Buzz
Megatar Relaunches with Redesigned 12-string Extended Range Bass
Megatar Touchstyle Basses has been reborn with a change in ownership and the launch of redesigned instruments, including the Megatar 12-string extended-range bass. Optimized for two-handing tapping, the Megatar’s strings are divided into two sets with space in between to eliminate crosstalk. The first half is strung like a six-string bass tuned BEADGC, while the second half is tuned closer...
Freekbass & The Bump Assembly: Never Enough
Freekbass has released the second video from his latest album, Everybody’s Feelin’ Real, for the song “Never Enough.” The track is full of gritty tone and envelope filter goodness. “Lots of groovy bass tones on this one, and a cameo from Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band) who sings on the track,” the bassist shares.
Foo Fighters Announce 2015 North American Tour Dates Supporting “Sonic Highways”
The Foo Fighters’ tour supporting the album/show Sonic Highways will hit North America in July, opening with a spectacular show at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The tour also marks the 20th anniversary of the band’s first album release. D.C. is one of the cities featured in the Foo’s Sonic Highways television show on HBO, which documents the making of...
The Light Bulb Moment: I Want To Be Like That
At the age of 15, I dreaded the thought of being caught at a movie theater on a Friday night with my parents. So. Lame. If spotted by my fellow classmates, I would immediately be identified as weird, uncool, and antisocial. Who am I kidding… I definitely was (and am) weird, uncool, and antisocial. It wasn’t my fault that my...
Mountain: Beside The Sea, Live at Woodstock
While looking for some videos of bassist Felix Pappalardi, I ran across this clip from Woodstock ’69 of Mountain performing “Beside the Sea.” Pappalardi’s insanely overdriven tone really grabbed my attention, but his tasteful playing in backing up guitarist Leslie West drove it home for me.
“DiY Electric Bass” Teaches Bass In A Simple Way
Do you know someone who would really love to play bass, but wants to learn in their own time and in their own way? Then DiY (Do It Yourself) Electric Bass: Learn to Play Anywhere and Anytime could be the book he or she needs. The book by Ron Manus and L. C. Harnsberger, is structured so that anyone —...
Back to the Shack: An Interview with Scott Shriner
Weezer fans have rejoiced at the band’s latest release Everything Will Be Alright In The End for many reasons. It’s the group’s first release since 2010’s Hurley, which ended a prolific period of releasing an album every year. It’s also a return to the early sound that earned them a diehard following. Lead singer Rivers Cuomo spells out the return...
Breath: White Man’s Funk
Vegard Johansen sent us this video with this note: “My buddy and I met in the studio one day [along with] three other people I had never met before. One of them turned out to be the funkiest bass player in Norway. Also 2 drummers. Hope it will find it’s place at No Treble.” That bass player is Jonas Østbyhaug,...
Yes Live Set Features Music From Two 1970s Albums
Like It Is: Yes at the Bristol Hippodrome, a 2 CD/DVD set Blu-ray disc, combines songs from two favorite Yes albums: 1971’s The Yes Album and 1977’s Going for the One, in one live package recorded during the band’s spring 2014 tour. “These are two bodies of music that many of the most devout Yes fans wanted to hear in...
Fender Announces Dee Dee Ramone Precision Bass Guitar
Punk bass icon Dee Dee Ramone will have his legacy honored with a new signature Precision bass from Fender. The new model, which is based on the bass he used with Ramones, will debut at the “Dee Dee Ramone Exhibition” in New York City’s Chelsea Hotel from December 10th to January 1st. “Punk bass starts with Douglas ‘Dee Dee Ramone’...
Bass Cabinets: On Speaker Sizes and Pairing Them Up
Q: I read the blog of a musician explaining that combining bass cabinets based on speaker size makes a big difference in sound. He also said that combining two 410 cabinets is better than combining a 410 with a 115. I was under the impression that a 410 cab combined with a 115 cab was a great combination, and because...
Chic: “Good Times” Live at Montreux
Chic closed the 2004 Montreux Jazz Festival with a bang. Among the tunes the group performed was their big hit “Good Times”. Bassist Jerry Barnes laid down the funky and iconic bass line and got the crowd going during the bass-drums-vocal break. Old school.