Buzz
Pigtronix Infinity Looper Pedal Now Shipping
Pigtronix’s first foray into the looping world has happened with the release of the Infinity Looper pedal. The Infinity allows for record, playback, dub, undo and redo functions on two stereo loop pairs that can be configured in several ways. Among the pedals innovations is the SYNC MULTI mode, which allows for the length of Loop 2 to be anywhere...
Marcus Miller: “Detroit” Live at Jazz in Marciac
Get ready for around 10 minutes of musical (and bass) awesomeness. Here’s Marcus Miller and his band performing “Detroit” at Jazz in Marciac last month. The solo break that starts around the 3 minute mark is just killer.
Jimmy Haslip: Modern Improvisation for Bass
Jimmy Haslip has authored an instructional method book for bassists, focusing on the art of improvisation and expanding creative expression in jazz. Modern Improvisation for Bass, published by Alfred Music Publishing, covers a range of topics, including broadening music vocabulary with modes, altered harmony, and chord substitutions, creating walking bass lines, using pedal tones and chordal arpeggios, and expanding soloing...
Acoustic Image Introduces Series 4 Contra Combo Amp
Acoustic Image has unveiled the Series 4 Contra, a 300-watt combo amp that the company explains is its most affordable combo. Similar to the Series 4 Coda combo, the new Contra features a 10-inch down-firing woofer and a forward-firing 5-inch midrange driver. It also has Automatic Voltage Switching, which protects the amplifier from damage no matter where in the world...
Marcelo Feldman: Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There” Solo Bass Cover
Bassist Marcelo Feldman shows incredible musicianship and technique in this all-bass version of the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There”. Clearly inspired by the Marcus Miller version, this is the way music should be.
Slipknot: Bass Play-Along Volume 45
Hal Leonard’s Bass Play-Along has reached 45 books now with the release of Slipknot: Bass Play-Along Volume 45. The 88 page book offers up the bass lines performed by the late Paul Gray. Eight Slipknot tunes are included, written in standard notation and tab. The lyrics and melody for each song is also provided. As with every book in the...
Ibanez Introduces 5-String Mikro Bass
Ibanez is now offering a 5-string version of their GSR Mikro bass. Sporting a 28.6? scale, the company explains the GSRM25 is perfectly suited for young students as well as adult players who prefer a short scale. Besides an extra string, the GSRM25 sets itself apart from its 4-string companion with a pair of Ibanez’s STD J5 pickups. The body...
Listening Back: Get a New Perspective on Your Playing
A few days ago, I happened to be “shuffling” through my music library and stumbled upon a long-forgotten EP that I played on in high school, just a few years into picking up the bass. I took a short break from my day and decided to listen with a hint of skepticism, a dash of personal critique, and a boatload...
Oliver Leonidas Tsakonas: “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers” Cover
Bassist Oliver Leonidas Tsakonas shared his cover of Jeff Beck’s “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers”. And he sent it with a warning: “Contains a bass solo.” …which is why we’re featuring it. Oliver plays both bass and guitar on the track… making it even more impressive. Have a video to share? We’d love to check it out. Email us at...
Aerosmith Releases “Music From Another Dimension!”
The veteran rockers of Aerosmith have released Music From Another Dimension!, their 15th studio album and first album featuring new material since 2001. While bassist Tom Hamilton explains the whole band developed the album, he admitted to Ultimate Classic Rock that he took a larger role in the music. Two of the tracks – “Tell Me” and the bonus song...
Bass of the Week: Datum RM Series
The upper horn on the Datum RM Series bass may look cool, but it’s there for more than looks. The G-shape adds more contact between the body and neck, essentially giving the benefits of a singlecut bass to double cutaway design. Handmade in Italy, each bass is available with several options, including the number of strings, fretted or fretless, and...
Bass Transcription: Stu Hamm’s “Going to California”
This month’s transcription is Stu Hamm’s live performance of the Led Zeppelin classic “Going to California”, which can be heard (and seen) here: You’ll need to detune your E-string to D in order to play this piece. This performance of the song opens with a chord consisting of an open low D-string and A and D harmonics played at the...