Buzz
Trent Reznor Reinvents Nine Inch Nails, Promises Touring
Trent Reznor has announced the return of Nine Inch Nails after a four year hiatus with the promise of extensive touring for the next two years. The band’s revival includes an interesting lineup, including former Jane’s Addiction bassist Eric Avery and King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew. “I was working with Adrian Belew on some musical ideas, which led to some...
Pigtronix Introduces Three New Bass Effects Pedals
Pigtronix debuted three new bass-centric effects pedals at NAMM this year: the Bass Fat Drive, the Philosopher Bass Compressor, and the Bass Envelope Phaser. Each is a tweaked version of one their existing products that have been fine-tuned for bassists. Bass Fat Drive The Bass Fat Drive features Pigtronix’s CMOS clipping concept and responds by breaking up based on how...
Stage Volume: Turn Up and Play Light (and Other Considerations)
Q: In hard rock and metal music, many players – including me – resort to playing with a heavy right hand to cut through the mix of distortion. As time goes by my right wrist starts to experience some pain and I’m thinking I should be playing lighter. Jeff Berlin and Gary Willis have been advocating “turn up and play...
Simon Fitzpatrick: “Bohemian Rhapsody” for Solo Bass Guitar
Almost two years ago, we featured a video of Simon Fitzpatrick performing a live bass arrangement of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Simon is back with a new version, which reminds us of how epic Simon is.
Gary Willis Releases “Retro”
Gary Willis teamed up with drummer Gergo Borlai and pianist Albert Bover for his fifth solo effort, Retro. Described as an “electric piano” trio, the approach to the album was simpler, in terms of production and instrumentation. “This new record is about us playing together. It’s not about big productions or anything, it’s just Rhodes, bass and drums,” Willis explains....
Reader Spotlight: Mihai Moldoveanu
Meet Mihai Moldoveanu, a bassist from Romania who has some really interesting answers to some of the reader spotlight interview questions. (We especially loved his answer to the “influences” question). Mihai is No Treble’s player in the spotlight for the week of February 25, 2013. Bio: I started playing bass in high school, being self-thaught. I was always drawn by...
Rybski Introduces Sean O’Bryan Smith Signature Basses
Rybski Custom Bass Guitars has introduced the Sean O’Bryan Smith Signature Bass. Currently available in Deluxe and Standard versions, the Nashville bassist’s new bass brings together classic elements of a traditional P/J bass with modern craftsmanship and a 21-fret J-profile neck. “Sean’s career incorporates a successful solo career and also a highly successful recording career with artists worldwide,” a press...
Adam Duce Splits from Machine Head
Bassist Adam Duce has left the ranks of Machine Head, according to a statement on the band’s website. Though he’s hinted at thinking of leaving before, the news comes as a surprise considering Duce founded the band with guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn in 1991. The group released seven albums with over 2.4 million copies sold during his tenure. “Machine Head and...
NS Design Announces CR5 Radius Bass Guitar
NS Design excited the bass community at last year’s NAMM show by unveiling the NS Radius Bass Guitar. This year, the company has introduced a production version of the headless bass. Made in the Czech Republic, the CR5 Model shares all the same dimensions as its U.S. counterpart. The CR5 Radius Model is a 5-string bass that comes in three...
Expanded Harmonics: More on Locations and Patterns
Last time we talked about how to find out where harmonics occur on a string by dividing the string into equal parts. Below you will find a more straightforward representation of the specific harmonics that can be found at the end of the fingerboard on each string. We will be placing the thumb on the second octave harmonic for each...
Ray Riendeau: “The Stranger” Live Bass and Drum Duo Performance
Bassist Ray Riendeau shared his latest video with us, featuring a live performance of the tune “The Stranger” he did with drummer Martin Diamond. And the tune is quite a ride full of great rhythms, interplay and stellar technique. Great for listening and watching.
Jackson Introduces Quilted Maple Top Concert Basses
Jackson’s Concert Bass series has grown this year with the introduction of the JS3QM and JS3VQM models. The new versions take all the features of their brethren and add a quilted maple top. Four and five-string basses, respectively, the JS3QM and JS3VQM Concert Basses feature basswood bodies, bolt-on maple necks, and 24-fret, compound-radius rosewood fingerboards. The four-string model sports a...