Buzz
Warwick Introduces BC Combo Series
Warwick has introduced the BC Combo series, a 5-model line ranging in strength from 20 to 300 watts. The company explains the new combos are good for when you need to be heard, but not “bend people’s eardrums.” The pinnacle of the series is the BC300, a 300-watt amp combined with a 15” driver and 4” HF horn. The combo...
Upright Bass Set Up for Playability and Sound
I thought I would address a question left on No Treble’s Facebook page regarding string action on upright and volume discrepancies between different strings by talking a bit about set up on the upright bass. When someone talks about getting the upright bass set up, they are referring to a number of things, from bridge height to curve of the...
Les July: “Running Up That Hill” for Solo Bass
Bassist Les July recently sent us this video, featuring his tribute to Kate Bush, and his bass and vocal arrangement of one of Kate’s tunes, “Running Up That Hill”. Les plays a Steinberger bass with Boomerang Looper and an E-Bow on this recording.
Rewind: Loads of New Bass Gear, Victor Wooten Interview, Fretless Conversion How-To and Jimi Hendrix-Inspired Bass Videos
Here are the most read, most popular stories and features on No Treble for the week of April 3 – 9, 2011. 1. Simon Fitzpatrick: “Bohemian Rhapsody” for Solo Bass Carl Palmer Band bassist Simon Fitzpatrick performs an all-bass version of the classic Queen tune, “Bohemian Rhapsody” in this video. This was filmed at the Cannery Casino in Las Vegas,...
Ashdown Engineering Debuts MiBass Amp Head
Ashdown Engineering has unveiled their new entry in the compact bass amp space with the new MiBass amp heads. Ashdown says the head, measuring 8.2″ wide, 2.6″ tall and 6.3″ deep with an internal power supply and weighing in at 3.1 pounds, can fit in most standard gig bag pockets. The unit is about half the size of the Ashdown...
Metallica: Classic Songs for Bass
Cherry Lane Music has published a new series by Danny Gill, focusing on the music of Metallica. Metallica: Classic Songs for Bass is a book/DVD package, featuring note-for-note transcriptions of eight Metallica tunes. The book includes both standard notation and tab. The DVD includes instruction by Gill, demonstrating many bass lines from the song (run time: 1 hour, 24 minutes)....
Simon Hayden: Soweto Groove on Upright Bass
Simon Hayden originally wrote and recorded “Soweto Groove” for fretless guitar. Then he recorded this double bass version. We may be partial, but we like the bass version best. (And here’s the first link ever on No Treble to a guitar video, if you want to see the original).
Dark Matter Audio Unveils DMA1 Smart Audio Hub
Dark Matter Audio has unveiled details of their premier product, the DMA1. The DMA1 is an app-enabled smart device tailored for musicians, featuring a color touchscreen, internet capability and tons of connectivity. It’s capable of effects processing, multi-track recording, playing MP3 files and more. Similar to a smartphone, users will be able to wirelessly download apps, including drum machines, loops,...
Jazz For Japan Benefit Album Features Top Name Bassists
A new album, entitled Jazz for Japan, has been released on iTunes, with proceeds going to the International Red Cross in Japan in an effort to benefit Japan’s earthquake and tsunami victims. The project, which was recorded in merely two days last week, features a who’s who of the jazz community, especially jazz bassists. Low-end contributors include Marcus Miller, Christian...
Warwick Announces Steve Bailey Signature Bass
Fretless bassist Steve Bailey has joined up with Warwick as an endorsing artist, and the company has just unveiled a new Steve Bailey Signature Bass. The model is a 6-string fretless based on their Streamer, though the design has been modified for better access to the upper register of the neck. The Steve Bailey Signature bass features bolt-on construction and...
Ten Jimi Hendrix-Inspired Bass Videos
Bassists seem to love to cover Hendrix tunes. We love to cover bassists who cover Hendrix tunes. So, here are ten of the most popular Hendrix-inspired videos we’ve featured over the last couple of years. Enjoy! 1. Daniel Ziegler: All Bass Version of “Little Wing” We love new arrangements of Jimi Hendrix tunes, especially when performed as solo bass pieces,...
Stuart Clayton: Nothing Else Matters – Solo Bass Arrangement
Stuart Clayton offers his take on Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters”, performed as a solo bass arrangement. Stuart wanted to include the tune in his Solo Arrangements for Electric Bass book, but couldn’t secure the copyright permission in time. For those who feel up for the challenge, Stuart has posted the sheet music and MP3 on his Bassline Publishing website. (Dig...