Buzz
Cryptopsy: Two-Pound Torch Bass and Guitar Playthrough
Prepare to have your face melted. Here’s an insane video of Cryptopsy bassist Olivier Pinard and guitarist Chris Donaldson ripping through the song “Two-Pound Torch” from the band’s self-titled album. Pinard proves to be just as nimble as Donaldson and employs several techniques to spice up the bass line.
Bass of the Week: Esperanza Spalding’s South Paw Fretless 5-String
If you happen to follow Esperanza Spalding’s Facebook page, you might have seen from photos of her Radio Music Society summer tours that she’s wielding a slick new 5-string fretless. The bass is a South Paw, created by NYC luthier Simon Propert, and it’s one of a kind. “Each bass is custom and a little different, so there is no...
Zander Zon: The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” Solo Bass Performance
I don’t know how Zander Zon does it, but he just keeps bringing his incredible bass arrangement videos. In this new one, Zander tackles The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” with a killer piccolo bass arrangement and performance on his Zon VB4.
Roger Waters: The Man Behind The Wall Biography Released
As bassist and songwriting force behind the seminal rock band Pink Floyd, Roger Waters has been an icon in the music industry for over four decades. His story is now being told by biographer Dave Thompson, in Roger Waters: The Man Behind the Wall. The 288-page book, which is the first full biography on Waters, follows the musician’s life from...
Ashdown Engineering Announces ABM-NEO-400-RC Rackmount Head
Earlier this year, Ashdown introduced the ABM NEO series of bass combos and cabinets. Now the company has introduced the ABM-NEO-400-RC, a 400-watt rack-mountable head, to complement the line. Similar to the rest of the series, the new amp couples the company’s ABM EVO III preamp with a lightweight power amp. It starts with a an instrument input with level...
Choosing a Bass: Price, Age, Quality, and Other Questions
Q: I’d like to know the difference between a quality bass and a mediocre one. I have a 1977 Fender Precision bass I absolutely love (I paid $450.00 for it in 1976. Until this year, I thought it was a ’76 P bass, but according to the serial number it’s a ’77). I also have a 2011 Squire Vintage Modified...
Maurice Ellis: Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors” All Bass Cover
Anthony Crawford sent me this video, and when he’s spreading the love, you know it’s going to be good. Here’s bassist Maurice Ellis playing an all bass arrangement of Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors.” Ellis creates a thick groove and plays the song’s bass line, chords and melody all on bass. After sticking to the radio edit of the song, he takes...
George Porter, Jr. and Runnin’ Pardners Announce Tour Dates
George Porter, Jr. is taking his band Runnin’ Pardners on the road this fall for a solid tour of the South and West Coast. The ever-grooving bassist will be kicking things off in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana on September 20th before criss-crossing the country and ending at the Blue Canoe in Tupelo, Mississippi on Novemeber 11th. A founding...
Reader Spotlight: Tiago Coimbra
Meet Tiago Coimbra a bassist who has an impressive resume and education spanning twenty years. Tiago is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of September 16, 2013. Bio: Born in Brasilia in 1980, Tiago Coimbra has lived in Brazil, Washington D.C., Guatemala and Cambridge UK. He started playing guitar and drums through the influence of his brother...
Lesson: How to Groove on Bass
One of the important aspects of playing bass is your ability to groove. In this new lesson, I’ll offer up some beginner-level concepts to help you start down the path. We’ll explore keeping time and using percussive an ghost notes to make the lines come to life… the recipe for getting people out of their seats and dancing. Follow along...
Adam Ben Ezra: Intro
Adam Ben Ezra – one of our favorite bassists here at No Treble HQ – sent us his latest video. Once again, he blew us away with his music, bass skills… and cinematography. For this video, Adam is playing his new Nick Lloyd 5-string double bass. The tune is named “Intro” is an original composition featuring the bass running through...
Shaker Box: A Look at the Shaker Loop App
Shaker Box is a simple, yet well executed app that gives you an assortment of shakers on your iOS device. Only one shaker is included for free but the app has full functionality with no additional cost. A one time $1.99 in-app-purchase gives you access to 12 additional shakers. The sounds are very actual samples and sound great. The settings...