Buzz
Bass of the Week: Kristall Solid Electric Bass
German builder Andreas Kristall makes a host of impressive basses, including this week’s bass of the week: The Kristall Solid. Available in 4, 5, and 6-string models, the Solid sports a singlecut design with bolt on construction. Kristall says the bass was built for “Rock character, sound, look, and feel.” As each piece is made to order, options vary from...
Rocking Steady: An Interview with Jack Casady (Part 2)
Ever wonder how a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer writes bass lines? How can somebody stay in the industry for over 50 years and still stay fresh? What’s the key to musical growth? In part 1 of our interview with Jack Casady, we talked with the legendary bassist about his influences, his achievements, and some of his views on...
Bass Battle: Live Looping Session #3
Iuliu-Bogdan Diaconeasa, aka Bass Battle, sent us this cool bass looping video. We thought it was an awesome, chill song, and his note explains it. “The song is still in progress and this is a looping version that I made on a beautiful Sunday morning at home,” he said. “I [think of] this as a love song [though] I didn’t...
Disturbed Bassist John Moyer Releases “Modern Metal Bass” Instructional DVD
Bassist John Moyer has teamed up with Hal Leonard and Rock House to release Modern Metal Bass, a 2-DVD instructional set for constructing bass lines. Moyer, the bassist for the multi-platinum selling band Disturbed, shares the techniques he employs with the band, including using a pick to attack the strings and create a more aggressive sound, using octaves and fifths,...
Epifani Unveils UL3 Series Bass Cabinets
In addition to the AL Series, Epifani has introduced the next incarnation of their flagship UL series cabinets with the UL3 line. The UL3’s differ from the previous generation in that they have ceramic drivers, lighter weight enclosures, and textured paint finishes. The series includes 4×10, 3×10, 2×10, and 1×12 models, as well as a DIST 112 model, which features...
Musical Mastery: You’ve Arrived When You Realize the Journey Never Ends
This question came from a student the other day… Q: Was there a time when you knew that you had “arrived” with your playing, in some way? Is there a definitive moment or is it just a slow gradual process with no big leaps? Photo illustration by AlicePopkorn A: The answer to this question is both complicated and likely different...
Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi Sextet: Toys, with Buster Williams (1972)
About a week ago, we shared an awesome video of Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters (anchored by the awesome rhythm section duo of bassist Paul Jackson and drummer Mike Clark), performing “Spank-A-Lee” in 1974. This time around, we’re going back two years earlier, to feature Herbie’s “Mwandishi Sextet”, anchored by bassist Buster Williams. In between his time with Miles Davis...
Revolver To Honor Gene Simmons with Golden God Award, Name Best Bassist Nominees
Revolver Magazine has announced the nominees for their 4th Annual Golden Gods awards show, which honors members of the hard-rock and heavy-metal community. The Golden God award, which is given to one special honoree each year, will be presented to KISS bassist Gene Simmons for “embodying the spirit of hard rock and metal.” “It’s an honor and privilege to accept...
Reader Spotlight: Austin Underhill
Meet Austin Underhill, a twelve-year vet of the low end who has one of the best lines we’ve heard when describing what he does for a living: “a freelance bassist both day and night”. Austin is our player in the spotlight for the week of March 6, 2012. Bio: Home grown in Napa, California, Austin has been playing bass since...
Old School: 1963 Fender Jazz Bass
In our last edition of Old School, we shared Mark Anderson’s 1963 Fender Shoreline Gold Precision bass. This time, we’re showcasing Fender’s Jazz bass from the same year, and specifically Jay Fortier‘s ’63 Jazz. Fender introduced the first Jazz in March, 1960, becoming the company’s second bass model after the Precision. In 1963, Fender replaced the below-string mutes with a...
Paul Young: “Wherever I Lay My Hat” Live, with Pino Palladino (1985)
I never cared for the 80’s music scene (then or now). But when I listen to Paul Young’s recordings, I’m amazed how Pino Palladino‘s bass lines have aged so well, even if the rest of the music of that era hasn’t. Here’s Paul Young and company performing the laid back, fretless-focused “Wherever I Lay My Hat”, live in 1985 at...
Legendary Reggae Duo Sly & Robbie Release “Blackwood Dub”
The legendary Jamaican rhythm section duo of drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare have released Blackwood Dub. The 10-track collection of instrumental songs was written by the Sly and Robbie and has a sense of groove that just won’t quit. The duo, who have helped to shape the face of Reggae and rock/pop music, recorded the album at the...