Buzz
Covers, Rarities and a New Bassist on Adrenaline Mob EP
Adrenaline Mob’s latest EP, Dearly Departed, combines covers and originals in a nine-song set. It includes outtakes from the group’s last full studio album, Men of Honor (which featured past bassist John Moyer) as well as covers and acoustic versions of the group’s past work. The group’s current bassist, Erik Leonhardt (ex-Tantric) appears on the new recordings. One of the...
Reader Spotlight: Ben Janning
Meet Ben Janning, a man who loves bass so much, he ditched rhythm guitar in favor of the low end. Ben keeps busy with original music – both as a member of Strange Attractor and his own solo work. He’s No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of February 9, 2015, and here’s his story… Bio: I started...
Top 10: The Most Watched Bass Videos (January 2015)
Fear not… that rumbling sound you hear isn’t anything to be concerned about. It just means it is time for another Top 10 Bass Video list. Here are the most watched videos on No Treble for the month of January, 2015. And what a beautifully diverse list of videos it is. Thanks for watching, sharing and commenting! 1. Lenny Kravitz...
The Beatles: Something (Paul McCartney’s Isolated Bass)
For today’s isolated bass track, we’re treated to some great bass by Paul McCartney on the George Harrison tune, “Something”. The tune appeared on the Beatles’ “Abbey Road,” and was “the only song written by him to top the US charts while he was in the band.”
In Memoriam: Joe B. Mauldin
Joe B. Mauldin, who helped change the face of popular music as bassist for Buddy Holly and the Crickets, passed away February 7th after a battle with cancer. He was 74 years old. The Lubbock, Texas native started music early. Born on July 8, 1940, he first recorded with The Four Teens in 1955 at only 15 years old. He...
Bass of the Week: James Trussart SteelCaster Bass
One of the most interesting booths we visited at the NAMM Show this year was James Trussart Custom Guitars. The L.A.-based luthier takes a different approach to building instruments and uses steel for his bodies, often giving them a rusted finish. “I’ve always liked the look and feel of old guitars, believing them to have a life beyond that of...
Challenges to Good Intonation in a Live Situation
Good intonation is a lifelong concern for every double bassist. We train our ears, we work constantly to match pitch, and we devote large sections of our individual practice sessions to improving it. Among other things, the sheer size of the instrument demands our constant attention to pitch. Sometimes though, even players who normally have impeccable intonation can have issues...
Nirvana: In Bloom (Isolated Bass and Drums)
We’re kicking off Isolated Bass Week #5 with a song that peaked at #5 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. Nirvana’s “In Bloom” featured some gritty bass by Krist Novoselic, locked right in with Dave Grohl’s drums. While the tune was originally recorded in 1990, this version appeared on the 1991 release Nevermind – the first album to feature Grohl.
Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Special” is a Bass-Heavy Affair
Producer Mark Ronson knows his bass. Just listen to the name check on these lines from “Heavy and Rolling” a track of his chart-scaling fourth studio album, Uptown Special: “Smooth as glass/Smooth as Marcus Miller.” While Miller doesn’t appear on the album, bassists are everywhere on the album. Jamareo Artis keeps the groove going on the hit “Uptown Funk,” featuring...
Weekly Top 10: More NAMM Bass News, Jerry Jemmott Podcast, Jamerson Visualized, Top Bass Videos and Bass of the Week
We have a lot to report from the NAMM show, and will be continuing to do that over the coming weeks. Readers are digging it, based on the top 10 list each week since the show happened. Like us, readers are also enjoying the new podcast, Groove. This week, we published Mitch’s conversation with the great Jerry Jemmott. That, plus...
Ritter Instruments Unveils Okon Concept at NAMM 2015
Boutique bass builder Jens Ritter unveiled a new bass at the NAMM Show this year called the Okon Concept. The new model matches the luthier’s distinctive Okon body shape with his BA Tuning System, which mounts the tuners on the back of the bass’s body. Following a golden theme, the bass features a 24-karat antique gold finish on its body...
Seasick Steve with John Paul Jones: Live on Later
I’ve been on a John Paul Jones kick lately, which got me on a Seasick Steve kick too. Here they are performing a couple of tunes on Later… with Jools Holland. The first tune is “You Can’t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks” and the second is “Don’t Know Why She Love Me But She Do”.