Buzz
Jackson Introduces Dave Ellefson Signature Kelly Bird Bass
David Ellefson now has a signature model of the Jackson Kelly Bird bass, which he helped design last year. The new 4-string bass stands out with the Megadeth bassist’s signature red pinstripe finish over its modern body shape. The Jackson David Ellefson Signature Kelly Bird Bass is built with a basswood body, and a bolt-on bound maple neck with 21...
Gigging? Make a Reserve Tune List
It’s 11:58, and you just finished a killer set. So much so that the crowd is clapping, fist pumping, raising their drinks in the air and collectively begging for one more song. The band members look around at one another and think, “yeah, this is awesome! But what are we gonna do???” You played through the set list and it...
Inside//Outside: Effervescent (Featured Reader Video Week)
Bassist Adam Neely sent this awesome video of his band Inside//Outside playing his composition “Effervescent”. The Brooklyn-based 4-stringer describes the tune as odd-metered nu-jazz with a distorted trumpet solo, 8-bit drums, and (our favorite part) a bitcrushed bass solo that starts at the 2:05 mark. We describe it as awesome. Today’s video wraps up our Featured Reader Video Week, but...
Charlie Haden Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Grammys
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards was a very special moment for Charlie Haden as the 75-year-old bassist was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award. Over the course of his career, Haden has worked with artists like Ornette Coleman, Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett, Alice Coltrane, Joe Henderson, and Michael Brecker, just to name a few. During his acceptance speech, the bassist explained...
Bass of the Week: Dingwall Z3
Known best for their use of the Novax fanned-fret system, Dingwall decided to capture classic tones with their Z-series. The Z1 set out to “capture the best qualities of the classic swamp ash tone” by placing their Super-Fatty pickups in the same relative positions as traditional designs. The Z2 then put the pickups closer together towards the bridge to get...
Pino Saracini: “Bridge Over Troubled Water” Solo Bass Arrangement (Featured Reader Video Week)
You may remember Pino Sarcini from when we featured his Keyboard Bass as Bass of the Week. He recently sent us this very chill solo bass arrangement of the classic Simon and Garfunkel tune “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Saracini utilizes harmonics to create a nice flowing texture to the song. “Relaxing with [my] bass at home……one of my favorite songs...
Gerald Veasley’s Bass BootCamp and EXPO 2013
For over ten years, Gerald Veasley’s Bass BootCamp has been inspiring bassists through its annual event, and the connections those bassists and clinicians maintain virtually throughout the year. For the last few years, No Treble staffers have attended the show to cover it, and witnessed the terrific connection these bass players make, not to mention the tremendous learning they experience....
In Memoriam: Dave Clark Five’s Rick Huxley
Rick Huxley, bassist of the Dave Clark Five, has passed away at the age of 72 after battling emphysema. Huxley was a founding member of the ’60s Brit rock band and was a member for the band’s duration, from 1958 to 1970. Born in England in 1940, Huxley was just 18 when he joined the band. The group was part...
Dean Announces New Edge Basses with EMG Pickups
Dean has introduced a new variant of their flagship Edge series of basses. The new Edge 4 and Edge 5 basses distinguish themselves from the pack with upgraded electronics including a pair of active EMG pickups. Both of the new models feature bolt-on construction and sport 35? scales. They’re built with basswood bodies, maple “C”-shaped necks, rosewood fingerboards, and 24...
DI, Mic or Both? Perspectives from Bassists and Engineers
Q: Could you do an article or a poll about whether to mic your bass amp during live gigs or to use a direct line into the mixer? I’ve heard opinions on both sides. A: I definitely have my own thoughts and opinions based on my experiences, and I’ve also asked some engineers this question at various gigs lately to...
Samuel Haynes: Labyrinth (Featured Reader Video Week)
We’ve featured No Treble reader Samuel Haynes before, and we’re happy to share the latest he just sent our way. The tune is an original composition Samuel wrote, using BEAD tuning. He describes the tune as “[mostly] slap with some chordal stuff thrown in there too.” Samuel is playing his Ibanez Soundgear SRX300 with stock pickups and running through a...
Nilson Matta Reimagines “Black Orpheus” With New Album
Like many Brazilians, bassist Nilson Matta became entranced by the music from the play Orfeu da Conceição when he was just a boy. Matta’s interest grew even deeper when the film adaptation, entitled Black Orpheus, was released. The music of Antonio Carlos Jobim and lyrics by de Moraes stuck with him all his life, and he’s now paying homage to...