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Reader Spotlight: David Daw
Meet David Daw, a bassist from Kingston, NY who also owns a studio, repairs instruments and even raises Great Danes. David is our bassist in the spotlight for December 6, 2011. Bio: I have been playing bass 30 years. I play 4- and 5- string MTD’s, exclusively since 1994. Starting in the early 80’s, I played in heavy metal bands,...
Glockenklang Goes Lightweight with the Blue Soul Bass Amp
Glockenklang has released details on the Blue Soul, their new 650-watt Class D amp that weighs in at just 5 kg (approximately 11 pounds). With a focus on warmth and detail, the German amplification company says it rings clear as a bell. The Blue Soul features a pair of switchable inputs, with a gain knob and a variable input trim...
Richard Bona: “Teen Town”, Live
Jaco Pastorius wrote it and performed it. Many bassists have re-imagined it. Richard Bona may have turned in my favorite remake version of “Teen Town” yet with this live performance. I love what he does with the fretless. What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below.
The Roots Release “undun”, Featuring Mark Kelley
The Roots have released their latest album, undun, today, marking a couple of firsts for the group. undun is the first album with bassist Mark Kelley, who replaced Owen Biddle earlier this year. The release is also the group’s first concept album, “retelling of the short life of of Redford Stephens (1974-1999)”. Before joining the Roots, Kelley performed with Meshell...
Old School: 1968 Gibson EB-2D Bass
Bassist Tod Ellsworth got his hands on this 1968 Gibson EB-2D bass about a year ago, expanding his gear and his sound with this unique instrument. The EB2D was first introduced by Gibson in 1966, at a time when electric basses were rising in popularity. The “EB-2D” designates the pickup configurations for this bass: an EB2 neck humbucker from the...
Pacing Your Solos: A Guide to Improvisation
It is not uncommon for students of improvisation to approach their practice without a real plan. They simply start trying to improvise a solo, without really focusing on When, How or What to play, hoping things will simply get better over time. I was certainly guilty of this. It’s one reason I developed my expandable “Tune Treatment” mentioned in an...
Steely Dan: Kid Charlemagne (Live)
Here’s a great live performance of Steely Dan’s tune “Kid Charlemagne”, for VH-1’s Storytellers. In this version, bassist Tom Barney really brings it!
Top 10: Jaco’s 60th Birthday Celebration Plus the Best Bass Lessons, Videos and Gear of the Week
Last week we celebrated Jaco Pastorius’ 60th birthday with our own tribute and the most popular Jaco videos we’ve featured here on No Treble over the years. Readers responded with their own stories, making this quite a celebration for the bassist who changed it all, and who we dearly miss. On the lessons front, Thomas “MarloweDK” Risell returns with his...
Watson Pickups Launches Product Line
Watson Guitars has just launched a new pickups company, specializing in a variety of bass pickups. Run by former Nordstrand employee Michael Cooper, Watson Pickups’ new line offers products ranging from vintage replacements to completely custom creations for extended-range instruments. Cooper designed the entire line. “My current favorite design is a tap-able modern P pickup,” Cooper explains, “which fits into...
Suzi Quatro: Strict Machine
Bassist Suzi Quatro started her musical career at the age of fourteen, playing in the all-female band, The Pleasure Seekers and Cradle, with her sisters. Her father got her started, giving Quatro as 1957 Fender Precision as her first bass. Quatro has another claim to fame: starring in the sitcom Happy Days as Leather Tuscadero, the younger sister to Pinky...
Phil Palombi’s Tri-Fi Releases Christmas Album
Here’s something to help get you in the holiday spirit. Tri-Fi, featuring bassist Phil Palombi, have released a new holiday album entitled A Tri-Fi Christmas. The piano trio’s seasonal record contains their personal spins on twelve Christmas classics including “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and “Joy to the World.” “Even though we recorded it in the middle of summer, we...
Nordstrand Releases Pre-Ernie Ball Music Man-Inspired 2B-MM Preamp
Nordstrand has released the 2B-MM preamp, an accurate reproduction of an early pre-Ernie Ball Music Man 2-band preamp. The preamp comes prewired, and while it works as a direct replacement for early Music Man basses, the company explains it works well for many instruments. As with the original design, the 2B-MM’s bass control only boosts and the treble boosts and...