Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 804

In today’s fast paced world it’s not uncommon for us to overlook the legacies of those who paved the way for so many bassists who came later. Thankfully, a new website dedicated to the life and legacy of Willie Dixon will help ensure the legendary bluesman’s landmark contributions to bass playing, the blues, and helping his fellow musicians will get...

NAMM 2011 saw the release of the newest addition to MXR’s Bass Innovations pedal line, the M87 Bass Compressor. Featuring a an 10-LED meter to indicate Gain Reduction, the stompbox has all the standard compressor controls, including Attack, Release, Ratio, Input, and Output. The new pedal also utilizes the company’s Constant Headroom Technology, which is a circuit that provides extra...

Mike Lull introduced a new Tom Petersson signature bass, the TPT4, at NAMM this year. The TPT4 is based on Lull’s T4, with some tweaking specified by the Cheap Trick bassist. One of the key differences is the pickup placement. The pickups, made by Lull, are both pushed up closer to the neck: a position that Petersson worked meticulously at...

Hal Leonard has released a KISS Bass Play-Along book, featuring bass lines played by Gene Simmons written out in TAB format. The accompanying CD has tracks with and without the bass line to help you hear what it should sound like, then play it on your own. The disc plays in any CD player, but it’s also enhanced to allow...

Bassist and Grammy nominee Esperanza Spalding will be co-hosting the Grammy Pre-Telecast Ceremony, as well as performing at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards. Spalding will be sharing hosting duties with singer Bobby McFerrin on the show, which will be streamed on the Grammy website and YouTube channel starting at 1 p.m. PT on February 13. The ceremony is set to...

Hartke has released the Kilo Bass Amplifier, a new head unit that delivers 1,000 watts via bridged mono or 500 watts per side in stereo or dual mono. Housed in a 3U rackspace chassis, the amp features a tube preamp and variable Hartke Bass Attack Overdrive and Shape Control in addition to an onboard compressor. It also has a slew...

Talk about diversity! Bryan Beller plays bass for the cartoon band Dethklok, but when he’s not melting faces he hits the road with wife Kira Small to play house shows. This particular performance was recorded for the program “The Smoking Lounge” at the Magnolia Avenue KDHX studio in St. Louis, MO.

Tech 21 has unveiled a new two new Boost Chorus pedals, including a bass specific version. The new Boost Chorus Bass, which can be used to obtain slapback, echo, flanging, and doubling effects, was designed after ‘70s vintage choruses, to mimic their richness. To get a chorus sound without making “seasick tones,” Tech 21 added a Detune knob that adds...

Here’s a clip of the song “Viridian” from Between the Buried and Me’s Colors Live DVD. The song is based around the beautiful bass melody laid out by Dan Briggs.

Bob Marley’s final performance, which took place at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Stanley Theater on September 23, 1980, has just been released. Bob Marley & the Wailers: Live Forever is a 2-disc, 20-track collection capturing Marley and his band performing his most famous hits at the end of an era, as Marley would die of cancer months later. Marley’s band is of...

Veillette Guitars has unveiled their new Concorde Semi-Hollow Bass, being the company’s “most acoustic” bass yet. Designed to mimic vintage and classic semi-hollowbody basses, the body is 14” wide and heavily chambered with dual soundholes and a radiused spruce top. The curved face gives the body more depth in the center while keeping the edges thinner for comfort. Veillette added...

Pianist Oscar Peterson was known for keeping good company in bassists, and Dave Young is no exception. “Nigerian Marketplace” first appeared on Peterson’s featuring bass giant Niels Hennig Orsted-Pederson, but here Peterson and Young are joined by guitarist Joe Pass and drummer Martin Drew for a beautiful and grooving rendition of the tune.