Buzz
Molten Voltage Releases SIMI Pedalboard Display
Bassists who use MIDI controllers on their pedalboard know that the displays aren’t always clear. Molten Voltage has released a device called the SIMI (pronounced “See Me”) to tackle this problem. SIMI is a modular MIDI pedalboard display that features 16 large bright red alphanumeric LEDs to show what MIDI program you are on. Further, each channel can be set...
Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in July 2014
Bass gear stories are always popular on No Treble, and we get it. Here are the top 10 most read gear stories for the month of July. As always, we present it with a warning: may cause GAS. 1. Michael Kelly Guitars Licensed Renaissance Bass Luthier Rick Turner has teamed up with Michael Kelly Guitars to release a licensed line...
Steve Lawson: Solo Bass Performance of REM’s “Orange Crush”
Steve Lawson brought his solo bass talents to this fantastic rendition of REM’s “Orange Crush,” which features the bassist navigating the tune with a host of loops and fantastic effects. The result is six minutes of soaring ear candy that takes you for a ride.
EurekaSound Introduces RackLegs
EurekaSound has introduced RackLegs, a device that props up a rack case on the floor for easier access to your amp or effects. RackLegs connects to the rear rack rails of any standard 2U rack case with thumbscrews. The unit is made from 3/16-inch steel for strength and stability while its painted flat black with rubber end caps to better...
Bass of the Week: Soame Custom Guitars PJ435
Sometimes you see photos of a bass posted on Facebook, and you just have to stop to check it out. This gorgeous Soame Custom Guitars PJ435 bass was one of those for me. Handmade in Argentina, the bass features a Northern ash body and a bookmatched flamed maple top that really pops thanks to a stunning Bahama Blue satin finish....
Stories Behind the Songs: Bob Glaub
Bob Glaub’s resume reads like a who’s who of pop and rock royalty. He’s done session work and toured with artists including John Lennon, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr, Donna Summer, Stevie Nicks, Crosby, Stills & Nash (& Young), Warren Zevon, John Fogerty, and Leonard Cohen, to name just a few. But through...
Bob Marley & The Wailers: “Stir It Up”, Live (1979)
During my radio interview on WPR’s Central Time yesterday, we discussed a lot of legendary bass lines (not enough, but the segment was only about 20 minutes long.) One of the bass lines discussed was the one on Bob Marley’s “Stir It Up”. I couldn’t get it out of my head after the segment. So I’m paying that forward with...
Eric Clapton Releases “The Breeze (An Appreciation of JJ Cale)”, Featuring Nathan East
Most rock fans know JJ Cale’s music because his songs became hits for other people — “Call Me the Breeze” for Lynyrd Skynyrd, and “After Midnight” and “Cocaine” for Eric Clapton. Clapton has said that Cale, who died in 2013, is one of rock history’s most important figures, and from the group he has gathered for , his assessment rings...
Primus Announces New Album and Tour Dates
Primus reunited their classic lineup of bassist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander back in September, with a tease that they were heading into the studio. Now Claypool has announced that the group will be releasing a new album on October 21st with a tour to boot. The record, which will be the lineup’s first album...
Bass in the Spotlight and Overcoming Self-Doubt
Q: A couple of months ago, I quit my band and because of the state of the guitarists in my area, I decided to start go small, with bass, drums and vocals. Now that some time has passed, I feel that everything is falling apart, which is depressing. Do you think it is a good idea to put the bass...
Wojtek Pilichowski: Open Bass Solo
Every time I see there’s a new Wojtek Pilichowski video, I have to check it out. This one in particular made my jaw drop. In this video, the bassist whips up one of the most insane slap solos I’ve heard. Not only does he dazzle with his technique and musicality, Pilichowski gets the whole crowd involved to bring the solo...
Helio Parallax Releases Debut Album
Have a yen to hear electronic music made without laptops? Helio Parallax are your guys. Spearheaded by producer/ composer/ bassist (double and electric)/ keyboardist and programmer Josh Werner, Helio Parallax has released its first album, . Werner and multi-instrumentalist Takuya Nakamura have both played with some of the industry’s best: Werner with Wu Tang and Lee Scratch Perry and Nakamura...