Buzz
Chops vs. Groove
A while back, someone asked me to discuss the concept of “Chops vs. Groove.” The reader didn’t elaborate very much, but the impression I got was they felt having, or perhaps displaying, “chops” and the ability to groove were somehow mutually exclusive. Although someone can groove pretty hard with only a moderate level of technique, it doesn’t take much investigation...
Victor Wooten Band: Hali Baba Live
Victor Wooten took the stage with during Summer Camp 10 with his band and performed “Hali Baba”. As Vic says in the intro, he wrote this tune for his wife, though they haven’t recorded it yet.
Rewind: The Best Bass Videos, New Basses from Fender, Cort, Luthman and Le Fay, Plus the Rhonda Smith Interview
Here are the most read, most popular stories and features on No Treble for the week of July 10 – 16, 2011. 1. Top 10: The Best Bass Videos (June 2011) This week, we’re taking a look back at the top 10 most popular bass videos from June, 2011, based on the number of views by No Treble readers. 1....
Overt?n Introduces New Bass Cabinets
In conjunction with the release of the Flyweight 200 at Summer NAMM, Overt?n Amps is expanding their line of cabinets with the OB-110 and the introduction of the OBN series. Designed as the perfect match to the Flyweight 200, the OB-110 features a 10” speaker inside a tuned port design housing. The 250-watt cab is available in 4 or 8...
The Impossible Gentlemen Release Debut Album
The Impossible Gentlemen, consisting of bassist Steve Swallow, pianist Gwilym Simcock, guitarist Mike Walker and drummer Adam Nussbaum, have released their debut, self-titled album. With members from the UK and US, the quartet came together last year for a tour that inspired them to record their their improvisatory chemistry. The compositions on the album are lush environments with great grooves...
Roberto William: “Sunday Morning”, Bass & Vocal Arrangement
Roberto William (aka Nukebass) is a bassist from Brazil who shares his nice video performance of Maroon 5’s “Sunday Morning”. He actually recorded it on a Saturday, because he says “it’s impossible to record anything on Sunday mornings … I will be sleeping for sure.”
Heavy Electronics Releases El Oso Bass Distortion
Heavy Electronics has released a new bass distortion pedal named El Oso, which translates to “the bear.” The pedal is built for heavy tone and simplicity with only three intuitive knobs: Level, Mix, and Gain. El Oso’s distortion is blended with your dry signal via the Mix knob, which gives 100% dry or 100% distorted when turned either way to...
Megadeth’s “Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying” Re-mastered for 25th Anniversary Edition
Released in 1986, Megadeth’s second studio album, Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? hit platinum status. For the first time since the original release, the album has been digitally remastered and repackaged in a 25th anniversary edition by Capitol/EMI. The landmark album features the bass work of Dave Ellefson. The deluxe set comes in a lift-top box with 5 discs, 3...
Marcus Miller: When Doves Cry
Recorded live in November 2010 for a Fender event, here’s Marcus Miller performing his take on Prince’s “When Doves Cry”.
Fender Introduces Blacktop Series Basses
Fender has incorporated some low end into their Blacktop series with the introduction of the Blacktop Precision and Blacktop Jazz Bass guitars. The line of basses are made for a thick, heavy sound and are what Fender describes as “two of the most distinctive iterations of the instruments.” Built on an alder body, the Blacktop Precision has two humbucking pickups...
Practical Theory: Practice Tips for Scales (Part 1)
Practicing scales in a musical way helps keep things interesting. In this lesson, we kick off with some tips for practicing scales by using different intervals, arpeggios and fingerings. We’re also introducing a new approach to looking at the Major scale formula. Normally, we view it as 7 different steps (8, if you count the octave): G A B C...
Simone Vignola and Alberto Rigoni: Obsession
After first meeting at EuroBassDay in 2010, Italian bassists Simone Vignola and Alberto Rigoni have teamed up for a new project called the BASStards. Featuring “fat riffs, hard grooves and catchy atmospheres,” the collaboration has released this music video to their first single, “Obsession.”