Buzz
Fender and Squier Introduce New Mike Dirnt Signature Basses
Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt’s Signature basses have gotten a boost with the introduction of the Fender Mike Dirnt Road Worn Precision Bass and an updated version of the Squier Mike Dirnt Precision Bass. Fender Mike Dirnt Road Worn Precision Bass Available in 3-Color Sunburst and White Blonde, the Fender Mike Dirnt Road Worn Precision Bass features original-era 1951 Precision...
Jon Reshard and Jon Wilkes: “Hyde”, Live in the Studio
Check out this cool clip of Jon Reshard ripping up the bass on his song “Hyde,” live in the studio with drummer Jon Wilkes. Reshard shreds some hot licks and adds some flair with his tremolo bar.
Luminlay Introduces Luminescent Fret Lines
Luminlay has expanded their offering of position markers with a new set of luminescent fret lines. Created for fretless basses, the fret lines glow in the dark when activated by an LED light charger. The Luminlay Fret Lines are available in blue and green hues with two thicknesses: .5mm or .58mm. The sets come with 12 pieces 83mm long and...
Bass of the Week: Manne Guitars Kayenta
This week we check out the Kayenta bass from the Italian bass builders at Manne Guitars. Designed around an offset body, the bass’s shape puts it in a more upward angled position when playing that the company says is suited well for players that wear their instrument higher. Its korina body is also multi-chambered to add a more complex midrange...
Bass Transcription: Fernando Lamadrid’s “Mollete Express”
Just as I was wondering which piece to select for this month’s transcription, along comes this killer track from super-talented bassist Fernando Lamadrid and drummer Rick Arencibia. This one has it all: harmonic-laden odd-time grooves, funky slap lines, chordal work and several jaw-dropping solos. Perfect! Download the transcription (PDF) and follow along: “Mollete Express” opens with a fingerstyle groove over...
Marta Altesa: Bass & Drum Cover of Jamiroquai’s “Little L”
Marta Altesa knocked everyone out with the first two videos we featured, thanks to some incredible bass playing that would seem to go way beyond her few short years of experience. Marta is raising the bar yet again, taking on another Jamiroquai tune and this time covering both the bass and drum parts. She gets a cool tone out of...
Will Lee Releases “Love, Gratitude and Other Distractions”
Twenty years after his solo debut, Will Lee has released his second album as a leader, entitled Love, Gratitude and Other Distractions. “I’ve been busy,” Lee says with a bit of a laugh when asked about the long period between solo albums, and it’s a fair explanation. The veteran bassist keeps his schedule packed between his daily gig of playing...
Top 10 Cover Tune Videos Arranged for Bass – 5th Edition
We may be biased, but we can’t think of an instrument that’s more versatile than a bass. But we don’t need to say it… we just need to show it. Here are the 10 most popular solo bass videos we’ve featured since the last time around. 1. Jim Bennett: All Bass Daft Punk “Get Lucky” Cover Here’s a video that’s...
Sight Reading for Auditions: Tips for Bass Players
Q: I’m a bassist starting my last year in high school now. I really feel that I need to become a sight reader as quickly as possible due to an upcoming audition for the music university I wish to attend. A friend of mine did the audition and they ended up handing him some crazy bebop tune – not close...
Hawkwind: Silver Machine
I finally got a chance to pickup up the Lemmy documentary and ever since I watched it I’ve been hooked on listening to all things Lemmy. Before Motörhead, the legendary bassist was dishing out a much more psychedelic vibe with the space rock band Hawkwind. Here’s the music video for their single “Silver Machine” from 1972. It’s cool to see...
Bugra Balci Releases “The Virtuoso Bassist in 56 Partitas” Etude Book
Bassist Bugra Balci has followed up his book on melodic Baroque etudes with The Virtuoso Bassist in 56 Partitas. Primarily intended for bass guitarists, the 236-book continues the Virtuoso Bassist Series contains 56 etudes written in a Baroque style. “While there are a plethora of instructional books available for improving techniques on electric bass guitar, there are only a handful...
Reader Spotlight: Kevin Aguirre
Meet Kevin Aguirre, a bassist from Mexico who enjoys being on the path of musical exploration. Starting out on guitar first, he later made the switch to bass and it was all over. Check out his hilarious story of his first gig on bass. Kevin is the No Treble reader in the spotlight for the week of August 19, 2013....