Buzz
App Review: PocketGK
by PocketLabworks (in collaboration with Gallien Krueger) is the world’s first bass-exclusive iOS bass practice tool. The app was created in an effort to level the playing field for bass players, since there are so many guitar-exclusive apps out there. Features PocketGK features a bass amp with two channels: clean and Boost. Boost offers the Gallien Krueger GIVE circuit tone....
Nikki Sixx Releases “This Is Gonna Hurt,” with Book Signing Tour
Motley Crue/Sixx A.M. bassist Nikki Sixx has just released his second book, entitled This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography and Life Through the Distorted Lens of Nikki Sixx. The 224-page book is a mixture of his photography and a journal that dives into his inner thoughts. “It’s definitely not an autobiography,” he told Billboard.com. “I don’t write with an editor...
Playing by Ear (and Self-Evaluation)
Q: I have been playing bass for about 12 years now, and over the last 5 years, I have been practicing more and more. I’m definitely seeing progress in the areas of practive, but sometimes I feel there are holes in my playing. For example, I get very nervous when I´m in a situation where I need to play by...
Eric Czar: 6 String Fretless Bass Sonata
Bassist Eric Czar recorded this beautiful, multi-tracked all-bass composition, using his 6-string fretless. The story behind the bass is interesting too… Eric took an old Ibanez SR-406 6-string bass he bought for $300 and ripped the frets out himself. His advice? “Don’t be fooled by the price tag!”
Korg Introduces Pitchclip Tuner
Korg has a new tuner on the market, dubbed the Pitchclip. As the name suggests, the device works by clipping it to the headstock. The Pitchclip uses a built in piezo sensor to detect vibrations and determine the pitch in the meter. Korg says the accuracy of the device is +/-1 cent. The device includes an LED display and is...
Reader Spotlight: Brad Bradly Jenkins
Meet Brad Bradly Jenkins, a bassist from Lafayette, Louisiana and our player in the spotlight for April 12, 2011. Bio: I hail from a Cajun family from hot and humid Lafayette, Louisiana. I’ve been playing for almost five years, and I’ve received no formal music training. Throughout my career as a bassist, I’ve always focused on experimentation, creating new sounds,...
Marcus Miller Featured on Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band’s “That’s How We Roll”
Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band has released their fifth album, That’s How We Roll, on Telarc International. The collection has the 18-piece band showcasing 9 new original tracks from band leader Goodwin, as well as his arrangement of the classic Gershwin tune, “Rhapsody in Blue.” Bassist Rick Shaw holds down the low end throughout the album with the exception of...
The New Nashville Cats with Victor Wooten: Live (1991)
Mark O’Connor recorded in 1991, with the help of over fifty Nashville musicians. O’Connor wanted to “showcase the instrumental side of the Nashville recording scene.” Here’s one particular line-up of interest, with Victor Wooten, Brent Mason and Paul Leim in a live performance.
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,...