Buzz
DBZ Guitars Now Shipping Hailfire Basses
DBZ Guitars is now shipping the Hailfire bass, available in Standard and Flame Maple versions. The company describes the new model as “classic-meets-modern”, with an old school body shape that’s been reshaped with modern contours and balancing. The Hailfire features neck-thru construction with a 34? scale. Its body and neck are mahogany, while the fingerboard is rosewood with block inlays....
insTuner: A Look at the Chromatic Tuner for iOS
For quite some time, my go-to tuner app for iOS has been ClearTune (see my earlier review). So when I was asked to check out insTuner, I figured that if nothing else, I would be able to write a review about it. As it turns out, I’m switching iOS tuners. insTuner is a fantastically pleasing tuner to use. Not only...
Aram Bedrosian: Weightless
No Treble reader John Stam sent us a video by Aram Bedrosian, remarking how Aram “is a master of chords, and hauntingly melodic playing…” The video he recommended was Aram’s performance of his original tune, “A Dark Light”, which we shared about two years ago. But that took me down the path of exploring more by Aram, and I stumbled...
Gig Opportunity: U.S. Air Force Airmen Of Note Announce Bass Vacancy
The United States Air Force Band has announced an immediate vacancy for the bass chair in their premier jazz ensemble, the Airmen of Note, as longtime bassist Paul Henry steps down from his tenure. The position requires that bassists play both acoustic and electric bass in a big band setting in a variety of styles, including swing, bebop, latin, and...
Squier Introduces Precision Bass PJ Model to Affinity Series
Squier is adding to their Affinity Series this year with a new Precision Bass PJ model. Building on a traditional P-bass style, the new bass includes a single-coil Jazz Bass pickup in the bridge position for further tonal variety. Other new features include a two-color headstock logo and a three-ply black/white/black pickguard. The Affinity Series Precision Bass PJ is built...
Jeff Berlin Releases “Low Standards”
Jeff Berlin has followed up his last release, High Standards, with another standards-focused album. Low Standards offers up lesser-known charts, with acoustic bassist/pianist Richard Drexler and drummer Mike Clark. This is a record which finds Berlin stretching out. “I wanted to play on a four stringed electric bass as a guitarist or pianist might play in the same situation,” Berlin...
The Winery Dogs: Elevate
Back in December, we shared the story of a new project with Billy Sheehan, Mike Portnoy and Richie Kotzen. We now know the group’s name is The Winery Dogs, and their debut album will be released next month in Japan. Dates for the rest of the world are to be determined. The band has released their first video, performing the...
Weekly Top Ten: The Top Bass Stories, Videos and How-To’s for the Week of April 21
Here are the top 10 most viewed stories and videos by No Treble readers for the week of April 21-27, 2013. Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing! 1. Fender Introduces Classic Series Precision and Jazz Basses with Lacquer Finishes Fender has expanded their bass lineup with the Classic Series ’60’s Jazz Bass Lacquer and Classic Series ’50s Precision Bass Lacquer....
Jefferson Starship’s Pete Sears Reunited with Custom Bass After 35 Years
Any musician will tell you that stealing an instrument is one of the worst things you can do to someone. The bass community has seen its fair share of famous instruments gone missing, but fortunately we can report one more that’s found its way home. Former Jefferson Starship bassist Pete Sears took to his Facebook page to share the incredible...
Weather Report: Barbary Coast (1976)
When Jaco Pastorius joined Weather Report, they were close to finishing Black Market, which had been recorded up to that point by bassist Alphonso Johnson. Jaco played on two tracks on that album, which included one of his own compositions, “Barbary Coast”. Here’s a live performance early on in Jaco’s tenure with the band, performing that tune at the Montreux...
Jazz Bass Classics
Hal Leonard has released Jazz Bass Classics, a new book featuring 16 note-for-note transcriptions of jazz classics. Transcriptions cover bass lines by Scott LaFaro, Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, Bob Cranshaw, Chuck Israels, Ron Carter and Wilbur Ware. The 168 page book focuses on both double and electric basses, with standard notation and tab. Jazz Bass Classics Song List: Autumn Leaves...
I Ain’t Superstitious: Personal Quirks and Why They Work
It’s 6pm… time to get the gear in the car, enter the club’s address into the GPS, and get on the road. It takes exactly five minutes and three trips to pack: one trip for each cabinet (the two fit side by side in the trunk), and one trip for the amp head, bag o’ stuff, and bass (all of...