Buzz
New York Bass Works Introduces Reference Series Basses
New York Bass Works has announced the Reference Series, a line of basses that bring together luthier David Segal’s custom work with the classic J-bass platform. “The Reference Series Basses are instruments infused with the DNA of nearly 20 years of custom bass projects, complex renovations, and pain-staking repairs of nearly every brand of instrument,” the company writes. “The empirical...
Louis de Mieulle: Nanobot
Louis de Mieulle, a French bassist/composer living in NYC, just released his second album, Stars, Plants & Bugs. He sent us his video of the track “Nanobot”, which was filmed live during his in studio session in Brooklyn. We dig it!
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals Are Back With Wide-Ranging Album
The inimitable Juan Nelson is back on record with Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals on the band’s first album in nine years, Call It What It Is. The band, which reunited to tour in 2015, recorded the album in a number of sessions over the course of a year. The resulting record covers subject matter ranging from aging to...
Ernie Ball Music Man 40th Anniversary StingRay Now Available for Pre-Order
Ernie Ball Music Man’s 40th Anniversary “Old Smoothie” StingRay Bass is now available for pre-order. Unveiled at the 2016 Winter NAMM Show, the bass is named after a prototype from 1976 that was designed by Leo Fender and gifted to Sterling Ball. Central to its design is a 10-pole piece pickup that gives it a smoother tone. “We recently revisited...
Jeff Healey with Marcus Miller: See The Light
Ian Pettersson has sent us a handful of great videos, and he just sent us another. “An old one, but I hadn’t seen it before,” Ian said. “Jeff Healey with Marcus Miller ripping it up. Awesome performance!” The band includes the late Jeff Healey on vocals and guitar, Marcus Miller on bass, Dr. John on piano and Omar Hakim on...
Felix Pappalardi Live Recording with Creation Available
A live recording featuring late Cream producer and Mountain bassist/producer Felix Pappalardi during his stint with the Japanese band Creation is available as Travelling in the Dark: Live… Denver, ’76. The recording was made at Denver’s Ebbets Field club on July 30, 1976, and broadcast on KCUV-FM. Even though the set featured his work with Creation, it also includes a...
Guns N’ Roses Reunion Tour Dates Announced
The wait is over. Guns N’ Roses have announced the specifics for their “Not In This Lifetime” reunion tour. The outing will be bring together original members Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan with longtime collaborators Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer, and new keyboardist Melissa Reese. The band played their first reunion show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles,...
Darkglass Electronics Announces Release Date for Microtubes 700 Bass Amp
One of the biggest reveals at the Winter NAMM Show this year was the Darkglass Electronics Microtubes 700. Since the outing Darkglass has been further refining the the head, which is their first amplifier, but now they’ve announced a target release date of July. “This transition is very important for us, it’s a big challenge,” founder Douglas Castro said in...
MarloweDK: “Shining Star” Bass Playalong
So great to see MarloweDK back posting videos. In this one, MarloweDK is playing along to the Earth, Wind & Fire track “Shining Star”, in preparation for a gig. He’s playing it on his all-stock ’77 Fender Jazz, which along with all the basses on the wall behind him, gives us some serious GAS.
In Memoriam: Terry Plumeri
The bass world is grieving as double bassist and composer Johnterryl “Terry” Plumeri was murdered in his Florida home this week in what police believe was part of a string of burglaries. He was 71 years old. Plumeri began music at the age of 10. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City under the tutelage...
Cheap Trick Releases 17th Studio Album
Cheap Trick, best known to many for 1970s hits like “I Want You to Want Me” and “Surrender,” and soon to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has released Bang, Zoom, Crazy… Hello. Julian Raymond, known for his work with Glen Campbell and Fastball, produced the record, which is the band’s 17th studio album. Bassist Tom...
Pigtronix Introduces Pigtronix Power Supply
Effects pedal manufacturer Pigtronix has introduced the Pigtronix Power, which they describe as a “robust, multi-voltage analog power supply.” The device has eight individually isolated outputs with several variable voltages. The first two outlets are 9-volts at 100mA, while the next four are variable (9V/12V/15V/18V) with two at 100mA and two at 300mA. The last two outputs provide 18 volts...