Buzz
Evan Marien x Dana Hawkins: The Eldridge
Evan Marien recently shared this new video with me, the latest by the dynamic duo he formed with drummer Dana Hawkins. The tune is on their new Collection EP. I can’t get enough of these guys.
Daring Audio Introduces Laser Cannon HD Bass Distortion Pedal
Daring Audio has upgraded their Laser Cannon with an HD version of the bass distortion pedal, which builds on the model’s functionality. New features include a state variable filter that allows low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass before and after the distortion circuit, two filters for separate pre and post gain filtering, expansion of the gain control, and a boost switch with...
Tech 21 Unveils Private Stock Formula 21 All-Tube Bass Preamp
Tech 21 has unveiled the Private Stock Formula 21, an exclusive vacuum tube bass preamp. The limited edition preamp is hand-built at the company’s U.S. factory and is housed in a solid mahogany cabinet with a cherry finish. Custom designed by Tech 21 president Andrew Barta, the Formula 21 came as a vision of an all-tube version of the SansAmp...
Weekly Top Ten: The Best in Bass for the Week of February 24
No Treble readership just keeps going up up up, thanks in large part to the gear stories, how to’s, lessons and videos like those below. Here’s our top 10 for the week of February 24 – March 2, 2013. Thanks as always for reading, commenting and sharing. 1. Simon Fitzpatrick: “Bohemian Rhapsody” for Solo Bass Guitar Almost two years ago,...
Evan Brewer: 2013 Album Update
Evan Brewer has a new solo album in the works, and he took a little time out to preview some of it with a new video. The new effort will stray from his first album, Alone, which he created entirely with only bass. “This album is coming out a lot different than the first one,” Brewer explains. “What we’re doing...
The Aristocrats Announce New Album, Summer Tour
Bryan Beller and The Aristocrats have announced an extensive U.S. Tour in anticipation of their second studio album, tentatively titled Culture Clash, which is due out July 16th. The trio will hit the road for six weeks from mid-July to late August in support of the effort. The trio, made up of bassist Beller, guitarist Guthrie Govan, and drummer Marco...
G&L Introduces MJ-4 Bass Guitar
G&L has introduced the MJ-4 Bass, a bass with a familiar feel that the company says is part of an evolution of bass features. The model sports a pair of G&L’s new Bi-Coil Alnico V pickups, which they say looks like a classic single-coil but actually contains two side-by-side coils configured in series-humbucking mode. The pickups are matched for a...
Top 10: The Best Bass Lessons and How To’s in February
Time to hit the shed. Here are the 10 most popular how to columns and lessons on No Treble in February. 1. Expand Your Bass Fretboard Knowledge with the Pentatonic Scale Here’s a great exercise aimed at expanding your fretboard knowledge. For this lesson, we’re going to use the five positions of the A minor / C Major pentatonic scale....
The Brothers Johnson: Stomp!
Today, we’re gonna throw it back with the 1980 music video for “Stomp!” by the Brothers Johnson. Bassist Louis Johnson is holding it down with a perfect grooving bass line. Dig it.
In Memoriam: Chuck Goff
Chuck Goff, who played bass with country music superstar Toby Keith, died this week after sustaining injuries from a car accident. He was 54. Carl “Chuck” Goff Jr. played for Keith for over 25 years as both a bass player and band leader. He also cowrote “You Ain’t Much Fun” and “Upstairs Downtown” from the 1994 album Boomtown. Keith shared...
Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in February
While NAMM seems like a distant memory now, the gear coverage from the show kept coming in February (and we still have more to cover!) And that made for a gear-filled February. Here are the top 10 most popular gear stories on No Treble for February, 2013. 1. Fender Introduces Four New American Vintage Basses Fender has expanded its American...
Bass Strings: To Change Or Not To Change
For years, bass players have debated the concept of changing strings and most people have asked the same questions: Doesn’t it change the sound of the instrument? Does the funk disappear? How can someone get good tone playing strings that are a year old? Don’t you know that (insert famous bass player) never changed his strings? Don’t you know that...