Buzz
Jackson CBXNT IV and V Concert Basses Now Available
Jackson Guitars is now shipping the CBXNT IV Concert and CBXNT V Concert basses. Four and five-string models, respectively, the company describes the basses as perfect for metal or other styles that demand low, punchy bass. Jackson says the heart of the bass is in their electronics. “The heart of this beast is a pair of Jackson High Output Humbucking...
Simon Fitzpatrick: The Planets Suite – III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger (All Bass Arrangement)
Simon Fitzpatrick has taken the third suite of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets Suite” and turned it into an all bass arrangement, using his Sei Bass Flamboyant 6 bass. Mind blown!
Aidan Hampson Transcribes Blur, Green Day, The Killers and The Stone Roses
Transcriptionist Aidan Hampson has released bass transcriptions of Green Day’s Dookie and The Stone Roses’ self-titled debut album, as well as best-of compilations for The Killers and Blur. All the transcriptions are PDF downloads, easily purchased with a click, for less than $8. Check out the songs covered in each book: Blur (Best Of) Song List: There’s No Other Way...
Cort Upgrades the B5 Plus AS Bass for 2016
Cort has updated their B5 Plus AS bass with a new set of electronics. The model, which is part of the Artisan Series, now comes with the Markbass MB-1 EQ to match its Bartolini MK-1 pickups. The bass’s preamp is described as providing a “very natural and transparent boost” that won’t color the instrument’s natural tone. “The crystal clarity and...
The Lightbulb Moment: Learn Lots of Songs
Here I am, once again, on the bandstand with a bass in hand. Two sets down, one to go. It’s a free for all… no official set list and a handful of requests. A guy with a twenty in his hand walks up to the stage and says, “Do ya’ll know ‘Whipping Post’?” The guitar player immediately looks at me...
Shobaleader One: Squarepusher’s Theme
Bassist and electronica artist Squarepusher is taking his band Shobaleader One on the road in the UK next month, and we’ve got a clip of the first live video footage of the group. The up-tempo song “Squarepusher’s Theme” blends all the elements of the artist’s personality with drum and bass styled drumming, synth pads, and killer bass lines. The bassist...
Miles Mosley Releases “Abraham”
When the West Coast Get Down locked themselves in a studio for an entire month, each member of the group came out with a plethora of material. The first release from the session was Kamasi Washington’s groundbreaking 2015 album The Epic, and now upright bass phenom Miles Mosley has unveiled his first piece from the collaboration. In the bassist’s typical...
Levy’s Leathers Introduces M317HPR Harper Designer Strap
Levy’s Leathers has introduced the M317HPR Harper Designer strap, a deluxe pull-up leather strap decorated with a ridge down the center to accent its pull-up nature. Available in Rust coloring, the strap is 2½ inches wide with a soft suede backing. It’s adjustable from 37 inches to 51 inches. It will be available with a suggested retail price $122.26. Levy’s...
Bass Transcription: Scotty Edwards’s Bass Line on Hall & Oates’s “Rich Girl”
Often as bassists, we become so concerned with notes, rhythm, and locking in with our drummer that we forget the other important aspects of groove that can impact the listener equally as much. Articulation contributes greatly to groove and expression and can be employed to create contrast, add texture, and propel a song forward. I chose the example of Scotty...
Christian McBride & Edgar Meyer: Solar, Live 2016
One of the best concerts I saw in 2015 was the duo of double bass virtuosos Christian McBride and Edgar Meyer. Besides being unbelievable technicians, their musicality and rapport was astounding. This year they took the show on the road to the UK. Here’s a smoking clip of McBride and Meyer tearing through the jazz standard “Solar”. McBride kicks things...
App Makes Transcribing Easier
If you’re in the market for an app to help you transcribe the songs you want to learn, Transcribe+ aims to help. The app, designed for iPhone and iPad, allows you to import a song from your music library, change the speed and key, create loops, see the music’s waveform and even take notes. A version of the app, with...
Korg Introduces Sledgehammer Custom 100 Clip-On Tuner
After introducing the Custom Shop Series of tuners this year, Korg has added to the lineup with the Sledgehammer Custom 100 clip-on tuner. The tuner offers tuning accuracy of ±0.1 cents and works with both bass and guitar. It’s powered by a single AAA battery, which provides about 100 hours of use before needing replacement. The Sledgehammer clips on and...