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Deimel Guitarworks Introduces Firestar Bass
German luthier Frank Deimel has mixed elements of several bass styles into his latest creation, the Deimel Guitarworks Firestar Bass. The long-scale bass features a figured hard rock maple neck that is fashioned after a P-Bass’s dimensions and topped with a Pau Ferro fretboard. The body is a single piece of yellow poplar. The bass is rigged with three Lollar...
Gear Review: Ibanez BTB1406E 6-String Bass
Ibanez’s foray into the boutique bass domain is off to strong start. The only thing missing is the extra $1,000.00 you didn’t have to spend to enjoy all of the features this six string bass delivers. Most online retailers are offering this bass for sale in the $1,500.00 price range, which is not the price point for basses with this...
Marcus Miller: “Detroit” & “I’ll Be There” Solo Bass Performance
Today is Marcus Miller’s birthday, and so we’re celebrating with some solo bass music by the man himself. Here’s Marcus performing “Detroit” and the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There” on the Tavis Smiley show on PBS.
Bass of the Week: Music Man Big Al
In 2009, Music Man introduced a bass version of their Albert Lee Signature guitar called the Big Al. Its angular body and unique pickups caught the community’s attention, and the next year the company announced a 5-string version. The Big Al and Big Al 5 are built with African mahogany bodies, maple necks, and maple or rosewood fingerboards with a...
Bassment Dan: Slap Bass Arrangement of Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance”
Dan Scowcroft, AKA Bassment Dan, sent us this video of his slap bass arrangement of Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance.” Step 1: we had to get over our music snobbery. Step 2: we dug what he was doing. Lesson learned: don’t judge a video by its title.
Black Sabbath Releases “13”
The wait is finally over. Black Sabbath have released 13, their first studio album featuring original members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler since 1978’s Never Say Die. The band, which officially reunited in late 2011, is rounded out by Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk, who fills in for Bill Ward. Ward left the reunion in February...
Chord Construction: A Guide for Bassists
Q: I’ve been playing bass for about four years, and I’ve had difficulty with understanding chord construction on the bass. I know my scales and their modes inside and out, and I know a lot about the fretboard. My technique is good, too, but I figured when I was starting out that I really didn’t need to know chords “because...
The Billy Sea: The Mare’s Day, Live at Altamont Theatre
Bassist Jake Wolf sent us this great performance of his band The BIlly Sea performing their tune “The Mare’s Day” at the Altamont Theatre in Asheville, North Carolina. The trio creates a sense of nostalgia in the song, which changes time feels throughout to add poignancy to slide guitarist Billy Cardine’s thoughtful phrasing. Wolf builds upon the serene nature of...
Mumford and Sons Bassist Ted Dwane Hospitalized
Mumford and Sons have postponed three headlining shows this week after bassist Ted Dwane was hospitalized while on their current tour. “Our friend and bandmate Ted has been feeling unwell for a few days, and yesterday he was taken to a hospital to receive emergency treatment,” the band stated on their Facebook page. “The scans revealed a blood clot on...
Reader Spotlight: Peat Rains
Meet Peat Rains, AKA “Epileptic Peat”, who pushes the envelope in just about every way. (You’ll have to read on to find out what I mean). And if you see him at a live show, he’ll even give you his drink tickets. Peat’s gear list is impressive too, but I’ll admit it: I had to Google “TalkBoy from Home Alone...
Top 10: The Most Watched Bass Videos (May 2013)
Last month seemed to be an exceptional month for bass videos… and these top 10 are the cream of the crop. Here are the top 10 most watched videos on No Treble for May, 2013. Thanks for watching, commenting, sharing and submitting video recommendations to us! 1. Fabienne Gilbert: “Come On Come Over” Bass Play-Along We don’t feature a ton...
Dream Theater: Instrumedley (John Myung Angle)
Dream Theater’s “Instrumedley”, AKA “The Dance of Instrumentals” is an instrumental showcase the band performed only during their live shows. Here’s the best version of the performance – the one focused exclusively on bassist John Myung.