Buzz
Fodera Announces Janek Gwizdala Signature Imperial Model Bass
Fodera is now offering a Janek Gwizdala Signature Imperial model, based on Gwizdala’s own bass. Hand-built in Fodera’s New York shop, the 5-string bass sports a 33? scale and comes tuned E to C. The instrument has a walnut body with an alder tone block and a stunning non-solid Buckeye Burl top. The 3-piece ash neck is paired with an...
Choosing the Right Webcam in the Youtube Era
Q: I am looking at starting a Youtube channel, and I was wondering what you’d suggest for a webcam solution. I’m looking for one that has good audio. Alternatively, what is the best, cheap USB interface to buy? A: As many of you may know, I could stand to focus a little attention to my production values with my own...
Steve Bailey, Hadrien Feraud and David “Fingers” Haynes NAMM Jam
PreSonus puts on some killer demos at NAMM. (this one, from back in 2009 with Steve Bailey, Victor Wooten and David “Fingers” Haynes remains one of the most popular videos on No Treble to this day). This time around, Bailey is teaming up bassist Hadrien Feraud and Haynes for a jam at the PreSonus booth. The trio is playing the...
In Memoriam: Chris Ethridge
Bassist Chris Ethridge, a founding member of Flying Burrito Brothers with Gram Parsons, has passed away at the age of 65 due to complications from pancreatic cancer. The genre-shaping band he co-created helped bring country and rock together. Ethridge left the band after recording their debut album The Gilded Palace of Sin, going on to work as a bassist for...
Reader Spotlight: Chris LaBenne
Meet bassist Chris LaBenne, who originally started on guitar, but saw the error in his ways and switched to bass. Chris is currently studying music composition, with an eye for music education in his future. Chris is our player in the spotlight for the week of April 24, 2012. Bio: I’m a 21-year-old bassist and composer from northeast Ohio. I...
Bass Lesson: Getting to Know the Fretboard
This is a lesson mostly for beginners, but it should serve as a great refresher for the rest of us. Unfamiliarity with the fretboard has a lot of downsides. It’ll slow your playing, because your mind has to figure out where your fingers should go, rather than just instinctively knowing where you need to be. Your technique will suffer as...
Jamiroquai’s “Rock Dust Light Star” Released in North America
Jamiroquai’s seventh album, Rock Dust Light Star was originally released on November 1, 2010. But not in North America. The band has announced that the album is finally available here, as of today, thanks to the band’s new relationship with Executive Music Group. Rock Dust Light Star was Jamiroquai’s first album in five years, following Dynamite, and anchored by bassist...
Genz Benz Second Generation Shuttle Bass Amps Now Shipping
Genz Benz has released their newest generation of the Shuttle Series bass amps, including the Shuttle 6.2 and the Shuttle 9.2. Featuring a tube preamp and a Class D power amplifier, the new line builds upon its predecessors with increased tube gain and the addition of the company’s “3 Dimensional Power Management” circuitry (3DPM), which adds heft and girth to...
Bass Technique: Shifting and the Feeling of Lightness
Accurate shifting is extremely important on an upright bass. It may even be the one technique we use the most often. Most other string instruments can play a few two-octave scales without shifting, while we can play a grand total of zero, even if we “pivot.” Despite how often we must execute flawless shift, for many it is a point...
John Mayer Trio with Pino Palladino, Live at the Crossroads Festival 2010
We’ve featured the John Mayer Trio performing this tune before, but had to share this version, from the 2010 Crossroads Festival. The band plays “Who Did You Think I Was”, ending with Hendrix’s “Power of Soul”. Pino Palladino can do no wrong! Drummer Steve Jordan is really bringing it too. This one has it all, including Bill Murray showing up...
Top 10: Isolated Bass Week, New School, David Ellefson Interview and the Top New Basses
Last week, we celebrated the greatest instrument ever with our Isolated Bass Week series. This was a major hit, with some legendary bass tracks from Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee, John Entwistle, Wilton Felder, John Paul Jones, Chris Squire and James Jamerson, isolated in all their glory. They all made the top ten, so we included them all for the #1...
Pirastro Unveils Flexocor Deluxe Double Bass Strings
String company Pirastro has introduced a new set of double bass strings called the Flexocor Deluxe. Building upon their pre-existing Flexocor range, the Deluxe strings offer wider tonal range, longer sustain, and better overall playability. Pirastro explains that the Flexocor Deluxe’s structure allows the string to possess great resonance and “unsurpassed carrying power.” It’s core material is high-stability steel rope....