Buzz
Tool Announces North American Tour Dates
With over five years since their last album and a little over a year since their last performance, Tool has confirmed that they will be playing a handful of shows in 2012, starting in Reno, Nevada on January 14th. The band, consisting of bassist Justin Chancellor, singer Maynard James Keenan, drummer Danny Carey and guitarist Adam Jones will be making...
Squier James Johnston Signature Jazz Bass Available Worldwide in 2012
Squier announced this week that Biffy Clyro bassist James Johnston’s signature Jazz Bass would be available worldwide in 2012. First announced in Fall of 2009, the instrument has thus far only been available only in Europe. Johnston’s signature axe is based on his personal Fender USA Jazz and has a basswood body finished in Lake Placid Blue with a matching...
New School: Simon Fitzpatrick
UK-based Simon Fitzpatrick caught the attention of bass lovers around the world last year with his jaw-dropping solo bass arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody. Since then, the Carl Palmer Band bassist has been continuing to push himself to adapt new songs to the instrument with techniques and technology. What makes you new school? I first started taking solo bass seriously about...
Zander Zon: All Bass Cover of Metallica’s “The Unforgiven”
Zander Zon has just shared his latest all-bass performance, this time covering Metallica’s “The Unforgiven” in his signature style. Zander using piccolo strings (gauge 020-052) and special tunings on his Zon for his performances. For this video, he incorporates reverb, distortion and some echo. Amazing, as usual.
Marcus Miller Working on New Album
It appears Marcus Miller is in the studio working on his new album, according to his Facebook page. Though details are still slim, the iconic bassist announced a few artists that he’s working with. “Working on my new album,” he posted. “In the studio with Sean Jones, Federico Gonzalez Pena, Adam Rogers, Alex Han and Louis Cato. Time to make...
Bass of the Week: Chillbass Pantera
This week we take a look at Chillbass Guitars’ Pantera, a sleek fretless bass that takes its cues from minimalism. The bass has a medium, 32″ scale, which the French bass builder explains lowers the string tension and ultimately aids upper register tones, playability, and adds to a “fat low end.” The Pantera has a swamp ash body, maple neck...
Custom Shop: An Interview with Mike Lull
As one of the world’s most respected bass luthiers, Mike Lull’s work has been heard around the world. His Seattle, Washington-based shop has allowed Lull to work on nearly all of the instruments used by bands from the area known as “the grunge capital”, including Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and others. His story began as many do, with youthful rebellion,...
Francois Lamouche: Shake Everything You Got
Facebook friend Jim Cana shared this video with us, featuring Francois Lamouche grooving and playing along to the Maceo Parker tune, “Shake Everything You’ve Got”. The original has Rodney Curtis holding down the low end, and Francois does a great job on the tune. (We only wish it was longer.) Francois shares, “I invite you to listen to the original...
JackTight USA Now Shipping JackTight Tool for Repairing Output Jacks
For all you do-it-yourselfer’s out there, JackTight USA released the JackTight, a tool for fixing loose output jacks on basses and guitars. The JackTight works by gripping and stabilizing the jack from the inside, allowing for users to tighten the nut without the jack spinning. In addition to being handy on instruments the JackTight works on any jack, including effects...
Philosophy Amplifiers Launches Flagship All-Tube Bass Amp
Philosophy Amplifiers has entered the bass amplifier scene with the launch of their flagship Philosophy amp, a 200-watt all tube bass amp. The class AB amplifier utilizes three JJ 12ax7 preamp tubes and four JJ KT-88 power tubes for it’s all-tube signal path, which the company explains is capable of both clean and overdriven sounds without the aid of pedals....
Pay to Play?
Q: Just recently a drummer friend of mine offered me a gig. It’s a little local bar gig, with a fixed payout (around $150 for the night, for the band). My friend suggested we hire a great piano player for the gig, but to get him on this trio, he said we’d have to give him the full payment. I...
Donovan Stokes: Solo Bass Arrangement of “Gentle Rain” by Luiz Bonfá
Donovan Stokes (aka Dr. D and a regular contributor here) recorded his solo bass arrangement of “Gentle Rain” by Luiz Bonfá for the upcoming Shenandoah Conservatory Jazz Faculty Sampler CD. Luckily, Kevin Johnson was around to film it.