Buzz
Radial Engineering Introduces Firefly Tube Direct Box
Radial Engineering was showing off their new Firefly DI box at their booth at the NAMM Show this year. Built for for both live and recording purposes, the Firefly features a Class-A tube preamp with dual inputs that allow for quickly switching instruments. The Firefly’s signal path goes straight to a tuner output that stays on. It features a 12AX7...
Electric Hot Tuna: “Candyman” Live
In December, 1994, Hot Tuna performed live at the Filmore. That concert ultimately made it to DVD as Electric Hot Tuna: Live At The Fillmore. Here’s the band performing “Candyman” that night, with a nifty bass solo by the one and only Jack Casady.
Alfred Music Releases Bryan Beller’s “Mastering Tone and Versatility”
Bryan Beller’s first ever instructional DVD, Mastering Tone and Versatility, has been released by Alfred Music Publishing. Beller is a bassist known for both his tone and versatility, with playing credits ranging from extreme metal to fusion to R&B and plenty in between. To help teach that sort of diversity, the bassist calls upon some of his cohorts. The DVD...
Peavey Unveils Cirrus Rudy Sarzo Signature Bass
Peavey’s NAMM product announcements included the all-new Cirrus Rudy Sarzo Signature Bass, incorporating elements of the rock veteran’s original signature bass and their Cirrus line. The 35″ scale bass features neck-through construction with maple neck and mahogany stringers. Graphite reinforcement and a dual expanding truss ensure a sturdy neck, while Rudy’s signature snake-eye inlays serve as fret markers in the...
Daring Audio Introduces New HD Bass Pedal
Daring Audio has expanded their line of bass pedals with the announcement of the all-new high definition pedal, the Edge Activator HD. The pedal is 100% analog circuitry with a high-headroom preamp as well as constant volume for wet/dry blend between two internal channels. The predecessor to the HD version is a popular pedal for bassists, used to accentuate slapping,...
Alex Bershadsky: Groove Move
Here’s an intense jam by bassist Alex Bershadsky, whose incredible groove is matched equally by his impressive technique. The clip features Gal Gershovsky on drums. When you groove it, you gotta move it!
Top 10: Top Bass Gear from NAMM, Plus the Week’s Most Popular Bass Videos, News and Music
Winter NAMM kicked off last week, and with it, plenty of gear news. We’re back from Anaheim and not ready to rest just yet. Be on the lookout for tons more gear news starting today. Last week was a great bass week with all the gear news, some unbelievable bass videos, plus a few other goodies. Here is the top...
Lakland Reintroduces Darryl Jones Signature Bass
Lakland has reintroduced the Darryl Jones Signature bass in both US and Skyline models. Jones, who originally commissioned a bass in 1985, has played with the Rolling Stones, Miles Davis, Sting, and many more. While the bass’s body shape is similar to the company’s Vintage J 44-60 and 55-60 models, the new signature model offers more curve to its contouring...
Korg Announces PitchBlack Poly Polyphonic Pedal Tuner
Korg has just announced the PitchBlack Poly, a new product in their line of tuners. The Poly, which is designed for both bass and guitar, offers many upgrades to typical tuners. The PitchBlack Poly’s display offers a large, high visibility meter with a row of bright white and blue LEDs to determine each string’s tuning, even from a distance. The...
Etta James with the Grateful Dead and the Tower of Power Horns: Live Performance (1982)
Two days ago I was sitting in the hotel lobby before heading out to the NAMM show and saw a news alert that singer Etta James had passed away. She would have been 74 on Wednesday. Facebook friend Crystal Gloistein shared this video from New Years Eve 1982 featuring one incredible line up: Etta James on vocals, the Grateful Dead...
Washburn Expands on Stu Hamm Signature Series Line of Basses
Last year’s NAMM Show brought the debut of the Washburn Stu Hamm Signature Hammer bass, and as a follow-up this year the company has introduced a fretless version of the bass as well as the rest of the Stu Hamm Electric Bass Series. The SHBH3FLTSS completely follows suit with the fretted version and features a double cutaway designed alder body...
Red Hot Chili Peppers Add Dates to North American Tour
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have added 16 new dates to the North American leg of their ongoing world tour in support of their August release of I’m With You. The leg builds upon the six previously announced shows and will take the funk rock quartet from Canada into the United States, where it will mostly visit the East Coast...