Buzz
Protection Racket Introduces iPad/Tablet Case
For bassists who rely on their iPad or tablet computer, Protection Racket has released a new iPad/Tablet case designed to protect your gear. The slim case is built from the company’s Racketex, a high abrasion polyester that resists fading, cracking, shrinking, and is waterproof. Besides a dedicated pocket for your iPad or tablet, the case has two larger front pockets,...
Bootleg Guitars Introduces Dawg Pounder Bass
Jon Hill of Bootleg Guitars decided to get back to basics with his new Dawg Pounder model. “I’ve been preaching simplicity lately: 1 humbucker 1 knob,” the luthier explained. “I feel guitars kinda went through a ‘Big Hair’ phase and I’m back in the garage with the garage bands!” Delivered in a sleek, black satin finish, the Pounder lives up...
Bass Lesson Round Up: The Top 10 Lessons, Columns and How To’s in October
Just in time for your weekend, here are the 10 most popular how to columns and lessons on No Treble last month. Enjoy! 1. No Bass Amp? A Guide to Hearing Yourself Practice Damian answers this reader question: “My amp and most of my gear got confiscated when I got to college because they said it was a fire hazard....
Rich Brown: Solo Bass Beauty
Facebook friend Michael J. Benham shared this solo bass video of bassist Rich Brown, saying “Just found this guy. Quite amazed that he has remained under the radar.” This solo piece is just beautiful, with amazing technique and a sound that makes you think Rich is using a delay (but isn’t). We haven’t featured Rich in a long time (last...
Bass of the Week: Convolution Bass
When longtime friends Edwin Paanakker and Frans Haarmeijer decided to join forces to build basses, they knew they wanted to make something different. Enter the Convolution Bass: a lightweight, handmade bass that shares mechanical properties of an upright bass. Built with a red cedar body topped by Zebrano wood, the fretless bass has a gorgeous ebony bridge with piezos in...
New School: Quintin Berry
Quintin Berry is a bassist who sticks out. Instead of holding his bass like most players, Berry created what he calls the “cradle style,” in which his right arm supports the body of the bass while the neck angles down towards the ground. It developed out of applying things he learned from violin lessons, and though it started from messing...
Willy González Nuevo Trío: Zamba del pañuelo
I’ve been on a traditional folk music kick, so this video of 6-string bassist Willy González and his Nuevo Trio struck a chord with me. Here the group plays their version of Argentinian folk composer Gustavo “Cuchi” Leguizamón’s “Zamba del pañuelo”. The interplay between the musicians is superb and is matched in elegance by a pair of dancers for a...
Green Day Cancel Remaining 2012 Tour
Green Day has announced that their remaining 2012 tour dates have been cancelled and concerts set for next year will be postponed due to lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong’s time in rehab. The news comes just weeks after the release of ¡UNO!, the first of a trilogy of new albums. Bassist Mike Dirnt weighed in on the situation in a...
Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories for October
Here’s a top 10 list of our most popular bass coverage in the month of October, 2012. As always, this is based on reader views. Thanks for reading, sharing and commenting! 1. Gibson Unveils New EB Bass In 1953, Gibson took its first step into the electric bass market with the EB-1, eventually releasing several models to follow musical trends....
Learning Theory: Recommendations for Resources and Steps to Making it Happen
Q: What would you recommend as great resources for learning theory? I’m not someone who lacks in imagination or creative drive or even feel. I’m more of a groove player, and I’ve never stopped to get any formal grounding with modes, harmonizations, relationships of scales and arpeggios and putting that together for a given tonality. I’d appreciate any recommendations for...
Howie Waldman: “The Addams Family” Theme All-Bass Cover
Happy Halloween, bass style. Here’s bassist Howie Waldman performing the theme to The Addams Family the best way possible: with his bass. Love the hair.
Black Country Communion Releases “Afterglow”
Black Country Communion has released their third album, Afterglow, through J&R Records. Fronted by bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, the group brings together fellow rock legends Joe Bonamassa, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian. Though there is some uncertainty to the band’s future, their latest effort is more proof that the mixture of talent is a winning one. “So happy that Afterglow is...