Buzz
Ampeg Reintroduces V-4B All-Tube Bass Amplifier
Ampeg has reintroduce the V-4B, a 100-watt all-tube bass amp. Based on the company’s classic amp from the ’70s, the new head is described as offering the tone of an SVT while weighing half as much. The new V-4B’s preamp includes a pair of 12AX7 tubes while the driver has a 12AX7 and one 12AU7, and its power amp contains...
Vulfpeck: Wait for the Moment
Yes, I’m a huge Vulfpeck fan. It starts with bassist Joe Dart, who always seems to find the right bass line and then do something quite unexpected, but it just fits. But truth is, the whole band is just stellar. And fun. From their new release, My First Car, here’s the opening track “Wait for the Moment”, featuring guest vocalist...
Vulfpeck Releases “My First Car”
Regular No Treble readers will instantly recognize the name “Vulfpeck”, thanks in large part to bassist Joe Dart, who first wowed us with the first video we shared of the group. The studio musicians-turned-band has just released their third album, My First Car. As we mentioned in our exclusive track preview last week, the album’s name was inspired by Dart’s...
Motörhead Cuts Wacken Open Air Festival Show Short Due to Lemmy’s Health
Motörhead was forced to cut the band’s set short at this year’s Wacken Open Air festival in Germany after frontman and bassist Lemmy Kilmister fell ill. The band got through six songs of their planned 75-minute show before Kilmister left the stage. Fans reported that the rock legend was looking pale on stage. “I’ve been ill recently,” Kilmister told the...
PercussionTutor: A Look at the Rhythm Reference App
PercussionTutor is an app I am really excited about. While it is actually designed for percussionists, the app and free ebook combine to offer a huge reference for any musician wishing to better understand rhythms and learning how the different percussion parts fit together to produce the groove. In other words, this will help you – as a bassist –...
Eric Czar: Caffeine
When we interviewed Eric Czar last year, he told us that as a 7-string bassist, he’s “survived [his] share of ‘string bashing’”. But Czar is a versatile bassist and composer, adept at pretty much any bass we can imagine. Here he is performing his own tune, “Caffeine” on a 4-string modified Matsomoku Jazz bass copy.
FM Cables Introduces Speakon Series Speaker Cables
FM Cables has introduced the Speakon Series of cables for connecting between amps and speaker cabinets. Featuring heavy duty Neutrik connectors, the cables are built with transparent loudspeaker cable with flexible twin wire made in Germany and protected by a fire retardant sheath. The cables come in three types. The ‘Tour’ Standard has 6mm Squared cable, while the Standard series...
Weekly Top Ten: The Best in Bass for the Week of July 28
Last week was a good one in the land of the low end, including Geddy Lee’s 60th birthday (and the celebratory video that went with it). Here are the top 10 most popular stories, features and videos – decided by you – for the week of July 28 – August 3, 2013. Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing. 1. Federico...
Black Country Communion: Beggarman, Live Over Europe
Though they only lasted a few years, Black Country Communion was a band that really got it right. The supergroup, fronted in part by bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, had all the right riffs and attitude to bring that classic and elusive perfect rock vibe to the stage. Here’s the group playing “Beggarman” from the DVD Live over Europe.
Squier Introduces Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass V Special
Squier’s Vintage Modified series has gotten a little bigger with the introduction of the Jaguar Bass V Special. The new model takes all the features of the Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass and adds a low B string. Similar to its predecessor, the bass features a Jaguar-style body fitted with a Fender-Designed P/J pickup configuration. Controls include an active bass-boost circuit,...
Funk Machine, The Novel
Yesterday was a sad day in the world of bass and music in general. On August 2, 1983, James Jamerson – the man responsible for so much of the Motown sound for many years – passed away at the age of 47. As bassists gather today in Detroit to honor the late bassist, another bassist is paying tribute with his...
Miguel Ramirez and Four Basses: “Waves Under the Sand”
Miguel Ramirez’s “Waves Under the Sand” is an incredible showcase of writing and performance by the bassist. The tune includes four different bass tracks performed by Miguel and offers up a full range of sounds and styles. Remarkable!