Buzz
Bass of the Week: Electrical Guitar Company Series One Bass
This week we take a look at the Electrical Guitar Company Series One Bass, an instrument built around a hollow “C” shaped anodized aluminum neck. The neck assembly is completely isolated from the body for maximum sustain. “All aluminum rings out in a very unique way,” EGC writes. “It almost has a natural chorus to it. For as many highs...
Richard Bona: Songs from The Ten Shades of Blues
Richard Bona is far and away one of the greatest living bassists… and more than that, he’s the epitome of the total musician. Here’s Richard with his band performing songs from his album, The Ten Shades of Blues in October, 2009. Enjoy.
In Memoriam: Keith “Sabu” Crier
Keith “Sabu” Crier, who founded the disco group GQ, has passed away of undisclosed causes. He was 58. Crier formed his first band in 1968 under name Sabu & the Survivors, which then became The Rhythm Makers in the 1970s. The band released a single album called Soul on Your Side in 1976, which landed the group the hit track...
Rhythmic Bass Playing: Making it Fit the Musical Setting
Q: For a while, I’ve been focusing on developing a percussive finger style bass technique, in a similar style to yours. I have great fun with it when playing on my or own or looping, but whenever I try it in a band situation, it just never sounds as good. All the detail – and most of the groove –...
Snarky Puppy featuring Lalah Hathaway: Something
This is an absolutely dynamite combination. Snarky Puppy, led by bassist Michael League, recently released Family Dinner, Volume 1 with a host of guest vocalists. Here’s the video for the song “Something,” featuring Lalah Hathaway, who delivers an absolutely stunning performance over top of the absolutely smoking band. Starting with just vocals and a Rhodes, the track builds from a...
Rush Releases “Vapor Trails Remixed” and Atlantic Records Box Set
Rush has released a 7-disc box set of their studio albums from Atlantic Records including a remixed version of their controversial 2002 album Vapor Trails. The Studio Albums 1989-2007 brings together Presto, Roll The Bones, Counterparts and Test For Echo, as well as their covers EP Feedback and 2007’s Snakes & Arrows. Each of the albums reproduces the original artwork...
Reader Spotlight: Rodney Vidanes
Meet Rodney Vidanes, a bassist from the Philippines who really caught our attention with his terrific story. Rodney has the right attitude (read his superpower), has an open mind to many musical genres, and like many others he started out on another instrument, only to find he really was a bassist. Rodney is the No Treble reader in the spotlight...
Reviving Old Bass Strings: A New Approach
I let one of my friends borrow my 1978 pre-Ernie Ball Music Man bass, and he really gunked up the strings. You’ll hear in the video below that the strings are pretty dead. There are all kinds of tricks out there being shared for reviving old strings: boiling, alcohol, whatever. This doesn’t require any of that, and you don’t even...
Evan Marien: Aeon (Solo Bass with Pedals and Laptop)
Evan Marien just sent his latest video, and while it is without one of our favorite drummers (Dana Hawkins) it is still plenty cool. The tune is “Aeon”, written by Evan, who utilizes a few pedals and Markbass’ new Bass Multiamp. This one grooves. We wish it was longer, but Evan says, “just? replay it”.
In Memoriam: Lorne Black
Original Great White bassist Lorne Black has died of undisclosed causes. Black founded Great White with vocalist Jack Russell and guitarist Mark Kendall in 1982 and was featured on the band’s debut EP and self-titled album as well as the follow-ups Shot in the Dark and Once Bitten…. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends and fans,” Russell wrote...
Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in September
Fender was quite busy in September, announcing several new basses. As a result, they took up exactly half of this month’s most read gear stories on No Treble, and four of the top five. Here are the most popular gear stories on No Treble for the month of September, 2013. Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing! 1. Fender Unveils Deluxe...
Source Audio Introduces OFD Bass microModeler
Source Audio has unveiled the SoundBlox 2 OFD Bass microModeler, a combination Overdrive/Fuzz/Distortion pedal with 12 distortions modeled after bass specific gear. The tones include models of Marshall Amplifiers, Mesa Boogie Amplifiers, Ibanez Tube Screamer, EHX Bass Big Muff, Pro Co Rat, Tone Bender, Fuzz Face, and Octavia as well as three original tones from Source Audio: Metal, Gated Fuzz...