entwistle signature basses at NAMM, named the Spider and the Hybrid. The Spider is a limited edition, where the Hybrid will be a standard model available in a USA model and one presumably built overseas. The John Entwistle Spider is an extremely limited run with only 25 produced worldwide. With it’s angular design...
Bootsy Collins Announces First Studio Album in Five Years
Bootsy Collins will be releasing his first studio album in five years, according to BillBoard.com. The project, entitled Tha Funk Capital of the World, serves as a memorial to his late musical heroes, including James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Thelonious Monk, and fellow P-Funk member Garry Shider. “In 2008 we went out and did a tribute to James Brown tour with…...
Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten Announce Spring Road Trip Tour 2011
The biggest bass tour of the year (so far) has been announced as the Victor Wooten Band and the Stanley Clarke Band will be hitting the road together throughout March. The bass heavyweights will begin their Spring Road Trip 2011 tour in Oklahoma City and work their way throughout the U.S., finishing up on the 26th as part of Gerald...
Stanley Clarke All-Star Jam at Musicians Institute
We recently told you about Stanley Clarke’s scholarship finals. The event was a success, as Stanley shared this video and comment: “Here’s a little clip from the jam at our Scholarship Event at MI! Best event in our 10 years doin it… please go to StanleyClarke.org to donate for next year so we can make it even better!!!! THOSE KIDS...
Korn and Disturbed Co-Headline Music As A Weapon V Tour
Korn and Disturbed are teaming up to co-headline the “Monster Energy Music as a Weapon V Tour,” which begins January 14 in Bloomington, Illinois and hits 45 U.S. cities, with more dates in the works. The two bands, anchored by bassists Fieldy and John Moyer respectively, just announced the second leg of the tour, which starts in March but is...
Gear Watch: Fender 60th Anniversary Precision Bass
Believe it or not, 2011 marks 60 years since Fender introduced the Precision bass and revolutionized bass playing. (For a quick history lesson, check out this video.) To mark the occasion, Fender is producing a special limited edition 60th Anniversary Precision Bass. Built in the U.S., the Anniversary P-bass features an ash body, maple neck and fretboard with a modern...